by Dianna Love
“Miakoda.”
Blood rushed hard through Storm, pounding his ears. “My father mentioned Miakoda one time many years ago. I can’t recall much beyond him saying he was sad over leaving her as she was. I didn’t understand what he meant without further information, but I never pressed him for more than he wanted to share.”
Bidziil said, “When your father made up his mind to leave, he went to tell her. Afterwards, he came to see me and said she had a broken heart he couldn’t heal.”
The door opened and Nascha entered, anger burning in his gaze. “I have come to this den of traitors, as you demanded.” The grim old guy crossed his arms.
Bidziil sighed loud enough to be heard down the hall. “This is not a den of traitors and I sent a request, not a demand.”
Lifting a wrinkled hand, Nascha said, “I did not come to argue. State what you need so I may leave.”
“Storm would like to talk to you.”
Expecting the crotchety old guy to refuse, Storm addressed Nascha first with respect. “I consider any time you allow me an honor, old one. My father spoke of you as his friend.”
At that, Nascha’s taut shoulders relaxed a tiny bit. “My friend should have stayed.”
“My father taught me every action is for a reason as it creates a ripple effect like a stone tossed into a calm lake. Without the movement, life remains stagnant. While you may not forgive him for leaving, he told me he felt you would never reach your full potential had he stayed. He believed you would have been a great support to him, but his people needed a powerful medicine man. He saw a better future for his people in what you would offer as their medicine man, not him.”
Bidziil listened with rapt attention.
Storm had spoken the truth. Now he waited to see what the medicine man’s power might feel like if Nascha dropped his guard or lost control.
Nascha bowed his head then lifted it up. “Your father honored me with his belief. He told me often that I should take this position, but he spoke the truth. I would never have stepped in had he stayed. I have given all I can to my people since he left and feel I have grown into my power, but I still miss him.”
A lump formed in Storm’s throat. “As do I.”
“Is that all you have to ask Nascha, Storm?” Yazzle said, breaking the solemn moment.
Bidzzil snapped, “Do not rush this talk.”
Yazzle whined, “Nascha sounds like he wants to get out of here.”
Nascha cast a glance filled with dark humor at Yazzle. “You would be wise to remain in your role of tribal mouse with giant head.”
For all his timidity, Yazzle sent the old guy an angry look.
Storm drew everyone’s attention back to the problem at hand. “I need your expertise to find the person responsible for killing tribal members.” When Nascha lifted his chin in acknowledgment, Storm explained what had happened to Imala, which had parallels with Sonny’s death. When he finished, he realized the elders hadn’t known all the details, such as Storm freeing the spirits and the dark majik attacking him.
Too bad.
He had no time to dance around this topic when he could feel they were close to figuring it out. “You said dark spirits walk among us. What were you referencing, Nascha?”
“I saw one in the morgue and another near the casino.”
“What?” Bidziil snapped. “And you didn’t tell me?”
Speaking in a deep voice roughened by many years of chanting and singing, Nascha said, “Storm just repeated what I said. You have been told twice!” Drawing a breath, Nascha stepped back with a sudden realization. “You brought me here to accuse me of performing these acts? I do not touch evil majik.”
Clearly the peacemaker, Bidziil said, “No, of course not.”
Yazzle’s eyes bulged. “Not me.”
Gad shoved a dismissive hand in Nascha’s direction. “No.”
Tahoma’s eyebrows furrowed, as he remained silent.
Nascha snarled at Tahoma. “I am not like you. I do not wish for power.”
Opening his hands from where he’d had his arms folded, Tahoma said, “I’m not accusing, but you are the most powerful in this area. If you aren’t doing this, you should know who is.”
Storm confirmed, “Nascha is not the one responsible.”
“How can you know?” Tahoma challenged.
“First of all, I would know if he lied. Second, he doesn’t carry dark energy.”
Gad sat forward. “How would you know either of those things?”
Lifting an eyebrow in Bidziil’s direction, Storm waited for permission to explain.
Bidziil said in a forlorn voice, “Might as well tell them, Storm.”
“I am half-Ashaninka, as many of you know by now. What you don’t know is I am also a Skinwalker.”
Tension and fear burst through the room.
Even the security guards leaned back.
Sending a look Nascha’s way, Storm found him standing still and not running from the battle.
Continuing, Storm said, “I received some gifts and some liabilities with that side of my blood. I am a strong empathic and can detect a lie.” He wouldn’t share how lying on his part resulted in a painful backlash.
Yazzle snapped his fingers. “We can line up everyone to face Storm. If they lie about being the killer, he’ll know.”
Nascha made a scoffing sound. “You think someone who possesses that much power will be so easily caught? Fool.”
When Nascha spoke of that much power, Storm asked, “Who in the tribe, besides you, wields power, Nascha?”
Bidziil interjected, “No one other than Haloke, but even Nascha criticizes her power.”
Nascha muttered, “Why do you defend Bird Woman?”
Appearing beat down and out of patience, Bidziil struggled to sound respectful. “Did you not just complain to us at the morgue about Haloke lacking in skill?”
“Yes. I tell you her sight is not clear.”
