Leo’s eyebrows winged. His father not have the courage for something? Now he was truly intrigued.
“I ran into your mother.”
Leo grimaced.
Ranolph held up his hand to stem his argument. “I need to fix this thing between the two of you, somehow.”
“There’s nothing to be done, baba.” Tired of discussing Sharine, Leo stood up and moved to go around his father.
Ranolph stepped in front of him blocking his passage. “I need to tell you this, son.”
“Your mate slept with the Eshu king, I am their bastard. Neither of them stepped up to parent me, you did. The end. I don’t understand the need you have to discuss this.” Leo brushed an impatient hand over his head caught off guard to feel the longer strands instead of the buzz cut he normally wore. He looked down at his hands. His human skin was wavering, his exhaustion making it difficult for him to maintain the power needed to keep up the appearance.
His father cleared his throat. “It didn’t exactly go down that way.” He sighed, fidgeting with his shirt.
“Spit it out, father. I am tired and I wish to see my mate. Say what you need to say and let’s be done with the subject.” Leo reigned in the impatience in his voice. Despite his age, he was still a son, wary of his father’s discipline. His tone bordered on disrespectful, and he cringed, expecting his father to lash out. He and his brothers learned quickly that it was one of Ranolph’s hot buttons. When his father’s usual retort about his tone didn’t come, Leo narrowed his eyes.
Ranolph sighed, and lowered his hands to his side. “You know Leander and I were…are, we are really close friends. He came to me when Kaylin was unable to conceive. After nearly two hundred years of waiting, he was desperate. I offered to help him.”
“There were better ways to help him without your mate having to sleep with him.” Leo’s dry tone was not lost on his father.
“It had to be done the natural way. According to Eshu laws, the monarch can only be conceived naturally. The rules around royal births are very strict.”
“But not strict enough to prevent a bastard.”
Ranolph sighed. “Leander’s family has ruled Legba since the beginning of time. As long as the bastard is his, it’s still legal.”
“So you felt sorry enough for your best friend to pimp out your wife. This is supposed to make me feel better, why?” It certainly didn’t change his mind about the whole screwed up situation that was his birth.
“There were more reasons.”
Leo’s laugh held no amusement.
Ranolph growled. “You don’t understand. I had access to a prophecy. It was foretold that the Kokoro souls would be reborn, triggering the release of Ofeeree. The prophecy predicted a king, a strong king who would unite the seven realms together in order to defeat him.”
“So, because your best friend needed an heir, one who would make a powerful king, the two of you decided to use my mother?” Anger was starting to build within him. What had made Sharine agree to sleep with King Leander? “Why are you telling me this now?”
“Sharine…she wants to be in the babe’s life.” He sighed. “I never meant for the two of you to have such an acrimonious relationship. I hadn’t realized you would use it against her.”
“My whole life you made it seem as though my mother had an affair with your best friend. Who did you think I would blame? I thought you were a victim of a cheating mate.” Guilt, frustration and shame warmed his blood and darkened his vision.
Ranolph hung his head. “I’m sorry. I could’ve been clearer about the circumstances surrounding your birth.”
“You could’ve been less of an ass to my mother also. I took my cue from you.” When he thought back on the indifference with which he treated his mother…no wonder she made herself scarce. The only crime she’d committed, had been at the order of her mate. And then same said mate turned around and blamed her for it. Gods, why had he treated his mother with such contempt?
“I’m ashamed of my actions. And I’m ashamed to say, that once the deed was done, my jealousy wouldn’t let me past it. It drove my beast crazy to know she’d laid with someone else.”
“You sent her to him!” Leo reached and braced his hand against the wall, using it to keep him balanced. Already drained from traveling, the anger coursing through his body was quickly sapping his energy.
He knew more than anyone how persuasive his father was. He imagined it took nothing to convince a woman in love to do as her mate asked. Ranolph did it easily to the soldiers he’d led when he was in charge of the Amanda.
“Watch your tone with me. I am still your father.”
