Damn. Kalugal was relentlessly fishing for information about Sari’s people.
That’s not what he’s doing. Listen to what he’s saying, the voice whispered excitedly. This could be the solution to your and Rufsur’s problem.
“What are you talking about?” Edna hissed out.
As everyone turned to look at her, Kalugal raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
Crap. Edna scrambled for a quick answer that would explain her outburst. “Sari needs to stay in Europe to look after the clan’s interests there. Besides, the unification of the two branches is not a good idea even from a security standpoint. If one location is compromised, at least part of the clan would survive.”
Kalugal nodded. “You are right.” He pinched his temples between his thumb and forefinger. “I didn’t think it through, which is not like me.” He shook his head as if trying to realign the gears. “I guess there are pros and cons in both situations.” He turned to Kian. “Since you are obviously not building homes for Sari and her people, who are you building for?”
Kian shrugged. “When I couldn’t convince the Chinese crew to come over just to put up the fence and build room additions to some of the existing homes, I came up with the idea of preparing more lots for future housing.” He smiled. “I’m an optimist. With all the new children that will hopefully be born as a result of matings between your men and my clanswomen, we will need more homes. But that’s going to be an issue only when they mature and find mates of their own. That’s why I’m only grading the lots at this time.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “Except, I have this small voice in the back of my head that insists on starting construction now, and I’m trying to figure out why my subconscious is pushing me in that direction. Perhaps it’s a premonition, and Sari will be forced to relocate for some reason.”
“You too?” Kalugal frowned. “That’s what it felt like when I suggested it. It was like the idea didn’t come from me. Perhaps your Fates are trying to tell us something?”
Smiling, Syssi threaded her arm through Kian’s. “I think that we should have a talk with Nathalie.”
Kian lifted a brow. “What does Nathalie have to do with it?”
“Nothing. But I have a feeling that a certain meddling ghost is involved, and we can talk to him through her.”
“A ghost?” Kalugal asked. “Did I hear right?”
Edna rolled her eyes. “We have been standing in the sun for too long, and the heat is affecting our brains. Let’s go back to the village and cool down with an iced lemonade in the café.”
“I second that idea.” Jacki wiped a bead of sweat off her upper lip. “It’s getting really hot out here. We can find a shaded spot in the café.”
Kalugal wrapped his arm around her. “Lemonade sounds perfect, and while we are chilling, Syssi can tell us all about that meddling ghost.”
Kian pulled out his phone. “The best one to tell the story is Amanda. She’s convinced that he sent her a message through Nathalie. But since Mark only talks to Nathalie, I doubt that he was the voice in my head, or yours, Kalugal.”
Syssi smiled apologetically. “To be frank, I was just joking. Nathalie hasn’t heard from Mark in a while, and she thinks that he moved on. But who knows? Maybe it was him.”
Edna shook her head. “Forgive me for saying this, but you are all crazy. Amanda was under a lot of pressure back then, and she was desperate for Mark’s forgiveness. Of course, she believed what Nathalie told her.”
“And what about Nathalie herself?” Syssi asked. “Do you think she’s crazy or a charlatan?”
Edna needed to tread lightly on that one. Nathalie was Syssi’s sister-in-law, and the two were close. Syssi would consider it a personal offense if Edna said something derogatory about Nathalie.
Besides, she didn’t entirely dismiss Nathalie’s claims.
Rare individuals had extrasensory perception, and Andrew’s wife might be able to tune into some reservoir of residual energy that remained after a person’s passing. What Edna didn’t believe in, was that ghosts entered random people’s heads and conducted conversations with them.
What about you? the voice whispered. You talk to me.
You are a figment of my imagination. Apparently, I’m also under a lot of stress, like Amanda was at the time. I also want to be with the man I love, and I can’t figure out a way to do it without betraying my people.
Edna froze.
The man I love? That was an even crazier idea than hearing voices in her head.
You said it, girl. Hallelujah. Finally, you admit it.
That was it. Monday, she was going to call Vanessa and schedule an appointment.
“Well?” Syssi glared at her. “Do you think that Nathalie is nuts?”
Edna shook her head. “Of course not. She is very intuitive, but the rest of us are not.”
“That’s funny.” Jacki chuckled. “Nutty Nathalie.”
Syssi turned her wrath on Jacki. “You too? Don’t you ever say that in front of her. That was the nickname that kids at school used to taunt Nathalie with. It made her so miserable that she was afraid to date or spend time with friends.”
“I’m sorry.” Jacki put a hand over her chest. “I’ll never say it again. I promise.”
33
Kian
On the weekends, the café only offered a vending service, so the place wasn’t as packed as it usually was during weekdays. Only five of the tables were occupied, and their group had no problem finding a shaded area where they could combine several tables to accommodate all of them.
After everyone got cold drinks from the machines and settled down, Amanda sauntered over with Nathalie. “Hello, darlings. I thought it would be best if I brought the ghost expert along.”
Jacki and Kalugal had met Nathalie during Richard’s first inductions, but Atzil and Ruvon hadn’t been there, so Amanda made the introductions.
Atzil jumped up and pulled out two chairs. “Ladies?” He dipped his head.
“Thank you.” Amanda rewarded him with a bright smile. “So what is this all about? Are the Chinese construction workers complaining about evil spirits again?”
Kian grimaced. “Not this time.”
Kalugal chuckled. “Ghosts, evil spirits, that should be interesting. The Chinese have a lot of superstitions.”
“They don’t allow women on the construction site,” Kian said. “That’s why I chose to show you the lots from an elevated spot instead of going down there.” He turned to Syssi. “Talking to Mark was your idea, so perhaps you should explain.”
Syssi’s cheeks pinked. “It’s probably nothing. Kian and Kalugal both experienced a mental nudge, and I said that I have a feeling Mark might have something to do with it.”
Amanda snorted. “When you get a feeling, everyone should pay attention.” She turned to Nathalie. “Well? What do you think?”
Nathalie shook her head. “I haven’t heard from Mark in a long time. He either moved on or found a new host.”
“But you know him well, right?” Amanda wasn’t ready to give up. “You can tell if it sounds like him or not, true?”