A Destiny Revealed

“At the time, many of the tribes were warring with each other. Though the oracle never went anywhere without guards, the goddess thought it safer to keep the amulet at the temple.” Ajani answered.

  “The fake amulet is still in the oracle’s room at the temple,” Bron said quietly. He felt a twinge of pain from both Bakari and Fynn. “I saw it there, days ago." He cleared his throat. “I can go retrieve it.”

  Bakari shook his head. “I will do it.” Fynn walked to his father and laid his hand on his shoulder.

  “We can go together,” Fynn said.

  “I have not been back since your mother died, I need to do this alone.” Bakari said gruffly. “You should stay here with your wife.”

  Zahra snorted, “There is no need for him to be here. I'm in no danger from Dalia.”

  Dalia nodded. “I was desperate. I apologize, Zahra.”

  “It was because you didn't trust anyone to help you,” Bron said bitterly.

  Dalia avoided his eyes.

  “I do trust you,” she said quietly.

  He scoffed but said nothing.

  “Watch Zahra,” Fynn ordered Aren and he and his father teleported from the room.

  “Bron,” Dalia started.

  “Not now,” he said brusquely.

  Dalia looked at him. She could see the strain at the corner of his eyes and mouth and she felt bad.

  "It’s not that easy, Bron."

  "I don’t expect it to be easy, Dalia. It means nothing if it’s easy." His eyebrows were lowered over his eyes in a scowl and she could sense his hurt. Bakari and Fynn transported back into the room before she could say anything else to him. Zahra rushed to her husband’s side and Dalia felt a twinge of jealousy at their obvious bond.

  “Contact Nala and tell her you have the amulet.” Bakari ordered. His shoulders were slumped; sadness flowed from him like a quiet whisper.

  “I have no way of contacting her. I have to take the amulet back to her at my mother’s house.” Dalia said.

  “No way,” Bron’s voice lashed through the room.

  “We don’t have a choice, Bron,” Fynn stated.

  “I will not send my mate into a dangerous situation,” Bron mouth was set in a stubborn line.

  “Bron, I don’t want to intentionally put your mate into danger, but we don’t have any other options.” Fynn looked to his mentor. Compassion colored his eyes and there was no doubt about the regret Bron felt from him. Still, it did not make it any easier. He stood to pace the room.

  “How am I supposed to convince a master vampire that I took the amulet from you? She could sense if I was lying.” Dalia asked skeptically. The room was quiet as they all thought of an answer.

  “Take the amulet from Bakari,” Ajani said simply. Bron stopped pacing and looked at him strangely. Dalia reached for the amulet, taking it from Bakari’s hands. She raised her eyebrow at Ajani.

  “Now tell Bakari if he wants the amulet back, he has to meet you somewhere.” Ajani prodded. Dalia smiled in understanding.

  “Bakari, if you want this amulet back then meet me at the edge of town. There is an abandoned warehouse there. I can draw the directions for you.” Dalia said.

  Ajani nodded. “Now, you can tell Nala what you did and it will not be a lie.”

  “Don't give her the amulet just yet.” Fynn cut in. “Tell her that you will give it to her after she meets you at the warehouse, it will give us time to make a plan.” Dalia nodded and teleported from the room.

  Nala was sitting calmly with Isabelle next to her on the sofa. Dalia dangled the amulet from her fingers.

  “I have what you want,” she stated.

  Nala stood and approached Dalia. “Give me the amulet,” Nala walked over to reach for it. Dalia snatched it back quickly. A brush of power raised the hair on Dalia’s arms, and caused her scalp to tingle. Nala’s eyes narrowed and Dalia felt the weight of her stare.

  Nala’s eyes widened and she stepped back. Her compulsion was not working on Dalia. Peeved, Nala eyed the amulet swaying negligently from Dalia’s fingers with greed. Dalia had the amulet in her possession for mere minutes and already she was able to fight through the compulsion Nala threw at her. Nala licked her lips in anticipation, envisioning the power the amulet would grant her.

  “Bakari?”

  “I told him to meet me at the edge of town to get the amulet back. You should be able to do whatever you want with him there.”

  “How long?” Nala asked standing.

