“I know. But I can’t contemplate leaving Scotland. This is our home.”
Miranda snorted. “I have absolutely no problem leaving. Here, it’s beautiful for about two months out of the year, and the rest of the time it’s miserably cold and dreary. It’s always sunny in California. I would love to move there.”
“I’ll think about it.” Sari pushed to her feet. “I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.”
“Are you accepting phone calls?” Miranda asked. “Or do you need some quiet time?”
“You know my schedule better than I do. Do I have any conference calls coming up today?”
Miranda brought up the scheduling application on her screen. “You have a three o’clock video call with Vincent about ramping up the window production. That’s the only one.”
“Good. I might even put my feet up and daydream a little.”
“Dream about the village.”
Sari smiled. “I might do just that.”
As soon as she closed her office door behind her, Sari’s smile wilted, and she let out a sigh.
It was important to keep an upbeat attitude in front of her people, but she could drop the charade when she was alone. The truth was that she’d been a little under the weather lately.
More like for the past three years.
When Kian and Amanda had found their true-love mates, Sari had hoped that the Fates were finally smiling upon her clan, and that soon she would meet the male that was meant for her.
But she was still alone, and so were her people. For some reason, the Fates were smiling favorably only upon her brother’s arm of the clan and ignoring everyone in Scotland and Alaska.
Why was that?
What had she done to anger them?
She could think of a few things, deeds she wasn’t proud of, but then Kian hadn’t been an angel either. As leaders, they had to make hard choices from time to time, and some of those decisions were bound to be mistakes. They were the descendants of gods, but their ancestors hadn’t been perfect either.
Even Annani, who was the most positive force for good on the planet, had her share of dark deeds that she kept secret from most of her people.
Sari was only privy to a handful, but Alena probably knew about every transgression that their mother had ever committed.
She was a little envious of her older sister. Why did Annani trust Alena more? It wasn’t as if Sari would run around telling everyone what she knew. It was not in her nature to betray anyone’s trust, and especially not the trust of her family.
Sari was a good daughter to her mother, a good sister to her siblings, and a good leader to her people. Didn’t she deserve a true-love mate?
Her eldest sister deserved one as well.
When Kian had invited them to the wedding, Sari had hoped that one of Kalugal’s men would catch her eye. Regrettably, none of them had that special something she was looking for, and Alena hadn’t fared any better.
Sari had spent most of the wedding getting to know the men, but even though they were all handsome, each in his own way, she couldn’t see herself falling in love with any of them.
Was she even capable of romantic love?
4
Kalugal
For the meeting with Professor Levinson, Kalugal had chosen a conservative Mercedes as his mode of transportation. The professor knew him as Kajeck Zolotovsky, a Russian millionaire with an inquisitive mind, and that required keeping up appearances in accordance with the character.
“That’s the address.” Welgost pulled up next to a modest one-story bungalow. “It would seem that Stanford is not paying the distinguished professor well enough.”
Kalugal had to agree.
After investing so many years in his PhD and then many more in research and teaching at a prestigious university, Professor Levinson should have been able to afford a better house.
Then again, given the inflated Bay Area prices even this seventies-era old place was pricey, and as a bachelor, the guy didn’t need anything bigger.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” Welgost asked.
“No, thank you. I have nothing to worry about from the professor, and he lives alone.”
Welgost grinned. “Thank you. I’d rather watch a movie than listen to you two philosophizing about stuff that I don’t care about.”
“You are supposed to be my bodyguard and watch the house. But that’s okay. As I said, I don’t expect any trouble.” Kalugal waited for Welgost to open the door for him, not because it was standard protocol, but because of the need to maintain appearances in accordance with the Kajeck persona.
The shroud had been on from the moment he’d entered the car, so all he had to do was put on a smile and ring the doorbell.
When David opened the door, Kalugal’s fake smile turned real. The guy was even more handsome than he’d remembered.
Sari was going to love him.
Perhaps.
Bringing her the human as a present was a crazy thing to do, but ever since Kalugal had met Sari, an inner voice kept insisting that David Levinson was the one for her and that it was his job to make it happen.
The bizarre urge to play matchmaker was so far removed from his character that the Fates must be behind it. Not that believing in divine intervention was something that Kalugal indulged in either.
The only other time he’d heard a distinct inner voice whispering in his ear was when Kian had shown him the new plots. But since the messages had been more aligned with Kalugal’s way of thinking, that voice had most likely belonged to his own subconscious. Except, there had been something off about it. It had been male, but the wording hadn’t been Kalugal’s, and the undertones conveyed an urgency that he hadn’t felt.
Stranger still, Kian had heard a voice too.
Perhaps Edna had been right and standing in the heat and the glaring sunlight had messed with their brains.
“Mr. Zolotovsky.” The professor offered Kalugal his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you again.”
Kalugal shook what was offered. “Please, call me Kajeck.”
“Then you must call me David.” The professor led him to his study.
As they passed through the small living room, Kalugal paid attention to the small details, noting that the place was tidy, and that there were no dirty dishes in the kitchen or clutter on the counter.
The guy was neat, which he was sure Sari would appreciate. No woman wanted a slob for a lover, let alone a mate.
“Please, take a seat.” David pointed to one of the two armchairs in his study.
“Thank you.”
The chair’s leather was worn out, and the cushions were sunken, but it was still comfortable.
“Can I offer you a drink?”
“Just water, please.”
“Of course.”
As the professor left the study, Kalugal thought fondly about similar offers from Kian. He liked sharing drinks, cigars, and relaxed conversations with his cousin. But since whatever David had in his cupboard would not be in the same league as the whiskeys Kian treated him to, he would stick to water.
David returned with two tall glasses. “What would you like to talk about this time, Kajeck?” He handed one to Kalugal.
Cradling the glass in his palms, Kalugal crossed his legs. “I’m actually fascinated with the new novel you are writing. I don’t remember if I have mentioned this before, but I contacted you after reading your first book. I remember thinking that the ideas were so fresh and interesting, especially since the author was not only a professor but also a medical doctor.”