Page 17 of Curse of Ancients

“Definitely. I have the books on my e-reader, but the movie adaptations are wonderfully done.”

“Good, but let’s sit in the recliners so we can kick back.” Carleigh and Bayu moved to the seats, and once they were situated, she hit play. Celeste came out of the cockpit, and within a few minutes, they all had bowls of buttery popcorn and drinks. Instead of heading back to sit with Cruz, she joined them for the movie. They stopped after the second one to eat supper, then they watched the third. As the evening progressed, Bayu’s mood sank lower. Carleigh’s Goyle kept in touch with Tiger, who was getting antsier. That could’ve been the reason for Bayu’s unease. Either that or they were getting closer to Kuching, and he was nervous to see his family.

Cruz stopped off in Japan to refuel, then they were back in the air. Celeste spelled him so he could eat and use the restroom, but other than that, the male remained behind the controls. Carleigh sat for long hours at a time, so she understood how he was able to do it. Since they were traveling across the globe, their nighttime was daytime, so Carleigh closed all the shades. The lights in the cabin were already off. Carleigh asked if Bayu wanted to sleep on the bed or remain in the recliners for the rest of the trip. “I’m afraid I’ll disturb your sleep if we go to the bedroom. You can sleep in there without me if you’d like. I won’t be offended.”

“If you’re staying out here, then so am I. These chairs are comfortable.” Carleigh did go pee and brush her teeth before settling in. Bayu followed suit, and when he returned, he sat and pulled the thick blanket they’d been using over both of them. Silas had reclined his own seat, but every now and then, he’d glance over at Bayu, frowning. Carleigh didn’t know if the male had special abilities, but he at least could feel Bayu’s mood dimming. Carleigh closed her eyes but kept her focus on her mate. For the rest of the flight, things only got worse.

Chapter 7

Something was wrong. Bayu slept fitfully, which wasn’t unexpected considering the time difference, but that wasn’t it. Tiger came to him in a dream. In it, the white beast was running away. Bayu tried to follow, but it was like his feet were mired in hardening concrete. Every step was more difficult than the last, and Tiger ran so far that Bayu could no longer see him.

“Bayu?” a soft voice called. When he blinked his eyes open, a beautiful woman was smiling down at him. Not just any woman – his mate. “We’re about fifteen minutes from landing.”

Bayu returned his seat to its upright position and looked out the window to see nothing but water below. Carleigh was holding a cup, and from the smell, it was coffee. Bayu’s stomach rumbled, but it wasn’t from Tiger. His beast felt distant. Tiger? When he didn’t receive an answering emotion, Bayu rubbed his chest. Carleigh was staring at his hand with her head angled to the side.

“What is it?” he asked, then held his hand out in front of him and sucked in a breath. The ancient markings had faded. “That’s odd.”

“Do you feel okay?” Carleigh traced one of the designs.

“I’m not sure how I feel. Strange, if I’m honest. It’s probably remnants of the dream I had.”

“Would you like some coffee or tea?”

“No, thank you. I’m going to use the restroom.” Bayu stood and made his way to the lavatory. He splashed water on his face before looking in the mirror. His eyes were a muted blue instead of the icy shade they had turned upon becoming the Nuhuala. He wiped away the water with the hand towel hanging by the door before returning to his seat. Carleigh studied him closely, but he didn’t reassure her he was fine. He wasn’t; he just didn’t know why.

Once they landed, it took half an hour to get from the plane into the vehicle Cruz somehow procured for them and on the road to Sarawak. Bayu texted his aunt to let her know they were close. Cruz and Celeste remained behind with the jet, and Carleigh took the wheel so that Silas could be alert to any trouble they might encounter. It was a thirty-kilometer drive to the Bako National Park where Gemi said to meet her. The sun was going down, but it was still light enough to take in the views. When they arrived, there were no cars in the parking lot since the park closed at five. Silas climbed from the vehicle after telling Bayu and Carleigh to hold tight. Bayu searched for any sign of his aunt but didn’t see her anywhere, so he sent another text.

Me: I’m in the parking lot.

Gemi: We’ll be right there.

“She said they will be right here.” Bayu opened his door and stepped out. Silas sidled closer, putting his larger body in front of Bayu’s as Carleigh joined them. A few minutes later, Gemi appeared from within the trees, but instead of his mother and sister, a little boy of about three or four was holding her hand. Bayu’s breath caught. Seeing the child was like looking in a mirror when he was that age.

“Is that Gemi?” Silas asked quietly.

“Yes.” Bayu stepped from behind the guard. “Gemi?”

“Hello, nephew,” she responded in their native tongue. She appeared so much older than the last time he’d seen her.

“Gemi, this is Carleigh Stone, my mate, and Silas Mayfield, my bodyguard.” Gemi bowed to them. What she did not react to was Bayu mentioning a mate. “Where are mother and Kiki?”

Gemi’s eyes said it all. “I’m so sorry, Bayu.” Her voice broke as she spoke the words in English for Carleigh and Silas’s benefit. “There is much I need to tell you, but we do not have a lot of time.”

The little boy tore his hand from Gemi’s and ran to Bayu, holding his arms up. Bayu didn’t hesitate to lift the child. With his brows arched, he silently asked his aunt to explain.

“Bayu, Juni is your brother. He was with me when…” Gemi’s voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. “Your father and mother are no longer with us, and Kiki was taken. The Black Lotus is responsible. I know this because your mother wrote their name in her blood before expiring.”

“What? No, Gemi. Not mother too.” Bayu choked back a sob. It had been years since he saw her shining eyes and lovely smile, and now he would never see them again. And Kiki? She was still a teenager. “How did they find them?” The Black Lotus was a group of mages who practiced dark magic. Bayu’s father taught him of their existence and warned him to always beware of magic users.

“I do not know. You need to take Juni so I can look for Kiki.”

“Why would they take her?”

“She is part of your father. Since they couldn’t find you, I assume they will use her for her blood. I do not hold onto hope she is still alive, but I will not stop until I find her.” Gemi removed a bag from over her shoulder and held it out to Carleigh. “This contains what you need for your calling as well as a few of Juni’s belongings.”

“Let me help you, Auntie.”

“Tak. You will help me by going home. You are now Nuhuala. Nothing good would come from you being captured, or worse, as there isn’t someone to take your place. This is your sacred duty, Bayu. I will seek out your sister, and you will return to the States and guard yourself as well as Juni. Go now, nephew. It has been an honor being your auntie.”