Page 33 of Dark Voyage Matters of the Soul

She is very excited about communicating with her grandmother. Other than that, I see her every night as she presides over the clan weddings. There is one every night.

I wish I could be there to see that.

I am glad that you are not. Earth is a savage place. Well, it is not fair to bundle everyone into the same group, but some elements are just barbaric beyond description. They are worse than the most horrible predators in the most dangerous colonies because they torture and maim for pleasure. Animals do not do that.

That sounds horrible. I wish you did not have to be stuck there.

He let out a breath.As I said, there are many good people here, and I am not in danger. It is just difficult to stomach the savagery, but I will tell you about it some other time. Kian is waiting for me.

When you are free, open a channel and talk to me. I feel like you need to lighten your load.

That was one of the great things about having a twin. Aria always knew when he needed to offload, and she was resilient enough, so he did not need to sugarcoat things for her.

I do. Just do not tell the Supreme or the queen what I told you. I do not want them to change their minds about making Earth a hub for the resistance.

Aria chuckled.The queen has not decided any such thing. It was your idea, and I did not hear either of the ladies sayinganything about it. For now, all the queen wants is to get to know her granddaughter, and if she finds her worthy, to groom her for the throne.

Yes, I know. But just do not say anything.

I will not. I promise. I love you, and I will talk to you later.

Same here, sister of mine.Aru closed the channel, pushed off the wall, and put his phone in his back pocket.

When he rang Kian's cabin doorbell, Anandur opened the door and grinned at Aru. "Your Highness." He bowed at the waist and waved with his hand, gesturing for Aru to come in.

"I'm not a royal or even a noble." He clapped the redhead on the back. "Are you ready for your nuptials tonight?"

"I am, but it's not certain that the ceremony will take place. I'm staying on the ship, but I won't get married with half of my friends fighting Doomers out there."

"Is there any news on that?" Aru sat down next to Turner, the clan's strategist.

"Nothing yet, but we are working on it." Kian rose to his feet and walked over to the bar. "Can I offer you some whiskey?"

"Always." Aru smiled at his host. "Thank you."

He wasn't much of a drinker, but Kian seemed to enjoy sharing his whiskey with his guests, and accepting the drink was an easy way to please his host.

Kian returned to the table a moment later and handed him a glass. "So, Aru, do you want to fight by our side?"

"Of course. I offered our help right away. What do you need me to do?"

"I'm not sure yet. If the Doomers show up in the port with a contingent of cartel thugs, we don't leave the ship. Kalugal and Toven can compel the Doomers and their cartel cronies to shoot each other or just freeze in place so we can take them out. Yamanu will provide the shrouding, of course. But if we need to go burn the bodies and go after the Doomers wherever they are hiding, we will need to split the force, with half remaining to guard the ship and half going out."

"Which group do you want us in?" Aru asked.

"I don't know yet." Kian regarded him with that intense gaze of his. "My Guardians tell me that Negal is as strong and as fast as the Kra-ell. Is that true for you and Dagor as well?"

Aru nodded. "The more recent generations of gods were given several enhancements that your grandfather's generation were not. We are stronger and faster, and we have better hearing and eyesight. We are also less sensitive to the sun and do not need protective eye gear. Simple sunglasses are enough."

Kian tilted his head. "Is that all the gods of your generation or just a select few?"

"Those are standard enhancements that everyone gets. Naturally, nobility and royalty get more and better enhancements."

"Like what?"

Aru leaned back with his drink. "They don't disclose that. It's considered rude to ask Anumatians about their geneticenhancements, and it's considered bad manners to show them off, so it's anyone's guess what anyone else has."

Frankie

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