Redemption (12 page)

The nightmares were still there sometimes, but they weren’t coming like they used to. When they did, all he had to do was snuggle into his mate and breathe him in. It had been a draining day and he hoped the nightmares would stay away tonight. Maybe he’d have Grey help him get so tired that all he could do was sleep. He grinned, thinking of all the things they could do to pass the time.

Today truly was the first day of his new life. He’d stood up to his father, put his past behind him and embraced who he truly was and, if things went well, he’d have Ev mated and just as happy as he was.

Anything was possible if you grabbed life with both hands and never let go, he was living proof of that.

* * * *

Ive looked back at her brother as Dji drove the van. She was content. Something she’d feared might never happen. To have her brother settled was just one more thing to make her happy, and the Masters’ pack was much better than the fox den. Here she felt like part of the group. She was even getting along better with Joy.

They’d had the girls’ night out and, for the first time, she was comfortable in her own skin and had let down her guard. They didn’t call her the Ice Queen anymore. At least not where she could hear it. Naomi was adjusting to Kir and he seemed to be taking his new life in his stride. He hadn’t tried to run again. She thought having Dji and Zareb around helped. The girls had another outing scheduled. Shopping. Ive was looking forward to it because a girl couldn’t have too many shoes.

Russ had even put her to use helping Dji and Zareb train the others to protect themselves, now that Vivian no longer needed her and Grey to protect her. Dji had told her that the Ancients were still concerned with the shifters being exposed to humans. Ive hoped with all her heart this wasn’t the case. Their lives would never be the same again unless they controlled the information. She sighed. Maybe she’d bring it up to Russ. If the Ancients were worried it must be coming and soon. Someone had to have connections with the government to ease the world into the existence of the supernatural.

“What is it, my love?” Dji glanced at her then turned back to watching the road.

“I’m happy.”

“That didn’t sound like a ‘happy’ sigh.”

He’d come to know her well.

“I’m also thinking of the future.”

“That bad?” Dji grinned and reached over to squeeze her leg.

He smiled more often now and it still made her stomach flutter, his hand on her thigh didn’t hurt either. Anytime he touched her she went up into flames. Now probably wouldn’t be the time to bring that up—not with a van full of witnesses. No need to share her sex life with the whole pack.

“Just a bit worried.”

It felt good to admit that. Most of the time she stayed too strong. With Dji—she didn’t have to.

“Because of the prophecy?”

“How did you know? Anyways, does it have to be a prophecy just because they say? Can we prevent it?” Ive bit her lip.

“I can always tell what you’re thinking.” Dji took her hand and squeezed, she didn’t take it away. His touch comforted her.

“So?” She insisted.

“It might be time to ‘come out’ to the humans. They are enlightened now. I saw a couple shows on television about vampires and shifters. They seem popular.”

“That’s what you think. Individual humans, sure, but get them together and it’s mob mentality. We could end up locked up in a lab somewhere. Maybe we should see if Russ can talk to someone.”

“Now I think it’s you who has been watching too much television. Don’t borrow trouble, Ive. When the time comes, we’ll have each other. We’ll get through this.” Dji brought their hands to his lips and kissed her palm. “You’ve proven to me we can get through anything.”

Ive looked back again to see Pete’s head against Grey’s shoulder. Grey winked at her and she turned around. Dji was right. She needed to live in the now because they were happy. The threat might be out there—but no one knew when. They could all be long dead before it came to pass. For now, she would enjoy having a family.

A shiver raced down her spine and goose bumps raised up on her arms. A breeze moved through her hair, but the windows were closed.

“It’s coming.”

Ive looked over at Dji, but he was focused on the road. What was coming? Who’d said that? It hadn’t been him, the voice sounded different. It didn’t even sound like one person…but a group of them just in her head. It wasn’t a good feeling.

“Ive?” Dji looked worried.

“Nothing.” She tried to shake it off. Maybe it was her overactive imagination.

Ive looked out of the window, but held on tight to Dji’s hand.

“Everett and Kitty are the key.”

She looked again—nothing. Ive turned completely around in her seat. Ev was looking at the women in the back and no one else seemed to have heard the weird voice, but something was coming. There went her vow to worry about the now.

There was no other explanation but the Ancients, and since when did they talk to her? She wasn’t connected to them in anyway. The foxes didn’t even worship the Ancients. They hadn’t for centuries. It looked like she’d be called in to protect her family. No way was she giving them up. Once they got to the house she’d have to talk to Bella, the pack seer. Why weren’t they talking to her anyway? Didn’t they go always go to her or Zareb?

