“Down boy,” Fynn whispered to him.
The other warriors laughed nervously in his head. Dalia’s steps were confident as she moved through the crowd in the club, her presence preceding her and causing the patrons to stare in curiosity. He lost sight of her at the stairs and turned to the door. She opened the door and raised an eyebrow. Bron went over and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“This is quite an entourage you’ve got here, princess.” She commented flippantly as she sat. “I gotta say though, from the reverent way people talk about the oracle I expected an old lady in a muumuu and a tiara.”
Fynn growled low in his throat at the insult to his mate.
“Well, from the way these guys talk about Ajo, I expected you to be foaming at the mouth.” Zahra shrugged nonchalantly. “or worse, from the way you talked to me these past months, I just knew you’d be a hoodrat. I guess you can’t go by assumptions.”
Dalia’s lips turned up in a reluctant smile.
'What the hell is a hoodrat?' Fynn asked dryly.
'Ghetto girl,' Aren answered, a smirk in his voice.
Bron silenced the chuckles that followed with a growl of his own.
“Now that we’ve peed on our respective trees we can start this meeting,” Zahra announced smiling.
Dalia barked out a startled laugh. "What do you need from me?”
Zahra leaned back in her chair. "I only want you to claim your destiny, Dalia.”
Dalia scoffed. “I don’t need pretty words princess, you’re going to have to spell it out for me.”
The Ijoye sputtered. “You should check your tone, little girl.”
Dalia stared at him for a moment; Bron sensed her choosing her words. He reached out to touch her hand. She grasped his hand with no hesitation.
'Behave, mi ôkàn.' He lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. She turned her gaze to him and Bron’s heart picked up at the heat in her chocolate eyes.
“Oh, all right,” she muttered. “Why have you been searching for me, Zahra?”
“We are part of the Aje tribe, a small tribe created by the goddess Oya to protect her temple on earth, and to stop the thefts that were happening in her temple beyond the veil.” Zahra started.
“Bron has explained that to me. He explained that I'm one of those vampires responsible for the thefts. What he hasn't explained is why you'd deliberately seek out someone you have declared your enemy.” Dalia’s eyebrows were bunched in concentration as she leaned forward to hear Zahra’s answer.
“You're not just vampire, besides we were told you were not voluntarily turned,” Saleem, stated from his spot in the corner of the booth.
Dalia’s eyes hardened as she turned to him. “What has that got to do with anything?”
“It makes a difference to some,” he said in answer.
Zahra spoke up to try and ease the tension. “Dalia, the tribe practices what's called a basíkùlú, a cycle. There are three women in that cycle, vital to that cycle. You're one of those women.” Zahra paused and watched as Dalia digested the news.
“What's the cycle for?”
Bron’s heart kicked up as the Ijoye tensed next to him. Fynn sat straight, tension radiating from him as well and Bron came to alert.
'What has happened?' Bron asked Fynn.
'Ajo are gathering outside.' Fynn reported. 'We'll wait it out to see if they disperse.'
Zahra looked to her husband, at his nod she continued. “The cycle is used to purify magic. In our case it's used to purify the corrupted magic stolen from Oya’s temple.”
“How could I possibly help, if I, myself, have stolen magic from Oya?” Dalia's brows frowned in confusion.
“You are the álà-írín.” Zahra told her. “The dream-walker.”
“I've heard that term before.” She raked her hand through her thick hair.
'The oracle needs to leave. There are more Ajo gathering. They're lying in wait.' Ajani reported.
Bron's heartbeat drummed, his beast clawed at his chest. His only thought to get his mate to safety. He stood and grabbed Dalia's arm in a tight grip.
"What the hell, Bron." She stood and snatched her arm away.
'Do not engage. The Amanda won't allow it. Keep watch until Zahra and the álà-írín are out safely,' the Ijoye ordered.
“We must leave here,” Fynn grabbed his mate as well. He headed for the door dragging Zahra behind him. Zahra pulled her hand from Fynn’s and ran back to Dalia.
“Wear this when you sleep tonight,” she rushed out and ran back to join her husband.
Dalia tucked the small velvet bag into the small of her back. Bron caught the hurried reports Aren and Ajani were shooting at the Ijoye. The Ajo gathered at the entrance, along with the Amanda. The situation was quickly escalating.
"We can't teleport inside, there is magic blocking it," Saleem said as he and the Ijoye surrounded Zahra. "We have to be outside."
Bron shoved Dalia in the circle of guards. She backed away.
"I can take care of myself. This is aimed at the oracle. Get her to safety first." She rushed from the room.
“Damn it!” He chased his mate. Bron felt the compulsion in the air. The patrons were being called to leave the club. There was mass confusion as the humans and Demi moved to follow the Ajos’ compulsion, blocking the exit. He moved her quickly through the club pushing through the throngs of people gathered at the door.
"Dalia, wait." He caught up with her at the door.
“What about the oracle?” Dalia asked. She grabbed Bron's hand and ran.
“She'll teleport back to the safe house.” Bron rounded the corner and Ajani’s voice stopped him.
