In this scene from Crystal Clear Truth, Shohn and Joe meet for dinner and to discuss how Shohn's company, idBot, can help Joe find the person he's looking for.
Joe scooted his chair closer. "Is it true that what I say to idBot stays with idBot?"
"It is. Like lawyers and clergy."
"My father considered firestorms not as random incidents." He chewed his lower lip, his bright-blue gaze focused on Shohn. "Kin know when someone's lying, isn't that right?"
"Yes. Human scent gives them away. It's not impossible to lie to us without us knowing, but it is rare."
"You'll know what I say is the truth, correct?"
What was he getting at? Did he plan to lie? Odd way to go about it, if so. "I would know whether you believed something was true."
"Okay." Joe squared his shoulders. "My father believed firestorms have a personal agenda."
She considered those words. "What you're saying is he thought the firestorms themselves were planning where to strike."
"Yes. I know it sounds crazy, but when you examine the evidence..." He sighed. "I don't mean to sound condescending, but you wouldn't understand. There are only a handful of people who would, and those few are all in the TCF. But they refused to take him seriously."
If Saint-Cyr could hear this, he would be cheering. Firestorms did indeed have their own agenda, but this was the first time anyone other than an immortal had recognized it.
Gaining Joe's trust might be the key to carrying out both her missions.
Shohn laid back one ear. "I imagine the TCF tried to silence him."
"They thought he'd lost his mind. He and I debated his theory often, and we'd swap sides. We'd each argue for, then against. We tried poking holes in it, but it held. It frustrated him that the TCF considered his observations 'metaphysical' instead of scientific."
"They didn't appreciate the balance between the two?"
"Not one bit." Joe folded his hands on the table. "My dad literally wrote the book on firestorms, and knew what he was talking about. They'd never dream of letting him go, of course, even if they considered his later theories quackery. I'm more careful about discussing the topic."
"You're saying that, professionally, you have to be dishonest about your beliefs."
"Yes. At least, inside the TCF. I don't talk about what I believe, and I document none of what I do with the TCF. Dad's research was private, but they laid claim to it when he died, and suppressed it. What they don't know is that I have copies of everything in a secure location. His final theories were ridiculed when he was alive, and now that he's gone, they exist, officially, only in what we shared, what I remember, and handwritten notes I've locked away."
Antonello Brothers
Click covers for the buy link.
Series page https://kayelleallen.com/antonello-brothers
Support me by buying direct https://kayelleallen.com/buy-direct/buy-ab/
#SciFi #Romance
Claim your immortality by signing up for my newsletter
Download a printable book list or a list of trigger warnings for all books. Claim your immortality by signing up for my newsletter.
Immortal Reviews Rock & Rule • Join the Review Team
Copyright ©2025 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved.
Imperial Archive Notice
Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!
My characters may be found in multiple books within this story universe.
Pietas images courtesy of Nik Nitsvetov Pietas cosplays.
Transmission complete.
The Empire remembers.
Remain. Endure. Return.
Firestorms are fascinating!
Thank you. The more you learn about them the more surprising they are.
In reading Crystal Clear Truth, I found myself a bit puzzled by the material about firestorms and the Sil. Which books introduce these concepts?
The first mention of them is at the end of At the Mercy of Her Pleasure. Luc tells Dessy he thinks the crystals should be next on the agenda and she tells him Pietas agrees. Dessy has worn blue fire crystals in a few books. In Surrender Love, Luc is wearing a huge one and Dessy says, “Oh, Luc, that’s not one of…” And he’s insulted she would ask. Here’s the next line: “The Tyrans found this one at the base of their deepest mine, halfway to the heart of Kyrenie.” The energy contained in a young Sil crystal was tantamount to an immortal’s lifeforce. This one was spent. “It’s ancient. Dead.” In Wulf, near the end: Luc headed across town to meet with an outworlder consortium seeking to market a new fuel source that would put crystal powered ships out of commission within fifty years. Possibly twenty. Just the sort of leverage he’d need for his next life. In Jawk, Wulf and Feeyona (his friend and one of Luc’s employees) are presented to the Empress: Rheyn Destoiya’s usual severe black uniform and scarlet sash had been upgraded to a sleeveless black sheath. Kyrenie fire crystals glittered at her neckline and ears. Black gloves covered her past the elbow. / I’ve mentioned them in multiple books, but this story is where their true story is revealed for the first time.
Enjoyed the excerpt. I especially like the line “”What you’re saying is he thought the firestorms themselves were planning where to strike.” Stirs a great vision. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Tena!
Sounds sinister – and hats off to the world building!
Thank you. I’ll take sinister any day 🙂
Sounds like trouble is coming
You got that right, Janet. lol 🙂