Page 8 of Dark Rebel's Mystery

Sitting next to Anandur in the front of the vehicle, Brundar didn't say a word or even acknowledge the conversation.

Not for the first time, Kian wondered if the Guardian's stoic demeanor was just a veneer hiding turmoil or whether Brundar had managed to attain true inner peace. If he had, then Kian envied him for achieving what he'd been struggling with most of his life. It seemed like a storm had taken up permanent residence in his mind, and it never got tranquil in there.

Well, never was a strong word. He had moments of pure joy with Allegra and Syssi, and occasionally things quieted enoughin the clan to allow him to take a deep breath. Kian had learned to cherish those rare moments and collect them like pearls on a string.

When Toven finally arrived, he seemed rushed and annoyed, and as Brundar stepped out to open the back passenger door for him, he thanked him with just a nod of his head.

"Apologies for making you wait." Toven slid into the seat next to Kian. "Bridget stopped me on the way, and I got swept up in the conversation, not noticing the time."

"That's okay." Kian motioned for Anandur to start driving. "I didn't set a specific time for our visit to the dungeon. I only told Max that we are coming over this morning."

"I remember Max," Toven said. "He was instrumental in the Kra-ell rescue and Igor's capture."

"He's a good male," Kian agreed. "I put him in charge of the team guarding the prisoners, but I will have to pull him away next week."

Toven arched a brow. "What's happening next week?"

It was a private matter, and Kian didn't feel comfortable sharing it with Toven. It was up to Jasmine to choose whom she wanted to confide in about getting her father's memories searched.

"Nothing of great importance," he said. "But since Syssi insists that Max needs to be part of this, I'm not questioning her."

Toven shifted in his seat so he could face him. "Does it have anything to do with Jasmine's trip to her father's hunting cabin?"

"You know about that?" It was a relief not to have to talk in circles.

The god shrugged. "Jasmine's friendship with Margo means that she is also close to Mia and Margo's other friends. Jasmine told them about the trip and that she would need a Guardian to accompany her and Ell-rom. I'm just surprised that you are letting Ell-rom out of the village."

"He's not a prisoner."

"Of course not," Toven said. "But in many ways, Ell-rom is like a kid, and he shouldn't be let out on his own."

Ell-rom was far from helpless, but Toven didn't know about his ability to kill with a mere thought, and Kian wasn't ready to tell him about it.

He wasn't even sure why he was keeping it a secret from members of the council. Perhaps it was because Ell-rom's powers hadn't been tested yet, so he couldn't give the council good information about the limitations of his ability.

Soon, Ell-rom would test his death ray on the pedophile monsters Peter's team had collected, and perhaps then Kian would have enough information to present the news to the council.

"Ell-rom will not be on his own when he travels with Jasmine and Max," Kian said. "But I will probably add one more Guardian to their excursion just to be on the safe side."

Toven nodded. "That's prudent, and I'm sure your mother will appreciate the added security. Morelle and Ell-rom are very important to her."

The god hadn't been updated on the true nature of Morelle's power either, but Kian once again hesitated before revealing it. Morelle seemed embarrassed by it, and she probably didn't want rumors to spread about her ability to draw psychic energy from others.

Kian nodded. "It's a day trip. They aren't even going to stay overnight."

"I see." Toven glanced out the window, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Then the god turned to him once again. "So, how do you want me to handle these Doomers?"

Kian regarded him with a sardonic smile. "In the most straightforward way possible. Compel the scumbags to tell us all they know and in as much detail as possible. They are just run-of-the-mill Doomers, so you should have no problem bending them to your will."

Toven sighed as if he was bracing for explaining a complicated problem to someone who was not an expert on it. "Compulsion is a precise art, Kian. If they have a shred of intelligence and know how compulsion works, which they do since Navuh uses it on everyone in his compound, they will find ways to avoid answering me unless my questions are precise. The best ones are those that can be answered with a yes or no, but we don't know enough to limit ourselves to confirmations and negations."

"They are drugged, so their resistance and mental acuity is shit, but if you want, we can prepare a list of questions."

The god loosened a relieved breath. "That's an excellent suggestion." He pulled out his phone. "The sequence is also important."

Kian leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "What I want is a list of all the politicians and celebrities who Navuh has dirt on. The money he's making from this is just the bonus."

"I doubt the lowlifes can answer that." Toven duplicated Kian's pose. "We will have to catch someone higher up in the chain of command for that type of info."

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