Leo blinked at Ranolph’s sharp tone. “But you aren’t, not really. Not technically.” Grief tightened his chest, bringing a lump to his throat. Sharine’s absence when he was a kid took on more meaning. Perhaps she’d been avoiding his father and not him.
“I’ve been mad at her all these years.” He whispered.
“I’m sorry for that, Leonalph. I was stupid and jealous, and Leander thought if we told you it would affect the outcome of the prophecy.”
“I don’t give a damn about a prophecy. You ruined my mother’s life so you and the king would have someone powerful to control.” Leo had studied his father for years. He knew how Ranolph’s mind worked, and he had always been motivated by power. Even as a boy he knew his father craved and horded power. It had been a source of pride for Leo, but how had he not seen the dirty work behind the scenes? He’d fallen for his father’s ruse completely. He hadn’t realized being head of the Amanda hadn’t been enough for him.
“That’s not true, Leo.” Ranolph reached out and placed his hand on Leo’s shoulder. “From the moment you gripped my finger as a baby, I’ve loved you. Yes, it started with the prophecy, but I wouldn’t trade you for anything.”
“I guess you were disappointed to learn that your grandchild would be king, and not I.”
His father once again lowered his eyes, but not before Leo saw the gleam of anticipation. Even now he was plotting. Damn, why had he never seen the lengths Ranolph would go for power?
“Why didn’t she tell me?” He whispered, rendered mute by the onslaught of realizations.
Ranolph rubbed his hands across his face and sighed. “After all the things I’ve said about your mother. Would you have believed her?”
A tear escaped and rolled down Leo’s face, making him mad. Damn the man, he was right. He’d have never believed his mother over Ranolph. His world had revolved around his father and the Amanda. Loyalty for both ran deep.
“Well, we’ll see how your plan pans out. With Queen Kaylin dead, it leaves the king free to mate again. Perhaps this will all be moot.”
“You are still first born.” Ranolph’s stubborn confidence pissed him off. His father stepped forward and Leo swatted his hands.
“Don’t touch me. And pray I get over being pissed at you before your grandson is old enough to move out on his own.”
“No, Leo.” Ranolph attempted to grab his arm.
Leo side stepped him and rushed from the room.
***
Rugaba paced his atrium, his ceremonial robes billowing behind him as he turned to change directions. His brother had contacted him an hour or so ago his time to say the soul had arrived. Knowing his brother’s technique, impatience wouldn’t let him relax. Not many withstood Azra’s torture and he imagined the scorned female he’d sent to death would be no different. The first few hours of a Demi’s arrival to Azreal was the best time to question the soul. They would be still in denial, trying to bargain their way out of hell. He wanted the names of her compatriots and he would make a trip there himself to obtain them if he needed to.
“Luckily that won’t be necessary.” Azra loped into his atrium.
“Stay out of my head, brother.” He snapped half-heartedly. “What did you find out?”
Azra held out a black stone, a white cloud of magic swirling inside.
“We’re still working on
her. I haven’t been able to get anything save a few names. I’m giving her a little more time to savor my methods.”
Rue held up the stone and smiled grimly. “You will get to meet these names, presently.”
“She mentioned the death of the Mina who inhabited the elder tree.”
Rugaba reared back in surprise. “What did she say?”
Azra crossed his arms over his chest. “Remember the shit I gave you about prophecy? She was killed so she could be replaced with someone a little less helpful with regards to handing out prophecies. The new inhabitant supposedly can be persuaded to give out false prophecies.”
“What?” He reeled. More than one governing body used prophecy to make decisions which impacted their realm. To know deliberate misinformation could be given out…how deep did this conspiracy go? He would talk to Eminzu about replacing who so ever occupied the elder tree. He didn’t want to risk them being corrupt. He nodded in thanks to his brother for the information.
Giving him a jaunty salute, Azra disappeared. Rue unlocked his brother’s stone and lay it on a sheet of parchment. A tendril of smoke wafted up as the names were burned onto the page. Rolling up the sheet and discarding the stone, Rugaba opened a portal into Haven.
