by Wend Petzler
"Sabni must die by your hand, if you wish to live as a mortal once more. If he dies by any other way, you will live forever to walk the earth alone.” Tears glistened in her eyes as she watched Sabni bat at his shaggy head, unaware they were talking about him.
He was stunned. Of all he endured, he must murder an innocent man who loved the wrong woman in order to live a mortal life again? “Are you certain?” Almost desperate for her to be wrong, the sad look in her eyes told him she wasn't. “Let us leave my brother's tomb. I need some fresh air."
She couldn't agree more. Pitying the priest, Kate could not understand why Sabni agreed to the pact with Anubis for the love of a woman. She thought the whole situation illogical. Could a man love a woman so much he would risk death for her? Having never felt the madness of passion or love, she did not understand any of it. When she glanced upward, studying Setti's aristocratic features in the flickering light, her heart gave a slight flutter. Frowning, she grew puzzled when it came to the Egyptian, unsure of her own feelings toward him. One thing was certain, if what Sabni had felt for SobeKnefru came one tenth as close to what Setti's kiss did to her, Kate came to the quick conclusion she just might have to rethink her position of love.
Setti urged Kate to go first, remaining protectively between her and Sabni, not trusting the crazy priest around her. “Come, we need to rest before we journey to Itj-towy."
Sabni frantically grabbed Setti's arm, whining. “No! You cannot go there. She knows you are coming and has sent the Shedty hunting for you, especially her.” Pointing at the woman, Sabni halted. As if his mind shifted, returning to a scene four years in the past, his rounded eyes searched frantically around him. “Why does she want me to kill Yoshabel? I cannot allow SobeKnefru to murder her. Setti loves her, I must protect her.” Determination combined with fear made him cling to the tall warrior. “I swear, Pharaoh, I'll kill SobeKnefru before she hurts her!"
Trying to calm the agitated man, Setti peered over Sabni's head at Kate who was visibly shaken. “Sabni, what makes you think SobeKnefru knows I am alive?"
Coming out from the fog in his chaotic mind, Sabni blinked, looking around his surroundings, focusing on Kate. Sabni felt a bit more on the saner side, if only for a brief time. Captivated by the color of her hair, a beautiful shade of copper, Sabni stiffened. His entire body shook, eyes glazed over by the Sight, seeing without seeing what was to come. “Beware of the man whose hair bares the color of wheat. He plots to have power through the Pharaoh Queen. Their goal is to put you, Setti, back into the tomb from whence you came.” When Sabni blinked, madness swept him away again.
Kate felt sorrow for Sabni. The former priest of Ra possessed enormous power, but the insanity kept him prisoner. Until released from the hell he willingly traded his soul for, Sabni would never have peace. “Setti, gently bring him along. He needs food and warm blankets to sleep in. Sabni has suffered more than anyone I know."
Agreeing, Setti placed a kind arm around Sabni's hunched shoulders. “Come with us, my friend. We will make plans in the morning. Worry not,” Setti spoke soothingly to the tired man who sagged wearily against him, barely acknowledging his words.
They reached the campsite without any mishaps. Kate hurried to arrange one of the bedrolls. Setti helped the exhausted priest to the blankets and covered him up. Shaken by what he witnessed of Sabni's personal mental hell, Setti decided to prepare supper to get his mind off what he'd seen and heard. As he went about cutting the brown bread in thick slices, Kate withdrew the Black Book from her backpack.
Without looking up at her, “Careful, the book you hold is of great and terrible power. Look at what it did to Sabni.” Setti continued cutting the sharp, pungent cheese and placed it on the bread. His warm, brown eyes rose to meet her startled ones. “I could not live with myself if harm befell you as it has to so many others close to me.” Handing the bread out to her, his fingertips accidentally brushed hers. He could not name the emotion he experienced when she met his gaze, holding him hostage within liquid pools of violet. Spellbound, Setti's confusion knew no comfort, never having felt anything remotely close to what he felt for Kate Martin.
Drowning in those honeyed depths, her gaze drifted down to his lips, remembering the passionate kiss they shared before he faced the guards. His mere touch sent butterflies flip-flopping in the pit of her stomach. “I just wanted to see if there might be an alternative spell to end the curse you endure, instead of killing Sabni."
