Soul Reborn (Key to the Cursed Book 1)

by Jean Murray

  With each call of his name from her lips Asar penetrated her deeper and harder than the last, filling her entirely. One of his hands wrapped around her waist, while the other rubbed and pinched her nipples. He growled deep in his chest when she pushed back against him, demanding more of him.

  “I need to see you,” Asar rasped against her ear. He twisted her body in his arms, and quickly pinned her against the hard wall.

  Breathless and flush, she wrapped her legs up around his hips. “Don’t stop.”

  He let out a low rumble as he complied with her wishes. His lips smashed against hers forcing his tongue into her mouth. Her cries of pleasure shook him entirely. This was the side of him he had been sure she would reject. He was rough and demanding, slamming her with his needs. Instead of pushing away from the pain of his thrusts, Lilly opened herself to him, welcomed him in with the same desire.

  She raked her nails down his back opening his flesh.

  He hissed. “That’s my girl.”

  Movement out of the corner of his drew his attention to the street, where a small audience of warriors gathered to watch. He growled, allowing the tips of his fangs to show just below the line of his lips, a warning to the crowd. Bomani nodded his head and moved the group on.

  Asar turned back to Lilly, who had craned her neck and pulled her hair away from her damp skin. It was an invitation he could not refuse. He felt her groan of pleasure when his fangs pierced her soft skin. He broke away from her neck and latched onto her mouth. Her skin healed in an instant.

  “Taste me. Feed from me,” he demanded. Uncertainty flickered in her eyes. There was poison in her fangs, unlike his, but he had consumed enough of her blood to counteract any that may enter his body. “I want you to taste me as I cum inside you.”

  She closed her eyes and arched her back, forcing him deeper inside her. Her whole body quivered from overstimulation.

  “Feel me.” He grabbed tightly onto her, so she could not move, but experience him filling her to the hilt. She squeezed down on his cock with her strong muscles a second before her fangs flashed in the moonlight.

  He roared as the poison assaulted his system. Instead of weakening him the venom triggered a cataclysmic orgasm that shook the earth that surrounded them. Even the sky clashed in a symphony of thunder. She screamed against his skin as the blood flowed down her throat and into her system.

  He collapsed onto the ground, taking her with him. Her body trembled with each surge of his essence through her body.

  “You have destroyed me,” he murmured.

  “You? I won’t be able to walk for a month.” She smiled and swiped her finger against the puncture marks on his neck to seal them shut.

  Asar groaned. His muscles were locked in a state of painful contraction from the venom. “Give me a minute.” Much to his surprise, not only were his powers unaffected by the poison, his dark energy pulsed with renewed potency. She massaged his muscles until they released. In a flash, he held her to his chest in the warm water of the bath.

  Clutching her closely, he reveled in the sensation of life that rolled through his system. His entire body shuddered and his body temperature rose well beyond normal, flushing his cheeks with heat and giving his olive skin a pink hue. The pulse of his heartbeat pounded in his ears.

  Their union released his powers and created a quake beneath their feet, literally. Only the most powerful energy could manifest such a commanding reaction. No woman in his entire existence was able to do that to him. He could barely hold onto its destructive force.

  Feeling the potency of her power firsthand, he understood why the Snake god had fear in his eyes. No wonder the goddess wanted her. She would be an indestructible force if she ever took Lilly’s body and essence. He knew in that moment he would sacrifice everything to keep her safe. No army would keep her from him.

  She groaned. He had inadvertently constricted his arms so tight, she was having trouble breathing.

  “Sorry,” he said, loosening his grip. He lifted her palm and kissed its surface. He thought he saw a little heat come to her cheeks before she glanced away. She touched her fingertips to her mouth where her fangs had descended. A new change to her body she would have to get used to.

