Leader: Book Three (Princes of Prophecy 3) by L. Ann Marie Read Free Book Online

Ben
    I’m surprised to see Cloud and Nunánuk when we pull up to Co’s house. Nunánuk takes Lily from me and tells me she’ll show her around. I’m surprised and give her my thanks. She tells me it is an honor to keep Lily company and I’m reminded of how humble and grateful my heritage is.
    Cloud follows me around back and into the tepee. While we talk, I suggest taking Aiyana to the Connecticut reservation. It is better equipped to deal with a threat and the average age is much younger. Co wants the ancestors’ blessing before he agrees. We jump and Cloud stays behind me. On Dakota’s tree, Co gets what he is looking for. The ancestors seem to be pleased we’re working together again. The colors look brighter. While I’m comfortable with Cloud and Co, I miss Dakota here today and wonder if I’m missing something without him. “You are wise my Prince. Your Prophet can help in ways the ancestors cannot,” Co says in Mohegan.
    “Is there a reason Cloud stands behind me today?” I ask him and Cloud laughs.
    Co looks at him and he stops. “The ancestors see you as a great leader my Prince. You are to be recognized by the Warriors as that leader.”
    My eyes snap to Cloud. He nods and bows his head. Jesus. I wish Dakota was here. Something changed and I am missing it. ‘I am with you Brother. I will explain it all when you get back. Hopefully that will be after dinner as I am hiking right now,’ Dakota says in my head. I want to laugh, but clench my jaw.
    Co smiles at me. He knows. “Go show your woman the beauty of the land and how we have been blessed by the ancestors and gods for so many years. I will accompany Aiyana. She will be safe my Prince.”
    I throw him chin and thank the ancestors, Co, and Cloud for guiding me. I find Nunánuk and Lily by the stable petting a dog. “We need to find a dog for Jeremy. I am not sure this is the dog for him, but he is cute.”
    “He is. I think Jeremy needs a big dog to keep up with him.” I smile thinking of my Little Brother and how he bounces from one place to another.
    Nunánuk smiles at me. “You are right my Warrior Prince. A very active, big dog. I think CJ would not be happy, but Cloud might.”
    I laugh. “You are right my wise Shaman.”
    Lily squeezes my hand. “I need to learn the language.”
    I tell her what we said and she smiles. She loves Jeremy and Jacob because they take care of Aubrey.
    Nunánuk looks at me. “And you my Prince. It makes her happy that you have so many people to guide and care for you. Her love is true Little Ben.” Lily smiles and squeezes my hand.
    “Thank you Grandmother, I will work to earn and keep that, showing her the same,” I say in Mohegan then English. Cloud comes for Nunánuk and guides her to the chopper.
    “Why do you call her grandmother?”
    I take her hand and start walking. “She is Cloud’s grandmother. She raised him and Aleena. When I met her with the kids she was called grandmother. That is what Nunánuk means. I didn’t know it at the time, but she really is my grandmother, with a great thrown in. My father is full blooded Mohegan, but was raised away from his people and culture. Until Cloud met CJ, I didn’t even know I was Indian.”
    She looks at me and stops. “They are your cousins. And Dakota?”
    “Also a cousin. He grew up here with the older tribesmen. They are a more traditional culture. He wasn’t mixed with Anglo or even the more relaxed Connecticut tribe until we knew about them.”
    She starts walking again. “I always wondered about his speech, but I see him in Nunánuk. He has an older way of speaking.”
    I laugh. “Yes. We didn’t always understand him and when we merged LB Security with Lightfoot to make Princes Security I fucked it up not understanding him. It took a weekend of ten of us to fix it and restructure Security. I’ve learned to ask Dakota questions. He’s literal in his speaking, which is different than what we’re used to. He’s also funny as