Page 18 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
"How much were they told?" Lokan asked.
Eleanor let out a breath. "Next to nothing. Emmett and I told them they might carry special genes that could grant them extended life. We let them assume that the government selected them because of those special genes, which wasn't a lie since the former directors of the program intended to breed super-humans." Eleanor finished her Scotch. "They think they're part of some genetic lottery, waiting to see if they've won. Emmett and I compelled them to keep quiet about the program and their time here, but that's the extent of their knowledge about the supernatural."
"Is that how Kian wants to keep it?" Lokan said. "The men at least need to be told before they are induced."
Eleanor shrugged. "I'll let you and Carol figure this out with Kian. He wants to start inducing the men to see if any of them can join our ranks. That's why they are here. If any of them start transitioning, we have a clinic and a doctor to take care of them. We can also ask Guardians to volunteer to induce the men. It's not complicated, but I can't stay here to manage this project. I need someone to take over, and I hope the two of you are willing to do it."
Carol nodded. "Lokan and I want to meet them first and get a sense of who we'd be working with." She smiled. "It's not the type of work either of us has ever done before. My goal is to find suitable subjects for Kian's new program and train them in the subtle arts of feminine manipulation."
Eleanor crossed her arms over her chest. "It's not necessary when you can compel people, but that's a rare talent."
Show-off.
"Compulsion is an inborn talent." Carol smiled. "Feminine manipulation is a learned skill and therefore more useful."
Surprisingly, Eleanor conceded to Carol with a slight nod and then checked her watch. "I ordered dinner for all of us from the Golden Dragon, and it should arrive shortly. You can get reacquainted with the gang over Chinese takeout in Kian's penthouse."
"Excellent." Lokan rose to his feet. "People are more relaxed around food."
They took the dedicated elevator to the penthouse level, and as the doors opened to the vestibule, Carol was reminded of how beautiful and luxurious the place was.
"It has been so long since I've been here." She followed Eleanor inside.
"Fancy." Lokan looked around the contemporary decor. "Just as I remembered it. I wouldn't mind staying here." He turned to Carol. "What do you think? Could you be happy here? It's more like what we are used to."
After their months in Beijing, he'd guessed she might crave the energy of city life.
"I could, but it's Kian's decision whether to allow us to stay here."
"He'll allow it," Eleanor said. "He wants the paranormals to be processed, and he realizes that whoever is going to do it needs to stay near them until it's done."
Before Carol could respond, the elevator chimed, and Eleanor straightened. "That would be our dinner guests."
The paranormals filed out of the elevator in a loose group, their body language screaming uncertainty despite Eleanor's attempts to make this meeting seem casual. Carol catalogued them automatically, matching faces to what she'd remembered from briefly meeting them long ago but mostly from the files Eleanor had shown them.
James and Mollie stood closest together, the telepath's arm around his partner's shoulders. Both showed their age. James's hair was more gray than brown, and small lines had started to form around Mollie's eyes. But there was a calmness to them that Carol found enviable.
She and Lokan seemed so restless in comparison.
Andy hung back, all gangly teenage limbs and defensive posture. The younger couples clustered together—Jeremy tall and lean with watchful eyes, Naomi petite beside him. Abigail and Dylan stood with the careful distance of a couple working through something, while Spencer and Sofia were practically glued together, young love obvious in every gesture.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Carol and Lokan," Eleanor said. "They're considering taking over your case when I return to Safe Haven."
"Considering?" James stepped forward. "What does that mean?"
Carol affected a reassuring smile. "It means that we want to get to know you before making commitments. Tonight is just dinner and conversation."
The paranormals didn't remember them, which was good since it would be difficult to explain the circumstances of their previous encounter.
"Do you have special genes like Eleanor and Emmett?" Andy asked.
His directness was startling, but it was a valid question. "Yes. We are also special," Carol said. "Everyone's genetic expression is unique. That's part of what makes this so interesting."
"The food's here," Eleanor announced as the elevator chimed again, and two guards emerged with bags that filled the air with amazing aromas. "Let's eat first, talk second. Everything's easier over Chinese food."
The migration to the dining room was a little awkward, with all of them trailing behind the two security guys who had brought up the takeout.
As containers were opened and food distributed, the atmosphere gradually relaxed. Carol had learned long ago that sharing a meal was one of the fastest ways to build connections. Even suspicious assets let their guard down over good moo shu pork.