“Same thing, right?” Bidziil snapped with exasperation. “We are bringing her in, too. She’d be here now, but out of respect I asked you first to avoid you two being together.”
Storm pulled at all the threads dangling in this case. “Do you think Haloke is powerful, Nascha?”
“Last time I saw her, she had little power.”
“See?” Bidziil complained. “Riddles.”
“When was that?” Storm asked.
“Two years back when her son died. I tried to help her heal. She turned away from me. She was not same person.”
Bidziil said, “I’ve already told Storm about Sani breaking her heart and she hasn’t been the same.”
“Not broken heart. She has broken soul,” Nascha said, anger picking up in his voice. “I keep trying to tell you she does not see clear.”
Storm lifted a hand, asking Bidziil not to argue, then presented a new question to Nashca. “Do you think she could be performing dark majik?”
Grasping his jaw, Nascha stared unfocused for seconds. “I have found no evidence of it on those she sent to me.”
“We’re back to square one,” Yazzle complained.
Feeling as if he was on to something, Storm asked, “Who taught Haloke to be a seer?”
Lowering his hand, Nascha said, “Sani.”
CHAPTER 16
Evalle finished her kickboxing movements, a skill she sometimes needed, which came in handy when she wore her boots with hidden blades to patrol Atlanta. Standard gear to walk the streets on the lookout for demons or other threats to humans.
Would she ever need them again?
“No negative waves,” she ordered the empty great room in the villa, but the phrase made her smile. It came from that old Kelly’s Heroes movie, one of Feenix’s favorites.
Was her little gargoyle still having fun in Treoir?
Did he miss her?
She knew he did and that Daegan could zap them back there. Feenix just seemed so far away.
With her workout complete, she showered, cursed the
lines continuing to fill up her skin, then tackled the remote for the television. That said everything about her level of boredom.
Tossing it aside, she went on the patio and lounged for as long as she could sit still.
No eagle flew around, much less stopped by to visit when she could use a sympathetic ear.
The first time must have been a dream.
Well, damn. She’d felt special by that bird showing up.
As the night wore on with no word from Storm, she debated on calling Adrianna until she realized the time.
After four in the morning here.
She did the time zone math. Still too early to call Adrianna when she had no news.
Besides, she had to get her head straightened out.
No more giving Storm a hard time when all he wanted to do was protect her from doing something dangerous.
He’d told her the truth in the car, just as she’d asked.
And he’d been right.
Could she fight off a dark majik spell? Doubtful.
The kickboxing had helped. With sunrise still a ways off, she could go for a brisk walk around the resort in the dark.
That would burn off her nervous energy.
Her heart wanted to jump out of her chest after that last look in the mirror. The lines were expanding faster.
She ran to the bedroom and stepped into a black one-piece outfit with long legs she liked to wear for sword practice.
Tying the halter around her neck on her way to the bathroom, she paused to brush her hair into a ponytail.
Two patches of line crept around her forearm as she watched.
“Think I care, Universe?” she snarled. Fuck. What had she done to deserve this?
The room didn’t answer.
She missed Feenix. He might not have many words in his vocabulary, but he’d at least say something.
She put her sneakers on and descended the stairs.
When she reached the door, she cursed. Her glasses were upstairs, and she couldn’t go out with glowing green eyes around humans. As she turned to retrieve her glasses, she caught a look in the mirror in the foyer.
A weave of black lines ran from her scalp onto her cheek below her left eye.
Her not-bright-green eye.
Both eyes were ... dark.
They no longer glowed.
Her stomach hit her feet.
The doorbell chimed.
She couldn’t move. Her Alterant beast and the gryphon she’d evolved into had been responsible for her glowing gaze. This couldn’t be. She wanted to scream at losing all she’d been.
The doorbell chimed again.
She couldn’t move.
That damn doorbell wouldn’t stop.
She started to kick the door, but she’d probably break her damned foot. In no mood to see anyone, she peered through the peephole.
Adsila.
If Evalle didn’t answer, the woman would probably report she wasn’t home, and Storm might rush back thinking she had a problem. He couldn’t see her like this.
He’d launch into the bonding. She’d agreed. This would qualify as dire straits.
Screw it. Maybe her face would send the woman running. Evalle opened the door and did her best to sound civil. “Yes?”
No shock registered in Adsila’s expression. She probably met all kinds of strange people at a casino and thought she addressed a human with a fetish for crazy ink.
Hell, Evalle might be a human at this point.
“We didn’t officially meet last night. I’m Adsila. I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour.”
Digging deep to show some manners, Evalle acted as if her face didn’t sport a gang tattoo. “You’re not disturbing me. What can I do for you?”
Pasting her hospitality smile in place, Adsila said, “I’m here to take you to the seer. She’d like to meet you.”
“What? Really?” Evalle’s heart raced. Would the seer even speak to her once she saw these lines? Her hands shook. She clasped them to stop the trembling and asked, “Did Storm set this up ... or Bidziil?”
Adsila nodded, another polite motion. “Yes. They’re in a big meeting with security. I was told to come right away, that this is important to you.”
