by Zoe Forward
“Girl stuff.” Kira smiled. “We’re good, right?”
“Yeah.” He leaned in and kissed her.
As her hand skimmed his abdomen, she detected fine muscle tremoring. She pulled out of his kiss and whispered, “Do you tremble for all your women?”
“Only you.”
“And there will be only me.”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Oh, my God, you’re going to drive me crazy, aren’t you?”
“You better believe it, sweetheart.” His teasing morphed to serious. My heart and soul belong only to you. Never doubt it.
She smiled.
Before she could reply Ashor closed his eyes and stepped away from Kira, holding his hand up in deep concentration.
“Shit, already?” Ethan grumbled.
Javen removed the sword of Neith, which had not been present before the goddess’s arrival, but now rested on the far wall. He pulled it from its scabbard and immediately dropped it. The sword returned to its scabbard of its own accord. “Burned me. Wonder who can work it?” He tossed it to Nate. “Give it a try, Sparky, and see if it agrees with you.”
Nate pulled the sword from its scabbard. “Ouch! Burned me too.” He shrugged. “Where are we going?”
“England. It’s an old daemon. This is probably a random summoning, at least I hope it has nothing to do with Hashishins. Last thing we want is for them to realize European daemons are the top dwellers of the bastard pyramid.” Ashor looked to Kira apologetically. “I’m sorry, but we can’t linger.”
“You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Besides, on the flight to England, we can nail down the details of this akhrian job.” She scanned the warriors. “So none of your previous healers had any medical training?”
Javen shook his head. Several of the guys shot her nervous glares.
“I figure we can plan out a rotating schedule for monthly exams. What? You guys don’t like doctors or something?”
Ashor laughed. “I think you just discovered the only thing that scares them.”
“Tough.” She marched ahead of them into the dark labyrinth. And halted. “Is someone going to show me the way out?”
Ashor belly laughed at the gazes of frozen horror fixed on her back. “You guys chose her. What’d you think a modern doctor would be like?”
“She better not try sticking me with needles,” V growled.
“I’m not doing any shrink therapy shit,” Javen declared.
“Oh, hell, no. I’m not sitting in a chair circle talking about feelings,” Christian said.
“You got something to hide?” Ethan asked with a smirk.
“Fuck off. At least I’m not repressed.”
“Enough,” Ashor ordered. “We’ve got a plane to catch.”
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Akhrian: A human who is gifted with innate preternatural healing power chosen to serve as doctor to the Scimitar magi. This sacred healer also serves a crucial role in identifying reincarnated magi.
Bas kadin: Highest ranking female associated with Hashishins’ harem.
Daemon: The cursed spirit of a human who practiced dark magik while alive and who is denied entry into heaven and hell, but left to wander forever in purgatory.
Kem-seki: Pronounced kim-skee. An id-based darkness that slowly consumes a magus’ mind; the result of exposure to daemons who emit a corrosive soul evil.
Order of Assassins: Secretive Asian cult, founded in the early eleventh century in Persia. The sect is divided into several groups, including the Dais (Initiated), Refiks (Students), and Fedavis (Devoted Ones). The word assassin comes from their nickname, Hashishin (hashish-eaters), which originates from the rumored custom these cultists had of using drugs before their killings.
Scimitar magus: Highly trained magus warrior who protects the world against daemons. Each possesses one distinct supernatural power and enhanced mental acuity, as well as rapid healing ability.
Seichim: Pronounced say-keym. A mystical energy endowed to each magi that enhances a warrior’s natural physical and mental abilities to attain greater precision. With this energy, the magi can sense the living energies around him and move faster and stronger than any human.
Senariai: Pronounced: see-nary-eye. The woman spiritually bonded and destined to one magus.
About the author
Zoe Forward lives in the south with her supportive family and an assortment of pets. She has a special love for archaeology, especially anything Egyptian. A deep part of her wishes she had a career that would have her at a dig site in a sandy country. But she is a small animal veterinarian, caring for everything from chinchillas to dogs...and there was even one hermit crab in there.
Visit her website at http://www.zoeforward.com
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