  Fear suddenly filled his chest. Did she regret her actions? Or his? He wanted to express how beautiful she was to him, and that she was the only one who satisfied his inner beast. He shifted her around so she straddled his hips. Rather than express in words what he felt for her, he kissed her gently on the lips. He pulled back and brushed the hair from her face so he could see her eyes. His kiss seemed to wipe away any insecurity she may have had. Her eyes were crystal clear.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. Holding her face in his hands, he brushed his thumbs across her cheeks. She nodded. “You are my world.” His voice strained with emotion.

  Her eyes softened to a cool sage with her smile. “And you, mine.”

  “I do not want to lose you. Despite how it appears, I do not want to control you, but I want you to be safe.” Asar looked away, trying to hide his growing concern. He had given Nehebkau his word not to speak of their discussion. Lilly would no doubt ask, and he would have to lie to her. “I will not stop you from retrieving your sister, but I must insist that you are protected.” He was not used to giving someone else control, but if he didn’t, he would lose her just by his ignorance. “Will you at least accept that requirement?”

  “I had already asked Bomani for personal security for myself, knowing you would insist on it.”

  “Well, I guess that is settled. Bomani is at your disposal. Seeing how you handled him on his turf, I am not needed. He should be ready within the hour for your departure. I assume you will brief him prior to leaving?”

  “You’re not coming with us?”

  “No, this is your mission. I have some business to attend to, but I will check in. Bomani will alert me if things turn sour. Unless, you need me to come?”

  “No, it’s not necessary.”

  Loud voices carried in from the next room. They both looked up.

  “Get out of my way!” Kit barged into the bathroom, but pulled up short when she saw them. “Ah, I just came to make sure you were okay.”

  "Clearly, she is," Asar said.

  She shrugged. “Sorry. Based on the little earthquake, I wasn’t sure if you were killing my sister or not. I could hear her screaming all the way back here.”

  Lilly’s face burned red. She tucked her head against Asar’s chest, just as Kamen entered the bathroom. “Kill me now,” she whispered.

  Asar rubbed her back. He was not embarrassed by their love making. In fact, he felt redeemed in some way. He winked at Lilly, then stood up and walked right out of the tub.

  Kit’s eyes gravitated down Asar’s torso. She gasped and spun around. “Holy shit!”

  Lilly laughed.

  Back still turned, Kit asked, “Asar, you don’t have a brother that’s single, do you?”

  He wrapped his robe around his wet skin and brought one over for Lilly. “Why, yes I do.” He glanced at his brother. He never fully explained their relationship to the women. Kamen scowled. “Would you like to meet him?”

  Kit cleared her voice. “Uh, definitely.”

  Asar smiled at Lilly. He knew she was enjoying every minute of the set up. “Let me introduce you to my brother, Kamen. Earthquakes are his specialty.”

  Kit’s expression twisted into a mix of curiosity, embarrassment and disgust. “Ah, hell!” Her face turned several shades of red. She grabbed Lilly by the arm and dragged her off. “They’re brothers?”

  Asar chuckled. “Sorry, I could not help myself. She embarrassed Lilly.”

  “Earthquakes are my specialty?" Kamen growled. "You are just setting me up for failure.”

  “Why? Are you reconsidering your feelings for Kit?”

  “Gods, no. I cannot stand her—why would I want to have sex with her?” Though Kamen sneered, he looked up to see where the women had disappeared to.

&n
bsp; Asar slapped his brother on the back. “You do not know what you are missing.”

  “Apparently. You shook the whole damned island.”

  Kamen's words brought Asar back to the present. There were a few things he needed to discuss with his brother before the women returned with Kendra. It would affect their entire existence.

  CHAPTER twenty-nine

  Lilly presented her mission plan to Bomani, a commander with close to five millenniums of experience. She had a meager five years under her belt. Not to mention, he and several of the warriors in attendance had witnessed her and Asar’s live sex session in the middle of the village. She bit at the edge of her nail and waited. Bomani stared at the map spread out on his desk.

  He wore a sleeveless tunic that was a mix of leather and fabric, and weathered leather pants. The tunic fit snuggly against the breath of his chest, but left his arms exposed. She examined his tattoos a little closer. The pattern was even more intricate than her original impression in the dark warrior hall.