Placing his meal on top of the leather pouch, Setti settled next to her on the blankets, tenderly caressing the smooth line of her jaw, liking the way she trembled at his touch. “Nothing is worth the risk of losing you. Do you understand? Of all who shared in my tragedies, you must remain safe.” His mouth hovered close to hers, dying to kiss those soft, pink lips once more.
A pinched look of incredible pain washed over his breathtaking features. Setti made to withdraw, halting when her slender hand curved along his cheekbone, making it impossible for him to stop her. Kate leaned upward, unable to deny her desire any longer for the warrior who was more than a mere man or immortal, he was the one she was falling in love with. Her lips pressed for a moment against his mouth before moving slowly, opening to run the tip of her tongue along the fullness of his bottom lip. Afraid when he did not immediately respond, Kate leaned back, despairing. Completely unprepared when his powerful arms wrapped around her, he drew her onto his lap, hungrily devouring her. Her world felt complete, her restless soul content at last when she was in Setti's embrace.
Drawing her offered sweetness deep within his soul, Setti kissed her, pouring everything he denied into her. Running his fingers through her long hair, crushing the silken tresses, he gently drew her head back, allowing him to continue his exploration. His hard mouth slanted over hers more, tongue delving deep, molding along hers, tasting her. They kissed without restraint, only needing to be a deeper part of one another. Setti maneuvered to roll her under him when Sabni started to whimper in his sleep, breaking them apart.
She stared up at him, hunger and wonder, the need for him shining in her eyes. Setti knew the time not right, not if what Sabni said was true. Forcing himself to release Kate, he ignored his aching body and raging need and lifted her off him. Handing her the discarded bread and cheese, he searched for the words to explain why he had to stop. Unused to losing his self-control in any situation, Setti realized that being around Kate Martin it was fast becoming an alarming regularity.
"Kate...” Knowing not what to say to her, in his heart he knew they could never have any hope for a future together. Lust was an act, not an emotion shared between two people who cared for each other as he did for her. To make it any less than perfect would be a crime against Kate's sweet innocence.
Wanting to cry from being denied any release from the torment and pleasure she suffered being in his powerful arms, Kate felt the loneliness return with a vengeance. Many times in her life she had felt alone but never like this. In the company of a man who made her bones melt and her body burn with a passion she only dreamt about, but never experienced was a hell she never thought she'd be forced to endure. Not hungry for food anymore, she handed back the bread, refusing to look at his pain contorted face, knowing she wore the same tortured look. She left his side and made another bed. Climbing underneath the woolen blankets, she rolled on her side, away from him, refusing to speak to him. Unshed tears burned her throat. Desperate not to cry, unable to stop the bitterness, but in the end tears crept from under thick, black lashes. Silently, she wept.
Setti tried to rationalize it was better for them this way, knowing if they made love it would make parting even more difficult to bear. Better if we keep our distance, he tried to reason. He must not succumb to the awesome need to be buried deep inside Kate Martin's luscious body, making her his woman forever. He endangered her every minute they were together. The decision to keep his distance from her would prove to be far more difficult than he'd imagined.
Eating only to keep his s
trength up, Setti stopped chewing when he thought he heard Kate weeping. Or was it just his imagination? When he finished, Setti drew a blanket about his shoulders and stared into the fire. Feeling more alone than any time in his entire thirty-five years of life, he sat watching the flickering flames, adding more wood to the fire. Well, not counting the three thousand of his imprisonment in a cold, dark tomb, he thought with an ironic twist.
When assured she was sound asleep, Setti moved his bedroll next to Kate's. They had slept side by side for more than a week during their journey and not to be near her unsettled the warrior unlike anything he had ever felt. He lay on his side facing her, one arm outstretched above his head, the other curled in front of him. Setti watched her sleep, the rise and fall of her back, the sound of her steady breathing hypnotic. Transfixed, he felt torn inside when Kate reached out to him. Stretching his hand out to hers, her slender fingers entwined in his.
