Caress The Dark God [Scions of the Ankh 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Toni L. Meilleur

  A series of hisses seemed to come from everywhere. Tessa looked at the funnel and realized where the sounds were coming from. The one they called Apep. A sound like thunder cracked the air in a very familiar synchronization. Tessa realized with horror what it was. It was the familiar cadence of footsteps. Dear gods, how big was Apep?

  “You must hurry!” Hathor encouraged her. “He comes.”

  No problem. No pressure. As her anxiety built the tunnel began to falter as it had before. She channeled everything she had into the makeshift prison. However, the speed in which it traveled towards the tear in the atmosphere was agonizingly slow. She could see Ma’at’s intense concentration.

  Ralabos broke away from the group. His hands reached towards the mouth of the tear and a white stream of energy flowed from his hands. For a second Tessa panicked — his energy would only feed the monster! But as she looked closer she could see the air waver from the heat. He was putting a heat shield in place to hinder Apep’s emergence.

  Tessa ground her teeth as she tried to help. Her anger was dissipating, replaced by fear. Fear was not an effective energy motivator. She tried another tactic. She thought of Anubis, the way he touched her. The way his fingers caused a slow burn over her entire body as he caressed her. Her mind flashed to Anubis behind her, pumping into and bringing her to unheard of heights of pleasure. The tunnel regained its sturdiness and began to move faster towards the mouth. Something black lashed out of the hole, and the smell of burning meat permeated the air. It took a minute for Tessa to realize it had been a forked tongue. Several tongues followed, but as soon as they touched the shield, they shied away.

  What was that thing? Some sort of manlike serpent? Tessa shuddered. She forced her mind back to Anubis. She wanted to see her Anubis. She loved him. For the first time, Tessa was finally okay with admitting she had fallen for the Dark One. She loved him more than anything else. The love swelled inside of her chest, so strong she thought she would burst. The energy she brought forth sent the funnel so fast towards the tear, Ralabos barely had time to retract it to let their prisoner through. A hairsbreadth later, Thoth closed the rip in the veil. He snapped the book shut in relief. The others laughed in nervous relief. Ma’at bowed her head in acknowledgement of Tessa’s help.

  Tessa didn’t have time for that. She didn’t know how to use the charm, but she would try. She reached with her mind, searching for that familiar pathway that was unique to Anubis. Panic set in as she received no signal. Then a thought occurred to her. What was the saying? Birds of a feather flock together. She and Anubis were now of the same breed. Was she not a Dark One as well, even if only partially? Did she not share some of his abilities? Tessa centered herself; if she couldn’t find him with her mind perhaps she could connect to him through their shared power. Tessa wasn’t prepared for the way her body jolted and seemed to pass through viscous atmosphere. The whole experience lasted maybe a few seconds, but Tessa felt a little ill from her travel.

  It only took a moment for her to realize where she was. It was where she’d gotten to know her Dark One. She was in the land of the dead, in the bedroom they had shared. She saw Anubis, his body sprawled haphazardly across the unkempt bed. She ran to him, a cry in her throat. His chest was still torn open and he barely breathed. As she examined him, she saw a hole in his side that oozed an oily black liquid.

  Tears streamed down Tessa’s face. He had told her she had no control over her powers. That she could drain energy without meaning to. Tessa was hesitant about what to do. Then she did the only thing she could think of. She summoned her friend.

  Rene appeared by her side. The moment her eyes laid on Anubis, a gasp escaped her throat.

  “I don’t know what you can do, Rene, but I know you are no hybrid like me. You are one of them. Tell me, what do I do to heal him?” Tessa could hear the roughness of her voice. She was trying not to break down. She needed to be strong for Anubis.

  “You are a hybrid and you share his power. Share your energy.”

  “I don’t know how. What is wrong with you people, asking me to do things I’ve never done before?” Frustration dripped from her words.

  “Look at him, Tessa. If he were the one who drained the other hybrid’s power, he would have healed himself.”

  “But he did,” Tessa protested.

  “But who drained the bulk of it?”

  Tessa paused. It had been her. She had been determined not to let that thing kill Anubis. Even if it cost her life. She had grabbed Teremun about the ankle and visualized taking energy from him. The power had surged through her, healing her broken back. It had also weakened Teremun enough for Anubis to finish the job. “I can do this,” Tessa said to herself.

  “Yes, you can,” Rene encouraged her. “You have energy to spare.” Then Rene left.

  Her quick departure annoyed Tessa. What was with these travelers anyway? How could they be so self-absorbed?

  Tessa focused as she laid her hand on his abdomen. His skin was burning hot. Tessa almost jerked her hand away. She imagined the energy flowing from her into Anubis. Nothing happened. Tessa concentrated harder and still she felt none of the energy leave her body. Anubis stopped breathing altogether. No! Tessa screamed in her mind. He couldn’t die. She had finally found love and she wasn’t about to let death take it away from her. It was the second time death had interrupted her life. Live, dammit! As her love and fear for Anubis swirled inside her, Tessa could feel tingles along her spine. They traveled to her shoulder and down her arm, through her fingers. The tingles turned into the feeling of an army of fire ants following the same path. Is this what it felt like to Anubis when he ‘fed’ her? Did it hurt him this way?

