Chapter 21
Instead of starting with the next scroll, Bayu flipped through the journal, trying to figure out his connection with Juni. He had sensed the boy’s pain as if it were his own. Without having to think about it, Bayu sent a soothing warmth to Juni, and his brother calmed down.
Your son.
Yes, my son. Thank you, Tiger, for reminding me. It will take a while to get used to being his abah.
So far, he had found nothing regarding the ability to calm Juni, so he went back to the second scroll and began.
He wanted to get through them all one time before digging deeper into each one.
This one was a history lesson on the previous Nuhualas.
With most tigers being long-lived, there weren’t that many.
Those who were listed went back thousands of years, and they had lived all over the world, most choosing a small, remote village to hide their identity and other half.
Bayu already knew why he had been drawn to Atlanta.
It was where he found Carleigh. Atlanta was nowhere near a small place, so maybe moving to West Virginia would be best?
He wanted to meet the King and Queen after hearing Carleigh speak so highly of her cousin and his she-wolf mate.
When he reached the end of this scroll, he closed the journal and stretched, giving his eyes a break.
Bayu stood and walked to the window, looking out over the backyard.
The landscaping was immaculate, but Bayu had yet to see the gardener since he’d moved in.
Neither had he noticed anyone cleaning the pool.
Carleigh hadn’t mentioned a pool person, so maybe she cleaned it herself.
He would have to ask so he could learn how to help if she did.
One thing that puzzled Bayu was that his grandfather in his Nuhuala duties only traveled when it was needed, and if the scrolls were correct, it hadn’t been that often.
So why had his father? Had things been so out of balance in recent years?
Instead of starting the next scroll, Bayu left the library in search of his mate and son.
Earlier, when he said the word abah to Juni, the boy looked around for someone who represented that term to him.
If not Hariz, then who? Bayu believed Gemi when she said Juni hadn’t seen Hariz in over a year, but what if he had?
Bayu still had no idea what he was capable of now that his Nuhuala powers had been returned to him.
Maybe he should buckle down and finish all the scrolls.
Julian was sitting at the kitchen island with a beer in front of him. The room was otherwise empty. “Julian?”
His father-in-law turned. “Bayu, how is it going with the scrolls?”
Bayu walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of tea.
He wasn’t much of a beer drinker, so he poured a glass of the sweet stuff.
“Slow. The first one explained what each of the markings means, and the second was a history of each tiger Nuhuala who came before me. All except my father.” He returned the pitcher to the fridge and joined Julian at the island.
“I would like to know how these authors, who appear to be human, know so much about the Nuhualas. Where do they get their information?”
“Well, one of those authors is possibly your grandfather, and we know where he is. You could always go visit and ask him.”
“I thought their information was a closely guarded secret.”
Julian tipped his beer back and finished the bottle.
He placed it on the island and rolled it between his hands.
“Closely guarded, yes, but there is not much the Trio or I cannot find. He lives outside Kazuno at the base of Mount Futatsumori. I do not have an address, but I do have the coordinates.”
“I need to be certain this Hideki Sato is my grandfather. He and my grandmother should be informed of their daughter’s passing. I asked Gemi, and she does not know how to contact them.” Bayu sipped his tea. “Please tell me about Violet.”
Julian glanced out the back window. Bayu followed his gaze to find Carleigh, Kat, and Gemi at the pool with Juni.
“Carleigh is very protective, and she is not ready to let Violet near you, at least not close enough to cast a spell, but from what I sensed, the girl is telling the truth. Erik voiced her, and he agrees with me. She was happy until her mother passed away. Her story is similar to that of Rhiannon’s, a witch mated to one of Major Lazlo’s uncles.
Rhi and her mother, Daisy, were witches, and when Daisy died, Rhi’s father moved them to live within a cult where they took away her happiness.
Violet’s type of witchcraft is gentle. Nurturing.
She is with Lilly and the twins, and I believe the three of them will convince Carleigh that Violet has no ill intentions. ”
Bayu respected Julian. He was over five hundred, had kept his Clan safe for centuries, but more than that, he adored his mate. “If it were you, would you allow her to cast a spell on Katherine?”