As if that wasn’t obvious in the switch from bitch Evalle to happy Evalle?
Best mate ever. She wanted to have Storm say the same about her. Maybe the seer could give her some answers.
Evalle had been ready to give up all hope a moment ago.
This couldn’t have come at a better time. She gave herself tiny kudos for opening the door in spite of her screwed-up looking face.
“I’m in a little bit of a hurry if you’re ready,” Adsila said, though still in a patient tone.
“Now? Sure. I have to be back by daylight.”
“I see no problem in that, but it’s a little bit of a drive so we should get moving.”
“Sorry, yes.” Evalle looked around in a rush then at herself. She didn’t carry a purse and had a code to the door. Done. “I’m ready.” She stepped out, locked up then fell into pace with Adsila’s fast steps leading to a Suburban still running.
Storm had been doing his best not to hover.
Evalle appreciated how he hadn’t asked her to wait so he could go with her.
Good mate. He showed his trust and made her feel strong.
CHAPTER 17
Storm ran an agitated hand over his hair.
Nascha claimed Storm’s father had trained Haloke.
Keeping his voice respectful, Storm told Nascha, “But Sani has been gone many years and I can assure you he never practiced dark majik.”
“That is true,” Nascha stated. “That is why she is not best seer. She never sought more knowledge.”
Bidziil stood. “That’s wrong.”
Nascha growled, “Why? Why do you defend her?”
Sounding ready to bite nails in half, Bidziil said, “I’m only filling in information. Two years back, after her son died, Haloke asked me for money to visit another clan to study under a seer revered among our tribe. I gave her funds because you kept complaining about her, Nascha. She returned ten months later saying she would be more powerful than ever.”
“Based on those Haloke sent with message of how to heal their Hózhó, I saw little improvement,” Nascha snarled, defiance in every word.
Everything came together in Storm’s mind. “Are you positive Haloke trained under the powerful seer?”
Bidziil opened his mouth and closed it.
Nascha pointed at Bidziil. “Ha. She spend your money doing nothing.”
“Or ... ” Storm started, hating what he had to suggest. “She could have been training under someone else.” Turning to Bidziil, he asked, “You said she lost her son right before she left on sabbatical. Isn’t that the boy you told me ended up shot by a gang member for running drugs at college?”
“Yes. I was angry and hurt. I’d gone to great lengths to find him a suitable placement so he could come back and help his mother, maybe convince her to live closer to the clan.”
Storm’s heart rate picked up speed. “Has anyone died unusually before now?”
“No.”
“What about any animals?” Storm pressed.
“Not really—”
“Yes, there was one,” Yazzle said, shocking everyone when he spoke up. “I heard about a wild coyote found dead in grotesque ways.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Bidziil shouted.
His security team groaned and started talking among themselves.
“Now dead animals will solve this?” Tahoma asked, getting annoyed all over again.
“Describe the carcass,” Storm directed Yazzle.
“I didn’t see it. Just heard some boys talking about finding a coyote corpse intact except for the eyes and heart. The coat had strips of fur burned off and the claws had grown double the natural length.”
Bidziil asked Storm, “What are you thinking?”
“I need to talk to Haloke to de
termine if we’re on the right track before throwing suspicion at an innocent person.” Actually, he would pick up dark energy as soon as he got near her if she was the one, but he wouldn’t point a finger at anyone without evidence.
He had to find Evalle first to explain that he was visiting the woman but couldn’t take her. That wouldn’t go over well at all. Maybe he’d just deal with the seer then go home to Evalle.
Looking to Bidziil, Storm said, “I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“I’ll go with you,” Bidziil said.
“Thank you, but I should go alone.”
Nascha offered, “I should join you in this meeting.”
“Thank you, old one, but I believe keeping you as far from her as possible is best for the tribe if she is using dark majik. You are of the light and none of us would want that exposed to this level of evil.”
“What of you?” the medicine man challenged.
“I will be fine. She has no idea what she’s risking if she attacks me with dark majik.” Storm couldn’t say for sure that he knew what he would face, but unless Haloke had ever gone up against demon blood, he could hold his own.
At a minimum, he should be able to protect himself from her majik.
Should being the operative word.
His last statement had shifted the way everyone looked at Storm from worry over his safety to wariness.
He couldn’t help that.
Before he left, he returned to an earlier topic now that he had a potential suspect. “Back to my question about blossom. Does anyone know if Haloke has ever referenced that word in any way?”
Happy to be the one in the know, Yazzle said, “Not unless you’re talking about Adsila.”
“Adsila?” Storm asked with a sick feeling.
Yazzle sounded proud of himself. “That’s what she told me her name means.” He sighed. “She’s truly a blossom.”
The calm Gad leaned forward and yelled at Yazzle, “You tell us now? Storm asked if we knew a person named Blossom or if anyone used that term in referencing something.”
“He didn’t ask me,” Yazzle complained, eyes widening as he probably just realized his infatuation with Adsila might be a mistake.
Storm grabbed his head, ready to turn his roaring jaguar loose. His animal had had enough of this bunch and so had he. They both wanted to check on Evalle after hearing Adsila might be involved.
