A Destiny Revealed (26 page)

Zahra's eyes widened. "I can go to Bron, now and wake
him."

Oya wrung her hands. "Time passes differently here. It
may be minutes for you here, but hours, days even there."

Dalia blanched. "That would have been handy to know
earlier."

"Watch your tone, girl. I didn't think it necessary to
tell you earlier. You were not supposed to be traipsing around my temple
without me knowing." Oya snapped.

Zahra stepped between the two. "What should we do
now?"

Oya took a deep breath and ran her hands down the front of
gown fighting the cold hand of panic "Zahra you must get to the temple
quickly. Tell Bron that Dalia has found the gateway. He will know what that
means. Only he is to enter, Zahra. Do not enter after him. Tell him to go no
further than the doorway. Have him use his link to Dalia to call to her, over
and over until she appears before him. Understood?" Zahra nodded and
disappeared.

Oya turned her gaze to Dalia.

Peace enveloped her, and she found it hard to be as worried
as the goddess appeared.

"Don't Dalia," Oya warned. "Do not get
comfortable."

"I'm
sorry,
I didn't mean to
cause all this trouble." 

"You never do anything the easy way." The goddess
watched her closely.

 Dalia's body felt leaden, and she blinked slowly.
"It really is beautiful here."

"You cannot stay here. Your body will start to break
down, your soul will fight to free itself, and then the body will die. There is
no coming back from that."

"That wouldn't be such a bad thing, Goddess. There is only
so much pain a person can take." Dalia's voice was slow, dreamy. She
should be worried, but couldn't make the effort for the emotion.

BRON SHOOK HIS HEAD and cursed. Someone called his name
again. He frowned at Zahra standing at the foot of his bed, fear and anxiety
coming off her in waves.

"What has happened?" He reached for Dalia and sat
up quickly when he noticed the bed next to him empty.  "Where's
Dalia?"

"She found the gateway." Zahra disappeared through
his door.

Rolling from the bed and willing on clothes, Bron ran after
her. He finally caught up with her at the stairs leading deeper into the
temple. His heart stopped when they reached a wooden door he spent his life
protecting and guarding. Panic gripped him, fear lodged firmly into his chest.
His beast prowled and Bron felt the hair on his arms lift as magic saturated
the air. He shook his head.

"She wouldn't
Zahra,
she
didn't know this door existed."

"She did, and you need to call to her." Zahra
ordered. "Open the door, but don't go in, go only as far as the door
way."

Bron's heart thudded in alarm. "And do what?"

"Find your link to Dalia and call her to you."

It sounded so easy when she said it, but Bron roared in
frustration when moments later he couldn't find the link to his mate. His beast
moved through him in grief and Bron dropped to his knees, as he fought to keep
his body from changing. The animal clawed at his insides, and pressure
tightened on his chest until he swore he couldn't breathe. He flexed his hands
as they tightened and ached.

"Concentrate, Bron, please." Zahra's voice whipped
through his grief.

 Bron channeled the energy of his lion and searched
again. He found a small spark he knew was Dalia and grabbed tight, pulling that
spark of magic into his soul. He closed his eyes, his breathing labored as he
fought to call Dalia to him.

"Come to me,
rewa
," he whispered. He filled
his mind with his love for her, with his faith in her. A second touch entered
his mind, making his hold stronger.
Her family.
Both
her mother and her brother's voice joined his and together they pulled her
spirit. Her presence grew stronger in his mind. Dalia's magic flared and moved
closer.

Zahra gasped and Bron opened his eyes. Dalia stood before him,
her eyes filled with tears. She released a breath as he jerked her tightly into
his arms.

"Bron, I can't breathe."

"Dalia, you…" Bron slammed his lips down on her
mouth. Fear, grief and relief were poured into the kiss. His tongue plundered
her mouth, tasting her, reassuring himself she was in one piece. He broke from
the kiss scraping his teeth down her neck. Dalia arched into him, her sob
ripping his beast out of his control. Bron dragged her from the doorway pushing
her into the nearest wall.

