A Destiny Revealed (24 page)

 Zahra looked relieved and headed for the bed. “So,
exciting meeting last night, huh?”

Dalia’s laughter surprised them both and broke the tension.
Zahra relaxed and laid out on the bed making herself comfortable. She wore a
pair of men’s boxers that gave her an impish look. Her black tank top showed
off her slight figure and again Dalia wondered how this small woman managed to
stand her ground in the midst of the warriors twice her size.

“Yeah, can’t wait for the sequel.”

“I’m really sorry about that,” Zahra told her softly.

Dalia stared at her, and noted the sincerity in her almond
shaped eyes.

“It’s not your fault. Hell, it’s not anyone’s fault, I know
it’s not personal.”

Zahra’s relief brushed her senses and she frowned.

“Yeah, you'll start to feel more of that.” Zahra lifted the
cork from the wine bottle and took a swig. At Dalia’s puzzled look she
laughed. 
“The emotions.
You're connected to the
tribe now, well, you were always a part of the tribe but now you're connected.”

“Really.”
She searched her mind,
and sure enough she could sense the other warriors.

“The weirdest part for me is the closeness. There is nothing
like it. I didn’t have any family, well, my dad, but he… anyways I instantly
gained a family.”

“I’m sure they will welcome me with open arms.” Sarcasm
laced Dalia’s voice.

“You’ll see.” is all Zahra said. She grabbed a grape and
popped it into her mouth looking entirely too smug for Dalia’s taste.

“You’re a strange one, princess.” She opened a bag of potato
chips.

“So now that we’re friends, tell me about you and Bron.”

Dalia choked on the chips she had in her mouth. Zahra
offered her the bottle of wine. Dalia took it too gratefully and chugged it.

“None of your business,” Dalia muttered. There's no way she
would tell this tiny woman her secrets.

“Well, how long are you going to be mad at him?” Zahra
bumped her shoulder.

Dalia rolled her eyes and ignored Zahra’s question. She
started to say something when Zahra held up her hand. She could tell the oracle
was speaking with someone telepathically, so she waited her out. Dalia looked
up in surprise when two men were teleported into the room. One man was tall and
muscular; his dreadlocks were pulled neatly back from his face. And what a face
it was; his eyes were dark, framed by thick lashes, and thick eyebrows that
gave him an almost menacing look. His face was chiseled, his
cheekbones,
harsh slashes
and there was an arrogant slant to his mouth. The other
man was not as tall and imposing but was equally handsome.

Zahra’s face looked as surprised as hers. “Dalia, this is
Ajani,” she indicating the man with the dreadlocks, “and…”

“Jared,” the other man supplied.

 Zahra nodded and her smile looked
forced
as she welcomed him. “Jared, if you could please wait for us outside, I need to
speak with Ajani.”

The man nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly
behind him. Dalia stood to leave also but Zahra waved her back in her spot.

“Dalia, it's nice to meet you.” Ajani's voice was deep, his
accent not at all what Dalia expected. The coolness of his tone, though, she'd
expected that.

“Thank you, you too,” she mumbled.

“Ajani, how did you get here?”

His eyebrows lowered in confusion. 
“You
teleported me here.”

Dalia looked between the two of them.

“I didn’t teleport you.” Zahra scrambled from the bed and
stood. “How did you know what room I was in?”

Ajani shrugged. “I felt your pull.”

Bakari teleported into the room a moment
later, panic written across his face.

“What has happened?” Bakari's gaze went straight to Dalia.

She shrugged her shoulders. Jeez.

“Ajani teleported into the room, but I didn't bring him
here.” Zahra explained. “The pull you felt, is it the same as other times I
have teleported you?”

“I can't say. My only thought was to get back here and
rest.” Ajani said.

“How is that possible?” Bakari crossed his arms over his
chest. Now that he could see no danger for the oracle, his stance relaxed.

“I don’t know.” Zahra said absently.

“Well, now there is officially a party in here,” Dalia
muttered when Fynn teleported into the room.

“What’s wrong, baby?” he immediately went to his wife.

“How did you get here?” Zahra threw her hands in the air.

“You brought me here,” Fynn said frowning. “I felt your
distress.”

