Page 57 of Curse of Ancients

“Oh, you want outside?” Carleigh asked. Tiger swished his tail, and she opened the door, calling out, “Tiger incoming.”

Tiger bounded down the steps, ready to see the cub. Kat whispered, “Oh, my,” and Gemi bowed her head to him. As soon as Juni saw him, he shifted to his fur and let out a tiny “rawr.” He paddled to the steps with Juniper close behind, and climbed out, his wet body snaking around Tiger’s legs. Tiger flopped down, and Juni settled between his front paws. Tiger licked the wet fur, meeting his brother properly. At that thought, Tiger rumbled in disagreement.

Not brother. He is our son.

How is it possible I can understand you?

Carleigh shared her mating bite with us.

That would take some getting used to, but being able to communicate with his beast was a most welcome experience. Juni blinked his blue eyes and yawned. Soon, he was asleep in the heat of the June morning. The twins and Nekoma joined them outside, taking seats with Kat and Gemi under one of the open umbrellas. Carleigh sat beside Tiger with her legs dangling in the pool, rubbing a hand through his fur.

Welcome back, mate. I missed you.

Tiger nuzzled Carleigh’s hand. I missed you too.

Hearing Carleigh’s Goyle in his mind was such a wondrous gift. He gently settled Juni on the concrete, then shifted back to his skin. Bayu scooted over so he was next to his mate. He opened his arms, and Carleigh leaned in.

“Look,” she whispered, pointing at his arm. The markings were back. Bayu was whole once again.

Bayu placed a hand over his heart. “I am beyond grateful to all of you. Not only for removing the curse, but for accepting Juni, Gemi, and me. For welcoming us with open arms. It is an honor to belong to such an amazing family and Clan. I grew up having only my parents and sister, and on the rare occasion, Gemi. I went to the local school, but other than that, I was at home where my mother taught me how to cook, how to do laundry, how to garden, and how to wield a sword. More than those, she taught me how to love. Everything I am, I owe to her. She would have loved each one of you. Kiki would have as well.” Bayu looked at his aunt when she sniffled. He placed his hand over his heart and smiled. “Gemi has agreed to remain with us. Carleigh has her job, and I now need to read the ancient documents and begin my duties as Nuhuala. I never understood the saying ‘it takes a village’ until now.”

Bayu threaded his fingers with Carleigh’s, placing their joined hands on his thigh. “Prince Rhoan brought it to our attention that a Nuhuala is responsible for exposing my father’s location. We do not know if they did so willingly or if they are under a Black Lotus’s spell. If they could find my father, they can find me, and I will not have them bringing the mages to our door. While I am studying the scrolls, I would like to hire more security. Silas is but one male.”

“You will still have Julian as soon as he returns,” Katherine said.

“But for how long? I have no problem with the two of you staying here, but you have only moved to your new house recently. I do not want to impose on your lives more than I already have.”

Kat glanced at Juni, smiling. “You are no imposition, Bayu. You’re family. Besides, when we moved, we didn’t have a Juni.”

Juniper splashed water toward her mother’s legs. “I see where Carleigh and I rate.”

“Not as high as that cute little cub,” Kat joked.

At least Bayu thought she was joking. Then again, Juni was precious, so maybe not. Carleigh had mentioned how Kat and Julian wanted a houseful of kids, but that hadn’t happened. Regardless of the reason she offered to stay, Bayu would not turn down the added security or help with Juni while Bayu found his footing being Nuhuala. Speaking of his duties, it was time to get started on the ancient scrolls.

“I will be in the library if you need me.” Bayu kissed his mate quickly, then stood and strolled inside. He made his way to their bedroom where the journal was safely tucked away. When he touched the cover, it sparked briefly before an image of a tiger’s head appeared. Bayu returned downstairs and entered the library, closing the door. He took one of the armchairs and opened the cover. Just to be sure, he flipped to the middle, and the words were clear. Bayu returned to the first scroll. The journal wasn’t divided into chapters but rather headings. The first was entitled The Markings and Their Meanings.

It took Bayu until lunchtime to get through it all. He first read it without stopping, then he went back and studied each marking he could see without removing his clothes along with its meaning. Most of the text didn’t make sense, which was frustrating. Why have a symbol and meaning if Bayu didn’t understand its use? He placed the journal on the round table beside his chair and rubbed his eyes. Then he closed them and cleared his mind of all things Nuhuala. What he thought would be an easy read producing all the answers would instead be days of studying the ancient words while pondering what he was supposed to do with them.

The library door opened, and a little boy stuck his head in. When Bayu gestured him closer, Juni ran across the room and held up his hands, one of them holding Harry. “Up, pease.” Bayu lifted his son onto his lap. Tiger was adamant they think of Juni as theirs, and since his name was listed as the father on the birth certificate, he didn’t argue. Bayu would be raising Juni, so he needed to get used to the concept of being his abah.

“Tiger pway?”

“You want to play with Tiger?”

“Uh huh.” Juni grinned up at him, bopping his chest with Harry.

Bayu set Juni on his feet and rose from the chair. He stepped back and allowed Tiger to come forth. Juni tossed Harry on the chair, and just as quickly as Bayu had, shifted to his fur. Bayu wasn’t sure if it was safe for them to roam outside, but he thought a little sunshine would do him good.

Is it safe for Juni and me to walk the grounds in our fur?

Carleigh entered the room a few seconds later. “I was coming to check on you both since it’s time for lunch, but if you want to go on a walkabout, take Silas with you. I’ll monitor the cameras, and we can eat when you get back.”

Thank you, mate.

Carleigh knelt between the two tigers and rubbed them both. Juni climbed onto her knees and rubbed her chin with his head. She lifted him so he was eye level. “Tiger is going to take you outside, but you cannot run off, okay?”

His “rawr” was more of a squeak than when he said it in his human voice. Juni placed a furry paw on her cheek, claws retracted.