A Destiny Revealed (8 page)

Bron moved closer to her until she was backed against her
bed. Cupping her chin he looked into her eyes. “What I want is to not hurt you,
Dalia.” He kept eye contact needing her to see his sincerity.

Dalia stared into his eyes. A battle waged, all broadcasted
in her eyes. Lust, mistrust, it all floated in their rich depths. It was the
loneliness that struck him. Understanding flooded, and inexplicably connected
them. Her eyes lowered and the connection was lost.

'Trust me just a little, rewà. I can keep the loneliness
away.'
Bron whispered in her mind.

Dalia shivered from the intimate touch. She raised her eyes
and shoved at his chest.          
“I'm not lonely.” She poked her finger into his chest. “I don’t need your pity.
And just so we're straight, there is nothing between us.”

Sounded a lot like denial to him.
He was making progress. Hiding a smile, he moved to sit in the lone chair in
the room.

“Dawn is coming soon, and we should talk before you rest for
the day.” He kept his voice calm to dispel the tension. He frowned as a thought
occurred to him. “What happens to you at dawn?”

Dalia shook her head and stomped over to her bed.
“None of your business.
Do you think I’m going to help you
kill me in my sleep?” She sat on the edge of the bed her shoulders stiff, her
eyes wary.

Bron sighed again.

Two steps back.

He knew she didn't trust him; he just did not know why that
hurt his feelings. Tension showed in the tight set of her shoulders and he
could see the exhaustion in her eyes. He ached to comfort her but he could well
imagine the tongue-lashing she would give him. His body tightened and lust
clenched his stomach at the thought of her tongue touching any part of him. He
shifted in the chair.

           
He leaned forward staring at her, trying to figure out why this woman held him
so enthralled. She was prickly and smart-assed but he couldn't remember the
last time he had enjoyed someone’s company so much. Of course, it didn't hurt
that her skirt was short and gave him an enticing view of her smooth, long
legs. His beast moved through his body, very much interested in this churlish
woman.

           
“Quit staring at me. It makes me nervous.” She stood and started pacing putting
action to her words.

           
Bron barely contained his smile at her mutinous expression. Her nose was
scrunched in displeasure.

           
“What would you have me do, Dalia? You've yet to answer a question without a
sarcastic remark,” he said amused, “I have no other recourse but to sit here
and stare at you.”

           
Dalia rolled her eyes. “This'll go faster if you just tell me what you think I
need to know.  I have to take a shower before dawn so I don’t have time to
sit here and shoot the breeze with you.” She feigned nonchalance, but her
curiosity was obvious in the furtive glances she cast his way.
   

“By all means, take your shower. I can wait here while you
do.” His voice deepened. Visions of her wet, stole his breath. His skin
prickled as his animal perked up, swiping at Bron's control. “Please, don’t
mind me.”

“I'm not getting naked in front of a crazy stalker,” she
snapped.

Goddess, she was sexy in her anger. Her hands on her hips
pushed her breasts forward and Bron swore he would swallow his tongue.

“Fine then Dalia, have it your way,” he sighed dramatically.
“Are you going to pace for the entire conversation?” He hoped not, otherwise
she would see the growing erection he tried to hide.

Dalia glared at him, making no move to sit.

Bron stared at her with amusement.

“Just talk,” she demanded.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take a shower first?”

Dalia's gaze drifted down to the bulge in his pants and
shook her head.

Yeah, she noticed. His lips lifted in a smug smile he
couldn't hide.

She sat on the edge of the table, her eyes defiant, and motioned
for him to start talking.

“My brothers and I are warriors of the African goddess Oya,”
he started.

“You are from Africa?”

“Yes, I live there, in Oya’s temple.”

“What do her warriors do?” She looked past him, her face
thoughtful.

 “Ajo, like you, have been stealing powers from her
temple beyond the veil. Our job is to get those powers back.” He answered.

 Her heart rate picked up, thumping noticeably at the
hollow of her throat. “Do they kill the vampires to get the power back?” 
Her energy spiked, she sent a quick nervous glance to the door.