He found Leo as he was leaving Xavier’s office. He was happy he didn’t have to hunt him down. He tapped him on the shoulder. Leo jerked to attention, his eyes dazed for a moment. He blinked at Rugaba and cleared his throat.
Sympathy for the male made him cringe. Exhaustion was clearly written across Leonalph’s face, but he needed these people found. He tossed the parchment and Leo snatched it from the air.
“I have one last job before you can rest.”
Leo scanned the names on the list and nodded. “Your will be done.”
***
The silence was the hardest part. Not the hard bench in her cell, or the relentless cold, no. It was how eerily quiet the Amanda holding cells were. Verity shuffled for a more comfortable position cursing as her elbow knocked the wall. She wondered, not for the first time, how long she would be required to stay in the cells. She’d been picked up trying to sneak back into the surveillance room. She needed information on both the shaman and the Cagyn’s disappearance, and she had hoped her contacts there would be a lot more forthcoming.
The members of the guild were antsy when they realized Beatrice was missing. Even more so, once gossip reached them that she’d been picked up by the Eminzu. Speculation had run wildly as to why she was missing. Most centered on the death of the eldest Marcolev daughter as the reason. Arian Marcolev was making the social rounds, telling anyone who’d listen how her maid had been responsible for her daughter’s tragic death. If it were true, then Beatrice was not just missing, she was dead. The guild had wanted to be certain, so she’d been sent back to Haven to find out.
And promptly sold out by her contact.
She wasn’t too worried. The most they could have on her was some form of trespassing, maybe bribery. She’d slid a few gold coins to ensure her entrance into their surveillance room. At the most, she’d probably be in the cells for a few more hours until she was sent to Xavier for her punishment. While she wasn’t looking forward to what he doled out, she was confident she could handle whatever it was. She’d most likely be suspended from the Atlanta Haven for a few years. She rolled her head, shrugging her shoulders. No big deal.
A sound broke through the oppressive silence and she perked up. A key turned in the lock on the outer doors and she strained her ears listening for the footfalls of a guard.
Nothing.
She frowned, knowing she’d heard the jingle of a key at the door up front. Laying her head back against the wall, she closed her eyes.
“Hello, Verity.” Leo’s deep voice startled her.
A questioning smile tilted her lips. She’d not expected Xavier to send his brother. “Mated only a couple of weeks, and already you’re reduced to menial tasks.”
He chuckled, the dark sound grim. “No, I’m here to do the job I’ve had these last centuries.
Her heart started thumping. If that were the case…
“You’re here for me?” She whispered. “On what charges?”
“Not my concern in the end. You helped Prince Kedric get rid of Lady Marcolev’s, for that alone you deserve to die.”
She waved away his words. “That’s not a death offense. I didn’t do anything to the girl.”
He pursed his lips and shrugged. “Well, there were plenty of crimes on the Oras Sergio was helpful in supplying to choose from.”
Her head swam with the implications. Damn Sergio. Dead some days, she wished she could go back and make his death all the more painful. Though, from his screams the spell they’d used was plenty painful. Now she would meet his same fate.
His hands started working in what she could tell was a portal spell. She swallowed hard, closing her eyes when a bright light flashed and swallowed her. She blinked rapidly when her knees landed on a hard surface. Wriggling her hands, she found them bound behind her back in lead lined ropes. She panicked and looked around, her stomach plunging in dread as the Eminzu council room came into focus. Her sick feeling multiplied as she spotted members of her guild kneeling with their hands bound. Her heart pounded, fear acrid and boiling in her throat. She turned to look at the council, the robed figures hazy and out of focus no matter how she squinted. Rugaba sat at the head of the table, his energy haloing around him in a light too bright for her to look at for too long.
She knew what was next.
