Change of Heart 05 - Forging the Future (24 page)

“Okay.”

“Are you awake?”

“I think so, what time is it?”

“It’s around two. On Sunday.”

“Holy crap!”

“Well, you’re the first one up, so what does that tell you?”

“Did you sleep at all?”

“I slept down here once Justin arrived.”

“Which was when?”

“Around six last night, I think.”

“Oh God, Logan, you’ve got to be exhausted.”

“No, I’m okay. I just—Christophe’s a good guy, and I would have been fine, but I needed someone here who I knew liked me better than anyone and who would have no other agenda and would have no interest in making any kind of deals.”

I studied him. “You thought maybe your father or someone could make a deal with Christophe that he couldn’t say no to.”

“Maybe,” he reasoned. “And probably not, but still, I needed the extra layer of security before I could pass out.”

“So you slept down here on the couch with Justin and Christophe.”

“No, Christophe went home and left Josh here with enough of his khatyu to defend us.”

“And what time did Christophe get back?”

“Just now.”

I took a breath, glancing over Logan’s shoulder at the other two semels. “Okay, so tell me about what Justin will do for Domin again, because I missed it.”

“May I interrupt?”

Justin Cho was just the most beautiful man. He had gorgeous carved features, he was covered in long, sinewy muscles, and he moved with fluid, feline grace in either form, man or beast. His glossy black hair used to be longer, to his shoulders, but was now shorter than mine, and his onyx eyes were as liquid and gorgeous as I remembered.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered, lunging at him.

He wrapped me in his arms, hugged me tight, and then released me to Logan, who tucked me into his side.

“What was your question?” Justin asked, his voice smooth and deep.

“What are you doing with Domin?”

“Oh, well, Domin’s learned that the tribe of Rahotep owns property across the continents, and so he wants me to build on it and sell it, and those funds he wants Mikhail to manage while he traipses all over the world.”

“Okay, wait, I just got up.”

His smile was a little patronizing, but that was okay.

“So you build on the land he has and then sell it, Mikhail will manage those funds, and Domin will do what?”

“Continue to travel, meet more of his people, and eventually bring everyone under one single umbrella of leadership. I mean, there are bad tribes out there, still, Jin, and Domin plans to weed out every single one. He’ll be doing this until he’s ready to pass the reins on to the next akhen-aten.”

“You mean semel-aten.”

“No, I mean akhen-aten.”

“Yes, but—”

“He’s making them separate.”

“Making what separate?”

“He will be the akhen-aten and continue to have absolute power, but he’s restoring the position of semel-aten as the name of the leader of the first tribe of Rahotep.”

Yusuke had mentioned something about that. “I need to sit down.”

The three of us walked into the living room, and I had a minute to wonder where Christophe had gone before I heard him barking orders outside. There was no glass in the windows, so it was easy to hear.

“Okay.” I took a breath. “Domin will be akhen-aten, you’re traveling with him making money, and Mikhail is where?”

“In Sobek.”

“Ruling?”

“He’s a sylvan, you remember,” Justin said, squinting at me. “The last I checked, sylvans don’t rule tribes.”

“I meant overseeing, then.”

“He can’t do that, either. Mikhail will be far too busy managing his staff of tax attorneys and accountants and whoever else he needs.”

“Is Kabore ruling as maahes, then, in Domin’s absence?”

“That ceased working well. The tribe needs a semel with a mate. They need to see a family with a lineage that they can depend on and put faith in, even though, as you know, the tribe of Rahotep will always be one where the semel may be challenged.”

“Of course, it has to be that way so the seat of semel-aten can be fought for.”

“Up to a point, of course,” he clarified. “I mean, you get a strong enough semel in there, no one’s challenging him, and really, living in Egypt is not for everyone.”

No, it was not. “So Kabore is—”

“Stepping down, is what he is. For now he’s helping Jamal out at Satis with the library so Jamal has more time to devote to his new family and to his position as menthu, keeper of the law.”

“Guardian of the law,” I corrected without thinking.

“Guardian, that’s right.”

“He’s basically a glorified record keeper.”

“Yes, and that suits him since he’s married now, and he and his mate are expecting their first child.”

Jamal Hassan was the most fearsome man I knew, and imagining him as a father made me smile. “He has a mate?”