“Yes.” Julian didn’t hesitate, and that told Bayu all he needed to know.
“I will talk to Carleigh. I am safe here, but for how long? If the Black Lotus locate the missing Nuhuala, my location will not remain hidden. I cannot have them coming here no matter how many Gargoyles are standing guard.”
“Is that what you want?” Carleigh stood just inside the door. Bayu was so engrossed in Julian’s opinion that he hadn’t heard her come in.
“Yes, my Sayang.” Bayu crossed to his mate and took her hands.
“You and Juni mean the world to me, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you. I will trust Violet to shield me from the Black Lotus, and I will study the scrolls, as it is my duty. If I ever figure out how, I will also make it clear to Baekyo that I do not wish for this task to fall on my shoulders. He’s a god, so he should be able to appoint the blessed title to someone else.
” As soon as Bayu stopped talking, one of the markings on his arm heated and changed from silver to gray.
Carleigh gasped and reached for his arm. “I do believe your god is listening.” Carleigh ran her fingertip over the marking. “Did that hurt?”
“No. It tingled with warmth, but it was not painful.”
“And what does this symbol mean?”
“According to the scrolls, it is Baekyo’s sigil. When it heats, it is an indication he has an assignment for me.”
Julian dropped from the stool and joined them. “How will you know what that assignment is?”
“It will come to me in the form of a dream. Carleigh, I believe it is imperative I meet Violet. If I am to go out into the world, I would rather have my whereabouts shielded.”
Carleigh pressed her forehead to his shoulder. “I will call Luna.”
Bayu kissed her hair. “Please do. I am going outside to be with Juni. The scrolls can wait.” If Bayu was to begin his travels this soon, he wanted to spend time with the cub and his mate.
Bayu removed his shirt and dropped it on a lounge chair, then walked down the steps into the water.
Juni, who was holding onto a noodle, kicked his feet, splashing Katherine in the process. She wiped her face while smiling.
Bayu pulled Juni closer, securing the noodle so that Juni could sit on it and bounce. “Having fun?”
“Uh huh.”
Katherine swam to the steps, but before climbing them, she paused.
“I understand how Carleigh feels. It’s hard watching our mate put themselves on the line for others.
I had it easier than most because Julian did his fighting behind a computer screen while his brothers and cousins were doing the physical fighting. Be patient with her.”
“I will never discount Carleigh’s concerns, and I will always listen to what she has to say.
Unless it has to do with my responsibilities to Baekyo, we will discuss all issues and determine what is best for our family.
In this case, she has agreed that Violet should shield me.
She doesn’t like it, and honestly, neither do I, but I will allow it to keep everyone safe. ”
Katherine gave him a weak smile and climbed from the pool.
She wrapped a towel around her body before heading inside.
Gemi, who was resting under an umbrella, moved to the side of the pool and sat, dangling her feet in the water.
She was dressed in a new swimsuit with a floral cover-up.
Juniper must have gone shopping for her.
Whoever it was, Bayu was grateful, as he hadn’t considered it.
“My sigil went off, Auntie. I am being called upon already.”
“Where are you going? When?”
“I will find out tonight while I sleep. It will be relayed to me in a dream.”
“And so it begins.”
Gemi left them alone later to cook supper, and Bayu played with Juni in the pool until it was time to eat.
While he wrangled Juni into a T-shirt, Bayu convinced Silas to come inside and eat with them.
Once everyone was seated, Carleigh confirmed that the twins would bring Violet over the next morning.
Instead of focusing on that or the dream he would have, Bayu let the conversations of his family wash over him while enjoying the meal Gemi had prepared.
It was one that Bayu had never heard of, but it was a delicious dish and one Juni enjoyed as well.
Juniper was excited about taking the family photos, and Bayu wanted those to happen before he left for wherever he was supposed to go. He also wanted to say the words to Carleigh that would bond them together before he left.