by Kai Leakes
“I have a question. So, my man, are you her brother?”
Marco eyed him with a cold stare, his eyes flashing.
That alone answered his question. Something in that stare let him know not to fuck with the man and apparently not to ask him questions so personal. He wanted them to trust him, but he liked his life as well, the little of a life he still had, so he decided to play by the rules. He knew he could help them in some way. He just had to prove himself.
When Marco gripped his gun tighter, the machine click of it brought Amit back to reality, and he had to inwardly sigh. Marco stared at him hard, his annoyance hitting him like a bat to the head as he threw his hands in the air. He just wanted some damn help here to understand it all. A new Oracle, one who he felt he’d lay his life down for just for the help she gave him in that moment, made him want to hold his own in this compound, and the one named Kali made the secret spot in the back of his mind that he had to shut off during his torture and turning. Well, it ached to open again.
“Just kill me before I turn all the way,” he exasperatedly replied, his accent thickening with annoyance. He looked at everyone in the room. His eyes flashed pale, and his body roughly shook as he coughed, a tendril of glowing mist flowing around his body.
“We can’t do that. You seem to be an anomaly,” Khamun explained. “After you touched the Oracle you said you felt stronger?” He studied Amit’s marked hands.
“Yeah, like she had stopped the venom or something. The Princess liked to infect and bite me while slowing down the progression so that I kept my healthy color. So she said. When I touched Sanna—I mean the Oracle—I felt normal again.”
“A’ight. Then we bring the Oracle here, man, and see what she can do,” Marco said as he sat, one leg thrown over the arm of the La-Z-Boy chair he resided in, his gun on this thigh.
“I can call her, man, get this going, see if she can get any more info, like finding the Princess’ lair,” Calvin replied.
“Right. Mira, Calvin is talking truth. It’s beyond time me and the Princess have some words. ¿Comprendes?”
Calvin reached over and pounded fists with Marco as he flashed a bright smile. His green eyes flashed against his milk chocolate skin.
“Khamun, what do you think? You are her Guardian. Is it time to bring her here? Because whatever she did for Amit, he needs her help fast.” Lenox’s eyes stayed on Amit’s red palms.
“She wants her normalcy, so I’m giving her that. She’ll come when she’s ready,” Khamun steadily replied, though his mind said otherwise.
“Naw, my man. You don’t get it. My cousin is running scared, ya heard meh? Normalcy?” Calvin laughed. “Yeah, right. You know this, Khamun. Shit. I’ll get my cousin. Amit needs her help.”
Khamun ran a hand down his face. Calvin was right. He was just acting stupid in doing his job. They had an invalid Nephilim, and the one who can heal him was just around the block. So he nodded at Calvin and said, “I’ll go get her.”
“Who runs the world? Finally more ladies in the compound,” Kali happily joked. She moved to sit next to Amit and give him a sustaining mixture, which consisted of Hemorush, blood donated from Kali herself to replenish the lost blood, water, proteins, and herbs.
The drink tasted like cod liver oil, a hint of blood, and cooked grease. Amit cringed while he drank the mixture, his eyes locked on Kali’s rear as she walked off.
Marco chuckled while he noticed and growled under his breath. “You just went through some crazy shit. You want her, you need to make sure you live, and then you need to earn that shit. ¿Comprendes?”
Amit smiled as he swallowed the rest of the harsh mixture that seemed to connect with his body like thousands of barbwires.
“I’ll remember that, my man,” he grunted and gripped his stomach, “but in the meantime, get me some damn help!”
Khamun exhaled and walked out so smoothly, no one noticed he was gone.
Khamun easily found her at Aset, in the kitchens with Kyo, testing food out and cooking old recipes as crewmen continued to work around them. He smiled and nodded at the men who worked for him and slid his hands in his pockets. He wore dark denim jeans with brown Tims, a white button-down shirt with black pinstripes, his locks pulled back, braided in a knot.
