A Destiny Revealed

  “Dalia, I'll send someone to check on your family, for now it'll be better if you stay here. The house is warded so no one can track you here. It will give us some time to figure this out.” Zahra looked tired.

  Yeah right she would stay here. “I can take care of myself.”

  Zahra’s eyes held respect and compassion as she looked at Dalia. “I'm well aware of that, Dalia, but you'll stay here nonetheless.” Zahra’s tone warned that she wouldn't hear anything else on the subject.

  “I'm not one of your boys, princess, you can’t order me around.” She couldn't stay here knowing her family was in danger. “Besides, your father-in-law will probably murder me in my sleep.”

  Fynn held up his hand as a growl rumbled Bron’s chest. “You have my word nothing will happen to you while you are under this roof, Dalia. Bron is important to me. I won't allow anyone to harm his mate.” Fynn’s eyes were serious and his voice rang with sincerity.

  “I'll show you to your room,” Bron grabbed her arm.

  Dalia snatched her arm back quickly, tingling where his fingers touched. “I haven't agreed to anything.”

  “If you're here we can focus our efforts on your family, Dalia. We can't afford to lose you,” Zahra stood, ending further argument. “We'll leave you and Bron to talk.”

  Fynn put his arm around his wife, he nuzzled her neck speaking softly to her before leading her from the room. She felt a twinge of envy at the obvious love between the two of them.

  Bron stood tense next to Dalia until they were left alone. He clenched his hands against his side. She stood next to him, her chin high, caution keeping her from reaching for him.

  He cleared his throat. “Stay, Dalia. Please. It will be safer here.”

  “I don’t want to be in the same house with you,” she hissed.

  Bron flinched at her words.

  God, the sight of him. Heat pooled low in her stomach, and her hands itched to touch him.

  “I'll stay in the barracks out back with the other warriors, you'll have no chance of running into me,” he promised her softly.

  His hand lifted and he pushed her hair behind her ear, lingering on her cheek. She leaned into his touch until she caught a glimpse of the scar on his palm. She stepped back out of his reach. The matching scar along her chest burned and hardened her resolve.

  “Show me where I'll be staying.” She brushed her hair over her shoulder.

  Bron’s hand returned slowly to his side and Dalia swallowed her regret. Her cheek burned where he touched her, reminding her of his hold over her body. He nodded and turned his back and she breathed a small sigh of relief.

  It was better this way.

  Bron led her to a beautiful stairway of polished wood and she followed him upstairs, her eyes barely taking note of the opulence of the home. They walked silently down the hallway, their steps muffled by the thick carpet. He opened the door to the room where she would be staying and Dalia was overwhelmed with his scent. It rose from every surface of the room. The only place that did not smell like him was the small area where she saw his monkey playing silently.

  “Why did you bring me to your room?” She couldn't stay here. Already her breast tingled, and her thighs clenched in arousal.

  “This is where you'll stay.” Bron walked over to the small capuchin monkey and gathered him along with a few of his toys.

  “There must be ten rooms in this place, and you want me to stay here?” Her voice was strained, husky with need.

  Bron shrugged. “Seventeen, but you'll stay in this room.”

  “Why?” Dalia turned in a circle, taking in his masculine bedroom.

  “You're my mate, Dalia.” his voice was a low growl.

  “You keep saying that, like it's supposed to mean something to me.”

  Bron sighed. He guided Little Lord into the hallway and shut the door.

  “I bonded us.”

  Bonded? Her heart stuttered. Why did it sound so…permanent? “Explain.”

  “I tied our souls together.”

  “You did what?” She staggered back a step. How could he do that without her knowledge? She thought back to the first night they were together. She'd felt it then.

  “We're mates, Dalia, soul mates.”

  Was she mad? A part of her rejoiced that the decision had been taken from her. “And I supposed it didn’t occur to you to ask me if I wanted to be bonded to you.”

  “You are mine, Dalia. Nothing you said or did would've changed that.” He raked a possessive look over her.

