“Is this really necessary?” Bridget asked as she spread her arms and let William search her with his bug-detecting contraption.

Kian leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. “Your boyfriend might have planted something on you. Where Annani’s security is concerned, I’m not willing to take any risks.”

She rolled her eyes. “Did anyone tell you that you’re paranoid?”

“You call it paranoia. I call it caution.”

“Do you want to pat me down too?”

“No, but I want you to change clothes. And shoes. Leave your laptop and phone here while you go upstairs to change. William is going to check them.”

Damn. This was one of the two outfits she usually wore for important meetings, and the other one was at the dry cleaners. She would have to throw something together.

“How do you know he didn’t plant bugs in all my clothes?”

“Just wear something you haven’t worn lately.”

With a sigh, Bridget lifted her large tote and put it on top of William’s cluttered desk. “You’d better check this too.”

The guy blushed. “Thank you. I was going to ask you to leave it while you go upstairs.”

“Don’t forget the shoes!” Kian called after her as she exited William’s lab.

“I heard you the first time,” she muttered.

Up until she hooked up with Turner, Bridget had been treated as a trusted council member and respected as the clan’s doctor and researcher; now she was treated like an accomplice.

Up in her apartment, she changed into a pair of black slacks and a grey blouse that she hadn’t worn in years. It was one of the few outfits that had survived the closet cleanup she’d done in preparation for Turner’s arrival. Paired with low-heeled black pumps, the ensemble would do. Conservative, comfortable, and blah.

On her way back to William’s lab, she stopped by the clinic. If Kian was in no hurry, sending her for an unnecessary wardrobe changeover, he could wait a few more minutes for her to check on Julian.

“Hi, Mom.” Her son looked away from the computer screen he’d been staring at when she’d walked in.

Bridget leaned and planted a kiss on his cheek. “What are you reading?”

He pointed at the screen. “An article about genetic mapping.”

“Anything interesting?”

“I just started reading it.”

“Let me know if you learn anything new. I stopped by to let you know I’ll be gone all day. If you need help, call Hildegard.”

“Where are you going?”

“A meeting with Annani.”

He whistled. “Must be important.”

“It is. I’m going to try gaining her support before my speech in front of the big assembly. If she is on our side, the clan will follow her lead.”

Julian pursed his lips. “Not everyone, but enough. The younger generation doesn’t hold her in the same high esteem.”

“Really?”

He shrugged. “You know how it is. This is the age of entitlement. They are asking what’s in it for them.”

Bridget patted his shoulder. “We will talk about it when I come back. The others are waiting for me.”

“Have a safe trip.”

“Thanks.”

She kissed him again before leaving.

In fact, she took every opportunity to kiss her son. Bridget hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until he’d gotten back. Mothers were supposed to let go of their grown children. It wasn’t healthy to cling, and she wasn’t going to, but as long as Julian didn’t protest, she was going to kiss him and hug him as much as she could.

One day he would, hopefully, find his truelove, and then Bridget would have to step back and let another woman take center stage in Julian’s life. She was okay with that, more than okay, she wanted him to be happy, to be loved.

But until then he was hers.

When she got back to the lab, William performed another quick scan before declaring her clean.

“Okay.” Kian lifted his briefcase off the floor. “Is everyone ready?”

“Where is Syssi?” Bridget asked.

Kian grimaced. “She is not coming.” He followed Anandur into the elevator and held the door open for her.

“Why? I thought she wanted to visit the sanctuary.”

“It’s my sister’s fault. Spouting some nonsense about not mixing business with pleasure, Amanda convinced her that they should go together some other time. She said Annani would be offended if Syssi’s first visit wasn’t some grand affair which was planned weeks in advance.” Kian strode in the direction of his car, with Bridget trotting behind him trying to keep up.

“Amanda is right. I’m glad she thought of that. Upsetting Annani is the last thing we want on this trip.” She should remember to thank Amanda later.

Kian waved a dismissive hand as he climbed into the passenger seat of his Lexus. “Nonsense. She would’ve been happy to see Syssi.”

Bridget climbed up into the back seat. “For one hour? While we presented our case? I don’t think so.”

Kian turned around to face her. “Yeah, I see what you mean. Annani will want to show Syssi around and have her undivided attention for at least a couple of days.”

“You should make plans for that. You know it would make her happy.”

He nodded. “I should. I’m a crappy son for not thinking of it myself.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. I’m a mother, so I know how a mother thinks. When you have children of your own, you’ll understand.”

Damn. She was such an idiot.

Kian’s pained expression reminded her that he’d had a child once. A human girl who he’d watched grow old and die.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I forgot.”

He nodded. “I didn’t get to be a father to my daughter. I watched as another man raised her, and it was centuries ago. I have no idea how a parent thinks.”

That wasn’t true, but Bridget wasn’t going to correct him. The sooner this conversation was forgotten, the better.

Kian had taken care of his daughter the best way he could under the circumstances. Faking his own death had meant that he couldn’t have shown himself to her, but he’d found ways to provide for her and her children and then their children. He had kept them safe for as long as he could.

As they arrived at the clan’s airstrip, Annani’s jet, which had been flown in by one of her Odu servants, was already waiting for them, fueled and ready to go.

Kian, always the gentleman, motioned for Bridget to climb aboard first. Anandur waited until Kian was seated to close and lock the door.

The jet had four passenger seats, and with Syssi not joining them, Kian could’ve brought Brundar along, but apparently, he’d decided to leave his other bodyguard behind. Though in truth, even Anandur wasn’t necessary on this trip. Annani’s sanctuary was the safest place on earth for immortals. Kian didn’t need his bodyguards at all.

As she buckled up, it crossed Bridget’s mind that Kian wanted Anandur on the trip to keep her company. The Guardian’s job was to save Kian from having to talk to her on the long flight.

In that respect, Kian wasn’t much different from Turner. Both men were inept at social interactions, mainly at casual conversations. The difference was that Kian was emotional, sometimes overly so, while Turner was not.

Except, Bridget suspected that wasn’t entirely true. Turner didn’t lack the capacity to feel, he actively stifled it. The only question was whether he did it consciously or subconsciously.

The why was pretty damn obvious.

He would benefit from a few sessions with Vanessa, but the chances of that happening were slim. Victor was stubborn, and it had taken bribery combined with pressure for him to agree to chemotherapy.

One battle at a time.

The cancer had to be dealt with first.