32. Suni

Chapter 32

Suni

S uni stood next to his brother Ni'em as they guarded their mates and Julian. The tension in the air felt like oil on his fur, and he feared someone would do or say something to make everything snap. He hadn't lied to his chief when he told him that he trusted Jabari and Kofi. They had proven themselves and deserved to be given a chance to live outside of a witch's control. He glanced over his shoulder and wasn't surprised to see his family had his back. Even Lasko, his youngest brother and a troublemaker, stood with an unsmiling face. They would be the first defense if anyone tried to attack. His dam alone could take down four or five warriors in their prime, and his sire would come in a close second.

"Brother, do you think we will have to fight?" Ni'em asked.

"I hope not," he answered. "If we do, there is a haven we can run to. Ru offered me a place and I am sure my entire family will be welcomed."

"It will not come to that," their dam said. "We have friends here. Stop talking and watch over your mates."

Suni flicked his ears. He knew he should know better than to talk when he was supposed to be on alert. He looked down at the three females sitting with their eyes closed, one hand of each adult on Julian's shoulders. It was just as amazing to see the green lights dancing on Julian's tiny fingers as it had been to watch Jo fight. Jabari and Kofi knelt before them, still as mountains, with their hands on their thighs. Their warped bodies were still sitting as straight as they could. Suni hoped his chief was watching and understood that they were no threat.

"Why is this taking so long?" Kellan demanded. "Is something wrong?"

Amma opened her eyes and glanced at the chief, who stood behind the two brothers with his arms crossed. "Healing the mind is a lot more work than healing the body. It will take as long as Julian needs." She closed her eyes and went still.

Suni smiled. He was proud of his mate. Kellan, not so much, but he kept his mouth closed. A male could challenge any other male who dishonored his female, even if the male was the chief.

"All done." Julian's voice was small and thin. She sounded weaker than he had ever heard, and it worried him. He was only a second behind Ni'em when she fainted.

"She has done her job, and we are taking her home," Ni'em stated. "If the males need more healing, she will do so when she is better."

"Brother, send word if you need anything," Suni said.

"I will." Ni'em helped his mate off the ground and they left the area together.

Suni understood his brother's need to get his family into the safety of his home. Since the healing was finished for the time being, the villagers became more restless as they waited to see what the warriors would say.

"Jabari," Amma started. She still knelt in front of the brothers. "Can you use your voice?"

"Yeeees." Jabari's eyes widened and he placed a hand on his throat. He cleared his throat and winced. His voice was gravelly and rough. Very slowly, he replied, "It has been a year since I have heard my voice."

"Can we get you some water? Maybe something with healing herbs?" Amma asked. Even before she stopped speaking, Suni handed her his water skin. She handed it to Jabari. "Drink this slowly and share with your brother. This is plain water, but I will mix something up later."

"What about the other one?" Kellan still towered over the brothers with a frown on his face. "Can he speak?"

"I can." Kofi's voice was softer than his brother's, almost a whisper, with a little lilt to his words.

"Stand and face me," Kellan demanded.

Suni helped Amma to her feet and tucked her under his arm while the brothers followed orders. He sensed his family move into position behind him. By the snarl on Kellan's face, the chief was not happy with the stand of faith.

"I am not going to hurt them," Kellan snapped. "I have to ask them questions to decide if I trust them enough to stay within the village walls."

"Yes, but they have been through a lot in their lives," Amma said.

Suni tightened his arm. "Mate, let the chief talk."

"Fine." She crossed her arms and glared at Kellan.

"Warriors," Kellan turned his attention to the brothers. "How did you become enslaved by the High Coven?"

"When my brother and I were calves, our home was attacked. Every male calf was stolen," Jabari said. "I was only seven winters and my brother five. We were chained, starved, and subjected to daily torture. That disfigured our bodies."

"Are you serious?" Amma asked. "They did this to children ?"

"Yes."

"How many?" Kellan asked. "How many calves have been stolen, and why have we not heard of this?"

"We lived in dorms of one hundred. There were over twenty dorms," Kofi answered. "Each dorm served a different part of the coven."

Kellan scratched his chin. "This is disturbing news. If they are able to steal so many of our young without us knowing, we are already at war."

"Since my brother and I were taken, no new males have arrived," Jabari said. "Several winters have passed. We were the last ones."

Suni growled. "We need to rescue those males and burn the coven to the ground."

"Wait," Amma looked up at him. "Some of those witches could be there against their wills. Jabari?"

"There were a few nice witches," Jabari answered. "They were slaves like us."

"We do not have enough warriors here to go up against the High Coven," Kellan said. "I will send out messengers to the surrounding villages and call for a meeting of chiefs. It will take time and resources, but I am sure I can find other chiefs who are willing to march on the High Coven.

"But first, do you or your brother hold any allegiance to the witches?"

Kofi shook his head. "We do not," Jabari answered. "We owe our lives to Amma and her mate. We only want to live the rest of our lives in peace, and be able to make our own decisions about what we do when we wake up."

Kellan grunted. "You speak the right words, and one of my best warriors and his mate speaks on your behalf. You can stay here on a probationary basis," he finally said. "You will be given a home of your own, but will have a curfew. If you leave the village, you must take an escort."

"This is a fair decision," Jabari said. "We will prove to you that we are trustworthy."

"Do you speak for your brother?" Kellan asked.

"He does," Kofi said hoarsely.

"Welcome to Lnuuk." Kellan raised his voice and proclaimed, "Jabari and Kofi will be accepted and treated fairly. Anyone who has an issue can talk to me."

"The house next to mine is empty," Suni said. "May the brothers stay there?"

"Yes," Kellan answered. "You can keep an eye on them. Everyone, back to work or whatever you were doing. This meeting is over." He sat back down and started talking to his advisors.

Jabari and his brother faced Suni and his family. "Thank you," Jabari said. "We are forever thankful for what you have done for us."

"I saw your spirits, and they have not been damaged by the witches," Amma said. "I can't wait to see you blossom with freedom."

"Welcome to the family." Nora gave each of the brothers a hug. "I can always use more sons, because that means more daughters, and more daughters mean more grandcalves."

"Dam," Suni chuckled. "Maybe give them time to settle in before you start demanding grandcalves."

"You are right." Nora turned her attention to him instead. " You have a mate, and I expect a grandcalf very soon."

"How about we all go have dinner?" Amma suggested. "Maybe have some small talk and get to know each other?"

"I should introduce you to my brothers." Suni pointed to each male as he introduced them. "Ni'em you know. He is the oldest. Jul and Kul are twins and troublemakers. Lasko, the one who cannot stay still, is the youngest."

"Again, you do not need to introduce us that way," Lasko fumed. He glared at his older brother.

"You are the youngest."

Amma smiled at the sibling banter. She was going to feel right at home.

"I am out of here," Lasko said. "A few friends and I are going night tracking. Must keep our skills up."

"Not on my watch," Nora boldly said. She grabbed Lasko before he could move. "I will not have another son go missing while looking for a mate."

"I am not going hunting for a mate. I am sharpening my skills."

Nora took a deep breath and huffed, "My calves are going to turn my fur gray. I will have mid meal ready soon and everyone is to show up." She glared at Lasko. " Everyone ."

"What about Mia's family?" Amma asked. "They wanted to be left alone."

"I am his dam," Nora tucked her arm through Oumi's. "I will have my sons at mid meal. All my sons," she gave Jabari and Kofi a look. "You too."

"We will be there," Jabari said. "It will be an honor."