  Tessa ignored the pain and watched as his muscles began to knit themselves together. The temperature of his body decreased. Seconds passed and both punctures in his chest closed. Tessa could now feel her body becoming tired, but she continued to pass Anubis energy. She examined the injury to his side. The black oil-like substance spurted forth in waves, soiling the bed linen. The wound began to close. Tessa breathed a sigh of relief as she slumped to the floor, her hand still on Anubis as she rested her sweaty forehead against the mattress. She needed to rest for just a moment. Now that she was sure he would live, Tessa let her eyes flutter closed in exhaustion. She welcomed the void of darkness.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The coolness of the forest floor was surprising given it appeared to be the middle of the day. Regal trees reached graceful branches towards her. Some of the branches were filled with sweet-smelling blossoms. The white petals rained down upon her as she searched. The petals were a stark contrast to the liquid black dress she wore. It was bound at the shoulders, elbows and wrists with wafer-thin ties. The dress clung to her every curve, only offering respite at the thigh where it was cut high, revealing her long, shapely legs. A gold belt was loosely hung about her hips, the tasseled ends colored in gold and black. She looked for him, curiosity marring her otherwise flawless beauty. Brown eyes searched with inhuman sharpness the surroundings, until she caught the movement.

  A flash of black against the lush greenery, so fast that had she not been gifted with her abilities, would not have seen it. She tracked the movement as she slowed, silencing her approach. She crept closer still, knowing at any moment she could be scented. Tessa pushed her wild locks from her face as she chose instead to crawl on hands and knees through the tall grass. But it had been a mistake. For the jackal now stood directly in front of her, baring its white teeth at her. Too late she tried to back away and run. It disappeared right before her eyes, only to reappear behind her in the form of a man. Her man.

  “Caught you, sweetling,” he murmured softly in her ear, his large hands already at her hips.

  “You cheated,” she breathed, flicking her long tresses to one side so he could nip at her neck.

  “Is it my fault you smell so good?” Anubis nipped at her neck and she felt the pleasure zip through her veins. One hand sought a path under the high slit i
n her dress and immediately felt the wetness between her thighs. “And you taste just as good.” His long fingers began a sinful rhythm between her folds, which made her rock helplessly against his hand.

  “I’ve no time for teasing,” she begged even as she shuddered at the touch.

  “It seems we will have to continue this later,” he whispered as he retrieved his hand from between her thighs. “He’s caught up with us.”

  Tessa looked up to see a young boy making his way towards them. He held something captive in his hands, given the way he was holding them, with a wide smile on his face. Tessa looked back at Anubis and grinned; he had almost caught his parents …

  * * * *

  Tessa sat up straight, her heart pounding, her body aching with need. She tried to organize her thoughts, but at the moment it seemed an impossible task. The remnants of her dream haunted her. He had almost caught his parents. That’s what it was, just a dream, and she forced her heart to slow down. As she did she took a look around and recognized the room she was in. The bed linens had been changed and so had her clothing. The bed itself was empty of Anubis. Fear struck her heart. How could she have fallen asleep? She should have stayed awake and watched over him. Guilt ate at her as she bolted out of the bed and struggled with the unfamiliar long white gown he had dressed her in.

  Anubis? she reached out tentatively.

  I am here. His deep timbre caused instant joy within her. Join me.

  Where are you?

  Figure it out.

  Tessa smiled to herself as she made her way barefoot through the castle. Where would he be? The faint strains of music wafted to her ears and she knew where he was. Looking down, she saw the necklace with the golden feather was nestled between her breasts. She smiled and in a moment she was in the same room as Anubis.

  “Well done.” She watched him walk towards her like a giant panther.

  “How are you?” she greeted him as he pulled her into his arms.

  “Thanks to you, I am well.”

  Tessa took a deep breath and sent out a silent prayer. He smelled good. One arm encircled her waist while the other took her other hand and he began to dance slowly with her. Tessa, surprised, looked up into his dark eyes.

  “Is there a rule that says Dark Ones cannot enjoy music?” The faintest of smiles was on his face. Tessa just leaned her cheek against his chest and enjoyed the way their bodies melded together. It took but a moment to recognize the song.

  I found a dream that I could speak to

  A dream that I can call my own

  I found a thrill to press my cheek to

  A thrill that I have never known

  “I love this song!” Tessa gushed, surprised that Anubis knew it.

  “She was one of my favorite singers,” Anubis confessed.

  “You love Etta James too!”

  “It is only now that I know of what she truly sings. Before they were just beautiful words strung together with haunting music. A dream that I never thought I would have for myself.” He looked down at her. “You have made this song more meaningful to me, Tessa.”

  Tessa felt a tear slide down her cheek as she listened to the words. How many nights had she listened to At Last and wished she could be held as she was being held now. Anubis embraced her with all the warmth any woman could want from a man. She loved him with every fiber of her being, but did he love her the same way?

  He cut through her thoughts. “Ask me.”

  “Ask what?” Tessa hedged.