  Despite her attempts to hide her interest, he caught her inspection. Heat filled her cheeks. “Sorry. They’re beautiful.”

  His eyes brightened. “No problem. I imagine it is unusual for a human to see.”

  “A little. Did it hurt much?”

  “A little.”

  She judged that as the biggest understatement ever, considering the extent and depth of some of the marks. “May I ask why?”

  He narrowed his eyes. She thought for sure he would say no.

  His posture relaxed and he leaned against the desk. “We are all born from the same primordial waters. As you may have noticed we look very similar to each other in size, skin tone, height. We do have our own distinguishing features, but the greatest difference comes on the inside.” He tapped lightly on his chest. “The scarifications are a ritual from the time of our birth. A rite of passage, as you will, for those with the fortitude to withstand the rigors of battle. Only the strong rise to the top. Not unlike the serpent that graces your back.”

  She shook her head, not willing to make that comparison. What she had undergone in her conversion was nothing compared to his. “Thank you, but I can’t accept your compliment.”

  The dark eddy of energy pushed out from his body, not dissimilar to when Asar moods changed suddenly. Despite his casual posture, darkness shifted behind his golden eyes and the muscle ticked in his jaw. “Humility is a weakness that has no place among the world of gods. A fact you should remember.”

  He stood and turned his hulking body towards her. “You are every bit as powerful and deserving as them.” He stepped forward heavily and stared her straight in the eyes. “Human or not. They will show you no leniency for that fact.”

  Lilly stood stock still. His words felt laden with a history she could only begin to imagine. He wore the face of the dangerous warrior hidden beneath his almost friendly demeanor. It was no coincidence every inch of his body displayed his provincial right to be their leader.

  He took another heavy step to her right and stepped behind her. She could feel the heat of his body against her back. His breath hit her ear. “Bury your weaknesses and insecurity in a place they cannot be found. You are the alpha. Believe, and you will be victorious.”

  The dark energy retracted suddenly taking her breath with it. Bomani walked around the other edge of the table and sat down on the corner. He crossed his arms over his chest and smiled.

  Her stunned expression made his smile broaden. He shrugged. “It’s the same speech Asar gave me the day I was commissioned.” His smile evaporated and his eyes darkened again. “We understand each other, right?”

  His bad ass leadership course 101 had come in loud and clear. “Yes, thank you.” She smiled and focused back on the map. “The entry points won’t be established until we’re on site. Were you able to get what I asked?”

  He walked toward the door and opened it for her. “Ten revens as ordered.”

  On the training ground, the warriors stood in a circle to create a make shift arena. They stared and whispered as she approached. Based on their casual stance and apathetic looks, she did not have their respect.

  Yet.

  Kit waited outside the circle with Kamen, who seemed overly agitated.

  Lilly turned to Bomani. “Your warriors need to understand the threat revens pose to humans. Control them until Kit and I get setup inside.”

  “Yes, Madame.” He bowed and barked out her orders.

  The warriors parted giving her ample room to enter, but when Kit walked forward the warriors tightened their ranks. Loving the attention, her sister ensured she touched every one of them when she passed through, leaving glowing gold eyes and satisfied smiles in her wake. The only one not smiling was Kamen.

  Lilly signaled Bomani to release the revens from his control. Shifting her stance, she waited. It took less than a few seconds for the revens to orient to their heat signatures. All red eyes turned on the two women. The revens rushed her and Kit with mouths gaping wide.

  She launched herself first. With four revens decapitated, Lilly kicked two of the headless revens into the others. The undead hit the ground in a massive heap of rotting flesh, from which she quickly cut their throats and shredded their heart muscles.

  Kit terminated the remaining three, and speared the last through the heart, sparing it for the next demonstration.

  Lilly turned to Bomani and addressed the warriors. “They are attracted to heat.” She rubbed her hands together creating friction between her palms. In front of the reven Kit had restrained, she waved her hand in front of its face. Its red eyes immediately shifted to follow her palm.