  Damn if her body didn’t react. Her skin heated. “You arrogant bastard.”

  “I won't apologize for it.” Bron backed her up into the wall, moving closer to her until his breath caressed her face. “If I had it to do over again, I would do it without hesitation.”

  "You can't make me stay with you." But she was tempted. How easy would it be to give in? To forget the last few days?

  "Maybe not, but know that I would crave you when I'm not with you." He nuzzled his head into her neck. "That craving would be with you, making you ache in places only I could ease." His hand moved down her back until her cupped her butt. Pushing lightly, he sealed their bodies together.

  His erection pressed into on her belly and her womb contracted. Her heart raced. "I agreed to nothing. You can't bind me to you without my permission." But God she knew the ache he spoke of.

  "Every time you wrapped these gorgeous legs around my body and let me in, rewa, you were giving me permission." He released her.

  Dalia stumbled, already missing his body heat. She struggled to say something, but the truth of his words was there in her soul. She wanted to deny it, to tell him that she felt nothing for him, but her mouth closed around the lie. She needed time to think about it without him crowding her space.

  She slid past him to open the door. “You can leave now.”

  “Dalia, rewà,” Bron whispered. He stepped closer to her, his eyes studying her face.

  Dalia moved as far away from him as the room would allow. “Let’s not.”

  He nodded curtly and left the room. She lowered her head, cursing the timing. Saving her family had to come first. That would be her focus. Not the riotous feeling driving her crazy. She ran her hands slowly over his bed, bringing his pillow up to her nose. His scent assailed her and her eyes smarted with tears.

  Damn the man.

  Needing something to do, Dalia walked around the room snooping, touching his things. Though the furniture looked comfortable, his room was sparse; she didn’t think he stayed here often. The massive king size bed took up a lot of space and besides his dresser drawers the only other furniture in the room was a large leather recliner in corner next to the window, and his monkey’s small bed. It had only taken her twenty minutes to go through his stuff and now she was bored. She looked around for something to fix the window since she would be forced to stay here.

  Three hours later, bored and restless, Dalia paced the room. She had not fed before coming to the meeting with Zahra and she was starting to feel the hunger. It moved through her body, a slow burn, taunting her.

  "What's wrong?" The sound of Bron’s voice washed through her raising the hunger inside her.

  "Nothing", she lied.

  She cursed the knock on the door minutes later. She didn’t want to face him in her current condition, but still her feet carried her to the door. Bron stood there worried, looking impossibly handsome. His low-slung jeans hung off his hips, paired with a gray t-shirt worn from too many washes. Her eyes were drawn to the pulse at his neck; his brown skin invited her to taste. She licked her lips, unable to look away from the temptation.

  Bron lifted her chin forcing her eyes meet his. “You haven't fed tonight?”

  She lowered her eyes. “I'll be fine.” Her eyes strayed to his pulse again. “I was going to, after my meeting with Zahra.”

  He cursed in his native language. “Feed from me, rewà.”

  Her eyes snapped back to his. “No, it'll be better if
I wait.” He'd proven earlier that any resolve she had melted when he put his hands on her.

  Bron stepped closer to her, his body invading her personal space. Dalia closed her eyes and put her hands out to stop his forward progress.

  Big mistake.

  Feeling the muscles from his chest under her hands nearly undid her. It was all she could do to keep from snatching his shirt off. Bron grabbed her hands, holding them to his chest.

  “Let me provide for you, Dalia,” he whispered in her ear.

  Dalia shivered. Torn between her need and self-preservation, she couldn't speak. She shook her head, unable to say no aloud.

  Bron raised her hands, his thumbs tracing her palms slowly. The scent of her arousal was thick in the air, and her hunger beat at him.

  “I'll behave, baby,” he cajoled.

  Dalia shuddered and closed her eyes.

  Bron bit his lip to keep from nibbling on her ear. He knew she was still hurt and though he wanted nothing more than to escape in the comfort and heat of her body, he respected that she needed time.

  “I can’t do this,” she whispered, her voice thick with need. Her nose was pressed into his neck, her lips inches from the spot she craved.

