by Diana Kirk
"It's a feeling. That's all I can say. I don't know."
Tarik placed his arm around her. "In the days following Pharaoh's visit, I will take you there."
Hope and sadness crowded her heart. Alex leaned her head against his chest. "You will?"
"I swear it."
For a few moments they stood silent. She could feel the beating of his heart against her cheek. "I'll never forget this."
"Nor will I." Tarik set her away from him, turned and strode back down the hall without saying another word.
Alex stared after him. Did pain briefly darken his gaze? Or was he merely reacting to the anguish in her eyes? Their time together grew shorter with each passing second. How could she go back without a moment's thought as to what she left behind?
Tarik had given new meaning to her life. Why couldn't she stay? She'd been married here. And for whatever it was worth, she'd made a life of sorts.
She followed him down the hallway toward the courtyard. Questions and arguments swirled in her mind. What about her father? His heart? She was all he had and he was probably already crazed with worry over what had happened to her. And what about her training and the lives she was destined save in her own world?
And yet, what of those lives she could save right here? Did they matter any less? So far, helping Tarik with the daily rounds of patients gave her much greater fulfillment than anything she'd experienced back home in Chicago.
True, Tarik and the Egyptians would already be long dead and buried in her time. The hallway opened onto a garden no longer sheltered by moonlight magic and for a brief moment the brilliance of the sun blinded her.
"Tarik? Tarik. Wait for--"
"Hail, Lady Alex." Kensu strode forward and bowed. "Your hospitality toward Pharaoh and his court is greatly appreciated."
Shading her eyes, she glanced out at the entourage that filled her courtyard. Her courtyard? She placed her hand over her aching heart. Why did leaving have to hurt so?
"Thanks, Kensu."
Mentuhotep's brilliant imperial form stepped from the litter and, smiling, he folded his arms high across his chest. "I see a month alone with your husband has blushed your cheeks. I wonder if it has swollen your belly, also?"
"I--ah...I--" His words stunned her. She hadn't even thought of being pregnant. Actually, in the last month since they'd been married, she hadn't had to worry about that side effect. But what if that one moonlit night in the garden had created a new life?
"Tarik, your wife is shy. Or is this merely the effect you have on women?"
Mentuhotep laughed and slapped her husband on the back. "Come, bring Tem to a room that she may rest. The trip has been hard on her. Tarik, you and Alex must see to her immediately."
Tarik nodded and grasped Alex's hand. Her heart stilled in her chest. A child. Tarik's child. What if she was pregnant after all?
How could she leave the father of her child in the past? Alone.
"Come, Alex." Tarik's frown changed into a quizzical look as if he thought she might faint. "Are you well?" he whispered.
She nodded.
"We must attend to the Queen."
She nodded again, and followed him toward Tem's room. The Queen had been carried in and was now settled in a large bed. All decked out in sheer golden linens and plaited gleaming braids, she looked lovely, dressed for a seduction, but she certainly didn't appear sick.
Although Tem's head lolled weakly against the headrest, there was a gleam in her eye when she saw Tarik that made Alex's blood run cold.
Alex would bet that evil woman hadn't had a sick day in her life.
"Ah, Tarik, my savior," Tem said softly. "I long for your potions and elixir of life."
Tarik gazed down at her in obvious concern. Typically male, he hadn't noticed her deceptive gaze.
"Alex, would you bring the potions we prepared last evening?"
He talked absently to her, as though she was nothing more than an assistant, a burden, and most certainly not a wife. Not the one he'd said he respected.
Maybe that's all she was to him, the wife, the old lady, the old ball and chain, and Tem reigned in his mind as a beautiful seductress.
Alex strode out of the room. Jealous anger pounded at her temples, filling her with a desire to pour everything down the drain and put water in its place. If Tem recovered miraculously, then she'd be proven right. But if she was wrong?
How could she even think of doing such a thing? It contradicted everything she'd been taught as a physician, and for what? Mindless jealously? Over a man? But Tarik wasn't just any man, he was her husband.