  “Your bodies will be cold in the human world. They will pay you no mind, unless the goddess directs them to attack. They eat human flesh. Their hunger is insatiable. The Nehebkau are immune to their bites, but are not immune to them chowing down.”

  Lilly walked over to one of the blinking heads. She picked it up with what was left of its hair. “The body can be dismembered, but it will retain the curse until the soul is destroyed. The heart requires more than just piercing, as Kit is demonstrating.”

  Bomani stepped forward and cut into the chest of the reven whose head Lilly was holding. Only when he was finished did the eyes close. He turned to Lilly. “Why behead them? Why not just go in for the kill shot?”

  “There are two purposes. If you remove the head, the body becomes disoriented and is unable to direct itself. It buys time when you have a large swarm. Some you can go right for the heart, but you need to remove the head. There still is a chance it can survive and bite someone. The bodies and parts need to be incinerated.”

  Lilly looked around for questions, but all the golden brown eyes were locked on Kit. “Hey!” Lilly barked. “Eyes over here.”

  Irritated with their complacency, she grabbed a reven’s head by the hair and shoved it in the closest warrior’s face. He retracted in disgust.

  “This is not a joke or an opportunity to grope my sister with your eyes. The revens are decimating the human population. These—” She gestured to the heap of revens’ bodies. “—are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. Families.”

  With the reven’s head raised in the air she walked the edge of the circle. “My youngest sister’s life hinges on your success. Failure will have consequences.” She left the last statement open for interpretation. “Do we understand each other?”

  All warriors stood at attention with their fists clenched, muscled arms at an angle and their legs spread a foot apart. Eyes front. And based on the stressed look on their faces, she could only assume that they didn’t want to return to the primordial soup from which they came. Bomani stood in front of the sea of black warriors in the same stiff posture. His black eyes reflected pride and satisfaction.

  “Yes, Madame,” he shouted, echoed by the rest of the group.

  Lilly would have to thank the commander later. “Good, let’s continue.” She nodded to her sister. Kit whipped out the sword, flicking it when i
t exited the heart. Kit swung her blade in an arc and severed the head.

  “We’re ready,” Lilly said, turning to Bomani. “The safe house is in California at the Port of Los Angeles. Take us there?”

  He nodded and transported the group to the port warehouse. The team of twenty warriors materialized from the darkness. Their dark bodies and eyes were perfect camouflage. Like a tiger’s stripes, their scarification tattoos blended the warriors’ hulking frames into the shadows.

  Bomani’s ebony skin fluctuated in color, depending on what backdrop he was against. Only his golden predatory eyes shown in the darkness.

  The shipyard hummed steadily in the distance. Lilly chose a quieter warehouse in the shipyard to acclimate the dark warriors. Large, unmanned cranes moved tractor trailer loads to and from the ships. The shock on their faces reflected the changes that had taken place since their last visit to the human world.

  Bomani settled in next to Lilly. Similar to Asar, his body was cold in this realm and sent a chill down Lilly’s arm. “Kit and I will go in first," she told him. "The warriors are to remain unseen as much as possible. We need to determine if Mother’s entourage is still here. They may have moved onto another safe house already.”

  Bomani nodded and signaled the team. Their shapes evaporated into the shadows like ghosts. A dark energy vacillated in the night air— the only evidence of their presence.

  Kit smiled. “Wish I could do that. It would drive the revens crazy.”

  Lilly clutched her sword. Heat rushed through her body, and power flooded her muscles. She adjusted her belt, as she always did before the hunt, and looked at Kit’s glowing blue eyes. “Let’s get our sister back.”

  CHAPTER thirty

  Asar lead Inpu, Nebt and Kamen down the long corridor to the secret chamber. Several members of the council Nehebkau felt trustworthy enough to share the information about the Carrigan sisters had gathered to meet with him. The two Pantheons had not met since the fall of the Ancient Egyptian Empire and subsequent loss of a three thousand year old religion.