“He does, and she’s expecting, as I said.”

No one told me anything. “Okay, so, Kabore’s out. Is Rahim still phocal?”

“Does Rahim Dewidar still command the Shu, the assassins of the werepanther world? Why, yes, he does.”

“You don’t have to be such a smartass.”

He tipped his head. “I do, actually, and if a phocal is removed, they do send out a memo.”

I glanced at Logan, who only shrugged and smiled.

“Shahid Alon is still Rahim’s second, and Taj is still sheseru… nothing has changed except what Domin wants to do.”

“Which is what?”

“He needs someone he trusts implicitly.”

“To do what?”

“To be semel-aten and take over leadership of the first tribe, but who would never, ever think to challenge him or turn on him in any way.”

“Yes, but who?”

Justin studied me. Really, how had that question even come out of my mouth? Twisting in my seat, I turned my whole body to face Logan.

He grunted. “I’ll be semel-netjer, semel-re, and lastly, semel-aten.”

I nearly swallowed my tongue.

Logan waited patiently as I tried to breathe.

“Did you already say yes?”

“Yes,” Justin informed me.

“Shut up,” Logan snapped.

“Jesus, Logan,” I gasped, trying to stand before he made it impossible for me with his hand on my wrist, holding me in my seat.

“It’s for the best, as I explained before.”

“But—”

“I’m sick of being scared. I want to lead people who want me there while still understanding that this is not a family.”

“There are protocols and rules for a reason,” Justin said simply. “The law with all of its etiquette is in place to protect both panther and semel.”

“This is moving too fast.”

“It’s taken too long,” Justin told me. “He’s dying here, Jin. He has been for so long, worrying about you and Ilia as he—”

“Stop,” Logan said gruffly before he took my face in his hands. “I’ve explained my position, and you understand what I think’s best. We’re not going to debate about this. You’re my mate, and you’ll follow me.”

Of course I would.

“Yes?”

“Anywhere,” I promised breathlessly.

“Well, then,” he said softly, leaning in to kiss me. “We’re going to Egypt.”

I smiled at him. “It was what the priest wanted in Mongolia. Hamid Shamon always wanted you to be semel-aten; he was so disappointed when you gave the title to Domin.”

“I didn’t give Domin anything. He fought for it and won.”

“But you gave him the opportunity,” I argued. “You know you did. The priest wanted you and Ammon El Masry to square off, but instead it was him and Domin. You stepped back and gave Domin his shot.”

“And look how well he’s done.”

“He has, but still, the priest wanted you, and now, finally, years after his passing, he’ll get his wish.”

“If I was him, I’d haunt you,” Justin teased my mate.

“Again, shut up, and you,” he said gently, eyes on me, “need to get used to the idea of living in the desert.”

“But I hate the heat.”

My statement sent Justin into peals of laughter.

“He’s annoying, right?” Logan chuckled.

Yes, he certainly was.

B
Y
THE
time I showered and changed and got back downstairs, the others were blearily waking, and Eva had started cooking. She was thrilled to see Justin, hugged him tight, and then had him and Christophe sit down so she could feed them first.

Danny was adorable when he came stumbling downstairs, rubbing his eyes and blinking at the sight of Justin Cho sitting at the dining room table. He turned to go back upstairs, but Justin got up so quickly to bar the smaller man’s path that he bumped the table.

Danny’s groan made Justin smile in response. “So, how did that situation work out with Koren?”

“It’s none of your business,” he replied disdainfully, as if Justin smelled like cow manure instead of warm musk and clean male.

Justin took a step closer, into Danny’s personal space, and the younger man had to tip his head all the way back to hold eye contact. With Danny being five nine and Justin six six, the height disparity was hot. “Oh, it’s definitely my business,” Justin said, his voice husky as he took Danny’s chin in hand.

“You were se-serious?” Danny stammered, noticeably stunned.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Bu-but you said ‘when.’”

“I did say
when
,” he agreed, bending to kiss Danny’s cheek. “
When
Koren Church leaves you, you agree to be mine.”

“But I didn’t think you—”

“Logan is my best friend. I’d do anything for him, but I didn’t know he’d actually need me here so he could sleep. I came to check on you.”

