Pure Destiny (PureDark Ones #12) - Aja James Page 0,26

after those memories like a child chasing dandelion puffs. Each tiny wisp carrying a kernel of truth. But until she collected all of them, she wouldn’t know the whole story.

Somewhere in her subconscious she understood the importance and urgency of knowing the full picture. If she had a chance of saving Dalair, she must first uncover all of her own secrets to comprehend how he fit into her Destiny.

He did fit.

He must fit.

Fate couldn’t be so cruel as to willfully keep him from her. And if it was, then Sophia would shape Destiny to her own will.

Nothing and no one would keep her from the male she loved…

Third millennium BC. Capital City of Akkad. Sometime before the Great War.

“Titi, where are you hiding? It’s supper time.”

The child tried to smother bubbling giggles with her chubby hand, smudged with dirt. She curled her body into a ball and made herself as small as possible behind the bushes in the back of the hut, listening for Papa’s footsteps as he came in search of her.

It was a game they often played, hide and seek. Titi loved Papa more than anyone else in the world. More than Mama, even though she felt kind of bad admitting it.

But it was the simple truth. Papa was the most beautiful, wonderful, bestest man. Titi loved to make him smile. He was so warm, so bright, like the sun.

Whereas, Mama was…different.

“Titi, if I find you before the count of ten, you will have to clean the chicken coup on the morrow,” Papa said in a slightly teasing, slightly growly tone.

Titi didn’t mind doing chores, but cleaning the chicken coup was one of her least favorite. The feathers and the droppings, ugh! The smell was atrocious.

She tucked her small body between the wall of the hut and the largest bush, hoping she could hold out until discovery to eleven counts. For good measure, she held her breath too and squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe if she couldn’t see Papa, he wouldn’t be able to see her either.

One…two…three…

Something furry swiped across her nose, making her scrunch up and sneeze.

When she opened her eyes, she stared into the familiar violet gaze of a spotted leopard cub, its muzzle spread in a feline grin, the long, thick-furred tail undulating in a teasing taunt.

She squealed in delight at being caught just as the kitten butted its forehead into her chest, tickling her, then licked a scratchy strip up the side of her face.

“Papa! No fair!”

She wrestled with the leopard cub as it pounced around her and on top of her, pressing on her funny bones, stealing kitty kisses everywhere her skin was bare, purring and growling as she shrieked with laughter.

“It’s time to come inside.”

They both stopped playing at the sound of Mama’s voice, drifting to them softly but sternly from inside the hut.

In a blink, the leopard cub transformed into her big, tall, tawny-haired Papa, who swung Titi up onto his hip, carrying her inside.

“She is too old to be held like that,” Mama murmured when she glanced at the two of them as they entered, before turning back to the hearth to ladle stew from the stone pot into bowls.

“She is only four summers, love,” Papa said in his deep, soothing voice, setting Titi down on her stool at the small table.

“You coddle her.”

“It pleases me to do so,” Papa returned easily, wrapping his arms around Mama from behind.

“Just as it pleases me to coddle you.”

He kissed the side of her neck and leaned into her, making her sigh with contentment, her shoulders visibly loosening, her spine less stiff.

Papa wielded magic, Titi was certain. He made everything and everyone better. Even Mama.

Prickly, stern, sometimes scary Mama.

Papa carried two bowls full of stew to the table and sat down, and Mama did the same. As they began to eat, Titi looked at Mama, while Mama looked at Papa.

Mama always looked at Papa. She hardly ever noticed Titi. When she did, it was almost always because Titi was with Papa.

Mama was beautiful too, in Titi’s eyes. And perhaps in other people’s eyes as well. She had long, straight black hair past her waist, shiny like a raven’s wing. Pale, flawless skin. A full, red mouth.

But it was her eyes that both captivated and frightened Titi. So dark they were almost black. Glittering with…something.

On the rare occasions that Mama got angry, they glowed red in the centers like a throbbing wound. Titi had only ever seen this when Mama watched other people interact