And all those actions had been for nothing. In spite of everything the gods had tried, Akri’s birth had still caused them mean old Atlantean gods to die …
Well, they weren’t dead, but they were no longer alive or in power. All of them were in stasis and gone. Akri had replaced them just as the prophecy said. His birth had been the end of them.
All their efforts to stop it had done nothing except hurt akri.
And her.
So, tell no one.
Because it would change nothing.
This would be her secret. She would leave the Malachai alone and hope that he would not harm anyone she loved.
18
October 31, 1801
Simi sat at the ornately carved bar of the newly opened place called Sanctuary in New Orleans It was a fun restaurant where they served the best eats. Owned by a family of them BearWere creatures, Sanctuary was one of her favorite places to visit, she decided.
Even if the shape-shifting bear people weren’t so happy that akri came with her.
And not just him. The Dark-Hunters in general made them Weres nervous.
Even so, they were exceptionally nice to her. Probably because akri spent lots of monies with them for her to eat as much as she wanted, and that was a lot.
“How are you doing, Miss Simi?”
Simi smiled at Nicolette Peltier or Mama Lo as she was generally known. Tall and blond, she was exceptionally beautiful and was dressed in a thin high waisted gown similar to Simi’s except hers was a pale blue that matched her eyes. And it had little yellow flowers that were the same color as her short-sleeved jacket.
Mama Lo was the matriarch of the giant bear family who owned the place. But it wasn’t just bears who lived and worked here. There were lots of other shape-shifters, too.
And they was all the nicest.
“The Simi’s doing just fine, akra-Mama Lo. How is you today?”
“Très bien, ma petite. Would you like more chicken?”
“Please! And more of the hot sauce.”
Laughing, Mama Lo motioned for one of the servers to bring what Simi asked for.
She patted Simi on the back and then gave her a kiss to each cheek. “Bon appétit!”
Simi smiled at her kindness. “Merci, Maman.”
Just as the waiter placed the food in front of her, a man sat down beside her. She paid him no heed as she started to eat.
Not until the human laughed. “You have quite the appetite, eh?”
Simi paused to pass an inquisitive stare toward the stranger. Older with a gray beard, he was decidedly human. Why he wanted to speak to her, she had no idea. “The Simi likes to eat.”
“Indeed. Are you here alone?”
“She is not.”
Simi looked over her shoulder at the sound of akri-Thorn’s deep voice. Not only was he angry, he actually placed his hand on the man’s shoulder and lifted him up out of his seat.
“You should be going. Now.”
