Page 7 of Dark Destiny: A New Thread in the Tapestry

"The other one is boring, which is why I think it's the better option, even though it needs more work to get production started." Shai pulled up the second brief. "It's a small electrical appliance manufacturer outside Reno, family-owned, second generation. They are losing money to overseas competition. We will need injection molding for the housings, but they have everything else to enable in-house electric motor winding and a battery pack assembly line, because everything they make is cordless. Light board assembly for the controllers and the chargers." He looked up. "With some modifications, it has most of what we need to make drones."

Shai always started with the options he dismissed and saved the best for last, so Kian wasn't surprised that this was the better deal.

"I like it."

Shai smiled. "I knew you would. They also have a well-trained, loyal workforce, and that's almost worth more than the facility. It's not easy to find skilled workers these days."

Kian looked at the numbers, and they looked good. The clan was already assembling exoskeletons, so adding drones to their military capacity seemed the next logical step. They might even make a profit by selling what they didn't need.

Selectively, of course. He wasn't going to sell weapons to despots or terrorists.

It wasn't his mother's vision, and she was not happy about the clan venturing into weapons production, but she realized that without military power, her sphere of influence would keep shrinking and darkness would keep encroaching on what she had already illuminated.

"Draft the offer," he said. "Thirty percent under what they're asking, and let them counter."

"Already drafted. I just need to plug in your numbers."

Kian smiled. "I told you that you could run the clan's business empire without me."

Shai chuckled. "No, thank you. I like having you making all the final decisions and shouldering the responsibility. I'm happy with my advisory position and number crunching."

Kian's phone buzzed against the desk.

He glanced at it, saw Alena's icon next to the message, and picked it up.

Khiann is awake! Come!

For a moment, he just stared at the screen.

"Kian?" Shai sounded worried. "Bad news?"

"Not this time." He stood up. "Khiann's awake."

Shai's mouth opened, and nothing came out.

"Alena just texted to let me know she wants me to come to the clinic. I assume the Clan Mother needs me."

"He's awake," Shai repeated in a whisper, as if afraid to say it aloud and break the spell.

"Yes. Finally." Kian pocketed his phone, uncomfortable with Shai's display of emotion. "I was afraid something would go wrong with Khiann's recovery from stasis, and he wouldn't wake up, or that he would wake up a vegetable. It would have broken my mother's spirit."

That was more than he had intended to share with his assistant, but since Shai was so emotional, he figured it was appropriate.

When Kian rounded the desk, Shai stepped into his path and wrapped his arms around him. "I'm so happy for the Clan Mother."

He froze, standing with his arms at his sides, waiting for Shai to finish his entirely inappropriate display of familiarity. When the guy just held on, he cleared his throat and patted his back. "It's a joyous moment. She's been waiting a very long time for this day."

"Five thousand years," Shai said into his shoulder, his voice thick.

"I know." Kian patted his back again and disengaged from his arms. "I really need to go."

"I'm sorry." Shai stepped back and let out a shaky breath. "I know you don't like hugs."

"It's fine."

It wasn't, but he didn't want to be an asshole and say that.

A knock on the door reminded him that he'd asked Turner to come for a short strategy meeting, and Turner had rearranged his schedule to make it happen. Now he had to bail on the guy, and he felt bad about it.