by Wend Petzler
"Yes! She wants you. The man who came to Egypt as you had wants you, too. He needs the Black Book."
"Mike knows I have it?” Kate gasped, worried about their safety, stiffening when she realized the Black Book lay unprotected in her chambers.
Nodding his shaggy head, Sabni all of a sudden went rigid, his back arching and collapsed on the stone floor. Kate knelt beside him, holding his hand, helpless as he fell victim to a violent seizure.
"What's wrong with him?” Kate demanded from the silent priest. Instead of answering, Jarha turned Sabni on his side. Holding the man's head steady, he forced a discarded, wooden spoon between his clenched teeth.
"He is having a vision. It will pass."
The boy spoke as if from experience. With a jolt of shock, she knew he really did have the Sight. “Can you see what Sabni sees?"
"I have seen an image of two queens, both seeking to rule, both needing the Black Book.” Swallowing hard at what the Sight had shown him, Jarha continued, “Sabni will unite them with your blood staining the sacred blade."
Stunned by what the young man said, she frantically thought how they could change the path set before her. “Can we bring someone from the future like I was?"
"Why do you wish to bring someone here from the future?” Jarha asked in confusion.
"Our future is in jeopardy. The man who has the Pharaoh Queen's mummy wants to resurrect SobeKnefru and make her an immortal."
"As the Scarab King is condemned to endure?” At her taken aback expression, he smiled briefly. “I saw you in Memphis with the Scarab King. If what you say is true, we must stay far away from Itj-towy. It is the only way to prevent the foreigner from initiating the ritual.
"What ritual?"
"I believe the sandy-haired man wants the Black Book to make Queen SobeKnefru an immortal in our time, thus having her all to himself, rather than share her with the future Shedty."
"What would happen if we bring her mummy back in time? Will it be like matter occupying the same space, destroying both women, even if one is already dead?"
"How will we accomplish such a task without the Black Book?” Jarha was relieved when Sabni came out of the trance and slowly sat up.
Sabni answered in a startling, sane voice. “I will bring her mummy back to our time. But, I need to be close to SobeKnefru when we perform the spell."
Kate glanced worriedly at Jarha before asking, “Are you sure you wish to cast a spell from the Black Book again? The first time cost you and Setti so much."
"I am prepared to correct my mistake, even if it costs me my life. Jarha, I would like to clean up. I am ready to become a priest of Amun Ra once more.” He accepted their help in rising, standing with dignity again. Ra had visited him in his vision, instructing Sabni what to do, restoring his sanity for what needed be done to set Egypt aright.
Jarha felt pride well inside him. Sabni placed his feet on a new path with the mighty arm of Ra guiding him. “My lady, I will personally care for Sabni. Take your rest. In the morning, we shall make plans to go to Itj-towy."
"Alright. Good night.” Nervous, Kate rubbed her arms. The chill of foreboding invaded her, almost like the hand of death coming for her. Could she avoid being sacrificed? Was it possible to change the future without damaging the natural course of Destiny?
Returning to her chamber, anger welled anew inside her at what Setti ordered done to Sabni. Why did he not wake her? As she reached for the door handle, a large hand closed over hers. Reacting violently to her assailant, Kate raised a fist to strike her attacker.
Setti captured her small fist, shaking his head at the little vixen who never ceased to surprise him. “Easy, easy, it is only I come to make sure you are well.” He frowned slightly when Kate jerked her hand free of his grasp. “What is wrong?"
"What is wrong you ask? I'll tell you what is wrong; you shackled a helpless, crazy man! How could you do that to Sabni? He trusted you to take care of him, not treat him like an animal.” She shouted at him, far too angry to care if the whole palace heard her.
His handsome face hardened, his strong jaw tightened in anger. Having heard enough, condemned without any chance to defend his actions, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her inside her room. She tried to shake off his firm grasp, but his grip only tightened, refusing to let her go. Whipping her around to face him, Setti spoke through clenched teeth, furious at being yelled at as if he were some kind of monster, “Kate, cease your shouting or I shall have you bound and gagged!” She stopped, her eyes darkening with her muted rage. “I did what I thought best to protect him from hurting himself and others. You needed your rest and to eat a good meal before tending Sabni. I'm not proud of what I did, but there was no other safe alternative."