Everything was coming along just right. How she had her restaurant set up in St. Louis was here but more. Pillars accented the main dining area, and his mural, which he was still working on, sat as a focal point for all who entered. He’d added protection sigils into his work as double defense and he watched each glow tendril swirl, letting him know they were firmly activated.
As he walked toward the kitchens, he took in the carefully constructed beauty. Stainless steel was everywhere, to maintain cleanliness. A wood-burning stove was mounted as another focal point for guests to see from the dining rooms. Everything was spaced out just right to ensure plenty of room.
Herbs and wine decorated the walls as art and for cooking. He was proud of the work done as well as the restoration that took place on the building as well.
“Taste this,” Kyo said, holding out a small cake, walking his way with a smile on her pretty face.
She was covered in flour with icing on her hands. He felt her natural protection barrier soften to let him through. Anyone that was a threat would have to work to get through, and he was proud that she was learning her abilities.
Grabbing the little cake, he took a bite and kept his eyes on Sanna, who seemed to flush red as he approached. Sweet, buttery toffee crème exploded in his mouth as mellow white chocolate seemed to balance the taste out. He immediately thought about Sanna’s caramel taste as he slowly closed his eyes.
“I want a personal cake. Make it up, and drop it off at my estate. My mother is visiting, and I know she’d love this cake.”
Kyo beamed, pulling out a notepad. “So it’s a success, and one cake coming up. Just, um, give me your address later.”
Khamun chuckled as he rounded close to Sanna. “I will, but in the meantime, I’ll have Lenox show you how to get to the estate and send him the bill when he gets you and the cake.”
Kyo blushed with a pep in her walk as she moved around the kitchen.
“Sanna, how you doing, baby?” He studied her quiet frame.
She opened the oven and pulled out a roasted stuffed lobster, golden with butter and herbs. He got the sense she was ignoring him, but before he could question it, Sanna’s arms wrapped around him, and she rose to the tip of her toes to kiss the side of his neck.
“I’m good, and I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his earlobe.
His fangs instantly dropped. His hands found her rear, squeezing, while partially lifting her up. Damn, he missed this woman, and it had only been two weeks. Realizing his stance, he swallowed hard and let go to rest a hand on the small of her back.
He could see Kyo watching them on the sly, a smile on her face as she mouthed to Sanna to hop on his dick. Next time he had the time, he definitely had to gift Kyo with a present for her support.
“Taste this,” broke his concentration.
His mind immediately said, Hell yeah. I’d taste you definitely. He blinked and realized she was talking about the lobster. He opened his mouth, and she slid a piece of the tender white flesh into his mouth, which he almost spat out due to heat.
“Damn, woman! That’s hot!”
Sanna laughed. She held his hand and pulled him toward a fridge. She opened the door. “I’m sorry. Here’s some ice water.”
Smiling, he just studied her, taking photographic memories of her beauty. She wore jeans that accented her deep-set curves with a red tank shirt. Her curly ’fro was pulled back on one side with a red flower, and her bamboo hooped earrings framed her beautiful face. He wanted to kiss her plump, pink lips and kiss the spot under her ear.
“We need to talk.”
Kyo coyly smiled as she mixed batter. “What? Is it time for you both to finally talk about getting some? Because it’s beyond time, you kn
ow.”
“Kyo!!!” Sanna screeched as she covered her face. “You play too damn much.”
Khamun laughed. The taste of the lobster was perfecto. All the flavors balanced just right, garlic, curry, onion, olive oil, and other flavors he was damn sure going to ask her about. He wanted her naked in his kitchen, with food in her hands for him to eat off her body as he cooked dessert for her.
“That’s next. But, yeah, I need you both to finish here and come back with me to my compound. Amit needs your help, Sanna. I also want you come meet my mother. It’s time for you to get training from her.”
He watched Sanna blink, words forming at her mouth but nothing coming out.
“Stop being scared, San. It’s time to learn what this is all about and check on Amit.”
Khamun was beginning to like Kyo more every day. He reached up and ran the pad of his thumb over Sanna’s lower lip, watching her calmly with a slight smile.
“It won’t be as bad as you think. Your brothers both came by the compound and left safely. The compound is going to be their second home, and I hope it will be your third home.”
