Haven (10 page)

“What prophecy?”

“The Mina…”

“The Mina have a prophecy every be-damned
day. Why is this prophecy any different?” Azra cut him off.

“This prophecy concerns the Kokoro souls.”

“The same souls Oya keeps guard over?”

Rugaba nodded. “She released them.

Azra frowned. “When?”

“I track time no better than you do. It
doesn’t matter, what matters is they’ve been released and we both know they’re
the only ones who can free Ofeere.”

“Which begs the question, why did she
release them?”

“I didn’t ask.” Rue lowered his head.

“Is that right?” The scorn in Azra’s voice
was easy to discern. “So she just decided one day to release three of the most
powerful souls in the universe, and you didn’t ask any questions.”

Rugaba shrugged. “The prophecy…”

“You know how I feel about prophecy, Rue.
By the time you’re done chasing your tail, and playing with riddles, Adro will
still be fucked.”

“Even still, we can't ignore it. The Ajo
are trying to get into Oya's temple, presumably to get access to Ofeere’s
banished army. The only souls able to free him are out in the world and there
is magic darkening Earth. When is the last time you've tried to see beyond the
veil?”

“I haven't. Your messenger brings my
worshippers to me. I need not look to Adro for them.”

Rugaba stopped pacing and stared at his
brother. Unless invoked for vengeance, his brother was lazy, and did the least
amount of work he could get away with. “Really, Az? By the gods how do you
manage to keep Azrael in line?”

Azra gave him a wolfish smile. “Oh but,
brother, I make the most spectacular examples out of Demis who don't cooperate.
Eternity with me can be hell, or hellish, their choice.” His smile disappeared.
“Speaking of hellish, there is another reason I came to see you. Your messenger
has been mated.”

“What!”

“Yep, and I'm here to tell you, I'm not
breaking in another messenger. Talk to your council, they can't bench him.”

“Az, he can't take trips to Azrael with a
mate. The Eminzu will throw a fit, if he dies in your realm…”

“I'll strengthen my wards over him, but nothing
has happened to him in two centuries.”

Rugaba growled."Azra,"

“No, Rue. Three messengers died before the
ink was dry on their assignments, two more died simply trying to cross the veil
into Azrael. I'm not going through that shit again. Talk to your whiny
ancestors.”

“Fine, I'll see what I can do.” There was
no use arguing with Azra. His brother saluted him and disappeared, ending any
argument he would have anyway.

Rue growled and continued his pacing.
Unlike his brother's nonchalance regarding Adro's fate, Rugaba couldn't stand
back and allow a war he knew would end the world to take place. Most of the
gods' power came from their worshipers. If they were gone…

They would be weakened. Who knew what
would happen then.

THE RINGING OF HIS communicator
interrupted the naughty thoughts racing through Leo’s head. He saw his
brother’s I.D. and connected the line immediately.

“We looked through the Oras for the last
time Kita visited Haven.” Xavier wasted no time on pleasantries.

His heartbeat picked up its rhythm. “What
did you find?”

“It’s more what we didn’t find that has me
worried for you. Magic corrupted the Oras.”

“How is that possible?”

“Exactly my question.” Xavier growled.
“One for which I will enjoy getting the answer. We have her last movements
coming into Haven during a fight night, she wanders around a bit, does some
quite frankly questionable things and then the feed dies.”

Leo’s gut churned, a bad feeling drying
his mouth. “It takes an inordinate amount of dark magic to slightly interrupt
the feed, I can’t imagine what it would take to erase it all together. That’s
magic over Adro itself.”

He mentally went through creatures who
would have powers over the Earth, and only one came to mind. Except, the Gu
were the last to mess with dark magic. They used their magic to form weapons,
armor. The iron giants mined the Earth for its precious metals and minerals,
they would never manipulate the magnetic fields in order to tamper with the
Oras. Doing so could affect their metallurgy. But who if not them.

“Listen to me Leo.” Xavier’s voice broke
into his musings.

“I’m listening.”

“Kita came in with Prince Kedric, and the
last images were of her with the prince. If ever there was a person with the
influence and perhaps the money to get the Oras erased…”

Leo cursed. Instincts that kept him alive
in his post as Death’s messenger flared to life. Fear for Liliana bloomed in
his chest.

“On another note, Fallon spoke to Rue,
he’s giving you an audience after your ceremony.”

A sharp exhale was the only answer he
could give his brother. Gods, he needed his meeting with Rugaba to go well.
“Thank you, X.”

“I know how important your job is to you,
Leo.”

“I gotta go.” Leo snapped closed his
communicator cutting off his brother, and the emotion threatening to swamp him.
Just the thought of losing his job was carving a deep hole in his soul. He had
no memories of wanting to be anything other than in the Amanda. His whole life
he’d watched the soldiers, his life’s goal to join their ranks. There had to be
a way to keep both his job and his mate, and he would find it.

