Dark Gambit The Pawn (The Children of the Gods, #65)

by I.T. Lucas

"None of those numbers add up to anything that makes sense," Eleanor said. "Emmett and I already tried to figure it out, but the numbers don't match the total number of the tribe's population, not the number of males or females, and not the number of humans. Not during Emmett's time in the tribe, and not right before the attack."

Yeah, but why do all that when they can ask Aliya, who was there or Vrog, who left later than Emmet? Waste of time, once again, for people who are supposed to be smart and have common sense.

"Can you both stop by my office when you get here? I will get lunch delivered and arrange for a conference call with Emmett, Eleanor, and Leon. Maybe Marcel as well. We can all brainstorm it together."

What about Vrog and Aliya?🙄🙄

"He didn't." Emmett crossed his arms over his chest. "He should have included Vrog and Aliyah instead."

Or also.

The same went for Vrog and Aliyah. Just to be safe, though, he would ask Julian to run scans on them again.

But Aliya was alone for almost 30 years or something and on the same side of the pond, they would have found her well before that. Same with Vrog.🙄🙄

Pushing to her feet, Sofia bowed. "Thank you, sir. Goodnight.”

He didn’t compel her not to say she was on a mission though so theoretically she could admit that to them…

Hopefully, Turner would convince Kian that it was essential to the clan's security to eliminate the threat Jade's captors posed and rescue her and the other females.

She sure did a 180 on that.

"You are assuming that the leader is a he who got tired of the matriarchal rule based on human history," Bridget said. "That's why it makes more sense to you. It doesn't mean that it is so. The Kra-ell have a different tradition, a different belief system, and a different morality."

It doesn’t matter whether human or not, so that’s stupid. Any member of any species can feel tired of being oppressed, especially someone that is free thinking and doesn’t fall in line like sheep. Any one can be rebellious or want something different than what is the norm for their culture.🙄🙄

"Well said." Turner smiled at his mate. "We won't know until we get more information."

Not well said, because even the gods did something rebellious and got sent to earth from their home planet.🙄🙄 Apparently they wanted something different from the norm as well.

Igor hadn't compelled her to keep it quiet. Was it an oversight? Or was it just temporary so she could discuss it with her grandfather, and she would have to see Igor again after the briefing?

Is her grandfather Emmett’s father? I just remember another V named pureblood at Jade’s compound that was nice to his children, but they were all killed though. So maybe not.

"A pretty female like you has other weapons at her disposal." Sofia rolled her eyes. So, he was in on Igor's plans for her and her mighty vagina.

That comment had nothing to do with that although it was based on a similar idea.

the babies forgot all about the doll they'd wanted so badly and got busy digging.

I thought she meant Roni’s Sylvia.🤣🤣🤣

brother. He was also a good student, but he wanted to be a businessman and make a lot of money, and apparently, he and Cheryl had that in common.

Uh oh!

"You will not tell anyone who you really are, and you will stick to the story Valstar composed for you."

Well damn, there goes my theory…

But she was too pushy for his taste, and there was something unpleasant about her that he couldn't put his finger on.

I agree

Without a doubt, there was plenty to write about, but when she'd researched Safe Haven, she hadn't found any books about it, and what she'd found on the internet wasn't much either.

How did she research Safe Haven? This implies that there is more than on computer in the compound since she obviously didn’t do it in Igor’s office and she hasn’t left the compound since school is out for summer…🤔

Oh, boy. So, Eric had been right, and Max was gay. Had he been in love with a human who resembled Eric? But if that was the case, why had he flirted with her? Had it been for show?

She’s stupid. It has to be one sex or the other, huh? Can’t possibly be both.🙄🙄

"It's not a story I'm proud of. I was a bastard to my best friend. Din was like a brother to me, and I ruined our friendship over a girl." He sighed. "I'm still a bastard, but at least now I'm aware of it and strive to do better. I'm competitive and aggressive, and my empathic ability is almost nonexistent. I often don't realize that I'm being a jerk until it is too late. Like I didn't realize that Din had fallen in love with the girl and was taking it slow because he cared for her. I thought that he was just failing to seduce her, and since I always had to win, I seduced her instead and bragged to him about it."