  Dalia shrugged. “Three hours. There is a warehouse there.”

  “Give me the amulet,” Nala repeated.

  “Release my mother.”

  Nala shook her head. “You can’t possibly think that I would just hand over the only leverage over you I have. I tell you what. We'll all meet at the warehouse in three hours. When I have Bakari and the amulet, I'll allow your mother to go free.” Nala barely stopped her hands from rubbing together in glee. She would make any deal necessary to own the amulet and have a chance at Bakari.

  Dalia raised her eyebrows. “Fine, but if my mother is harmed, there will be no deal.” Dalia teleported from the room.

  Chapter 27

  BRON STOOD WHEN she came back into the room. “Are you okay?”

  Dalia nodded. “Thanks Ajani, it worked. Nala will meet us at the warehouse in three hours.”

  “That will give us plenty of time,” Bakari said solemnly.

  Dalia watched in awe, as four warriors were teleported into the room. She assumed Bakari transported them into the room, because he turned to them and assessed each of them. “I need you to suit up, Fynn will lead you in your mission tonight. This is the real deal. The álà-írín will be counting on your focus and dedication.”

  Fynn kissed his wife and lead the warriors to their training room to arm up.

  “Ajani, Aren, I want you on her family. Her niece is still at the temple, so that leaves only her father and nephew.” Fynn told them when he rejoined the group. The warriors stood at his back, a wall of tall dark and dangerous, all looking intimidating. “Hopefully Nala will relax the guard on them, but I want to know either way. Move only on my word, clear?” Fynn walked over to his wife and cupped her chin.

  “You better be careful, Fynn.” Zahra said fiercely. He kissed his wife deeply, and Dalia had to look away. She heard them murmuring and her eyes automatically sought Bron. She could read the tension in his shoulders and his neck.

  “Ijoye, please be careful,” Fynn said embracing his father. Bakari nodded and the room cleared.

  Bakari cleared his throat. “We can only rest at this point.” He told the rest of them. Zahra and Bakari left the room leaving Dalia and Bron alone.

  Bron stood a few feet from Dalia, watching her fidget.

  “What is your problem?” her tone was exasperated and managed to strike a nerve.

  “My problem is that my mate did not come to me when she needed help.” Bron stepped closer to her, worry for her turning quickly to anger now that she was safe. She stood before him, her arms crossed over her chest with her hip cocked out.

  “I’ve been on my own for well over thirty years, Bron. I'm not used to depending on anyone but myself.”

  “Don’t give me that bull, Dalia. I'm not just anyone.” Bron threw his hands up in aggravation.

  “I can’t talk about this now. I don’t have time to juggle your feelings, I need to concentrate on my mother.” Dalia told him quietly. Her words were like a physical slap.

  Bron took a deep breath and opened his mouth. His teeth came together in a snap as he closed it a moment later. She was right, now was not the time for this conversation. Bron turned and walked from the room.

  “Are you ready?” Dalia whirled around. Bakari’s deep voice scared her out of her thoughts hours later. She rolled her head around hoping to loosen the tension in her shoulders.

  “Ajani and Aren are watching your family. They will stay with them until we get this cleared up.” Zahra said, patting Dalia on the shoulder.

 
Dalia tensed when Bron entered the room; he only gave her a brief look. Dalia hated the way their last conversation ended.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Bakari asked. She shook her head. “I want you to go in now, I will be five minutes behind you.”

  Dalia nodded, looked longingly at Bron and teleported from the room.

  She glanced around at the warehouse chosen for the meeting. She could feel Nala’s presence, malice practically coated the place and Dalia thought she would be able to feel the slime of it if she ran her hands over the wall. She looked around the dank, dark building and wondered idly how it was still standing. The tin walls looked rusty, the roof sagging and the catwalk looked as though it would collapse at any moment. She briefly thought of the warriors stationed there, ordered to keep watch then closed her mind. The last thing she wanted was for Nala to be able to pull any information from her.

  Dalia nearly sighed in relief when Bakari transported into the room.

  “I’m here,” he said gruffly. “Where is the amulet?” Dalia was taken aback by his anger, until she realized the performance they would need to put on.