Liliana walked carefully down the stairs.
He turned his attention to her. Dressed in a long flowing gown tied around her
exposed neck, she was beautiful. The soft peach color made her brown skin glow,
and the sleek, loosely draped fabric clung to her curves. Her hair was piled
high atop her head, leaving her neck and shoulders bare. His body tightened, heat
pooled low in his belly at the sight of her. How the in hells of Azreal did he
get so lucky? She smiled as she made her way over to his.

“Will you be able to walk around in
those?” He took in her dainty feet in the gold sandals she wore.

She curtsied and laughed. “Of course.
Ladies the world over are trained to walk around in uncomfortable shoes. All
for the sake of looking pretty.”

He shook his head and smiled, grabbing her
elbow. “I’ll never understand females.” He escorted her out to the family’s
lift pad.

Liliana typed in a code and they stood
waiting on a travel pod. “You’re not meant to.” She lifted on her toes and
kissed his cheek as their ride pulled up.

They entered the travel airlift laughing.
It wasn’t long before they were zipping through skies of Legba. Liliana spent
the trip pointing out her favorite places as they backtracked towards the city.
The multi-colored stone towers of the temple she and her family attended. The
white washed building with arched windows where she’d spent hours reading. The
whole realm was a show of colors as they got closer to the city center. Bright
colored brick buildings seemingly floating in the air. Stained glass windows
from floor to ceiling in some, flags of other realms waved from atop many of
the roofs. They passed through the business districts where dark colored
windows separated the bank buildings from the other commerce buildings.

Soon they pulled up to the travel pod at
the marketplace in the heart of the realm.  Outdoor vendors stretched as far as
the eye could see. A rainbow of colored awnings covered fruit vendors, bakers,
vintners, and various crafters hawking their wares in every language including
English. Liliana’s eyes lit and Leo was glad he’d thought of the trip. Always
on guard, he exited the lift first, his gaze racking over both male and female,
looking for threats. His brother’s warning was uppermost in his thoughts. He
turned to help Lily out of the transport, happy but surprised she’d waited
inside. It must have shown on his face, her eyebrow lifted.

“I’ve dealt with security before, I know
better than to move before I’m given the ok,” she caressed his cheek before
grabbing his hand. “I also know how to fend for myself, try to remember that as
well, my mate.”

He chuckled. Her words reminding him that
she’d spent years alone on Adro, looking for her sister, while eluding soldiers.
She was smarter than it seemed he gave her credit for. He released her hand,
resting his on the small of her back as he guided her through the crowded
market. His reputation often proceeded him when he went out and here was no
different. He received respectful nods from some of the males, open staring
from a lot more of the ladies than he was comfortable with and salutes from
members of the Amanda scattered throughout the market for security. The more
hostile stares he met head-on, the offender’s eyes lowering quickly. He put a
protective arm around Lily, keeping an eye out for anyone out of place. They
randomly stopped at various shops, her happy chatter drawing a smile from him.
She had an easy way with the shopkeepers, respectful yet firm as she haggled
over prices. Her beauty robbed him of breath. She turned to him and smiled,
winking in a shared joke over her negotiating. It punched through his heart and
he was struck dumb by the realization that he might actually, really like his
mate. 

Liliana caught him staring as she spun in
a happy circle in the middle of the baker’s stall. A blush colored her cheeks
as she reached over for her pastries. Her heart settled into a fast rhythm as
his gaze caressed her face. Needing a distraction from the riotous feelings,
she broke of a piece of her favorite
namo
bread and lifted it to his
lips.

“You have to try this. I’ve only ever
found these here at Mr. Aleah’s stall.”

He opened his mouth, waiting on her. The
hunger in his eyes had nothing to do with the sweet treat. If he kept staring
at her in that manner, they would need to find privacy, propriety be damned.
She fed him the fruit laden pastry, laughing as juice dribbled down his chin.
She swiped it with her finger and put it in her mouth, her eyes on his as she
sucked on it. He growled and pulled her close.

He nipped her ear. “Behave,
ina.
”

What was the fun in that, though? She
laughed instead, pulling him down the busy path to the next stall. They spent
the next couple of hours wandering the market, him following her, one eye on
her, the other scanning the crowd. The way his face softened every time he
turned his attention to her made her feel unbelievably lucky. He was guarded
with most they came in contact with, though never impatient with any child with
the courage to approach him. She watched him lower to their level, answering
their questions, no matter how outlandish. For the adults, especially males, he
lifted his lips in a snarl sending them scrambling from their path.

“I realize the attention I garner when I
go out, but you seem to have me beat.” He remarked dryly.

Heat crept up her neck. She sipped from
her frozen fruit cup to stall. He raised an eyebrow.

“I left a week before my mating ceremony
with the prince.” She ducked her head in embarrassment.

His lips twitched as he suppressed a
smile. “A week? Runaway bride, then?”