What had happened to her these past weeks? Was she reverting, changing, evolving into something she'd fought against all her life?
Alex shook her head. No, she wasn't rational, anymore. Was she so utterly and completely in love that she couldn't be responsible for her actions?
She picked up the container they had worked so long and hard to fill and poured a measure of its contents into a goblet. Whatever happened between her and Tarik, she'd never go against her oath of Hippocrates. She had to come to her senses. If Tarik chose to dally with the queen, it would make it all that much easier to leave.
Alex hurried back down the hallway and entered Tem's room. Tarik was bent over the queen so far that Alex thought he might be listening to her heart. Then she saw Tem's arm around his neck. My god! They were kissing.
Alex tried to catch the falling goblet, but it was too late. Tarik reared up, breaking Tem's hold, and whirled around. "Alex!"
"There's your elixir," she said, pointing to the floor. Alex whirled and raced down the hallway toward her chamber. The room she shared with Tarik. She didn't even have a place for herself. And to think she questioned going back home because of some great love for this two-timing antique!
She opened the door and flung herself across the bed. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and her heart barely beat at all.
"I hate you," she said to no one.
The door opened and closed with a slam. "Alex."
"Go away."
"What is wrong?" He strode over to the bed and sat down beside her.
She shrugged away. "I want to be left alone."
He placed his hand on her back. "We must still attend to Tem."
She lifted her head and glared into his eyes. "You do it. You seemed to be getting along fine without me."
"Getting along?" Understanding glimmered in his eyes and he smiled. "You mean with Tem?"
"Go ahead and smile. If she brings you that much pleasure, why aren't you with her?" Alex buried her face into the linen.
"You think I care for Tem?"
His voice had changed. No doubt thoughts of that woman filled him with desire.
"Well you weren't exactly fighting with her."
"Alex." He tugged at her shoulder. "Look at me."
"No." She pulled away.
"I care not for Tem. She does that every time I see her as physician. It means nothing. Besides, why would you care, unless you loved me?"
Alex sat up and faced him. "Love you? I can't stand you."
"You lie." Tarik smiled. "I can see it in your eyes."
"You see nothing but your own foolish pride. I'm going to the tomb, now."
"Now."
"I can't wait any longer." She bounded off the bed, stalked across the room, and rummaged through her clothing chests.
"What are you doing?"
She turned and planted her hands on her hips. "Where are my clothes? I'm not taking anything back with me."
"I had them burned."
"Burned?" This was too much. She'd been mistaken all along. He'd treated her like nothing more than a slave. Destroyed the evidence that she'd come from the future. He could have her put away for being insane. Then what would she do? "How dare you? How could you?"
He wrapped his arms around her. His touch felt so good, yet angered her. "Stop it."
He tightened his grip. "I will not stop until you hear my words."
&
nbsp; She stilled in his arms. " Hurry up, I'm leaving."
He circled her with his arms and glared down at her. Sparks of real anger flashed in his onyx eyes and unease danced along Alex's spine.
"That woman, Tem, means nothing to me except that she is the mother of Pharaoh's son who is destined to be god and ruler of Egypt." He shrugged. "With all your knowledge can you not understand what that means?"
"Let me go." She struggled against his grip, but he held firm.
"You must know what it is I feel for you."
"I don't know anything."
"Then let me tell you."
"Save it, Pal, I don't want to hear it."
His grip tightened. "Wife, you are my love from a distant time. You have been sent to me by the goddess Isis as an answer to my prayers."
"Isis can go to--"
"Silence," he hissed between clenched teeth. His eyes gleamed dark and dangerous. She glared at him with all the defiance she could muster.
""Listen to me. Each night since my birth I have said prayers of life and procreation to Isis. She did not allow that I could ever love another."
"Tarik, I--"
His grip tightened. "She brought you to me to heal my pain of loneliness and join our souls as no other can."
"My soul is just fine by itself, thank you."
"Do you not understand, you foolish, stubborn woman? My heart is yours in this time and always. I love you."