"Don't ever scare me like that again." His voice a
deep rumble, the words jumbled as his animal jumped for control. His jaw was
tight as he clenched his teeth. He and animal fought. The man fought to
control, needing to reassure his mate. Rage and fear drove the animal, the need
to mark her, reassert its claim prevalent. Bron rubbed his face against her
neck, marking her with his scent. His lion growled in frustration, it was not
enough. His mouth ached as his teeth elongated, he bit down on her shoulder,
his teeth piercing her skin. The bite punishment for the danger she put herself
in.

Dalia cried out, her arms circling his neck. She moaned.
"I'm okay, papi."

There was no fear of him. She was accepting of his animal.
Her body stroked along his, and her hands moved in soothing motions down his
back. It quieted the animal and a low purr rumbled his chest. He licked over
her shoulder soothing the bite, man and beast both under control.

"I'm sorry,
rewa
." He kissed her shoulder.

"Thank you for bringing me back." She buried her
face into his neck and slumped in his arms.

"Dalia," Bron pulled her into his arms.

No response.

Her head lolled forward, her hair trailing his arm. Bron
sucked in a breath.

"Dalia." He shook her, but still she didn't wake.

He met Zahra's panic stricken gaze.

"I'll find a healer." Zahra disappeared.

Bron roared in anguish and ran to his room, the hallways
blurring. He laid his mate gently onto his bed, his heart thundering in his
ears.

"Dalia,
rewa
,
wake
up
for me."

Nothing.

She lay on his bed, her face peaceful,
her
breaths shallow. Bron laid his head on her chest to check her pulse. It was
there– barely.

"Wake up, baby." He slapped her face softly,
calling her name. His body tightened, flexed and his beast clawed at him for
control. His claws exploded from his fingers and his teeth crowded his mouth.
His lion pushed forward making a mockery of Bron's control. He stepped from the
bed, battling the grief ripping his insides. His rough breaths were the only
sound in the room as he forced his magic down and climbed into bed with Dalia.
Pulling her into his arms, he closed his eyes and focused on their connection.
He would not lose this woman.

"Bron.
This is Lady and Miss
Hattie."

He lifted his head as Zahra rushed into the room, two women trailing
behind her. He didn't know how much time had passed. The first was young but
the intelligence and wisdom that lit her eyes belied her youth. Her dark brown
eyes dismissed him quickly going to Dalia. This was Lady, he'd heard talk of
her. Miss Hattie, behind her moved slower, but Bron sensed her power sweeping
his mate's sleeping form.

"You are holding her to you?" Lady did not take
her eyes from Dalia.

"Yes."

"Good. If you'll just step back a little, warrior,
we'll take care of your mate." A smooth southern drawl, Hattie's voice
soothed him. Strength and confidence surrounded both women and his beast
relaxed, trusting these women.

Zahra touched his shoulder and he grabbed her hand. The
women worked in tandem. They pulled candles from their bag and Lady placed them
around the room, lighting them. Their movements were unrushed.

Bron clenched his hands. They should move faster.

"There is no rush, warrior. So long as you hold your
mate, we have time." Hattie's reprimand was gentle, but no less effective.

Instantly contrite, Bron lowered his head.  "I
apologize."

Hattie smiled.

Lady's chiding look was less understanding. She held his
gaze with narrowed eyes before huffing in impatience and returning to her task.

"How long was she across the veil, Oracle?" Lady
placed her hand across Dalia's chest.

"Not long, but Oya says time moves differently
there."

Lady pursed her lips in concentration. "Miss
Hattie?"

Hattie moved to the other side of the bed. Her hands hovered
at Dalia's stomach, moved to her chest and stopped at her temples. The two
women began a low chant. They took turns sweeping their arms across Dalia's
body.

Not once did his mate move, or acknowledge their presence.
Bron watched, mesmerized by their movements. Lavender and a stringent smell
drifted from the candles filling the room. His eyes blurred and time slowed.
Instinct swayed his body in a long forgotten rhythm, as their chants grew
louder. Beside him Zahra joined her voice to theirs. Dalia's body lifted from
the bed, pulsing with every sweep of Lady's hands. Miss Hattie's loud clap
reverberated through the room and just like that the chanting stopped.

Time stopped.

The two women's heads dropped and silence descended.

"She's in between." Hattie announced.