She turned from him and cleared her
throat. “Something like that.” Had she known running was an option, she
wouldn’t have waited until a week before the ceremony to do so. She certainly
wouldn’t have waited until Prince Kedric whipped her and threatened her life if
she stayed.

He turned her shoulders back to face him.
“There’s more to it than that, then?”

She nodded. “Can we drop it for now?”

He stared at her for a long moment before
nodding and kissing her lightly.

Three hours into their trip, her feet
decided they’d had enough. The pain wasn’t what made her ready to leave though.
A half hour or so ago, the back of her neck started tingling, a sign she’d come
to respect and heed. Someone was watching her, and she didn’t mean the
disapproving looks she was receiving from some of the older Eshu nobles.

She’d known as soon as rumors of her new impending
mating started circulation, they would be shunned. She was prepared for it, and
for the most part ignored the tsking sounds and averted eyes they’d dealt with
all day. This was different, malevolent, definitely more than just staring. She
tucked closer into Leo’s side, grateful for his size.

“What is it?” He tightened his arm around
her, concern creasing his brows.

She started to shrug it off.

“Don’t, Lily. You’ve progressively gotten
quiet these last few minutes, something is bothering you.”

“I have this eerie feeling I can’t shake.”

She expected him to brush off her
concerns, instead his eyes darted around them. Surprise and relief warred
within her. She’d spent her life having her family dismiss everything she did
and said. That he didn’t hesitate or ask if she was sure…she rubbed her chest
as affection for him blossomed.

“Can you pinpoint the feeling?” All
business, Leo turned them back towards the transport area, his steps measured,
but not rushed.

“Someone is watching us.”

“Watching, not staring?”

She nodded, relieved he understood the
difference. She slid closer to Leo, appreciating his warmth and the arm around
her waist. She felt secure in a way she hadn't felt since...ever. She snuggled
into his side not caring about etiquette. They were going to stare anyway. They
were near the transport when she spotted the candies Bea loved and used to
sneak to her when she was small.

Hand to Leo’s chest, she stopped them at
the stall. “I want to get some candy for Bea.”

Handing him the bags, she stepped closer,
grabbing a small basket to put them in. She scooped in a few handfuls, smiling
at the memories evoked by the sweet smell. Bea would love these. She placed her
basket on the scale, eyes roaming the stall as the shopkeeper weighed them.
Candy jars of various sizes flanked the front counter, the ones below shaped
like owls. She already pictured the smile on Bea’s face. She reached down and
grabbed it a moment before chaos erupted.

Blown back by a blast of air, confusion
turned quickly to pain as she landed on her back. She blinked against the
brightness of the sky, clutching the candy jar as she fought to make sense of
what happened. Her ears rang, and Leo’s face swam in and out of focus as he
leaned over her. Pain exploded through her body as he lifted her, the jostling
stealing her breath. Her heartbeat thundered in her ear loudly as he ran
through the scattering, panicked crowd. Lily looked down at the jar, realizing
she’d forgotten to pay. She glanced back at the stall and found it annihilated.
Her eyes widened, her heart stopped, then settled into a rapid rhythm, the
sound second to her harsh breathing. Lily closed her eyes in pain. What the
hell had happened?

***

“Damn it!” Vanity cursed, bringing her
hood up around her head.

Hours spent on that spell and she’d
missed. Leo was moving at a fast clip, his precious mate tight in his arms. No
way could she risk launching the spell again and accidently hitting him with
it. Yeah there would be stink if she took out the girl since she was a noble,
but Xavier would pause the Earth on its axis if something happened to his
brother. There would be no hole or realm where she could hide.

It took the Amanda no time to gather in
force around the stall, cordoning it off to search for clues. She moved quickly
through the still panicking crowd, not wanting to be anywhere near that stall
once they started their questioning. She’d been following Leo and her target through
the market place for close to an hour before they’d stopped at that empty
stall. The shopkeeper had been far enough behind the counter that she’d decided
to risk it. Her commission was for Liliana only, she refused to take out some
struggling shopkeeper and his shoppers. Not because of anything having to do
with morals or her conscious. Verity just didn’t kill anything that didn’t come
with some form of payment.

Period.

She made her way through the thinning
crowd towards the portal she’d used to enter Legba, cursing her bad aim. Well,
not so much her aim. Someone had bumped into her as she set up her spell. She
sighed in annoyance. She hated dealing with regular folk. Now, with this failed
attempt, Leo would be more vigilant. Who knew what type of protections he’d set
around his mate. Getting a second chance at Liliana just went from slim to damn
near impossible. She had no time to think about it now, she was late. Glancing
around to ensure she remained unseen, she pressed her palm against the sagging
stall towards the back of the market, activating the illegal portal. The
cloying smells of vegetation threatened to choke her as it opened. Verity took
small shallow breaths through her mouth and cursed the Mina and their decaying
forest.