AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Of course." She gave him a bright smile. "I'll go dancing with Amanda." She turned to his sister. "Are you game?"
"Am I ever?" Amanda rose to her feet. "Let's get Sari and Alena to join."
As the two left to get his other sisters, Kian's gaze followed them. He loved that they loved Syssi and thought of her like another sister.
After the ceremony, Okidu and Onidu had taken the little ones to his mother's cabin, and his mother was watching Allegra, Evie, and Darius with their help. That meant that the parents could enjoy the party for as long as they wanted to without having to worry about the kids, but regrettably, the party was over for him.
Oh, well. There was nothing new about that.
With a sigh, he headed toward Onegus's table with Toven and Dalhu at his side.
"What's going on?" The chief rose to his feet.
Kian explained as the four of them continued to Kalugal's table and got him and Lokan to join them. Then the six of them continued to Turner's table.
"Trouble?" he asked.
"Yes." Kian put a hand on his shoulder. "We need your help." He turned to Bridget. "Perhaps you want to join us as well. It's possibly a case of trafficking. Mia and Frankie's friend Margo is missing, and we suspect she was taken by a trafficker."
"Is there anything I can contribute?" the doctor asked.
"I'm not sure. It's up to you if you want to join the meeting."
The doctor shook her head. "I'd rather stay. If you need me for anything, call me. My watch will vibrate." She lifted her hand to show her smartwatch. "Nifty trick. Now I don't have to worry that I will not hear the ringing when it's noisy."
Kian had hoped that would be her answer. He hated disturbing Brundar's celebration and taking more guests out than was necessary. "Good. Enjoy the party. If we have any questions, Turner or I will call you."
Turner leaned over and kissed her cheek before getting up. "I just need to stop by my suite to get my laptop and notepad."
"We are using Mia and Toven's suite for the meeting tonight," Kian said. "You can meet us there after you get your stuff."
"Good deal." Turner buttoned his tux. "I will also gladly change clothes. Especially if we are going to pull an all-nighter."
"That's a good idea." Kian turned to the small group he had assembled. "We should all get changed. Let's meet in Toven's suite in ten minutes."
As the others nodded their agreement, Kian saw Anandur bee-lining for him.
"What's going on, boss?" he asked.
"Mia's friend is missing. I called an emergency meeting to discuss our options."
"I'm coming."
Kian put a hand on his bicep. "No, you are not. You are staying right here and celebrating your brother's wedding. We are not heading out to war, and I don't need a bodyguard on the ship. Stay with your wife and enjoy the party till it ends."
Anandur didn't look happy, but he knew that Kian was right. "You are the boss." He let out a breath. "Call me if you need me."
36
NEGAL
Negal twirled Gertrude around the dance floor, mimicking the moves of the immortals around him. The weddings were a wonderful opportunity to learn modern human dances and secure partners for the night, just not this time.
It wasn't Gertrude's fault that a pair of fierce eyes kept floating into his mind's eye, regarding him accusatorially when he held her in his arms or when she plastered herself to him during slow dances.
What the hell was wrong with him?
He had briefly glanced at Frankie's friend's picture, and he hadn't even found her all that attractive. She was pretty in a very human way, but not the kind of female poems would be written about. Those eyes, though, had imprinted themselves on his soul, and not because they were remarkably beautiful or uniquely colored. It was the spirit he had seen in them that haunted him, making him feel guilty for holding another woman in his arms.