Averting her glace, Sanna softly smiled. “Okay. We’re just testing some food. We can leave as soon as Kyo is done with your cake and after I visit Darren. I promised to pick up a package for him.”
“Okay, baby. Oh, and my mother will love you. She is the only Oracle in this region, so this is business, not”—He dipped his head down and kissed her lightly, softly sucking on her lower lip as he kissed her twice—“personal.” He watched Sanna swallow hard as he swore she swayed to the side.
“Okay,” she muttered breathlessly.
Khamun inwardly chuckled. Tonight, he was definitely going to have Sanna Steele because waiting was killing him softly. He stepped back, ignoring Kyo’s Cheshire cat grin.
“Seriously, do you all have someone for me? Because all of this oxytocin and testosterone is driving me up the wall!” Kyo laughed.
Sanna shook her head, reaching out to entwine her fingers with Khamun’s.
Khamun just smirked as he leaned back and brought the back of Sanna’s hand to his lips with a kiss. “Check ya dreams, and you may find your answers.”
Chapter 19
Darren stood around a mound of U-Haul boxes. He and Takeshi were moving out of the graduate townhouses near campus and moving into an old firehouse close by. With the help of Protection restoration and construction firm, Khamun’s business, they were rehabbing it and fitting it to their needs. It also helped that it connected to Khamun’s computer and was close to their mother. Even though Darren had moved to get his own independence, he was always checking in on his mother. Now, with learning about the extra bump in their DNA, he had become even more protective over her and his sisters.
Sanna smiled as she studied her brother in too big basketball shorts, red-and-black Jordan, and a white tee that accented his sepia-tattooed biceps. His wavy, low fade was freshly cut, and she saw he was growing a jawline beard.
As she walked through, she had to swerve and pivot as Take rushed beside her with four boxes.
“What up, San!” He smoothly stepped back and walked around Kyo.
Kyo yelled, “Dang! Just run me over!”
Take chuckled and stopped turning around to back up to lower his boxes. He kissed Sanna on the cheek then kissed Kyo on hers before walking about again. “Okay, I’ll do that shortly, sis.”
Sanna chuckled.
Take was dressed in track pants with a basketball jersey and white Air Force One. A tattooed-looking branding on his shoulder blade made her squint her eyes hard. She glanced at Kyo.
“Yeah, I have the same thing. I asked Khamun about it, and he gave me a book about our kind Kali gave him. You know I hit up Daddy right after and gave him the book.”
Sanna smirked. Pop Hideo loved books, so it made sense. “Well, what did the book say? Or Pops?”
“It’s our clan marking and where our wings will grow from, once we all go through this final phase. So I need you to hurry up and wake all the way up. I’m tired of the random weirdness.”
Kyo hooked her arm with Sanna and pouted. “Well, I love you too, geez.”
“Sis, did you go pick up my package yet?” Darren ran a hand down his sweaty face and glanced at Sanna.
Young men appeared out of nowhere in Kappa colors. Sanna shook her head. Looked like the little brothers of Kappa were helping Darren and Take. “Not yet. I just wanted to see how everything was progressing. I’m headed there now.” She shifted to the side as some of the little brothers stopped and gawked at her. She blushed red quickly, looking away. She had never been gawked at, except for Khamun, so this was something new for her.
“Move the hell on, newbie!” Darren roared.
Each frat little brother almost tripped over running out as the men laughed.
Everyone blinked when Khamun and Calvin strolled down the stairs with various objects.
“Riii, keep your eyes on those boxes, ya dig?” Calvin said. To reinforce his point, he lowered his voice and glared.
“Um, okay. On that note, I’m going to get your package. You said from the history department?”
Khamun was eyeing her. She remembered how he made her body cream back in his room, and she wanted that again.
“Yeah. Hit up Professor Merril. She should be in her office. She’s holding some book for me. Not sure what it is, but I don’t have time to get it, since I’m done with her history of law class. Hard-ass wench!”
“Truth!” Take yelled, and he hauled some more items out.