Pete would be devastated if something happened to his cousin, and Grey would go crazy if harm came to Pete. Couldn’t they all catch a break? It seemed like the Masters’ were up to their eye balls in hurt and pain with no clear break in sight.

And for that matter—who the hell was Kitty? Ive closed her eyes and laid her head on her seat. There was nothing she could do until they got home. What more could the universe throw at them?

Ive knew that she shouldn’t ask because it would only cause more trouble. She didn’t even notice how long the trip was—they were already home. She watched as the others got out of the van, but she didn’t move. Dji waited as well.

Once everyone was out, Dji turned to her. “Something happened. Talk to me.”

“The Ancients spoke to me.”

“What did they say?” Dji looked worried.

He didn’t even question why they were talking to her. She couldn’t love him any more than she did in that moment.

“That something is coming and Ev and Kitty are the key.”

“Who’s Kitty?”

Ive threw up her hands. “That’s what I wanted to know. And why is Ev the key?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. Let’s go inside. We’ll talk to the others. I don’t know about you—but I’m tired of these meetings.” Dji sighed and released his seatbelt.

She chuckled and followed suit. They met in front of the van. He was so old fashioned. Dji held out his hand, ever the gentleman. She intertwined her fingers with his, the smallest connection made her happy.

“You do know they’ll be busy for a while with the new members. We could go to our place—”

She threw her head back and let out a full bodied laugh.

“I like the way you think, Dji.” She changed the direction they were going and tugged him along.

That’s just what she needed to get her mind off the fate of the world. A little alone time with her man and a nice soft bed. Then they could get back to the fate of the world and their place in it.

The Masters’ tribe would continue to thrive and Ive would do everything in her power to protect her new family.

“You ready for me, Ive.” Dji had got close enough to whisper in her ear and followed it up by nibbling on her neck. He knew that was a total hot spot for her. God, she’d take him here and now if he didn’t stop.

“I’ve been ready for you my whole life.” Ive winked and opened their door. “Now show me what you’ve got.”

She shut the door behind them and closed out the world—just for a little while.

Also available from this author at Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Seeds of Dawn: Origins

Jambrea Jo Jones

Excerpt

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.

God, her life had been totally fucked. At least she didn’t have to worry about Valerie. Right now her sister was probably in the arms of
her
mate, who just happened to be Joy’s brother. It kind of helped that Valerie and Joy weren’t blood related—talk about a mind fuck. Max didn’t know about her either until their mutual sperm donor had come to her in a vision just before he died. She’d later found out their dear old dad had appeared to Max too, warning him to the danger heading to the Masters pack. At least that was one thing the old man got right.

Still, things had changed so much in such a short time.

“Joy?”

Right, she had things to do. The anger eased a bit when she saw Zareb on the ground, looking at her with hope in his eyes.

Joy set the machete down and made sure her pack was closed in case it managed to fall over, she didn’t want to have to pick her crap up off the ground. She settled across from Zareb and he held out his arms so they could form a two person circle around the Vessel and begin to chant.

Everything faded away until it was just her and Zareb. His voice flowed over her, but she didn’t understand everything he said. She didn’t speak Afrikaans, after all. She needed to rectify that because Zareb did all of his spells, in his native tongue.

Focus, damn it.

Joy berated herself. They needed to contain the evil from the Vessel. It was seeping out and the anger she had coursing through her was not her own. She knew that. As Joy let Zareb take the lead, she just let her power flow to him.

“Dankie dat jy.”

Joy knew that one.

“No need to thank me. It needed to be done. I’m already irritable because of the situation and the Vessel is taking advantage of that. I know that in my head, but my spirit is allowing itself to be twisted.”

That corrupt piece of pottery was truly evil, in a way an inanimate object had no right to be. It held the souls of demented individuals and it was one of them that had possessed Djimon. It was the reason they were on this journey—to destroy it so it couldn’t harm anyone else. The only issue was that it emanated evil and grabbed your very soul, pushing you to do things you’d normally never do, like chop off someone’s head. It was tempting, but not something she’d ever really do unless under the influence of the oldest known evil in the history of the shifters.

“I will take it for a while. The magical shield should help keep it contained. And we are not lost. Hand me your pack.” Zareb rummaged through his own pack and pulled a few things out before putting the Vessel inside.

Joy watched Zareb’s strong hands as he moved things between the two bags. Then he paused and sat up straighter. Something wasn’t right. Joy closed her eyes and listened. Still she heard nothing. Her ears wouldn’t do the trick; she’d have to use magic to enhance her senses.