Page 23 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"I am, and I want an answer."

"I've already given you the answer. I love you, Sullha, and I'll take you any way I can. I'll take you human. I'll take you aging. I'll take you when you're a hundred, and your hair is going white, over any immortal female alive, and I'll consider myself lucky." He took her hand. "You know that. You don't have to ask."

"I know. I just wanted to hear it out loud."

9

KIAN

Kian reached the edge of the village ten minutes early and found Robert, Gavin, and Ross already waiting for him. The only one missing was the one paying for the project.

"He's on his way," Robert said before Kian could ask. "He texted that he's just putting the finishing touches on the concept drawings."

"He's had three weeks to finish the drawings," Kian said.

"He said they're better now."

Gavin snorted. "I don't even want to imagine what he has in mind. He drove me nuts when we were developing the concept for his house. He's a perfectionist who thinks he knows better than someone who has been designing houses longer than he has lived."

That was Kalugal to a tee, but the truth was that the bastard had very good taste, and his house had turned out stunning. The idea to build most of it underground and install huge skylights was brilliant. That way, Kalugal's dwelling didn't exceed the maximum size allowed in the village because only a small portion of it was above ground, and it still enjoyed plenty of natural light during the day. At night, the skylights were covered by automatic shutters so no light escaped to reveal their location.

"He has some good ideas," Kian defended his cousin. "And I don't think he'll get carried away designing a house for a father he despises."

"He loves his mother," Ross murmured. "I guess it's a conundrum."

The village ended here. The last row of houses was far behind them, and ahead lay slopes that would require serious grading to create even a modest building pad. Ross tested the soil at several possible spots and marked where they could build. There weren't many options, and knowing Kalugal, he wouldn't like any of them.

Everything was dry at the end of summer, but soon the rains would start, and the hills would blossom with new life.

The crunch of boots on gravel made Kian turn.

Kalugal was coming up the path at a stroll, holding a tablet.

"You're late," Kian said.

"I'm right on time. You're early." Kalugal nodded to the others, who murmured their good mornings.

Gavin glanced at the tablet and sighed. "Okay, let's see what you've got."

"Don't worry." Kalugal turned the tablet around. "I didn't go crazy this time. In fact, I went so basic that I'm sure you'll want to embellish my plan."

The plan was modest. One long, low residence. One small building set near where the guard post gate would be.

"The Eight are staying in the old part of the village," Kalugal said. "They're not moving into the enclave, so I cut the second house. This is the residence for my mother and Navuh. That's the guard house, a little more than just the basics. Two rooms and a bathroom."

The fence surrounding the village would stay in place, and a new fence would be erected around the enclosure, terminating at the village fence. Everyone passing between the two areas would need to go through a highly secure gate.

Gavin took the tablet and scrolled through the drawings.

"Well?" Kalugal said.

"The residence is fine. The guard house needs a second exit, and Kian mentioned an underground tunnel connecting the two." He handed the tablet back to Kalugal.

Kian shook his head. "That was when I thought the Eight would have a house there. This configuration doesn't need it."

Gavin nodded. "I'll redraw it."

"Make the footprint smaller," Kian said. "How long to build?"