Dark Choices - I. T. Lucas Page 0,48

security measures around Kalugal, which she sincerely debated the wisdom of.

The guy was winning Kian over with his charm and his good manners, but if Kian thought Kalugal was harmless, he was gravely mistaken.

“Sari is my sister, and she heads the Scottish arm of the clan.”

“How fascinating. I would love to meet my fourth cousin. Could you invite her to the wedding? After all, it is a family affair, and she should attend.”

So, he could have all his ducks lined up in the shooting range? Edna didn’t think so.

Stop being so paranoid, the annoying voice in the back of her head whispered. Sari should come and celebrate her cousin’s wedding.

She really needed to see Vanessa.

Before meeting Rufsur, Edna had never indulged in conversations with her alter ego. Besides, that voice didn’t even sound like it belonged to her at all. First of all, it was male, and secondly, it expressed opinions that couldn’t possibly be hers. Edna deemed security as the most crucial consideration, and everything else was secondary to that, including her own happiness.

Kian raked his fingers through his hair, pushing it back and away from his forehead. “You are right, and I should have thought of that myself. I’m surprised that my mother hasn’t. I’ll extend an invitation to Sari, but she might not be able to attend. Her schedule is just as busy as mine.”

Kalugal walked closer to the edge and looked down at the construction site. “It might not be my place to make suggestions, but why is she still in Scotland? Wouldn’t your life be easier if Sari and her people were here? I see no advantage in having two separate administrations. If everyone was in the same location, you and your sister could have divided responsibilities, and your respective workloads would lessen.”

It was obvious to Edna what Kalugal was doing. The guy was trying to get Kian to reveal the size of the Scottish arm of the clan. Hopefully, Kian was smart enough to realize it and would give him evasive answers.

Kian chuckled. “Sari and I are too much alike to work together in harmony. An organization has to have one head, and she would never agree to be my subordinate, or I hers. I have the same problem with Turner. I’ve offered him a seat on the council many times, but he refuses. He wants to keep his independence, and he doesn’t want me as his boss.”

Edna smiled. Clever Kian. That was a good change of subject.

Kalugal nodded. “That’s a problem. Can’t you figure out an agreement, though? You could form a sort of federation that would be similar to how you operate now. Sari could have her section of the village, maybe even this new one you are preparing, and she could independently rule her people. In terms of security, that’s a better solution than splitting a small community in two.”

Damn. Kalugal was relentlessly fishing for information about Sari’s people.

That’s not what he’s doing. Listen to what he’s saying, the voice whispered excitedly. This could be the solution to your and Rufsur’s problem.

“What are you talking about?” Edna hissed out.

As everyone turned to look at her, Kalugal raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

Crap. Edna scrambled for a quick answer that would explain her outburst. “Sari needs to stay in Europe to look after the clan’s interests there. Besides, the unification of the two branches is not a good idea even from a security standpoint. If one location is compromised, at least part of the clan would survive.”

Kalugal nodded. “You are right.” He pinched his temples between his thumb and forefinger. “I didn’t think it through, which is not like me.” He shook his head as if trying to realign the gears. “I guess there are pros and cons in both situations.” He turned to Kian. “Since you are obviously not building homes for Sari and her people, who are you building for?”

Kian shrugged. “When I couldn’t convince the Chinese crew to come over just to put up the fence and build room additions to some of the existing homes, I came up with the idea of preparing more lots for future housing.” He smiled. “I’m an optimist. With all the new children that will hopefully be born as a result of matings between your men and my clanswomen, we will need more homes. But that’s going to be an issue only when they mature and find mates of their own. That’s why I’m only grading the lots at this time.” He raked his