Origins (3 page)

“There was a vine and I wasn’t paying attention; I tripped over the stupid thing. I’m sorry, Zareb, I think I twisted it.”

“Can you stand?”

Zareb held out a hand to help her up. The warmth from her fingers surged through his body. His cock stood at attention. His body didn’t get the memo that now was not the time. His cat clawed at him—wanting release, wanting his mate. The panther inside him wanted out to play and it had been too long since his last shift. He tended to do it away from the others in their pack, being the only cat among wolves.

Joy started to crumple back to the ground. Zareb pulled her body to his, pressed tight breast to chest with his hands grasping her ass. There was no way she could miss his erection.

She jerked back and fell down again.

Zareb closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He was in control of his body and was not an animal; he could keep his mating instincts at bay for the time being.

“Maybe we should stop for the night,” Joy suggested from her spot on the ground.

“That might be for the best. The sun is going down and I do not think we should walk the jungle at night. If you were a shifter I would suggest changing and continuing on.”

“Listen here, cat man, I can do things you can’t even imagine. If you want to continue, we will.”

Zareb allowed himself to smile. Joy was so refreshing. Not like women he knew—not that he was acquainted with many. Zareb kept to himself for the most part—it was his job to protect, not interact.

“We will rest for now. If you want to go crazy, we can leave again in a couple of hours. I think I have a first aid kit in one of these bags. We need to at least wrap that ankle.”

Zareb took Joy’s bag and moved away from her. He wanted the Vessel out of sight. There was a bush off to the side and he shoved his satchel under it. It should be safe for the night; he could put a ward up if he needed to. Being a source of pure evil, it could draw unwanted attention. Masking it so it didn’t sing to others would be the best route to take—he’d talk to Joy about it in the morning when they were both rested.

Joy didn’t stand back up. There was a log not too far from her, so she shifted back against it. While he searched the bag, Joy gathered twigs and vines around her, then she started to dig into the ground with her hand. When that wasn’t fast enough for her, Joy started to chant. Zareb stopped what he was doing to just watch her. She was so fluid in her movements. Her magic was like a dance. Her voice called to him.

“Let there be light!” At Joy’s last word the pile of kindling she’d gathered blazed to life. The delight on her face made him smile.

When was the last time Zareb had enjoyed life? He could not remember a time recently.

He ripped his focus from Joy and searched for the first aid kit. It was a good thing he’d had the presence of mind to swap out the bags when the tribe had invaded. Throwing one of the satchels at Dji was a good distraction, at least until they looked inside and didn’t find the Vessel.

He did not want to think of what torture Dji would be going through. Once again it was his fault that his brother was in hell. If not for his stupid weakness things would be so different.

* * * *

“That thing must be destroyed. Lead us to where you found that abomination and we will take care of it. Are you not guardians? Why did you bring that evil into our tribe?” The elder’s voice shook with anger.

“Elder, Djimon and I will return the Vessel to the clearing after the ceremony. If you think it is so evil, it would be for the best. We would have our full powers to deal with it.”

No way did Zareb want to get rid of that beautiful object. It would be his. If he could ever get his hands on it. Dji had not let go of it and now the tribe wanted to take away the object before he could fully inspect the wonders it held inside. It was his.

“You speak true, Zareb. Let us begin. Gather your brothers. Let us bring forth our champions, it looks as if we are in grave need. Djimon, you must set that thing down so we can conduct the ceremony.”

Dji nodded. Zareb kept his gaze on the vase, making sure it was in his sight.

The village shaman appeared and the guardian ceremony started. After this, they would be charged with protecting the tribe with their very lives if need be. Dji and Zareb disrobed and stood, naked and proud. The chants rose around him, louder and louder. Zareb closed his eyes. The power settled over him, through him—he could feel everything—the wind on the foliage, the animals looking on in the jungle.

The screams brought him out of his trance. Chaos surrounded him. His tribe brothers writhed on the ground.

“Shaman, help them. Do something.” Zareb begged.

“There is only one thing I can think to do.”

“Why do you wait? Do it.”

“The balance will be off. It could make it worse.” The man began to chant.

“No! What are you doing? Zareb, make him stop. He is changing the others. It should only be the two of us. This is wrong.”

“Dji, he has to. They are dying.” Zareb gestured around him.

“Then they die. We must protect everything. Not just our tribe. If this happens, everything will change,” Dji begged.

Zareb ignored him and moved towards the Vessel. Now would be the time to claim it. While everything was going crazy. The screams had stopped for a brief moment before they started again.

He was almost there when Dji took the vase up in his hands. It flared a bright blinding white, bringing Zareb to his knees. The urge he had to have the Vessel vanished. Zareb shook his head to clear it. It hurt. Something was not right.