Zahra shook her head, her short bob moved around her face.
"Try to teleport into the kitchen.”

“Zahra, you know that-”

“Just try,” Zahra said.

Fynn frowned and shrugged his shoulder. He disappeared from
the room and then reappeared less than a minute later.

“How is this possible?” he asked when he popped back into
the room.

“I don’t know, but I need to speak with the goddess.” Zahra
moved to the door.

Silence descended on the room when she left. The warriors
all turned to her, their looks ranging from disbelief all the way to suspicion.

“Well, while this has been fun, if you guys don’t mind.”
Dalia inclined her head to the door.

Everyone but Bakari left the room. Dalia prepared for his
scorn but was surprised when he merely stared curiously at her.

“How is it that you are up during the day time?”

Dalia looked at the alarm clock next to her bed and noticed
that it was only late afternoon. She shrugged. “It's been this way since I
began feeding from Bron.”

 Bakari watched her silently. “I will have shutters
installed on the windows so you're free to move around during the day.” He turned
to leave.

“Why the change of heart?”

“I feel you in the tribe’s link.” He shrugged. “You’re
connected.”  He closed the door before Dalia could respond. Family, that’s
what Zahra called it, maybe they would welcome her after all.

Chapter 23

BRON PLAYED CARDS with Fynn in the living room— at least
that’s what he was trying to do. His eyes kept darting to the entranceway
hoping to catch sight of Dalia. It was well after sundown and he'd expected her
to drift downstairs. His heart stuttered when she walked in an hour later. His
beast roared in satisfaction when Bron noticed her wearing one of his t-shirts
and the jeans she'd worn to the house yesterday. He, along with Fynn stood as
she neared them. She waved them back into their seats.

“No need for that.” She sat next to Bron on the sofa.

His hands tightened on the playing cards. The smell his soap
on her skin had him fighting himself to keep from leaning over into her lap.

“How are you this evening?” He kept his eyes focused on his cards.
He knew if he looked at her he would be lost. As it was, his body was attuning
to hers, feeling every shuffle, every sigh as though it were his own. His skin
felt tight. Absently he rubbed his chest hoping to calm his beast.

“I’m fine, Bron.”

Her answer was polite, so he considered that progress.
Bakari entered the room and Bron pulled Dalia close to his side, before he
thought about it. Dalia tensed, but quickly relaxed. His beast moved through
him and he knew she was able to feel it. 

“What game are you playing?” Her voice was strained and Bron
felt a small amount of satisfaction that she was having a hard time, same as
him.

“I'm kicking his ass in gin,” Fynn answered.
“Seems he is distracted.”

“Well, a beautiful woman wearing my shirt and smelling of me
is a suitable distraction in my mind,” Bron's eyes never left his cards. Fynn’s
laugh was cut off as his wife came into the room.

“You have spoken with the goddess?” Bakari asked.

Zahra nodded, a smile splitting her face. “She tells me that
the warriors are all able to teleport on their own. It is her gift to the tribe
from Dalia.” All eyes turned to Dalia. She started to say something but was
interrupted by Aren teleporting into the room.

“Hot damn, we can teleport.” He announced. He high fived
Zahra, but his face sobered quickly.

“What have you found out?” Bakari asked him gruffly.

“It is as Dalia said, her family is being watched. It seems
to be humans during the day from what I can tell.” Aren reported.

Fury rose within Bron as he thought about the danger Dalia’s
family was in. He glanced at her and saw the fear in her eyes. She cleared her
throat.

“What else?” she asked and her voice was clear, strong. For
that, Bron was thankful.

“The humans watching them are under heavy compulsion, it
would take a very powerful vampire to keep them that way during the day time.”
Aren commented. “On the bright side though, we only have to worry about three
family members.” He said smiling.

Dalia’s lips tilted into a small smile, “Let me guess, my
niece has gotten rid of her tail.”

“And then some,” Aren commented.

“Who would be strong enough to pull this off and what do
they want?” Bakari paced the room.

Dalia could tell his mind was spinning. She looked at Zahra
and the other woman raised her eyebrow. 