Her thoughts went to her family. Yes, she would pay for her crimes, but her family would as well. Regret for that was a bitter taste. She thought briefly of begging for her life, she didn’t want to die yet. Rugaba’s voice filled the chamber as he listed their crimes individually and she knew then asking for lenience was out of the question. She snuck a final glance at her partners wondering if any of them would attempt to fight. Their sentences were announced…death. She lowered her head as once again, in a flash of light a portal was opened. This one into a realm from which she’d not return.
Chapter 28
APPROACHING ON SILENT FEET, Rugaba watched Oya as she stood over her scrying well. The sharp pang of longing that stabbed through his heart shouldn’t have surprised him, but he was shocked by its intensity. She was no longer his, but the passing centuries still offered no solace from the need. Too many arguments and harshly spoken words lingered between them. Enough perhaps to keep reconciliation an impossible dream. He dreamed of it nonetheless.
Her shoulders slumped and she turned to him, a resigned look on her face. They stared, their gazes locked, and as usual, a battle of wills commenced. He sighed.
“I’ve not come to cause trouble.” He held out his hands, showing her the stones Azra recently brought to him.
“Your presence has heralded bad news lately.” She clasped her hands in front of her.
The corner of his lip lifted in a smile that held no amusement. “War has been stalled.”
“At least for now.” Was her quick reply.
He nodded. She was right, it was only stalled for now. Where one group disappeared, another would take its place. It was the way it went.
“I have some information for you.”
She eyed the stones. “From Azra?”
“Do you want it or…”
She growled and held out her hand. She was so dramatic. He chuckled, dropping the stones into her palm.
“There has been activity in and around the place where your village used to dwell.” He said offhand.
“I’m aware. The Ajo you allowed to live have been actively searching for my old temple.”
“We both know why.” He debated his next words, unsure of how she would take them. An offer of help to anyone else would’ve been met with gratitude. Oya’s mood changed like the winds she controlled, so there was no way to know what she’d say. He settled with a passive…
“If you need me for anything...”
H
er look of scorn amused him. One of those days then. He waved and left her realm. He’d done what he needed to do, delivered the information he felt she’d find useful. It was up to her what she did with it. Arriving on his realm, he chucked his ceremonial robes and decided rest was in order. For now, crisis was averted. One couldn’t ask for much more than that. Until the next disaster, he’d take the reprieve and use the time to prepare for the next.
****
A full week had gone by.
A week.
His brothers had not seemed worried. In fact, during what Xavier called her ‘debriefing’ his tone had been all business. Liliana chewed on the hang nail on her thumb, her feet curled beneath her on the sofa in their living room. She was going out of her mind with worry, and all Xavier wanted to do was wrap up Kita’s case. The details were no prettier now, than when they’d happened. She’d lost both Kita and Bea to Queen Kaylin’s scheming. She hoped the woman died a miserable and painful death. While shocked by Bea’s betrayal, a part of her missed her. Xavier had played the video of Bea confessing her part in Kita’s death, and even after seeing it, she still couldn’t find hate for the woman. According to Bea, the guild had found out about her part in Kita’s death and blackmailed her into working with them. She knew Bea wasn’t evil at heart, but her confession still hurt. Watching Bea admit to the things she’d done didn’t impact her in the way it would’ve had Arian not already told her.
The malicious way in which her mother had imparted the news still made her nauseous. So many things about her childhood were answered by Arian’s hateful words. Bea being her biological mother explained much about how the woman had treated her. She’d always felt closer to Bea than her own mother.
Liliana sighed.
Perhaps the first step in healing would be to stop thinking of Arian as her mother. Clearly the woman didn’t want the title. She pulled the blanket Bea had knitted her when she was a child tighter around her. She jerked to a sitting position as the keypad at the door beeped. Leo was home. Scrambling to stand, she fought to get her legs out of the blanket. Part of her wanted to rush into his arms, the other part wanted to play it cool. Once he came through the door, all thoughts of downplaying his arrival flew from her head. He looked exhausted and defeated. She raced to his side.
Haven Page 25