His tribe surrounded him, but they were all shifted into cats and attacking each other. Blood spattered the ground bright red. Djimon looked broken, lying there, not moving but clutching the object that Zareb had wanted so badly just moments ago.

The elders were correct. It was evil, pure unadulterated evil, and Dji had not dropped it when the world went white. They must destroy it.

Zareb walked with new purpose. His body wanted to shift and join in the fight. That was his friend, the brother of his heart and soul. They would protect everything together—once that vase was taken care of.

“Kill them, all my warriors. Kill them and come to me!” Dji’s voice roared through the jungle.

Some of the shifters turned to Dji. Others ignored him and held their ground. It looked like not all of them had turned bad. Zareb could use that to his advantage.

“Dji, what are you doing?” Zareb took a cautious step forward.

“What needs to be done. The weak will die and I will rule.” Dji hugged the Vessel close to his body.

How could all of that evil come from such a beautiful object? Zareb noticed it didn’t sing to him anymore. That couldn’t be good.

“No, this is not you talking. It cannot be.” Dji was the purest soul Zareb had ever known. There was no way evil could penetrate him. Zareb refused to believe it! If anyone should have been tempted, it was him.

“Join me, brother, and we will take over the world, one village at a time.” A malevolent gleam shone in his friend’s dark eyes.

“I do not believe what you are saying. Was it not you who said we must protect everything? We need to get the balance back. The shaman said the change—”

“It matters not. They made our being guardians a joke. Look at all of them. They must die, then we can take over.”

“This is not you speaking, Dji. Come back to me. We can fix this.”

“You are either with me or against me, brother. Choose, but make it fast or I will kill you myself.”

* * * *

“Zareb!”

The voice sounded as if it came through a fog. Zareb took a moment to gather himself. The past was so clear, almost as if he was there.

“Sorry, my siel.”

“You’ve been standing there with a blank look on your face for a long time. I was beginning to worry.”

“The past haunts me. Even more so now that I am on my home soil.”

“The memories from here in
Africa
can’t all be bad.” Joy once again broke through his thoughts.

“Let us not talk of that. We need to wrap your ankle and eat. I managed to keep some protein bars and water when I swapped out the packs.”

He moved to where Joy had propped herself against a log. The fire was still going strong—he must not have been lost in the past for too long. Zareb knelt beside Joy and took her foot in his hand. He paused for a moment when she hissed in pain.

Zareb made quick work of securing the ankle. He couldn’t touch her for long because his desire was building and he wanted release. Not only because she was his mate but because the memories would not go away. In her arms he could be happy and forget what a bastard he was.

He did not deserve Joy. His cat was not happy with that thought, but Zareb did not care. He must be punished for bringing pain and suffering to so many. If need be, he would sacrifice himself to destroy the Vessel.

* * * *

Joy needed to comfort Zareb. Everything in her told her to go to her mate, the man who made up the other half of who she was—the part that she hadn’t even known was missing until she met him.

He was so distant—when he touched her he seemed to hold part of himself back. Joy wanted it all, and she would have it, now. Who knew what tomorrow would bring? They were in danger and she wasn’t an idiot—it might be their only chance and she would not waste it.

Decision made, Joy crawled over to where Zareb rested on the ground. Dinner was long over. Not that they’d had much, but enough to tide her over for now. The fire still burned bright and she didn’t expect it to die out anytime soon, that was the beauty of magic.

First she needed to take care of their safety. Living on the edge was one thing, stupidity was another.

“Keep me safe and keep me warm. Ward my camp against man and animal.” Joy took a deep breath and moved her arms around, marking their safe haven. The power flowed through her. Her magic was stronger here, but she didn’t know if it was how old the country was or if it was the influence of Zareb.

“Joy?” Zareb sounded groggy.

He’d been so lost in thought since they’d got to this godforsaken country. She’d take care of that—at least for a little bit she could keep the memories at bay.

Joy moved up Zareb’s body and straddled his lap. A simple kiss to start. Zareb moved his hands up as if to stop her, but she wouldn’t have any of that. She clasped his hands in hers and pinned them to the ground. If he wanted, he could have stopped her, but he didn’t. Joy took that as a positive sign and brushed her lips against his. She licked at Zareb’s mouth, wanting in. His groan gave her the opportunity she needed.

Zareb didn’t let her stay in control of the kiss for long. Not that she cared. Her mouth was his to do with as he wished. Joy released Zareb’s hands so she could explore his body. His dark skin was a nice contrast to her lighter brown. She loved how her fingers looked running along the opening of his shirt—that would have to go, she needed skin.

As if he read her mind, Zareb sat up and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight, never once breaking the kiss, but it gave her what she needed. Joy grasped the bottom of his shirt and lifted. She tugged when it looked like he wouldn’t release her.