Rising on his elbow, Setti leaned over to press a light kiss on her soft, ripe lips, smiling when Kate sighed happily in her sleep, holding his hand tighter. Yawning, he thanked Ra for placing Kate Martin in his way. If the Sun God had not, he would never have known the spunky female whose selfless purpose was to end the curse he endured.
Can he be as selfless and let her go home?
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Chapter Nineteen
The first indication of danger was the soft scrape from the bottom of a sandaled foot against the gravelly sand. Setti woke instantly and leapt to his feet, hand on the hilt of his sword. Fluidly drawing his weapon, Setti prepared to fight as Kate flew out of her bedroll and woke Sabni. Twenty Egyptian warriors, dressed in white loincloths and bronze armor, surrounded them, their swords drawn.
Disbelief shone in Hotep's dark eyes. Taking a cautious step forward, he lowered his sword. “My lord, is it really you?"
Drawing up to his towering height, Setti replaced the sword in the sheath, a broad grin spread exposing perfect, white teeth. “Hotep, you dog! I see you have finally made captain of the guard. But whose?” He grasped the older man's hand in a heartfelt greeting, surprised when Hotep wrapped his bear-like arms around him, laughing.
Clapping Setti soundly on the back, Hotep grinned, “You, young pup! I missed your wit. As to whom I serve, it is you, my Pharaoh.” He dropped to one knee and bowed his head to the rightful King of Egypt.
The startled men under Hotep's command fell to their knees at his words. Their faces bore the looks of men with renewed purpose. The Scarab King had returned!
Setti motioned for them to rise. “Hotep, why are you here?"
"Lord Ramose was visited by two priests who warned him of your coming. The Royal Vizier wishes you to come and speak with him. He has missed you as much as the Great Army has."
A determined look came into Setti's eyes. “Where is my army?” his voice rumbled ominously.
Grinning wolfishly at Setti, Hotep answered, “They are waiting upon the Scarab King to take back the Double Crown of Egypt and toss the bitch he calls sister off the Golden Throne!"
"Oh, I have a plan for dear SobeKnefru, one she will not like in the least. First, take me to Ramose. I must speak with the old man and learn more of what my enemy has done in the last four years.” Setti took Kate's trembling hand in his, smiling to ease her distress.
Signaling his men to close ranks around the trio, Hotep led the way back to the Nile. The wary guards returned to their post, bowing low to the Scarab King, remembering their arrow had not killed him.
Worried about Kate, noticing her eyes were a bit wild and alarmed by the armed warriors surrounding them. Setti asked her, “How are you doing with all this?"
"Where are we going?"
"To Thebes."
"Why?"
"To claim my throne,” he simply said, but she knew the terrible promise of revenge behind those words; Setti was declaring war.
Kate remained silent, concentrating on her footing until she noticed the men stared at her or rather the color of her hair. She let Setti's hand go and flipped up the black veil, a shield from the open curiosity the Egyptians displayed at the oddity of her unusual coloring. Kate felt the brutal weight of knowing blood was surely going to be shed, Egyptian against Egyptian in Setti's bid to reclaim his throne.
Or could bloodshed be avoided?
The sun rose and along with it came the inferno-like heat, warming the sand with its intensity. By the time the group arrived at the low bottomed ship docked by the stone pillars outside Dahshur, the heat became brutal. Setti handed her up to Hotep who lifted her as if she weighed little more than a feather. He was quite gentlemanly about assisting her to the bow and gave her breakfast from his own provisions. Smiling her thanks, Kate ate, watching the men carefully handle Sabni who started slapping his head, whining in absolute fright. She nearly choked on a bite of honey cake when the priest broke free and ran straight for her. Scrambling to her feet, Kate grunted from the sudden impact when Sabni threw his arms wide, wrapping them around her waist holding on tight. Crying out, Sabni nearly crushed her ribs in his desperation to flee the soldiers.
Rushing forward, Setti drew his dagger, prepared to kill Sabni when Kate raised her hands to stop him. “No! He is only frightened. Sabni means me no harm.” She smiled gently at the dirty man who gripped her, his face pressed against her stomach and sobbed uncontrollably. “Sabni, come and sit with me. We'll share my breakfast and ignore these men. Does this sound like a good idea?” At his eager nod, she slowly sat down on the hardwood deck, grateful when he released his death grip on her and followed, trusting her completely.