To stubborn to face the truth Setti might be right, she crossed her arms defensively. “It was wrong, no matter what you say. It's late and I want to be left alone.” She turned her back on Setti. Miserable at the idea Setti could be so cruel to a helpless man, she thought him to be a man possessing honor and compassion, not a savage to have mistreated Sabni so horribly. Setti had become Pharaoh in all ways.
Wanting to argue and demand she accept his decision as right, he knew it useless to continue fighting with Kate. Setti stormed away to his own chamber, slamming the door behind him. Fury ran rampant in his mind. Entering his own chamber, he paced back and forth. From deep within him a yearning rose, mingling with his anger. Of all he was and had done for family and country, Setti felt cheated. His whole life had been dedicated to Egypt and her people. Never expecting more, he always knew where his duties lie. Here, he stood alone in a room not of his own when the woman across the hall made his blood boil from desire and his body hard from wanting her.
Removing the armbands, wrist bands, and the pleated shoulder shawl, Setti glared at the lonely bed. Swearing under his breath, he whipped around and charged back to Kate's chambers, determined to end the ache for her once and for all.
Kate finished undressing and donned a sinfully designed black nightgown, the material delicately woven with shimmering threads of greens and gold. Depressed, she sat at the dressing table. Resigned to the fact she was destined to be alone, she removed the clasps from her hair and began brushing the long length to sooth her troubled thoughts. Setti burst in her chamber. Stunned by his abrupt entrance, believing there was trouble, she rose to her feet until the look of raw desire burning in his eyes gave her pause.
"Woman, we need to talk!” Setti growled as he approached, skidding to a halt. His hungry gaze drank in the enticing gown she wore. The delicate material clung to taunt breasts, the shadow of her ripe curves made his mouth go dry. Viewing the soft nest of curls at the apex of her smooth, long legs fueled his lust to proportions far beyond his control.
About to retort how she hated being called ‘woman', Kate kept silent, following his hot gaze wandering over her body. In a bright, startling instant, Kate realized Setti truly wanted her! She couldn't move or speak, transfixed by his growing erection, swelling under the white loincloth he wore.
"Setti?” Her voice sounded as if it belonged to another. Uncertain what to do, she knew he could never love her, not with her being a foreigner and a woman from the future. Was lust enough for her?
He took the final step separating them. His hand slowly rose to cup her cheek. The rough pad of his thumb gently caressed the fullness of her bottom lip. Groaning, he yanked her to him, capturing those soft, pink lips, demanding she answer his need.
And she did. God, help her, she answered with all her heart.
Aroused beyond all rational thought, Kate clung to his strength, her knees weak as his tongue probed, demanding access. Opening her mouth slightly, he took advantage as his hands glided down her back, cupping her rounded bottom, dragging her hard against his arousal. Her hands moved of their own free will along his broad back, delighted by the feel of his hot skin under her wandering exploration. Moaning from the pleasure of finally touching him without restraint, she gasped, dragging in
precious air as his firm lips curved along the column of her throat. His rough textured tongue swept along her scented skin, drawing her pleasure to all new heights.
When he lifted his head, Setti looked deep into her wide, stormy eyes. His own were dark and fierce. When she closed them, Setti felt he had overstepped his bounds. “Kate, I will leave, if it is what you wish. Do you want me to go?” His voice rough and gravelly, he made it known he would leave her alone, if she had second thoughts and wished not to continue.
Her eyes flew open at his words. Kate stared at him in disbelief. She couldn't believe her ears. Tears glistened in her eyes as she stepped out of his slackening embrace. On his extraordinarily handsome features, he wore a look of absolute defeat, and it near broke her heart. Untying the loose knot of the sash binding the beautiful gown she wore, Kate shrugged her shoulders and the garment floated down to floor.
His eyes widened with renewed hope, nostrils flaring as she stood in all her naked glory before him, offering herself to him. “You honor me with your beauty,” Setti whispered softly as he untied the beaded belt and dropped it before untying the loincloth, letting the garment fall from around his narrow hips to the ground.
