Page 25 of Wrath of the Oracle

Ojore’s dark eyes gazed down at her, and an unreadable expression crossed his face. He tried to reach for her, but Sholei scooted back on the bed, her back against the wood wall. He let his hand drop and stood.

“Mueni said you don’t wish to return to the general’s quarters?” he went on with his deep voice, filling up the space between them like a warm cover.

“I won’t be returning to your quarters,” Sholei stood. She felt small sitting down while he towered over her. If she ever planned to escape her captivity, keeping her distance was the first step. She couldn’t achieve that if she lodged in his chambers.

“You would trade comfort and security for a cold place?” He frowned and glanced around the mostly empty room. Only one bed was occupied by the patient she had attended to earlier. The steam bath had worked, and his temperature went down. Sholei fell asleep as she monitored his condition.

Ojore towered over her. He didn’t appear as threatening in the dim light. Water dotted his muscular chest. Sholei noticed. He tied his wild hair on top of his head and shaved his stubby beard. She wanted to run her hands against his cheeks to feel the texture of his skin. The thought came out of nowhere, and she wanted to slap herself to chase away her errant thoughts.

“I have been raised inside a medicine yard since I was a child. The place you refer to as cold, I call home.” She cleared her throat. Living with Musembi was not always easy. The daily comforts of life came as rarely as the blue moon.

“I can’t guarantee your safety if you stay here. I trust my men, but I can’t be completely sure you will be protected.” Ojore wrapped the robe he held over her shoulders. Sholei swallowed as heat licked her where his fingers touched her skin.

“Protect me?” she focused on his words and ignored how her body warmed under his touch. “You can always let me go back to Mukuru.” She took a step back, away from his intense presence. But he held fast.

“Very soon, your Mukuru will be part of Dembe. I have saved you from witnessing its downfall,” Ojore stated, dragging Sholei close to him.

“You don’t expect me to thank you?” Sholei gritted her teeth and looked up at him. She was so close she craned her neck to look at his face. With his fist on the cloak, Ojore tugged her closer until a breath separated them. If she leaned in, their chests would touch. Sholei blinked rapidly.

“If Gane and the others lay down their weapons and pay tribute to my king, I promise no life will be lost.” Her heart missed a beat when she heard Prince Gane’s name. He was still alive. She had a chance of survival.

“What if they don’t surrender?” She glared at him, dreading the answer.

“Then their fate is sealed,” he answered, a cruel smile stretched his lips. “I told you I don’t take hostages.”

She stumbled back from his harsh tone and Ojore reached for her, catching her by the waist and pulling her toward him. She rose on her tippy toes. This time, their bodies touched, and Sholei recalled their time in the cave and how she always ended up in this position with him. His scent surrounded them and his clothes were smooth against her palms as she was held against his dark cloak.

“Why would you feel any mercy for them after the way they treated you?” His voice softened, and he angled his head. His mouth was close to hers, and Sholei wondered if his lips were as soft as they looked.

“How do you know about that? How long did you stalk me? They are still my people, and not all treated me poorly. Prince Gane…” her voice came out rushed as she tried to grab hold of her scattering wits.What was it about Ojore that was affecting her so?

“Do you think he will take you back after learning you have spent time in my rooms?” His hand tightened on her waist, and his deep voice lowered even more. “Sleeping in my bed?”

With force she didn’t know she could wield, she pushed him away. Ojore let go of the cloak on her shoulders and it fell on the floor, the dark cloth pooling at their feet.

“He wouldn’t believe the lies you’re spewing,” Sholei whispered.

“Gane will believe what I want him to believe. An irrational man makes desperate decisions,” Ojore answered, taking a step back and giving her room to breathe.

“You are using me to rouse him? Again?” she realized. “Is that how the Dembe fight their wars?” With a distance between them, Sholei could think clearly.

”We are at war, and you are a mere pawn. I will use you however I see fit.” Ojore smirked, reaching for her again, but she stepped back.

“My lord, we are ready for you.” Akima cleared his throat behind Ojore as he came through the entrance. He barely looked in her direction as he handed Ojore black gloves. She searched around, trying to locate Mueni. Where had the girl disappeared to?

“Don’t plan any escapades. You won’t be able to get away like last time.” This time, he tipped her chin up with his black leather-gloved hands. The material cooled her heated skin. “I will never let you get away from me again.”

It was a chilly night; earlier that evening, there had been light showers. The air was fresh, but all Gane could feel was his anger. The cool temperatures caused his healing injury to tingle. The fight between him and Ojore had left him with wounds, and his shoulder still hurt. He felt humiliated and angry for losing to the other soldier. He had also lost Sholei. He didn’t want to think about how the fight would have ended without her intervention.

It wouldn’t happen again.

“Gane, if you continue to clench your fists, you will draw blood before the war begins,” his father, King Gusiwaju of Mukuru Kingdom, whispered beside him. “Don’t lose focus.”

After the rescue from the Gorge, the king didn’t seem to appreciate Gane’s foolhardy plans to go head-on withOjore during the hasty rescue mission for Sholei. Gane had to work twice as hard to gain his father’s favor once more. If he won against Ojore in the oncoming war, he would be in the clear. For the moment, his father didn’t have confidence in him.

“Affections bring distractions,” King Gusiwaju confronted his son.

They stood before a big bonfire on the outskirts of the palace. Elders and other representatives from the Etago, Suneka, Iranda, and Lwala were also present. The alliance forces were far behind. They chanted words after the high priestess, whose body convulsed before the great fire, in a trance.

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