34
KIAN
The early morning sun was strong enough in the summer to necessitate protective eyewear, and as Kian stepped out of the bus behind Syssi, he put on his sunglasses.
According to the latest updates, the planes would be arriving within minutes of each other—Kalugal's jet from Cairo along with his entourage and the clan's jet from Toronto carrying Lokan, Carol, and the three Guardians. Turner's associate had collected them from Finland and dropped them off in Canada, where Eric had collected them with the clan's jet and flown them home.
Syssi slipped her hand into his. "I'm so excited, but that's nothing compared to what Wonder must be feeling." He nodded, glancing to where the tall brunette stood with Anandur, their hands clasped, fingers interlaced.
Hopefully, Esag's appearance wouldn't cause a rift between them. They were truelove mates, and there was no way Wonder had any feelings other than friendship left for Esag, but Kian didn't envy Anandur's position. If Syssi's former boyfriend suddenly appeared in her life, Kian wouldn't have been happy.But that was a small worry compared to the stress of the past few days. Lokan and Carol had been hunted across multiple countries, with enhanced Doomers on their trail, a snitch in Turner's network, and then fucking Gorchenco coming back from the dead and making things even more difficult for them.
He should have had the guy killed when he had the chance. He more than deserved it for what he had done to Ella.
Thankfully it all ended well, and Lokan and Carol, along with the three Guardians he'd sent to help them, were on their way home. The cherry on top, though, was the discovery of Esag and his companions.
It seemed like the Fates took pity on him sometimes and delivered occasional doses of good news to keep him going.
"It's a miracle that after five thousand years, we've found more survivors."
"The Fates work in mysterious ways," Syssi murmured.
"Indeed."
Kian watched Wonder smoothing her hands over her jeans, checking her hair, adjusting her collar. Anandur stood beside her, a mountain of barely contained tension.
"How are you holding up?" Anandur asked her.
Wonder's laugh was shaky. "I survived five thousand years in stasis and rebuilt my entire life. Yet the thought of seeing Esag again makes me nervous like that uncertain girl I used to be."
"You're not Gulan anymore," Anandur said. "You are Wonder now. Strong, confident, mated to a devastatingly handsomeGuardian." He pretended to flip his hair back, which was ridiculous since his red curls were cropped short.
That earned him a small smile. "Devastatingly handsome?"
"I calls it like I sees it," he said and struck a pose, which made her laugh.
Brundar actually cracked what might have been a smile. His brother's antics had that effect occasionally, or rather rarely, and even then, only when Anandur couldn't see it.
"Aircraft on approach," Okidu announced cheerfully from his position by the bus door.
No one argued with his superior hearing.
They all turned to watch the sky, and soon Kian could make out the distinct shape of Kalugal's sleek jet approaching from the east and behind it, the clan's smaller plane.
"Both at once," Syssi said. "The Fates have a sense of drama."
The larger jet landed first and taxied to the hangar, where Kalugal's ground crew was waiting while the smaller one circled overhead.
When the runway was clear, the smaller jet aligned for approach and landed a few minutes later.
Kian waited patiently for the doors of both jets to open and for the passengers to spill out.
First to disembark were Lokan and Carol, and Kian started toward them when Kalugal's voice boomed across the tarmac. "Lokan!"
He practically sprinted toward his brother, the two meeting halfway in an embrace that brought a smile to Kian's face.
Carol hung back with the Guardians for a moment, letting the brothers have their reunion, before Kalugal pulled her into the hug as well.
"You finally made it," Kalugal said. "With enhanced Doomers and the Russian mafia on your heels."