"Make love to me?” Kate begged, reeling from the sweet ache of needing him to touch her more. Setti's head lowered toward hers, his mouth claimed hers in a soft, slow, heady kiss.
Placing his hands along the curves of her hips, nearly collapsing from the heavenly touch of her satiny soft skin, he gently urged her slowly back toward the awaiting bed, his body enormous compared to hers. When the back of her legs bumped against the soft mattress, his right hand slid down her rounded hip, over a lightly muscled thigh to the back of her knee, bringing her leg up along his. Shivering at the intimate feel of the soft curls between her legs brushing against his leg, Setti tensed, holding back the raging desire, keeping a firm control over his arousal. Lifting up her body up effortlessly, he groaned out loud when his rod pressed intimately along her stomach, the sensitive skin surrounding his staff on fire from the feel of her soft, silky skin.
Kate felt him lift her off the ground. Her head fell back as his warm mouth trailed the delicate line of her collarbone, downward to a taunt, ripe nipple. She trembled at the feel of his long, stiff erection pressing intimately between her legs as he placed one knee then the other on the bed. Laying her on the soft mattress, he watched her in total fascination as she did him. When he leaned down, his tongue rolled over a pink nipple, licking the hard, pebbling flesh until she writhed in delicious torment. Her wandering hands glided up the solid wall of hard muscles along his broad back, across his stomach and wide, powerful chest. Trailing up his throat, her fingers lightly caressed the smooth skin of his bald head, drawing him closer, desperate for more of his touch, needing to feel him, all of him!
Setti leisurely worked his way down her stomach, running his tongue over her ribs, belly button as his fingers trailed along her willing, hot, quivering flesh. Sweat beaded along his forehead as he exercised an iron fist over the sweltering craving to drive his throbbing staff deep inside her body. Nearing the epitome of what made her all woman, he paused, breathing in the heady, musky scent of her obvious readiness. Drawing her knees upward, he urged her legs apart and slid his body further down. His mouth hovered over her most intimate being, his warm breath brushing against the sensitive folds of the fleshy petals beckoning him to explore further.
She couldn't breathe! Her whole body blazed out of control when Setti blew softly against the sensitive center between her legs, making her whimper in agonizing anticipation. The first touch of his hot tongue made her jump, unable to move as his big hands held her hips firmly captive, allowing him to do whatever he wanted to her. Never in her life had she felt such rapture as he did things to her she never knew could be done. When he slipped his tongue deep inside her, she gasped, cradling his head as Setti made love to her. Her hips rose of their own accord, matching the steady thrusts. Frustrated, she needed more. And he knew it.
Long, lean fingers caressed the smooth lines on her inner thigh, tracing intimate, sensual circles, working their way toward where his mouth continued on torturing her. The heady strokes of his tongue were countered by the invasion of his index finger, working simultaneously, building the blinding inferno to an all new height. Kate's head tossed restlessly as she rode the thrusts of his tongue matched with the increasing pressure of his finger. At last, she shattered, curling to him, crying out with the triumph of her release. He continued to hold her body tight to his greedy mouth as he drank of her release. When she was more peaceful, Setti rose on his elbows and drew himself upward, his body heavy with a desperate need to release his pent up yearnings. He forced his burning flesh to rest beside hers as she stared in absolute wonder up at him.
Tenderly, he traced the soft lines of her cheekbones and rose above her, spreading her legs apart with a nudge of his knee. Taking his hard erection in hand, he positioned the smooth tip at the entrance of her wet, hot flesh. “Kate, open your eyes,” he ordered softly, his chest heaved from the incredible effort not to ram inside her. “I want to see your eyes when I claim you."
Panting hard, she did as he ordered, her hands resting on his powerful forearms, her knees gliding up his legs. “Take me, Setti!” Kate nearly wept, so strong the emotions welled inside her, loving Setti more with every breath she drew in.