Puzzled, Setti watched Sabni cram a chunk of cake in his mouth, barely having room to guzzle down the water from a goatskin flask.
Hotep watched the scene with trepidation. “Are you sure we should allow him to remain beside the woman?"
Hoping he was not making a dreadful mistake, Setti nodded. “Sabni will be fine. Give Kate a skin of wine and let her get him drunk. He'll be easier to manage."
"Are you saying he is the Sabni, the prophet priest of Amun Ra?” Hotep asked in disbelief.
"Yes."
Not sure what to say, Hotep cautiously handed the wine skin over to the young woman, keeping a watchful eye on the growling man, who warned him to back away from her. Hotep signaled his men to set sail. “Did you know the Queen has issued a hefty reward for Sabni's capture?"
"Yea, I heard. Tell me, are the Shedty as powerful as a friend told me?"
"More powerful than we originally thought. Inarus has a firm grip on SobeKnefru, using her as a puppet queen. But he dares not cross Ramose who still controls the Egyptian army."
"If the High Priest is removed, the rest of the Shedty will fall?” Setti leaned against the starboard side of the ship.
"It would be the wisest course of action."
"Hotep, tell your men to remain silent of my identity. I wish to remain anonymous until a plan can be arranged before I claim my throne."
"My men are most trustworthy. They will remain silent at your request."
"Thank you, Hotep, for your loyalty.” Setti grasped the surprised man's shoulder in a firm grip.
"I consider it an honor to serve you, Pharaoh.” Hotep bowed low to Setti before leaving to speak with his men.
Setti strode over to where Kate sat. The priest now lay on the deck, curled in a fetal position, snoring from a full stomach and a good quantity of strong wine. “How goes our friend?” He watched as Kate laid a cloak over the sleeping man whose hands were tucked under his cheek, almost child-like in his actions.
"I feel so much sadness for him. Why did he exchange his sanity for SobeKnefru?” Unable to comprehend the extent Sabni had gone for a woman's love, Kate looked up at Setti, confused. A sexy, half-smile curved Setti's delicious mouth.
"Do you not understand what a man would do for the woman he loves?” A look of torment crossed Kate's beautiful features. She answered him in a voice filled with bitterness, surprising him.
"No, I don't. I've never experienced the madness of what loves does to people, nor do I ever wish to."
Surprised by her vehement outburst, he sat beside her, crossing his legs. A devilish gleam in his eyes made her squirm uncomfortably. “Oh? You do not wish to feel the heady touch of a man's hands caressing your sweet flesh or experience the flames of raw passion fanned to lofty heights of which you have never known existed?” As he said those words, flashes of what they shared hit him, making Setti want her even more.
Glaring at him, she tried to withdraw to a safer distance, unable to escape with Sabni snoring on the other side of her and Setti leaning closer with a determined look in his honey brown eyes. “No, I don't! All the spouting of love and desire only leads to misery and destruction. Poor Sabni is living proof of what it can do to a person's sanity."
Drawing back, Setti looked askance at Kate. “I am confused. You search for ruins of a lost age, seeking the secrets buried under the sands of time and yet you have no romance in your soul? When we kissed, you gave of yourself whole-heartedly. There is passion in you beyond anything I have shared with another. Do not lie to me.” Incredulous at the idea she wanted nothing to do with love or passion, especially when he knew better, Setti grew determined to find the truth behind her denial.
Embarrassed, Kate quickly glanced at the men, hoping they weren't listening. Relieved when she saw the soldiers had taken their positions at the oars and began rowing the boat into the current, heading the ship back to Thebes. “The kiss we shared was nothing more than a heat of the moment mistake. You really don't want me. I am just someone convenient when your sexual appetites become uncontrollable, and you cannot help yourself."
Not really sure if he heard her right, Setti drew back in astonishment. “Do you honestly believe I pursue you to relieve sexual tension until I can properly release my needs?"
"I am well aware Egyptians consider it unclean to be with someone not of their race. We are worlds apart, not to mention I am just plain ugly.” She refused to look at him, not wanting to be hurt anymore by his rejections.
