Origins
A Total-E-Bound Publication
www.total-e-bound.com
Origins
ISBN #
978-0-85715-703-4
©Copyright Jambrea Jo Jones 2011
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright September 2011
Edited by Claire Siemaszkiewicz
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2011 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank,
Ruston Way
,
Lincoln
,
United Kingdom
.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Total-e-sizzling
and a
sexometer
of
2.
Seeds of Dawn
ORIGINS
Jambrea Jo Jones
Dedication
Joy! Look! I gave you your man. It’s about time, huh?
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Starbucks: Starbucks Corporation
Jacuzzi:
Jacuzzi Group Plc.
Prologue
Africa
—
1600s
“Dji. This is our last night before we have to be responsible for everyone. I want to go for a walk. What could happen?” Zareb shrugged.
“I am not sure this is for the best, Zareb. We should sleep. Prepare for the ritual. I want to be fresh and alert.” Djimon looked around at the sleeping villagers, his face peaceful in the moonlight.
“We will be I promise. I want to show you something, that is all. Let us go. Please.” Zareb all but begged.
“As you wish, Zareb. Lead the way.” Djimon waved his hand for Zareb to start walking.
Zareb took his friend down the path he had found a fortnight ago where he’d found something buried just beneath the ground that sparkled and called to him. He’d been called away before he could explore it and Zareb wanted to see what it was and share it with his friend. The two of them would have to turn away from childish adventures soon and stand as protectors, but one more night exploring the jungle would not hurt anyone.
“Here it is. Remember when I told you I tripped over something? But we were too busy to come back to the spot? You have to see this. I bet it will shine in the moonlight. There. Can you see it? Can you hear it? It sings to me.” Zareb pointed to the ground.
It did not appear as if anyone had been to the spot as the ground looked undisturbed.
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure. Help me.”
The two knelt in the dirt and dug. It didn’t take long for the object to pull free. It
did
shine. Even through the dirt, something called to Zareb, told him to unfasten the lid. It had to be something special. He had never seen something so brilliant.
“We should take this to the elders. They will know what to do with it.”
“But it is mine, Dji.”
“Yours? No, this is something magical. Can you not feel the pull, my brother? This is not something to trifle with.”
“I said it is mine, Dji. You will turn it over to me at once.” Zareb did not care how childish he sounded. The object called to him. He must have it.
“Let us see what the elders say. They will commune with the Ancients. Then we will know what we must do. Do you not listen to your lessons? Evil is everywhere. Why do you think they choose guardians? It is the right thing to do. We both know it.”
He did know the right thing to do, but in this moment his heart and head were pulled in different directions.
“Yes, my brother. May I carry it?”
“I think the temptation is too much for you right now, Zareb. I will keep charge of it. If the elders say it is pure, I will turn it over to you.”
There was nothing for it. Zareb followed Dji’s lead back to their home.
* * * *
Africa
—
Present Day
Zareb shook himself from the past. He didn’t want to think of what had happened next. He had to keep Joy safe. He might have failed to protect his friend from the evils of the universe and the Vessel they’d found, but he would not fail his mate. His heart. His very soul.
The plane that would bring him home to the place where it had all begun shook and rattled before crashing into the jungle.
Chapter One
What had Joy Rockwell been thinking? Oh, that’s right. She hadn’t. The only thought racing through her pea-sized brain was
hot man
. Mine. Gimme. See where that had got her. Stranded on the way to Africa with a deadly Vessel, a sick God—okay Djimon wasn’t
really
a God, but he was powerful enough to be one—oh, and a stuck-up bitch who only had eyes for Djimon. Fat lot of help they were. Then of course there was Zareb. He was simply beautiful. And hers. Her body tingled just thinking about her mate.
“Anything?” Ive whined.
Okay, it wasn’t a whine, but it grated on Joy’s nerves. She took a deep breath. It was a good thing she wasn’t a violent person, or she would bitch-slap Ive so hard she’d see stars. Damn it. The urges were getting worse. The need to hurt coursed through her veins.
“What? You expected a resort around the corner? We’re in the middle of the jungle. No Starbucks in sight. Sorry.” Joy shrugged and continued to chop at the vegetation with her machete.
They had no idea where they were. This day officially sucked.
“There is no need to—” Ive paused.
“To what? Tell you to shut the fuck up? Yeah…why don’t you work on
that?
Or maybe you’d like to help.” Joy turned and scowled at Ive.
“Why are you being so hostile?”
“This too rough for you, princess? Then go home. Oh, wait—you can’t. The flippin’ pilot is
dead
. The plane is in pieces and…wait for it—
we’re lost
.”
“Joy.” A warm hand settled on her shoulder.
Calm rushed through her. She closed her eyes.
“Sorry, Ive,” she mumbled.
“Do you have the Vessel?” Zareb asked as he rubbed her shoulders.
Joy’s head dropped forward, tension drained.
“Yes, in my pack.”
“Let me have it.” Zareb’s released her and he held out his hands for the vase.
Joy pulled her backpack off, took the Vessel out and handed it over.
“I think it needs its wards re-established.” Zareb just stared at her and waited.
“I’m just hot and tired. Okay, and maybe a little pissed off.” Joy swung around and pointed the machete at Zareb.
“Put the knife down and help me, my siel—my soul.” Zareb’s voice was smooth as butter.
Joy stood there and stared, letting his tranquil presence wash over her. She glanced over to see Ive helping Djimon sit on the ground. The man was still weak from having the evil soul of Dmitri trapped in his body, taking over Djimon’s human form and wasn’t handling his return to the land of the living as well as had been hoped. They all had the handy dandy Vessel to thank for that clusterfuck. The thing had nasty souls trapped in it and they were waiting to get out and attach themselves to anybody they could find. It was sad that so long ago one of the souls had possessed Djimon causing such trouble for the Masters pack that Zareb was a part of.
What the hell was up with that? She shouldn’t be too surprised because magic worked in weird ways. She’d grown up with it, but her life had taken a turn that she had never expected it to.
Now she had a brother, Max, one she didn’t know very well, and a mate. Yep. Shifters were real and her hot man happened to turn fury.