“A vampire named Nala has asked that I lead her to the
oracle and you,” she told the Ijoye. He stopped pacing, his eyes wide, eyebrows
lifted in surprise.

“Me? She called me by name?” he asked.

Dalia nodded. “To me it seemed that she was not so concerned
with the oracle, but more so the amulet and you, Bakari.”

“I know of no one named Nala,” Bakari said more to himself
than to the group of them. His gaze pierced Dalia. “How were you to deliver
us?” Dalia shrugged and Bakari resumed his pacing. The room was tense, the
silence a strained one.

“How were you supposed to contact her?” Fynn asked her.

“She gave me a phone and told me to call her from here. I
assumed she would be able to trace the call,” Dalia answered.

Fynn inhaled sharply. “You have this phone with you, in this
house?”

Dalia could see his worry, hell she could feel it, wrapping
itself around her and for a moment she started to panic. Bron touched her
lightly and she pulled back.

“I left it at home. I decided to ask the oracle for help.
Despite what you think about me, I would never intentionally harm someone who
had done me no wrong.” Dalia didn’t bother getting offended, these people
didn’t know her; she wouldn’t take it personally. “I can go back to my place to
get the phone if you want me to contact her.”

“No, absolutely not,” Bron interjected. “She probably has
someone watching your apartment, waiting on you.” He shuddered at the thought
of someone attacking her in her home.

“It may be the only way, Bron,” Bakari said.

“I will not risk my mate,” Bron said stubbornly.

Dalia shot him a look before standing. “You don’t control
me.”

Bron swallowed his terse reply. He would not argue with her
in front of the tribe. “We can think of a better way.”

“This is the best way.” She stood with her feet apart, her
eyes fiery waiting for a fight.

He would give her the fight that she wanted, but on his
terms. He stood from the sofa and grabbed her arm. Before she could speak he
teleported them from the room.

“Where have you taken me?”

“We are in my room at the temple.” He said simply, “if you
want to fight, we can have it out here, where no one can pry.” Her anger was
palpable and his fingers itched with the need to touch her. He felt the power
enter the room only seconds before he was able to push her body behind his.
Saleem stood at the door of his room, his face a blank mask.

“Need I ask?” Saleem’s eyes took them both in.

“No,” Bron growled. Saleem gave a Gallic shrug and walked
away.

“I’m leaving,” Dalia announced.

Bron grabbed her arm quickly. “No, you are not. We're going
to talk.”

“What could you possibly have to say that would excuse what
you did, Bron?” Dalia crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her eyebrow.

“I was being pressured, Dalia. I didn’t know what to do. All
I knew is that I wanted you with me, and the only way for that to happen was to
do as I was asked. I never meant to betray you.”

“But you did. You were supposed to be different, Bron. I
trusted you as I’ve trusted no one else.” Her soft voice was as effective as a
scream.

 Guilt swamped him.   “I will pay for that mistake
for a thousand lifetimes,
rewà.
” His chest rose and fell with his heavy
breathing. “What will it take to earn your forgiveness?”

“Why won’t you leave me be?”

“Because I can’t, Dalia.
I love you
until I ache with it.”

Such a simple statement, but it had the power to destroy
her.

“What do you want from me?” her voice betrayed her and the
question came out a hoarse whisper.

“Only that you give me another chance.” Bron stepped closer
to her until nothing but a breath separated them.

“I don’t give second chances.” Unshed tears made her eyes
luminous and Bron couldn’t look away. His heart stopped as a niggling of doubt
worked its way into him. He pushed it aside; he could not lose her again.

“Then why haven’t you left, Dalia? You have the power to
leave, and yet you are still here, with me.” He taunted. “You cannot give up
your mate any more than I can.”

“Do you want me to tell you I need you?” She poked her
finger into his chest. “Well, I hate the fact that I need you, that I can’t
breathe past wanting you. I can’t afford to love you, Bron. There is no room in
my life for
it.”           

“It’s too late,
mi ôkàn
. Whether you allow yourself
to love me or not, I will still love you.” He closed the space between them,
his lips crushing hers in a kiss that poured out his feelings to her. She
moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck and Bron mentally jumped for joy.
He broke the kiss when he felt her tears against his cheeks.