  “You are my mate, Dalia. Allow me the honor of providing what you need.” His heart hammered as he struggled to control his body. Need for her flooded his mind, sending his beast pacing around his subconscious.

  She hesitated a moment more before her teeth sank into him. His knees nearly buckled and he fought down a moan. Her mouth on him was like gasoline on a fire and that fire trailed down his spine, burning through his control. Bron squeezed his eyes shut, willing his body to behave. Minutes later, she licked his neck, signaling that she was done.

  She lifted her head. Satiation had turned her eyes drowsy, tightening his groin. Just a taste, that's what he told himself as he leaned down. Her lips parted and his promise to behave flew out the window. His chest rumbled as his beast purred in contentment. Her taste moved through his senses burning away his tenuous control.

  He tangled his fingers into her hair, holding her in place, angling to deepen their kiss. Her mewling cries spurred him on. He used his other hand to push up her shirt.

  "Stop, Bron." She broke their kiss. "I don't want this."

  Her eyes showed her confusion and Bron felt like a heel. He didn't mean to push her. Breathing harshly, Bron turned and quickly walked from the room. He needed to get out of the house before he did something she would regret the next day.

  Chapter 22

  “I'M SORRY your family is being threatened.”

  Dalia sighed and pushed her hair from her face. “Is there anything you can do?” she asked Oya. They were sitting on the same bench where she’d sat days earlier. Dalia hadn’t realized she had dozed off until she looked up to find herself back in Oya’s temple. True to her mother's word, the peace of it snuck past her defenses, and Dalia found herself wanting to stay in that peace.

  “No, something else I'm sorry for.” Oya gazed at Dalia, her eyes sympathetic. “So much around you is shrouded from me.”

  “I'm being used to get to the oracle.”

  “Danger always surrounds the oracle. It's why the temple guards are in place. It's not your job to protect her. I don't expect you to sacrifice your mother to do so.”

  A weight lifted at the goddess’s words.

  “I know the trouble you have with the tribe,” Oya grabbed Dalia’s hand.

  Dalia scoffed. “Trouble.” That was a mild word for it.

  “The Ijoye blames the Ajo for the death of his mate. I would imagine he sees it as a great betrayal for me to choose you as the álà-írín.”

  She could understand that, so she said nothing.

  “Well, in this I can help you. I'm giving the warriors a gift through you. It should go a long way to smooth things out for you.”

  “What's the gift?”

  Oya simply smiled. Her eyes focused on Dalia’s now crimson tattoos. “Your powers have been unlocked earlier than planned.”

  “Is that something I should worry about?”

  “Worry, no, your mother has prepared you for what you will face. I'll guide you as much as I can, through Zahra. You have some time yet to learn your gift. The healer is not quite ready to claim her destiny. You're not quite ready to cross the veil on your own.” Oya pulled the amulet given to her by the oracle into her hands and closed her eyes. “Don't remove this amulet. It'll prevent your spirit from drifting. When you're ready, I'll remove the ward on it.” When the goddess released the amulet it was warm against her chest.

  “Oh man and here I was all set for my spirit to fly free,” Dalia said dryly.

  Oya laughed. “I’ll be sure to let your mother know how you talk to your elders.”

  Dalia grimaced. “Please don’t. There's not enough time in the world for the lecture that would come from that.”

  "War is coming." Oya announced abruptly.

  "What kind of war?"

  "The kind that ends the world…maybe." The goddess shook her head. "As much as I hate to rush you, I'll need you at the temple as soon as you are able to take care of your family."

  Dalia shuddered as a chill moved down her spine. "What's at the temple?"

  "Years and years of stored power. With the basikulu disbanded, the power the warriors have collected has sat in the temple. Centuries worth. Can you imagine what someone would do with that type of power?" Oya sighed. "The faster it's cleaned and back in circulation, the faster I can gain my power to prepare for this war."

  She released a shaky breath, her mind racing at the goddess's words. "I thought there were three of us you needed."

