A Destiny Revealed (28 page)

"She is fine, baba."
Fynn reassured him.

"Rewà
? "
He called
to Dalia.

"I'm fine now, Bron."
Her voice said
otherwise and Bron wanted to hit something. He turned when he felt a pulse of
power. Saleem looked haggard, his eyes were dark shadows.

“I'm sorry it took me longer than I planned.” Saleem
explained tiredly. Bron nodded once and teleported from the room. When he
entered the safe house he immediately rushed to Dalia’s side. She went limply
into his arms.

"
You should have come to me,
mi ôkàn
."
He crushed her to him. He turned to Aren. “Touch my mate again, and you will
pay for it with your life.”

Aren scoffed, rotating his shoulders. “I did what I had to.
Besides, your mate can take care of herself.”

A low growl rumbled Bron’s chest in warning.

“Enough,” Bakari said. “Bron, he was protecting the oracle.
You cannot blame him for that.”

Bron and Aren eyed each other warily.

“Explain, Dalia,” Bron’s voice was gruff with worry.

“My mom called me a little while ago, saying she felt like
someone was stalking her. I went to check on her and when I got there, Nala and
a couple of her goons held her hostage. She wants the amulet.”

“You could've come to me for help.” Zahra’s eyes were
compassionate, but Bron saw the hurt below the surface.

“I panicked, Zahra. She gave me two hours to come back with
the amulet and Bakari. She almost cut my mother’s throat while I watched.”
Dalia said defensively.

“Two hours is enough time for a plan, Dalia,” Fynn
admonished.

“You-”

Fynn cut off Dalia’s argument. “It doesn't matter, Dalia. I’m
not going to waste time arguing with you. What’s done is done. We have to
figure out a way to rescue your mother.”

“We have to give Nala what she wants,” Bakari announced.

Fynn stopped his pacing and stared at his father. Ajani
popped into the room before Fynn could address Bakari. All four of their new
recruits were with him. They looked exhausted but their eyes were alit with
excitement. Ajani’s normally neat dreadlocks were windswept around his face.

“What’s up?” Ajani asked. The ever day slang sounded funny
with his accented voice. He took in the state of the room and his eyes
immediately went to Dalia. He saw her hair in disarray and raised his eyebrow.
Bron did not like the smug look on his face.

“The
álà-írín
needs our help.” Bakari answered. Ajani
inclined his head and sat in the nearest chair.

Ajani dismissed the new warriors. When they were gone he
turned his attention to the Ijoye. “What does she need?” Bron could feel the
tension in the room ebbing and attributed it to Ajani. The warrior was able to
use his power to dampen emotions. Bron felt Dalia shudder, her body relaxed
next to him and he shot Ajani a grateful look. Ajani nodded subtly. Dalia
explained the situation.

“We can't give her the amulet,” Fynn said.

“What about the fake amulet?” Aren said suddenly.

“Fake amulet?”
Fynn’s voice held
confusion. Dalia felt Bron’s pulse leap and she felt a spurt of hope.

“There were days when the oracle was required to go into the
village. She never wore the real amulet when she left the temple.” Aren said.

Zahra’s eyebrows bunched. “I don’t understand.”

“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.”