“Calm down, Dalia.” He rubbed his chest. His animal prowled
his body restlessly. Magic danced along his skin. “You keep referring to
yourself as a vampire, but we don't see you as such. Vampires don't hold the
power the Ajo do. We know some of the Ajo are being turned involuntarily. Our
goddess gave us a way to extract the powers without harming the individual.” He
hoped he sounded reassuring; he briefly wished for his brother’s gift to calm
with his voice.

           
“What’s the difference? I was converted by a vampire.”

Her chin lifted, it was a gesture he began to associate with
her stubbornness. "Individuals who are descended from the Aje tribe are
different than other humans, so the conversion is different. The results, if
the conversion works is a different breed altogether."

           
"How do you tell us apart?"

“The powers stolen are corrupt and the evil taint in the
magic eventually drives the host crazy. By the time we find them they are more
than happy to rid themselves of the power.”

           
Hope lit her eyes. “Does it make them human again?"

Bron shook head. “It will only release the corrupted magic
from their bodies.” Compassion for her softened his voice.

           
Dalia stood and paced her small room. “Is there any other way besides the
tattoos that help you differentiate the Ajo from other vampires?” she asked
without looking at him.

Bron inclined his head in thought. “The Ajo are crazy with
power and enjoy hurting people. I don't know much about vampires, but I’m to
understand that they can feed without killing humans. Not so for the Ajo, they
thrive on the adrenaline rush from the killing.”

Bron watched her pace and wished he could do something to
help her with all the nervous energy. He smiled to himself; he had a few ideas
about how to redirect all that energy.

He sobered, he shouldn’t think of her that way, she was Ajo
after all, but he couldn't help but get excited by the sensual way she moved.
He rubbed his chest to calm his beast. He was having a hard time focusing on
anything other than her. His animal stood poised, right on the edge of his
subconscious as though waiting for something.

“Do you want me to take your corrupted powers?” Bron asked
after growing tired of watching her pace. The look she gave him was leery, her
eyes promising retribution if he came near her.

 She paused in front of him curiosity replacing the
doubt. “Will it hurt?”

She licked her lips in nervousness and Bron had to clutch
the sides of the chair to keep from going to her. His heart pounded in his
chest, the small hint of vulnerability from her calling out to him. He winced
as he felt his jeans biting into his erection. This woman would be the death of
him.

“What am I thinking?” she muttered. “I don’t want to do
anything that would make me weaker.” She worked her bottom lip with her teeth
in testament to her jumbled thoughts.

Bron held his breath. He selfishly wanted her to say yes.
Without the Ajo powers he would have less objection from the Ijoye when he
brought her to the safe house. If he were being honest with himself, taking the
corrupted powers from her would make it easier for him to claim her.

Bron stiffened as the thought crossed his mind. He had no
business trying to fit her into his life, but his heart stuttered as he thought
of her not in his life. His beast circled through him anxious, Bron barely
controlled the rise of power. He closed his eyes and sighed, he'd figured out
what his beast waited for. The trick was figuring out how to make it work.

Chapter 8

HE MADE A SHOW of checking his watch. “It’s your decision.”
He needed to think and being this close to her was fogging his mind. “I'll
leave so you can prepare for dawn. Call me tomorrow night and we can talk
further.” He stood and walked from the room without waiting for her answer.
Bron waited at the door intending to call Zahra, but Dalia's shy touch in his
mind stopped him.

'How am I supposed to call you?' 

'The same way you are talking with me now.'

'Fine',
she snapped and Bron smiled at her sullen
tone.
'How is it we are able to talk this way?'

'You are a part of our tribe, Dalia. We are all connected
through the oracle.'
Bron told her patiently.
'We can talk about it
tomorrow.'

 She withdrew from his mind and he turned his thoughts
to the oracle.

'Yes Bron?'
Zahra's voice was drowsy.

'I am sorry to wake you, but I need to speak with you.'