  "Yes, you'll have time. Time we can ill afford, but there's nothing to be done about it." She pat Dalia's knee. "In the meantime, try to get along with the tribe. Zahra will need all the help she can get."

  "Not my fault." She frowned. "Besides, we both know how smart my mouth is, it's only a matter of time before fist are flying."

  “You’ll do, Dalia. You’ll do.” Oya touched her cheek softly and Dalia felt the wrenching that signaled she was being sent back to her body.

  She awoke disoriented and it took her a minute to register that there was a knock on the door. Oddly enough she knew who was on the other side of the door. She sensed the oracle's presence. Frowning, she dragged herself from the bed. She opened the door and stepped back with a hiss as a slash of sunlight touched her feet.

  “I come bearing snacks,” Zahra said sheepishly, one hand holding a plate laden with fruit, the other clutching various bags of potato chips and a bottle of wine hung precariously from her fingers. “I didn’t know what you liked.” Zahra stepped into the room and shut the door with her feet. “Sorry about the sun, I forgot which side of the house we were on.”

  “It’s okay.” It was awkward. They stood looking at each other, both at a loss. “I’m not a picky eater.” Dalia held out her hand to relieve Zahra of some of her fare. “Since there's no other furniture in the room, I'm sure Bron wouldn't mind if we sat on his bed.”

  Zahra looked relieved and headed for the bed. “So, exciting meeting last night, huh?”

  Dalia’s laughter surprised them both and broke the tension. Zahra relaxed and laid out on the bed making herself comfortable. She wore a pair of men’s boxers that gave her an impish look. Her black tank top showed off her slight figure and again Dalia wondered how this small woman managed to stand her ground in the midst of the warriors twice her size.

  “Yeah, can’t wait for the sequel.”

  “I’m really sorry about that,” Zahra told her softly.

  Dalia stared at her, and noted the sincerity in her almond shaped eyes.

  “It’s not your fault. Hell, it’s not anyone’s fault, I know it’s not personal.”

  Zahra’s relief brushed her senses and she frowned.

  “Yeah, you'll start to feel more of that.” Zahra lifted the cork from the wine bottle and took a swig. At Dalia’s puzzled
look she laughed. “The emotions. You're connected to the tribe now, well, you were always a part of the tribe but now you're connected.”

  “Really.” She searched her mind, and sure enough she could sense the other warriors.

  “The weirdest part for me is the closeness. There is nothing like it. I didn’t have any family, well, my dad, but he… anyways I instantly gained a family.”

  “I’m sure they will welcome me with open arms.” Sarcasm laced Dalia’s voice.

  “You’ll see.” is all Zahra said. She grabbed a grape and popped it into her mouth looking entirely too smug for Dalia’s taste.

  “You’re a strange one, princess.” She opened a bag of potato chips.

  “So now that we’re friends, tell me about you and Bron.”

  Dalia choked on the chips she had in her mouth. Zahra offered her the bottle of wine. Dalia took it too gratefully and chugged it.

  “None of your business,” Dalia muttered. There's no way she would tell this tiny woman her secrets.

  “Well, how long are you going to be mad at him?” Zahra bumped her shoulder.

  Dalia rolled her eyes and ignored Zahra’s question. She started to say something when Zahra held up her hand. She could tell the oracle was speaking with someone telepathically, so she waited her out. Dalia looked up in surprise when two men were teleported into the room. One man was tall and muscular; his dreadlocks were pulled neatly back from his face. And what a face it was; his eyes were dark, framed by thick lashes, and thick eyebrows that gave him an almost menacing look. His face was chiseled, his cheekbones, harsh slashes and there was an arrogant slant to his mouth. The other man was not as tall and imposing but was equally handsome.

  Zahra’s face looked as surprised as hers. “Dalia, this is Ajani,” she indicating the man with the dreadlocks, “and…”

  “Jared,” the other man supplied.

  Zahra nodded and her smile looked forced as she welcomed him. “Jared, if you could please wait for us outside, I need to speak with Ajani.”