  “I had no choice. It was either you, or my family.” She pulled the amulet from her pocket and held it up into the moonlight filtering in through a broken window. They both turned as they heard the click of a woman’s heels. Nala moved through the shadows and it took Dalia a moment to find her. She snatched the amulet from Dalia and approached Bakari. Dalia eyes flickered to Bakari as she heard his intake of breath.

  Nala smiled. “So you do remember me?” her voice was smug, hips swaying as she closed the distance between her and Bakari.

  “I do not know you.” Bakari frowned deeper, his eyes confused.

  “What about my mother?” Dalia did not want to hear their conversation.

  “If you can find your mom, she is free to go,” Nala said dismissively, her eyes never left Bakari’s face.

  “You said you would let my mom go.”

  Nala tilted her head and smiled. Chills ran down Dalia’s body from that smile.

  “I am letting her go. All you have to do is find her.” Nala turned and faced Dalia. “You should probably hurry. I left her for my men to enjoy.”

  “You bitch,” Dalia hissed. She ran through the warehouse.

  "Princess, please, can you find my mom?" Dalia reached out to Zahra.

  “THESE CENTURIES HAVE been kind to you, Ijoye,” Nala commented. She held the amulet up, allowing it to swing on her fingers. “Still don’t remember me?”

  Bakari shook his head. “I have seen you once. In the market.”

  Anger flitted across Nala’s face briefly. “Only once?”

  “I'm not sure what you expect from me.” Bakari crossed his arms across his chest.

  “I expect you to greet an old friend with a little more enthusiasm.” Nala pulled his head down and slammed her lips down on his. Bakari shoved her back and Nala laughed.

  “What’s wrong, Ijoye? Saving yourself for your mate?” Nala’s voice was mocking.

  Bakari wiped his lips with the back of his hand. “Don't bring my mate into this.”

  “Even to this day, no one can speak of the sainted Layla.”

  “You know nothing of my mate.” Power flowed from Bakari and Nala shuddered. She had no idea he was so powerful.

  “I know a lot of things, Bakari. I was once a part of your tribe.” Nala clutched the amulet in her hand, feeling the jewel bite into her skin.

  “You were the baker’s daughter.” Bakari's eyes narrowed in recognition. "You don't carry the mark of the Ajo."

  Anger flared hot and Nala struck, slapping Bakari’s face. “I am no simple baker’s daughter.”

  She circled Bakari eyeing the way his slacks molded the muscles in his legs. His body was large, but not an ounce of fat dwelled on him. She ran her finger down his back admiring the muscles there, feeling the first stirrings of lust she'd felt in years. "I don't carry the mark because I was one of the first. Before your pathetic goddess noticed the thefts."

  “What do you want with me?”

  “I wanted you, Ijoye.” Nala ran her hands over his baldhead. “But you didn't have time for me. You should've paid me more attention, I would've made a far better mate than your precious Layla.”

  Bakari grabbed her wrist and yanked her back in front of him. “No one can compare with Layla.”

  Nala hissed in anger. “She didn't deserve to be the oracle or the mate of the most powerful man in our tribe.”

  “Yet, she was oracle and my mate.” Bakari’s face was a blank mask, further angering her.

  “She was nothing!” Nala screeched. “Less than nothing. She got exactly what she deserved.” Nala laughed as finally, the Ijoye’s expression changed. His eyebrows lowered and his body vibrated with anger.

  “She was ten times the woman you could ever be.”

  “She is nothing now.” She stood on her toes to meet his eyes. “I made sure of it.”

  "YOUR MOTHER IS NOT IN THE BUILDING, Dalia." Zahra called to her. "She was taken outside; Bron will meet you in the woods surrounding the warehouse." Dalia ran around the warehouse and followed the directions Zahra sent to her telepathically. She swallowed a scream when she came up on Bron in his lion form.

  "Stay behind me, I will approach first." Bron ordered.

  "Do I look like a pansy?" Dalia scoffed. She tried to move around him but stopped when she heard his growl. “Nice kitty,” she whispered, moving back.

  Bron growled again and Dalia backed up another step. 'For heaven’s sake, Bron, go, I will stay behind you.'