“No, you—”

Justin nuzzled Danny’s cheek so he would tip his head sideways, and when he did, Justin kissed along his jaw to his ear. “I came here for you,” he said, slipping his hands around Danny’s hips and drawing him closer, against him.

Danny’s exhale was sharp, and his eyes fluttered shut. “I’m not—over… I’m still messed up from—you knew he’d leave me.”

“I did.”

Danny lifted his hands to Justin’s chest and leaned into the bigger, stronger man. It was very telling, the motion and the absolute surrender. “You knew he’d get tired of me.”

“I know Koren’s an idiot,” Justin murmured so quietly that I had to take a few steps closer to them to hear. “And he never keeps what’s best for him.”

“Best?” Danny asked, his voice muffled as he spoke into Justin’s wide chest, wrapping his arms around Justin’s waist.

“Yes.” Justin grinned smugly, and if Danny could have seen it, he’d have known that the fight, such as it was, was over, and that Justin was ready to claim what was his.

“We should maybe give them some privacy,” Logan whispered into my ear.

I waved him off and heard his long-suffering groan. “Shhhh.”

“So you’ll be my rebound guy, and then you’ll leave me too?”

Justin grunted, shoved Danny back, and then bent and threw him over his shoulder in a caveman move that made my cousin yelp in surprise.

“You’re watching too many movies,” Justin assured him. “I waited longer than I should have, out of respect for Logan.”

“Me?” my mate responded indignantly.

“Yes, you,” Justin said, turning. “He’s your brother, after all.”

“If you wanted Danny, you should have fought for him.”

“Put me down,” the man in question demanded weakly even though he no more wanted to be put down than I wanted a root canal.

“What do you think I’m doing here?” Justin yelled at Logan. “I’m fighting.”

Logan gave him a dismissive wave.

“We both know you don’t really want me,” Danny lamented.

I rolled my eyes, turning to face Logan as Justin left the room. “He’s so dramatic,” I passed judgment as I heard Justin pounding up the stairs.

“Pot to kettle,” Crane said as he walked into the room, holding Yusuke’s hand.

“You don’t even know what we were talking about,” I groused at him as his wife attacked me, leaping into my arms, coiling around me tight.

“You calling anyone out for being dramatic is ridiculous,” Crane assured me, palming the back of my head as he leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Again, thank you for what you did. We both know that Logan knew you could save me, so that’s why he picked Ivan, but still—that was all you.”

Of course I knew, everyone did, and even Ivan could not be so clueless as to think that, given a choice, there was any way Logan would have chosen him over Crane. If there had been a gun in Vincent’s hand, Crane would be dead. No question. But it had been a sword, and a sword created slow enough physical damage that I could heal it. Just as many years ago I’d shifted too fast to be burned in a fire, I could now compel Crane to that same speed. That was good since the pace was what saved his life. Alone, Crane could never have shifted fast enough.

“I have blind faith in you,” he said with a tiny catch in his voice. “I always have, so it’s second nature to me, and I always will.”

I took a breath so I wouldn’t dissolve, leaned into him, and clunked my head down on his shoulder so he could rub my head while I hugged his weeping wife, who seemed content to simply let me hold her.

Suddenly she lifted her head, sniffled, and looked at me. “Was that Justin Cho?”

I chuckled through my own tears. “Yeah.”

Louder sniffle. “He’s a very handsome man.”

“Standing right here,” Crane told her, leaning away from me, smacking Yusuke’s ass hard before asking Eva if she would make him banana pancakes for breakfast even though it was closer to three.

“Of course, darling,” she crooned, opening her arms for him.

He went into them as Ivan staggered into the room and up to Logan. “I think your friend, that semel from California, just threw me out of my room.”

Logan grinned at him. “Yeah? Did he have Danny with him?”

He nodded. “Yeah, that was weird.”

Poor Ivan was not yet awake.

“Would you like some banana pancakes?” Eva offered. “I’m making some for Crane.”

“Yes, please,” he answered groggily, walking to the kitchen table and sitting down. “Is there coffee?”

Andrian’s wife, Irina, who was also moving around the kitchen—chopping vegetables for stew, it looked like, and checking on a roast—turned and exchanged smiles with Eva. “I’ll bring you a cup, Vanya. Do you want cream?”