Bron swallowed to moisten his dry mouth. "What does
that mean?"

"Her spirit is confused. Her body has crossed the veil
but parts of her spirit still linger there." Lady laid a small kiss to
Dalia's forehead.

"It's the danger of traveling." Ms. Hattie leaned
down to kiss her cheek. "It's the reason an anchor is needed."

Guilt raked him. "I didn't know."

"It's not your fault, Bron. She didn't know
either." Zahra touched his forehead with hers.

"Rub this on her body, twice a day. Keep calling to her
and reminding her of reasons to stay here, in this world." Lady handed him
a small jar.  "Gather her family around. It will help."

Bron sniffed it. "What is it?"

"None of your business.
Do
like I asked." She turned her back to him and starting packing up.

Miss Hattie smiled. "It's a mixture of Neroli and other
herbs. It will keep her body energized."

Zahra laughed at his frown. "Just do it, Bron. I'll go
get her family." She turned to Miss Hattie. “Thank you again for coming
all this way. I know you’re dealing with so much right now.

Hattie waved her off. “Amina will get through this, you
needed me here.”

Zahra nodded. “Please let me know if there is anything I can
do for her.”

“I will.” Miss Hattie gave Bron one last nod and left the
room.

***

Hours later, Bron traced his fingers down her cheek and
watched her sleep. Goddess she was beautiful. He wished it were only sleep. He
tested their link and called to her.
Still no response.
A fissure of power disturbed the room. He slipped from the bed quietly. Fynn met
him at the door.

"Zahra is working on getting the family here. But with
the vampires surrounding them, we’re trying to do it in a way that won’t lead
them here."

Bron nodded. "I need to-"

"Go, I'll sit with her." They touched foreheads.

Bron sighed with relief. He didn't have to explain the
restlessness. Fynn had gone through the same thing when Zahra was kidnapped
last year.

He wandered the halls he'd spent centuries pacing.
Inevitably he stood at the door of the gateway. He'd nearly lost his mate. Emotion
choked him, slumped his shoulders. With a mind
of their own,
his feet carried him down another hall. Another wooden door loomed in front of
him.

The door to his nightmares.

He pushed open the door. He expected dust and neglect to greet
him but the room was clean, spotless even. His eyes darted to the corner where
he'd held his brother. Nuru's bloody image flashed before him and he staggered
back.

"No," he whispered. Bron kneeled. His eyes caught
the bed where Layla had taken her last breaths. If he lost Dalia, she would be
his second failure to the tribe.

"Don't, Bron."

The touch of his goddess warmed him and he lowered his body
prostrate before her. "Forgive me, Goddess."

Oya kneeled next to him.
"For what,
warrior?"

Bron refused to lift his eyes. "Whatever offense I've
caused you. Just please don't take your gift from me. Whatever I've done, I
will atone for, but I cannot live without her." He lifted his head at her
silence. His animal stepped forward ready to shield the man. He knew his eyes
would be that of his cat.

"Do you think I would punish you in this way, Bron?
That I would take Dalia from you for some perceived slight?"

"I failed the tribe."

"You've failed no one, Bron. Your mate is independent
and stubborn. You know how hard it is to predict her actions." Oya pulled
him into her. He laid his head on her shoulder.

"It was my job to protect that door.
To
see that no one entered."

Oya scoffed. "You are to accomplish this with no sleep?
Dalia would've found that door. It's part of her gift. That gateway would've
called to her."

"I'm sorry for Layla."

"Layla is another matter altogether. The tribe was
betrayed. Even I was blinded."

"I shouldn't have left the oracle alone."

Oya separated them and lifted his chin. "I apologize to
you for the harshness of my punishment. I said words in anger that have
impacted us all."

"I won't fail you again, Goddess." Bron swore.

"Rest your soul, warrior. There is no blame in this
situation. Keep Dalia tied to you and all will be well." She kissed his
forehead and disappeared.

Bron stayed kneeled, lost in thought. Should've, could've
raced through his mind. If only he'd warned Dalia about the door. He allowed
himself a few more moments of silence before he got to his feet. Her family
would be here soon, and his mate needed him strong. He would bring her back to
them, even if he had to travel to the gates of Hell to get her.