  “Ask me what you are thinking.”

  Did she dare ask him? Did she dare put her heart on the line once again? Yes, everything felt right and obviously she would give her life for him, but would she give her heart to him? Finally Tessa decided there was no peace in cowardice. She would never know if she didn’t ask and she would always wonder.

  “How do you feel about me, Anubis?” Her words were breathy and unsure. When he didn’t answer right away, her heart beat erratically against her chest.

  “I will tell you what I know, instead of how I feel.” His voice sounded deeper coming from his chest. She felt his hand slide under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “I know there is no existence worthy of living without you. I know you are the color in my otherwise bleak life, Tessa. I know that as long as you are with me, I will laugh, I will learn and I will love. Even if you are not with me I will love you as long as time goes on to witness. It is the only thing besides my love for you that will last forever. I do not feel that I love you, Tessa. I know it. The question is, Dr. Tessa Michaels, do you love me in return?”

  How dare he say such beautiful words to her and choke her up and then expect her to be able to talk. She lightly pounded a fist against his chest, as she was caught between laughter and tears. “Of course I love you.” Her voice cracked, and she was unable to speak as her emotions temporarily arrested her vocal chords. Anubis laughed and Tessa felt the slight push as he entered her mind. She knew he could see the words she wanted to say.

  He was her savior, her lover, her best friend. In such a short time, she had never known anyone she felt so close to. She did not care that he was a Dark One, and it was not because she was now part-Dark One. She loved him anyway. Tessa wanted to make him happy.

  “You make me happy by being here, Tessa.” He gathered her into a big bear hug. The song had died out, but looped again. Tessa lifted her face and without preamble he took her lips. Tessa sighed as she pressed herself closer to his warm body.

  * * * *

  She tasted like honey wine. The feel of her body so close to him threw his desire into a fever. He was painfully hard and he wanted nothing more than to be inside her. He phased them out of the land of the dead and into the house that he hardly ever used. It had never been a home to him. Now it would be, with Tessa. Anubis had them lying side-by-side against the silk and satin black pillows. Black mosquito netting hung elegantly about the wrought-iron bed. He had designed this room with a mate in mind. The bedroom had but three walls, the fourth one didn’t exist. The air from the nearby lake blew in, giving the bedroom a fresh and natural scent of outdoors. Since he could control the weather around his home, it just made sense. Vines grew into the room, surrounding the doorways. Butterflies rested on the blossoms of some of the vines. Even a few birds had made their home in the bedroom, using the carefully placed nests Anubis had set throughout the room. It had the wild feeling of outdoors, while maintaining a dollop of civility.

  Tessa looked wide-eyed about the room. “I. Love. This.”

  It was just the reaction he was hoping for. He leaned over then, until she was underneath him. He spread her legs as he kept eye contact with her. Her hands reached up and traveled along his back, sending shudders through him. Only she could do that to him. “You are the only woman I wish to make love to forever,” he whispered as he bent to kiss her. She held up a hand to his chest, stopping him. Surprised, he furrowed his brow in question.

  “Ma’at” was all she said.

  “Ma’at?” he parroted, confused.

  “I want to know who she is to you and wh-what you two did.”

  As she stumbled over the words, Anubis now understood. “Oh, love, you don’t think I slept with her, do you?” When Tessa said nothing, Anubis pulled himself back so he rested on his knees while still between her legs. “I didn’t sleep with her, Tessa. Ma’at was once worshipped as the goddess of truth and harmony. She kept the earth balanced. I ask her to transfer some of my abilities to this.” He tapped the charm around her neck. “I convinced her it was only fair that you have some method of recourse to protect yourself should I fail. That is all.”

  “That’s why this helps me pop in and out of places like you?”

  “Yes, sweetling.”

  “Okay, that would explain the flushed cheeks and mussed hair.” Tessa grinned but only for a moment. “Did you love her?”

  “I love her because she is a dear friend. Once a very long time ago she was a bedmate. Like I once did, she searches f
or her lifemate. But I felt nothing for her in the capacity I feel for you. There is only you, Tessa. There will always be only you.”

  She reached up and pulled him down and Anubis was only too happy to taste her lips again. He felt her hand reach inside his pants and Anubis made their clothing disappear. Her fingers wrapped around him tightly and stroked him. He kissed her more deeply as she ignited his lust. She pulled him closer to the junction of her thighs until he could feel the wet heat between them. Tessa brought the head of his shaft to her opening and without further prompting he slid inside of her. They both sighed at the feeling.

  “I don’t want it slow, Anubis, we can do that later. I want you, now.” Her demanding words kicked him into action. He pistoned into her as her walls invited him in further still. She wrapped her legs around him as his thrust became more and more powerful. The bed shook from the force of his thrusts, and Anubis was glad he’d had the foresight to bolt the bed to the floor. Tessa’s cries of passion sang in his ears as she arched her back, sinking him further still inside of her.

  The wind noticeably kicked up and whirled in the room, causing the birds to twitter in nervousness. “You’re scaring them,” she managed to grunt out.

  “That’s not me, love, that’s you,” he informed her, never giving up his relentless thrusts inside of her.