'Take the next corner, Bron, they have spread out. Once Zahra is safely at the house she can teleport you and Dalia.' Bron quickly turned and headed to the other side of the building. The alley was empty. Checking to be sure it was not a dead end, Bron continued.
“We don't have to wait on the oracle. I can transport us.”
“It would be better for us to be transported to the safe house. We need to move as far away from there until Zahra is able to teleport us …"
Damn, he couldn't catch a break. Bron stopped as two of the creatures cut them off. He turned to go back the other way and found one blocking him from that side.
“Well now isn’t this quaint,” Dalia released Bron’s hand to shift her body into a fighting stance.
'I'll take the two in front of us,' Bron told her. 'Stay behind me.'
Dalia snorted and reached down into her boots. The slim rods she pulled from her boots clicked loudly as they extended into two batons.
“I'll stay behind you, but only to get rid of the douche blocking our exit.” She promised.
Bron let out a curse as the Ajo charged them from both sides. He kicked out at the Ajo coming at him, sending it flying against the alley wall. He charged the other and felt the satisfying crunch of its jaw under his fist.
Cursing his lack of weapons, he used the Ajo's surprise to reach and break his neck. The Ajo slumped to the ground in a crumpled heap. He hissed as claws raked across his shoulder. He turned around and faced the other one. The Ajo was shorter but well built, his black hair long past his collar. His hair did not hide the tattoo on his neck Bron smiled evilly, relishing his power coming to the surface.
The familiar tingle and the warmth flowed through his muscles signaling his barely restrained beast. The creature answered Bron’s smile with a quirked eyebrow and a challenging smile of his own. The Ajo gathered himself into fighting position. Bron roared and shed his human form in a single and fluid leap toward the creature. They met head on, the slash of claws and growls loud in the deserted alley. Bron used his massive jaws and went straight for the creature’s throat. His jaws slammed shut on air as the Ajo quickly darted to the left and raked his claws down Bron's side.
Now beyond angry, Bron grabbed the Ajo in his massive claws and slammed him to the ground. He used his momentum to quickly swipe his paws across its throat, sever
ing its jugular. He paced around the vampire in his lion form his sides heaving from the pain of his injuries. Bron used his muzzle to nudge the Ajo to assure himself the wounds were not knitting themselves too quickly. Three diamond pendants swung from his necklace as he nudged a little harder a second time.
Seamlessly changing back into his human form he cursed at the answering burns and cramps as his body rapidly repaired the damage caused. He bent naked next to the vampire and removed the necklace from his neck. He grabbed one of the diamonds and placed it over the vampire’s heart. The heat seared his hand and Bron inhaled sharply in response, keeping his hand there until it cooled. Removing the pendent he checked that it was now red and slipped it back around his neck. With a thought, a new pair of jeans and t-shirt covered his body.
The sounds of the shuffle from Dalia’s fight spurred him and he roared in anger. He turned around to check on Dalia and stood stunned, his mouth agape. She was awesome, her movements fluid and graceful. The other Ajo didn't stand a chance. Bron watched as she fought with him, respect and fear both fighting for possession of his mind. He grimaced when she hit the ground and was about to rush headlong into the fray when she kicked out, taking the vampire down. Once he hit the ground she quickly overtook him breaking the male’s neck.
“We need to go, Dalia, before their back-up arrives.”
She rolled over and stood quickly, her eyes shining with the rush of the fight. She grabbed his hand and Bron felt himself wrenched a moment later.
He released her arm and turned in a circle. The apartment where she transported them was spacious. Wood floors ran the length of it, and an eclectic collection of art covered the walls.
“Where are we?”
“My apartment.” She moved to sit at one of the stools at the island in her kitchen. She reached down and removed her boots. “You may want to tell your boys you’re safe.”
'Are you safe?' Zahra’s voice called telepathically. She used the link common with the tribe so they both heard her worried question.
“Speak of the devil.” Her boots landed with a hard thud.
'We're fine princess. I thought I told you to stay out of my head.'
'Quite calling me princess, Chonga. Give me your cell phone number and I'll call.'
Dalia laughed aloud and gave her the number. Moments later her cell phone rang. She picked it up, smiling. She waved off Bron’s frown as she spoke with Zahra a moment to reassure her they were safe. He laid his head on the back of the couch and breathed deep to calm his beast. Left over adrenaline swam through his system and his body heated searching for a release.
“Well, that was fun.”
He ignored her sarcasm and focused on the lust darkening her eyes. "Come here, rewà,”
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and walked to him with slow steps, and swinging hips. Bron grabbed her in a fierce hug. He kissed her cheeks, her eyes, her brow, he flowered kisses over her face. She laughed when he moved down to her neck.
“I'm fine, in one piece, and only a little worse for wear. Quit being a mother hen,” she chided. He silenced her with a kiss.
“Did you know you would be followed?”
Dalia tensed and shook her head. “Are you sure I was followed?”
“We had a lookout stationed outside of the club. They watched a male come up a few minutes behind you. He called for backup.”
Dalia stood and paced her loft. "I had no idea I was being followed.”
“Who would follow you, Dalia?” He pulled her back into his lap.