She pushed against him. "And I love you, too."
He stilled and stared into her eyes. "Do you wife?"
Her breath caught. Her answer barely a whisper, "Yes. I love you."
His lips crushed hers and the room spun in a vortex of deep emotion. With strident urgency he pulled her dress from her shoulders and plundered her breasts with his lips. She tore his kilt from him, releasing the hardness she longed for.
A heated, glistening tangle of arms and legs, they fell atop the bed. She pulled him deep inside her and gasped at the full, hard length of him. Had she ever been so complete, so whole, so perfectly in tune to her own needs and those of the man she loved? And she did love him. Now and forever.
She arched her back, matching his thrusts, his desire, and his passion with hers. Their ragged gasps became as one and their bodies danced to an ancient rhythm born of love, until he strained above her and she cried out his name.
Once their breathing had returned to normal, Tarik gathered her in his arms and she lay against the hard planes of his chest listening to the beating of his heart in sync with hers. They had finally become one as husband and wife, body and soul, mind and heart. Who knew how long they had together? Did anyone, really?
If their time together was only to be a brief encounter, then she could live or die content with the knowledge of their love. They were now truly united and no force on earth could pull them apart.
Except time.
Chapter Twelve
TEM FANNED her pleated gown over her outstretched legs, folded her hands neatly in her lap, and waited for Tarik's return. Surely that obstinate Alex had not caused his delay. She was nothing to him, really. Marriage had been forced upon him by Pharaoh's vindictiveness. Mentu was so bent on thwarting his own wife, he would force a loveless marriage on his friend and physician. What he had done was grave and foolish. She would somehow repay him with equal ferocity. But as long as Alex lived, Mentu would not allow Tem's interference in their union, and Tem could not continue feigning illness each time she wanted to see the man she desired above all others.
Her heart thrummed against her chest. She would deal with Tarik's white-skinned vermin in such a manner as not to bring suspicion upon herself. A neglected basket of poisonous snakes hastily hidden in the corner of a room. A statue of Tarik's beloved Isis toppling from it's stand. A poisoned drink too near his wife's lips. A kidnaping. Yes. There were many ways to accomplish her goal without drawing notice. She would placate her husband in such a way to cease his suspicion. Mentu could never blame Tem for an accident, a happenstance, an edict from the gods. Especially if she was back in Thebes.
Impatient for Tarik's return, Tem rose to her feet. A slight dizziness borne from too long a repose buckled her knees and she slumped back against the bed. Total inactivity had weakened her body. This was good. She would be able to play a convincing part under the scrutiny of Mentuhotep and her love.
"Tarik?" she called out softly, but only silence answered. She stood once again and took a few hesitant steps until her legs accepted her weight. Embarrassed anger flooded her. Not only had Tarik not responded, but he had left her to her own resources without so much as an afterthought. He had never before displayed such indifference to his Queen until he had wed Alex. What love-spells had this strange woman cast over him?
Tem stepped before the broken goblet of elixir and bent to examine the brown stain spreading across the floor. Alex had purposely dropped its contents and incited her husband to follow her. Tem would not rest until her rival spent the rest of eternity sleeping with Anubis in the land of the dead.
She kicked the empty goblet against the wall and a servant hurried in to attend to the mess.
"Do you wish anything, my Queen?"
The dark-skinned woman stood before her with properly bowed head, yet she bore a regal quality unlike any of her other slaves. Tem had seen her before. In Thebes, perhaps.
Of course. She was the woman who had created the stir when Tarik pulled her from the depths of the Nile and mouths of the crocodiles. Things only grew worse when Alex had saved her from the netherworld. Surely, this woman might provide some answers to unanswered questions.
"You are servant to the mistress of this house?"
"Yes," she said, eyes cast down. It was hard to tell if the woman's demeanor was in respect to the Queen or defiance at her intrusion into their household.
"What is your name?"