In one, smooth, bold stroke, he buried himself deep in her, amazed her body accepted his long length without protest. Kate's hips rose sharply, demanding he thrust harder. Curling his arms under her shoulders, he drew her nearer, groaning as her soft breasts crushed against his unyielding chest. Thrusting harder, deeper, friction quickly built as they moved as one. Her hips lifted to meet each of his thrusts, taking him more inside her, wrapping around him in hot, tight flesh, holding his hostage. When the walls of her sex tightened unbearably around him, he held nothing back, thrilled when she cried out as she climaxed. Her long nails clawed at his taunt buttocks, pulling him deeper inside her. One final, hard thrust and he stayed, shouting, shuddering as he exploded inside her heat.
Exhausted, the shattered lovers lay entwined, breathing hard at what they shared. Muscles twitching from the unearthly explosion of their bodies, Setti found he could not move. Kate did not seem to mind as she nuzzled his throat, a smile of pure satisfaction made her sweaty features glow in the oil lamps’ pale light. Rising on his elbows, he stared in awe at the incredible woman beneath him.
"Kate?” Setti knew he dare not say the words he longed to speak. He had made his decision, and it was not fair to ask Kate to share a life with him when he would never die, but eventually she would someday.
Not wanting to talk about it, she gently shoved at his broad shoulders. “You're heavy,” she said with a sad smile, knowing a future with Setti, a man destined to become Pharaoh, impossible for a small town girl from Montana.
Smiling down at her, Setti placed a soft, tender kiss on her swollen lips before lifting his greater weight off her, shifting to his side to watch the varied emotions flitting along her expressive features. “Are you—feeling well?” he asked.
A husky, delighted laugh escaped her as she shifted to her side to better view his stark beauty better. Tracing the hard lines of his face, she leaned upward to place a kiss on his firm mouth. “I have never felt better. You?"
A grin of pure male arrogance widened, exposing white, perfect teeth. “Woman, you are welcome."
Rolling her eyes at the way he called her ‘woman', she snuggled closer to his big body, enjoying the moment as his powerful arms wrapped around her, drawing her tight against the unyielding wall of his chest. “Will you stay with me tonight?” Kate asked softly, half-afraid he might say no.
Rubbing his cheek against the silky top of her head, savoring the feel of her in his arms, his heart skipped a beat at the misery in her trembling voice as she tried to be brave. “Yes,” he replied just as softly. They both knew it would only make parting more difficult, but at the present,
it no longer mattered. All that mattered now was to share every precious moment together, holding one another until it was time for her to go home.
She knew it, too, and like Setti, she didn't care. Determined, she swore to cherish every second she had with him, even with the sure knowledge she was going home soon.
Setti tried to sleep but to no avail. Checking to make sure Kate slept soundly, he slowly shifted away from her and rose off the bed. Gathering the discarded loincloth, he wrapped the garment around his waist and tied it firmly. Glancing at her sleeping features one last time, Setti felt his heart clench. The sheer beauty of how peaceful she looked as she lay in quiet repose, her long, red hair tousled along the pillows sent his heart thundering in his chest. Feeling Kate a gift sent from Ra rather than a test, Setti knew now the great Sun God had used her to aid him during his toughest trials. Knowing deep in his soul, he would never forget her determination or her passionate spirit. Quietly leaving the chamber, Setti decided he needed to take a long walk. Perhaps it was time to confront old, painful memories.
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Chapter Twenty Two
Stretching, Kate yawned, her hand sought out Setti. When her fingers found warm, firm flesh, Kate smiled and opened her eyes. Horror surged through her as she met those belonging to a man resembling a walking skeleton. She opened her mouth to scream, silenced by a scarf pressed against her mouth. Struggling to free her arms from the strong hands suddenly holding her, she abruptly stopped. The evil-looking man grinned and leaned forward until they almost touched.
"Dear Kate, I am Inarus, High Priest of the Shedty. If you wish to live, I suggest you remain quiet.” Rising from the bed, he motioned for one of his men to grab her.
Dragged off the bed by a dark robed man, Kate tried to cover her nakedness until a nearby man tossed her a simple, black shift, grinning unabashed that she was forced to dress in front of them. Glaring at the men staring at her, she hurried, knowing if she did not the Shedty would drag her bare-naked along with them. Frantic, she searched around for her knapsack, despairing when one of Inarus’ men handed it over to the High Priest. Inarus opened it and grinned triumphantly at what he found inside.