Her brows furrowed, he could almost see the thoughts swirling in her head. "I'm not sure, Bron. I don't have enemies.”
Her lies held a sweet tang that tickled his nose. He sighed. “So, some random man followed you through the city and called for backup once you were settled. I don’t buy it, Dalia.”
She shrugged. "I don’t know what to tell you."
He looked around her apartment, hoping to find some insight into her. A Kevlar vest sticking out of a small hallway closet caught his gaze.
"Why would you need Kevlar?” Fear sharpened his tone.
Dalia straightened next to him. Her eyes followed his and she cursed silently. "My job."
“And what is it you do?” He turned his gaze back to her.
Anger and fear for her warred, built in his chest. Dalia kept quiet.
“I asked you a question, Dalia.” He needed to calm down, backing her into a corner would only make her mad.
“I hunt the vampires you call Ajo."
His nostrils flared as he tried, in vain, to control his temper. His power filled the room, raising the hair on his arms.
“What do you mean, you hunt Ajo?” His voice was a low rumble as his beast clawed his chest. He flexed his hands and hissed as he felt the claws rip through his skin.
“I keep a watch for any Ajo trying to take people off the street.” Her hasty explanation did nothing to calm him.
Bron exploded off of the sofa in furious movements. He closed his eyes and fought to get air into his lungs. The thought of Dalia in nightly danger, suffocated him. Not to mention what the Ajo would do or who they would send to take her out while she slept.
She rushed to explain. "It took me two years to escape from the hell where Maksim held me. There were others there, Bron. Others who weren't as strong as me, they broke under his torture. He had us put in boxes and starved until we were delirious with hunger. You don’t want to know what he offered to assuage the hunger. It took me three weeks to heal from the torture he put me through when I escaped. I can't let that happen to another person if I can stop it.”
Bron’s heart twisted. There was no controlling his animal. Hearing that his mate had been tortured sent grief so profound through Bron, it took everything he had to keep from dropping to his knees. A fury unlike anything he had experienced whipped through his body. Fangs exploded from his gums as the lion fought to take over. He struggled to regain some semblance of control, to offer some sort of solace to her.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous-” he broke off, and continued pacing. His beast became a pressure in his chest, demanding release.
"I've been doing it for twenty years, Bron. I'm well aware of the dangers. I know how to be careful." Strength, courage and determination threaded her voice, but it was her eyes that held him.
They were haunted, and the pain she hid so carefully flickered in the dark depths. He probed her mind, searching for the memories. He pushed passed her resistance, needing to see for himself what she went though. Each memory he found pierced through him, images of her bound, beaten and tortured assaulted him, stealing his sanity.
“You have no right to do that, Bron.” She shivered.
"I have every right, Dalia!" He shouted. His voice was a deep timbre, testament to how close he was to his beast forcing a change. “You are my mate, and it's my right to know what you've gone through. If you're suffering, then I'm suffering.”
“Mate? I don’t know what that means, but it doesn’t give you the right to spy through my memories.” She wrapped her arms around her stomach.
He roared and the sound reverberated through her loft.
Her eyes widened. "Are you crazy? I have neighbors."
He closed the distance between them, grabbing her in his arms. "You won’t talk to me, mi ôkàn. How else am I to find out what you've been through?” He buried his face in her hair.
“You're not exactly a fount of information yourself.” Her voice was muffled as he crushed her to him.
“You can't continue hunting, rewà."
The command fell between with the force of a grenade. Dalia stiffened and pushed against his chest. Bron tightened his arms to prevent her escape.
“I'm supposed to sit around at the house like a good little lady and allow the men to handle it?”
He flinched at the ice in her voice.
"I was drugged, Bron. Drugged and taken off of the street by some psycho whose only thought was harvesting power. He hel
d my brother chained against a wall until I agreed to do what he wanted. You saw the torture that he put me through. I won't sit around and let it happen to other people."
“Every Ajo that you kill without completing the basíkùlú, is only keeping the evil in play, Dalia.” He explained softly, hurting for her.
"Maksim is dead, there won't be any more made."
"You think he's the only one making Ajo?” Goddess, how could she be so naïve for one so strong? "Be serious Dalia, as soon as another vampire realizes the power that can be had, they'll take up his work.”
Dalia shook her head. "Then I can't stop hunting."
“I'm not trying to take anything away from you Dalia, can you not stop until you and the oracle is able to talk?” He rubbed his chest as his animal slammed against his barriers.
“What difference would it make?”
"It will allow you the chance to serve your purpose." He snarled.
“I am serving a purpose,” she declared.
“You are seeking revenge, there's a difference."
"I deserve revenge.” Pushing out of his arms, she stepped back. “He used my brother, Bron. Took him from our apartment, beat him for hours until they found me."
“I understand guilt, rewà. Believe me I do.” He ached, her pain echoed through him.
“I asked him to come here, to New York.”
He closed his eyes against her pain.
“I wanted to show off. ‘New York is better than Loiza, you can have anything you want here’. That’s what I told him. Two weeks later, he was bound and gagged in some dirty basement.”
"You can’t blame yourself." He pulled her into his arms and laid his cheek against her hair. "We want the same thing, Dalia."
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