"Seta, my Queen." Her gaze met Tem's and, although it was so brief as to be unnoticed, an unmistakable flash of anger crossed her eyes. My Queen, indeed. It was as she thought. The slave bore the same disagreeable temperament as Alex.
"Seta, where is Lord Tarik?"
The slave's eyes widened, but she said nothing, shook her head, and stooped to retrieve the fallen goblet.
"Very well. Fetch Lord Kensu this instant."
Seta bowed and hurried out of the room.
Tem lounged back along the bed and smoothed her golden linens. She would have the head of that insolent servant along with her mistress's and perhaps even Tarik's, if he did not foreswear this idiotic infatuation.
Within minutes, Kensu's fist knocked against her door. "My Queen, I request permission--"
"Yes, yes, hurry, Kensu. Enter, before I waste away to nothingness."
He opened the door, struck his palm against his chest, and bowed in salute. From the rippling of muscles across his broad shoulders, it was obvious that he, too, was a fine specimen of manhood. Why had she not noticed before? An idea formed in her head so vile that if Mentu discovered her plan, he would execute her on the spot.
"Kensu, come here and sit by me." She leaned forward and patted the spot beside her. Smiling hesitantly, he stepped toward her and knelt at her feet. He lifted the hem of her skirt to his lips in a final tribute.
"You wish to see me?"
"Ah, my most favored Kensu, you are a loyal and respected Vizier of my husband's armies, are you not?" She stroked his arm.
"Yes, my Queen." The color in his cheeks darkened. "I also owe allegiance to you as the king's wife and mother of the future of Egypt. What is it you wish of me?"
"I understand you are to inspect the borders between the upper and lower kingdoms," she said, and lowered her gaze beneath her dark lashes.
"Yes." A single muscle ticked in his jaw. "The Herakleopolis would overrun our true Pharaoh's lands. We search the borders for infiltration and signs of hostile activity. It was but only a few years ago that we took Abydos back from their heathen rule."
"When do you do this inspection?"
She trailed her hand along his arm and his sinew rippled in the wake of her touch.
"In the morning." Questions filled his ebony gaze, but he said nothing. Good. She didn't want to answer any of his foolish thoughts. She only wanted him to do her bidding.
"Then, there is tonight." She lounged back on the pillows and tilted her head to the side.
"What is it, my Lady Queen?" The color in his cheeks traveled down his neck. "Are you in need of your physician? Shall I fetch Lord Tarik?"
"Nay, brave Kensu. He is indisposed. I would ask you to go to the camp of my army and bring my generals here so that I may counsel with them regarding my immediate return to Thebes."
She leaned forward and slipped her arms around his neck. He stiffened and she massaged his taut muscles. "How tight you are. You seem in need of comfort."
"I--ah--"
"In return for this service I might even lay with you and show you the delights of noble passion in the ecstasies of royal release."
"But, my Queen--" A look of fear marked his face for he knew the consequences of refusing a royal command, even one so dangerous as a viper's sting. "The ka of the dead walk the earth at this moment. I cannot--"
"You would deny me when I am willing to pay so great a price?" Her voice grew bold. "I have but a handful of generals. Mentuhotep has hundreds. I fear the Herakleopolis are close to invasion. There is word from my spies that they would take me from my bed and keep me for ransom. For my safety, I must leave here at once. I fear--"
"Nay, Queen, they will not, for I shall guard you with my very life."
"Still..." She gazed at him through half closed eyes. "You would refuse me...this?"
Kensu's jaw clenched and unclenched. "You know I cannot refuse you, Queen of my heart and all of Egypt. And I willingly risk death for you." With great apparent effort, he pushed himself away and rose. "But this, I beg you, do not ask of me. The ka--"
"I do so ask it."
His shoulders drooped and he cast his eyes downward in surrender. "Within this night, I will bring your generals as you command."
He crossed his palm over his heart and exited.
Her spies had accomplished much more than what she had revealed to Kensu. The Herakleopolis would indeed invade Abydos and, in fact, this great house of Tarik.. But it would not be the Queen who would be taken back to Giza.
