Dark Choices - I. T. Lucas Page 0,73

management of his contributions to Jacki, and it’s up to her where the money goes. That’s the extent of what he’s willing to do on the ground level. Kalugal is more the big picture kind of guy.”

“Donating money to the cause is good, but there is no global solution to the problem. As long as there is big money to be made in trafficking, it’s going to continue. Do things like that bother him at all? I thought he was mainly interested in making money, not making the world a better place.”

Rufsur couldn’t say more without giving out clues as to Kalugal’s grand ambitions, but he didn’t want Edna to think that his boss was blind to the suffering of so many people, or that he didn’t care.

“Kalugal is a smart guy, and he is also extremely knowledgeable. He is not oblivious or uncaring about the world's problems, but what can one man possibly do?”

“Not much. But he can join the fight.”

Rufsur chuckled. “Does he seem like the joiner type to you? Kalugal is not a team player, which is why selling him on the idea of a federation is not going to be easy.”

Edna cuddled closer to him. “You might try the same tactic that you suggested I use on Kian. Tell him that you are in love with me and that you can’t live without me.”

“I could try that. And I can also tell him that we want to have a child together.” He smiled. “It would be even better if you were pregnant already.”

She chuckled. “We can pay Merlin a visit and give his potions a try. Except, you are leaving tonight.”

“Nothing needs to happen today. I’m thinking long term.”

“With our low fertility rate, even Merlin’s potions will not do the trick if we have sex only four or six days out of a month.”

“What if you come to visit me on the off weekends? Then we will have eight to twelve days. That makes the odds of conception much better.”

“Kian won’t allow that. As a councilwoman, I know too much, and he wouldn’t want Kalugal to have access to me.”

“Right. I didn’t think of that. Perhaps I could come by myself.”

Edna smiled. “That would be nice.”

“Do you think Kian will allow it?”

“I don’t see why not. He doesn’t consider you a threat. Only your boss.”

“Are we really considering making a baby? Or is it just hypothetical?”

Edna let out a long breath. “I don’t know, Rufsur. Perhaps we need the two additional weeks of separation to cool off and think things through. At the moment, our chances of convincing our bosses are not good.”

“I need to talk to Kalugal.” He took his arm off her shoulders and pushed to his feet.

“What, now? You don’t have anything to sell him yet. Wait at least until I talk to William and pick his brain. You need more than just emotional stuff with Kalugal. You said so yourself.”

“True, but we are leaving tonight, and I need to know where he stands. Whether it’s a categorical no, or a maybe.”

Edna’s eyes looked worried. “Don’t do it, Rufsur. I can call William right now and go talk to him, and perhaps we will have something by dinnertime. You can then throw out a few hints and see how Kalugal responds.”

“He’s too guarded to say anything in front of Kian. I need to ask him in private.”

“What’s gotten into you? Why the sudden urgency?”

“Because I hate the idea of leaving. I don’t want to go, and with each visit, it’s only going to get worse. I’ve dedicated my life to Kalugal. He owes it to me to at least hear me out.”

52

Edna

As the door closed behind Rufsur, Edna groaned.

Perhaps she didn’t know him as well as she thought she did. Going to talk to Kalugal without any concrete suggestion was such a hot-headed move.

Usually, Rufsur was so easygoing, careful, even calculated. Was he really so distraught over leaving her for two weeks that he wasn’t thinking straight?

Or did it have more to do with Kalugal than with her?

Obviously, the two were more than boss and subordinate, and the relationship between them wasn’t as straightforward as hers was with Kian. If Kian refused to compromise, she wouldn’t take it personally, but apparently, if Kalugal did the same, Rufsur would.

Was it a test of their friendship?

She hoped Rufsur would choose his words wisely and not alienate Kalugal, predisposing him negatively to the idea of a federation before they’d even had a chance to formulate a