  Bron took off through the woods, his steps silent despite the foliage they tracked through. They slowed near a clearing and Dalia could hear voices. Dalia saw her mother tied, in the middle of three vampires. Isabelle was shoved to the ground, her legs and hands bound. Dalia covered her mouth and gripped Bron’s fur. She heard the taunts the vampires were throwing at her mother and lost her temper. Silent as a ghost Dalia charged them, Bron charged behind her. Dalia kicked at the nearest vampire, connecting with his knee.

  She smiled in satisfaction as she heard bone crack and his leg bent. She pulled a knife out of the sheath at her back and stabbed the vampire in the heart. She turned and watched as Bron made quick work of the other two vampires. In his lion form he was already intimidating, but to watch him fight in nothing but a pair of jeans was poetry in motion. His back muscles rippled as she watched him lift a vampire by his throat and toss him into a tree. Before the other vampire could charge Bron, Dalia tossed her knife and hit the vampire in the back. Bron turned in time to see the vampire hit the ground.

  "Take care of your mother; I will get rid of the bodies." He told her. Dalia gathered her mother in her arms and teleported her to the safe house. Zahra was waiting for her when they arrived. Zahra rushed forward and with the help of the warrior left behind they quickly moved Isabelle to the guest room at the bottom of the stairs. Dalia removed the restraints from her mother’s arms and legs. Zahra dismissed the warrior, moving to check over Isabelle for injuries.

  "She seems fine," Zahra told Dalia.

  “I am fine, oracle,” Isabelle croaked. Zahra reached into a small refrigerator next to the bed and brought out a bottle of water. Dalia lifted her mother’s head and Isabelle greedily took a sip.

  “Rest, mama.” Dalia ordered. Isabelle gripped her daughter’s hand and nodded. Dalia turned to back to Zahra, “Please stay with my mother. I'm going back for Nala.” Dalia’s anger toward the woman rushed to the forefront now that her mother was safe. She would make sure that Nala paid for what her mother was put through.

  “I will,” Zahra promised softly, not bothering to try and talk Dalia off her course. “Be careful.”

  Dalia nodded absently. Dalia teleported back to Loiza, she needed to make a stop first.

  Chapter 28

  'DALIA AND ISABELLE are safe, Ijoye. I'm sending the warriors to Aren and Ajani to take out the vampires
watching her family. We can leave.' Fynn reported to his father.

  'No, I want to hear what Nala has to say.' Bakari insisted.

  'Father, we don't need anything from her.' Bakari could hear the worry in Fynn’s tone, but said nothing. Fynn’s sigh moved through Bakari’s mind. 'I will stay here as back up.'

  Bakari eyed Nala with disgust, wondering what this vampire aimed to accomplish.

  “I will make a better oracle than Layla,” Nala taunted holding up the amulet. There was madness in her eyes.

  “Layla was created as oracle. She didn't have to steal it.” Bakari admonished. He watched as anger contorted Nala’s beautiful face, her lips lifted in a snarl.

  “I'm tired of hearing you defend that fat cow!” she screamed. She used her power to slam him into a beam. Bakari quickly reassured his son before Fynn could act. He allowed Nala to use her power; he wanted to see how far he could push her. He wanted an explanation and he wouldn't leave without it. She slapped him with enough force to move his head.

  “You don't know a good thing when you see it, Ijoye.”

  “Oh, but I did, Nala. It was why I chose Layla.” He taunted. He smiled when she slapped him again.

  “It’s too bad you chose her, Ijoye. It was the death of her,” Nala eyes were lit with maniacal fire.

  Bakari’s heart stuttered in dread. “What are you talking about?”

  Nala caressed the side of Bakari’s face. “I'll unlock the powers of the amulet and I will spend every day of my existence making sure you pay for your bad choice.”

  “Even if you have the amulet, it won't make you the oracle. You are poison,” he spat. “The goddess will never allow you the power in that amulet. You have nothing on Layla, she was created by the goddess herself.” Bakari decided he’d had enough, he took a deep breath and gathered his power, intending to break the hold Nala had on him. Her smile stopped him cold.

  “Men are so stupid.” She said. “They think they know everything. You know nothing!”

  “It is you who knows nothing,” Bakari tossed back.