Sanna sighed. “Okay, I’ll be back.” She turned to leave, and Kyo followed.
“Girl, where you going?” Sanna quipped, smiling. She knew it was no use arguing about it. Kyo was going to go with her, like it or not.
Kyo just hooked her arm with Sanna, and they both strolled out.
The little Kappa brothers followed them both, and some dared to smile when they saw Take and Darren weren’t looking.
Frowning, Kyo and Sanna seemed to walk in sync as they both saw women gawking. Sanna kept up the pace, rolling her eyes at the women. Kyo started to laugh as she tried to keep up.
Locating the history department took a while, but maneuvering through the campus was nice, until they felt feet behind them.
“I’m scared to turn and see which one of the damn squad it is,” Sanna said. She knew it wasn’t Khamun or Calvin. She could sense them. When Kyo tripped over her own feet, Sanna knew who it was instantly.
“Lenox, I take it?” she joked, trying to smother her laugh with a “faux” choke.
“Girl, yes!” Kyo whispered, flushing a bright ruby red before she looked and waved.
“Ladies. Just taking a stroll, making sure everything is good with you both, if you don’t mind.”
Sanna got ready to say something smart-alecky, but Kyo stopped her.
Kyo grinned hard, and her voice rose an octave. “Noooo, you are always welcome, Lenox.”
Lenox’s soft smile flashed in the corner of Sanna’s eye. She spotted Dr. Merril’s office.
“I got this,” Sanna said. “You and Lenox talk a bit. I’ll be a second.” She pushed the pair close together and rushed inside, a coy smile on her face.
Inwardly chuckling, she knocked, stepped in, and smiled at the dark-haired woman behind the desk who sat flipping through an old book.
“Hello. I’m here to pick up a package for my brother Darren, Darren Steele.” Sanna glanced around the room, her arms protectively crossing against her. Something felt off and was causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand at attention. Her temples began to slightly throb as the room seemed to get hotter.
“Oh, yes, Darren. I’m glad to meet his sister. Please have a seat, and I’ll get you that book.” Dr. Merril looked up and smiled.
Sapphire blue eyes stared at Sanna, and she suddenly stood. She knew this woman. She had seen her touch Amit. She was the crazy chick’s Witch and a Hunter.
Sanna stumbled back,
and her eyes widened with paralyzing fear. What was she doing here? She had been close to her brother and to Take. This felt all the way like a trap, and she’d be damned if she’d let this chick catch her.
Dr. Merril smiled with a slight coldness, yet there was something more hidden in that one look. It illuminated her face. She tilted her head to the side and held her hands out.
Books shook on their mantels as Dr. Merril’s hair whipped on her head at the magnitude. The power was so strong and concentrated that the hair on her arms stood at attention, and goose bumps rose all over her body. Fear for the first time in a long time hit her hard and heavy, almost suffocating her as tears threatened to spill.
“Please. I am not here to harm you!” Winter almost screamed. Items in her office flew suddenly as the woman she knew to be the Oracle stood in mirrored rigid fear.
Her skin suddenly glowed with intense Light. Her pupils swallowed the whites of her eyes with illuminating power and clarity. That strength, that power, let Winter know that this woman would not be taken, and that in and of itself made her shake with understanding.
The Dark Lady would not have a chance against this magnificent glory. That knowledge made her smile because maybe she could exact the vengeance she now sought for the children like herself who were taken and turned against their will. Maybe this woman was the piece she had found in her studies, a part of a connecting puzzle that would join together and spread holy wrath upon those who sought to harm. That bit of understanding flashed in her eyes and opened the weakened soul she carried. It allowed her to stand and start to mend the broken pieces in her dark form.
Sanna tilted her head to the side and assessed the woman she thought was here to hurt her. She saw something was broken in the woman, something that now seemed to shift and rearrange itself within.
She stepped forward and watched the woman step back. She felt that if this woman was a threat, not to be trusted, that she could kill her as soon as her back was turned. But there was something about that shift in her that made Sanna look closer as the door to the office shook and rattled.