He blinked; his body jerked and was instantly in his bedroom
at the safe house. He checked the small bed next to his king-sized one and made
sure Little Lord slept peacefully. He took his time heading downstairs, knowing
that it would take Zahra a few minutes to wake and make it to the kitchen.

The smell of coffee greeted him as soon as he stepped into
the kitchen. The Ijoye sat at the small table with two of their newest
trainees. Bron couldn't remember their names, but then he was not allowed to
train the new warriors, so it was moot. If only he could dismiss the bitterness
that plagued him over it.

“It’s a little early.” His voice made it a question. He
grabbed the biggest mug he could find from the cabinet and filled it.

The Ijoye tilted his head in curiosity.
'What are you
doing here?'

'I wanted to talk to Zahra.'

 Zahra chose that moment to walk into the kitchen. Bakari
and the two young warriors stood as she entered the room. She absently motioned
for them to sit. Her steps were groggy as she made a beeline for the coffee
pot. Bron raised his eyebrow as she grabbed his cup and sipped. She moaned and
took another sip.

“You’re welcome,” he teased as he filled another cup for
himself.

She moved to sit between Bakari and one of the trainees.
“Sorry, it is just too darn early.” She complained with a smile on her face.
“What are you guys doing up at this ungodly hour. You should be resting. You
know Fynn won’t make your training any easier just because you are tired.”

Bron watched the way Zahra interacted with the trainees and
relaxed. The oracle usually had that effect on the warriors and for once Bron
was happy for it. Sparring with Dalia made him tenser than he realized.

“They dreamed of the goddess last night.” Bakari slapped the
warriors' back in approval.

“How exciting,” Zahra beamed at the trainees. “I would like
to talk to you after training then.” At their nod she turned her attention to
Bron.

'We can meet in the living room if you want privacy.'
She used a private channel to speak with him telepathically. Bron nodded and
followed her from the room.

Zahra settled on the sofa, tucking her legs underneath her body
and sipped from her stolen mug, waiting on Bron to start. He paced the room
unsure of where to start.

“Did you know Dalia was my mate when you sent me for her?”

Zahra’s eyes widened as she choked. That was answer enough
for him.
"Really?
Have you bonded with
her?” 

Bron ran his hands over his hair; noting his need for a
haircut. “No, but I can barely control my beast around her. It’s a battle to
keep from releasing the mating bond. I don’t understand. I've barely known her
more than a day and already my beast is trying to claim her.” He was tired. The
stress of the night finally caught up to him. Bron shuddered and sat next to
Zahra on the sofa, even talking about it brought his power to the surface.

Zahra rubbed his back in a motion that calmed both Bron and
his beast.

“But you've been connected to her for over six months now.
It would've been near impossible for you not to feel some intimacy with her.”

He thought of the six months he'd worked with Zahra in an
effort to get Dalia to meet with them. Zahra thought it would be better to talk
with Dalia telepathically than to just show up at her door. After meeting
Dalia, Bron knew they'd made the right decision. Dalia seemed the type to shoot
first and ask questions after.

“It's not as though we've had deep discussions, Zahra.”

“Yes, but in order to speak with her telepathically you had
to connect on some level. It'll be fine, Bron. You know as well as I you can’t
control that part of your nature. It's the only concession you have to make to
your animal for the power it offers you in return.”

The warning had been passed to the warriors from their
goddess when they were given the power and spirit of the lion. Their beast
allowed the animal’s natural instinct to take over in situations where their
human natures would balk— they found out quickly mating was one of those times.

“Yes, but I don’t think I like being a slave to my nature.”
Bron grumbled.

Zahra laughed and pulled him to her for a hug. “Your beast has
chosen a mate and there's nothing to be done about it. Your time will be better
spent getting to know her and making sure she doesn't leave you to your own
misery.”

“It doesn't seem fair the female is spared the turmoil.”
Need tightened his chest, sending his beast in a frenzy. He shuddered to think
how bad the need would get once he physically mated with Dalia.