None of that makes any sense considering they aren’t allowed to date humans… Just like William and Hannah…

Sofia must have jogged three miles along the rocky shore before she felt that she was far enough from the resort to stop and initiate the communication with Valstar.

I hope the surveillance goes that far on the beach. I can’t remember but I thought it was at least 5 or 10 miles out each way.

"I don't know whether I should be flattered or offended."

Right! 🤣🤣🤣

Whatever they were doing, it was helping, and she was grateful to them. Eric was stable, he wasn't dying, and that was all that mattered.

Does he even look to be getting younger while he’s out?

"We don't have phones with us," Kylie said. "We can't even call you to remind you that you left us waiting for you in the heat.

But they can have phones in their Bungalow so why didn’t someone just go and call him?🙄🙄

"All I need to do is bite her, right? You can make love to her while I'm jerking off in the next room over, and when you are about to climax, I rush in, bite her, and leave as soon as I pump her with enough of my venom."

Same as I was thinking except all in the same room…

"It was my pleasure. I'll see you guys later." Her eyes widened when she realized her slip-up. "I mean, I'll see you when you come back for the pain meds."

How was it a slip up when they all live i the village and she would actually see him later?🙄🙄

"A retreat attendee from Finland. I asked Roni to check her background before going deeper into the relationship."

I don’t understand why none of them have noted Finland’s proximity to Karelia or her timely submission to the retreat. Obviously the kra-ell have paranormal talents like the immortals so it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that Jade’s secret communication had been discovered and some one was sent to investigate. Also, the strange ability Sophia has fall in line with the strange ability of their kra-ell immortal sisters, Mei and Jin.🙄🙄 Not to mention her height and slenderness.🙄🙄

Perhaps she was a Dormant? He hadn't allowed himself to entertain that thought, but it had been lurking in the back of his mind.

OMG. This is so stupid! The ENTIRE purpose of the paranormal retreats are to find Dormants. But he’s wondering if she’s a dormant. 🙄🙄

He could tell her about the government leasing part of Safe Haven. That wasn't a secret. Only what they were doing there was. "The government rents the area north of the resort, and they are running a secret project there. That's why guests are not allowed inside the enclave."

I thought the government leased the part for the paranormals? Oh! This is a separate paranormal thing!🤦🏽‍♀️

Who was the man on the other end of the line, and why was he after Emmett? Was that a reporter? Was Sofia an undercover journalist?

That was the dumbest speculation ever for someone so smart.

As the phone rang, they all looked at it, but no one answered, and then Eleanor tore the wire out of the wall. "We need to run all incoming phone calls through the voice changer to prevent him from compelling anyone else."

I’m glad she’s thinking. As a prior Guardian and a current reserve, he should have thought of that.

Eleanor snatched them from Leon's hand. "Just in case. We can handle it from here." She smiled. "Sofia is just an ordinary girl with crappy reflexes. We can lock her in my office, and she won't be able to do anything about it." Meaning, she was human. Leon nodded. "Call me if you need anything."

First of all, Leon is head of security and should be present.

The guy still looked as if he'd been hit by lightning. Leaning back in his chair, his feet propped on his desk, and an arm draped over his eyes, he was the picture of despondency.

🤣🤣🤣Poor Emmet. Now he sees how it feels.

Perhaps he could wear the translating earplugs when he talked to Sofia. That would prevent her from sending any dangerous sound waves his way.

No one said anything about Sophia being a compellor. What the hell is this useless bullshit.

"You are not like that." She seemed to be searching for words. "You are blond. Emmett and Eleanor are not."

I thought Eleanor was blond…