Soul Unbound (Key to the Cursed Book 3) (18 page)

“Menthu will not stop until they are all dead. He
will sacrifice me to get Anuket back,” she said, looking at him with somber
eyes.

Bomani’s chest burned on the inside. Rage bubbled
to the surface at the thought of Siya being taken from him. Any sympathy Bomani
had for Menthu evaporated with his growing fury. “He cannot have you.” Bomani
grasped her arms and glowered down at her. “No one can.”

* * *

The ground rumbled beneath her feet. The trees
groaned under the gust of cold wind. As she had feared, the bond between them
was complete. Soon his unbeating heart would find rhythm when she was close.
Bomani’s gaze was penetratingly clear with threat, as were his powers. Once a
male was bound at this level, not unlike her father, there was no reasoning
with him. It was forbidden for any other male to touch her or risk severe and
violent consequences.

Not that she would allow it or let any female
touch him, but she should not think such thoughts. The bond must be broken. She
could not risk losing him as she did her father. “Bomani, we must dissolve
this. Do you not see?”

“I do see. Even if we recover the book. I am not
letting this bond go.”

“What? No,” she gasped. “Did you not hear what
happened to my parents? You will suffer the same fate as my father.”

“I am not your father and you are not your
mother.”

“I am sure they thought the same, but it did not
work.” She shoved at him, but he refused to let go. His dark energy pelted her
like a summer rainstorm.

“Look me in the eye and tell me you do not want
this.” He traced his fingers over the brand on her chest. It warmed at his
touch.

She stared at him, intent on lying, but the words
would not come. “The Council will not permit it.”

“You do not deny it then.”

“If I did, would you break it?”

“No.”

“Even when your soul is at stake.” She glared at
him.

“My soul is fine. It is yours I am concerned
about. And as for the Council, I do not live by their laws.”

“Whose laws do you live by? You are only here
because of Bast’s tolerance and her need for information. Do not mistake your
place here in this world, Bomani. The Council will dictate where this goes.”

Bomani’s eyes darkened, the spell of the temple
doing little to cool the tension between them. “We will find a way.”

His words brought tears to her eyes. Five thousand
years after the scarab was burned into her flesh, she had yet to find a way.
“Words of a fool,” she said, shaking her head.

Cold waves rippled out and embraced her. “I am a
fool of many things, but I will not lose you.”

“
Isis
, Bomani. We barely know each other.
We made a mistake. We were never meant to be together.”

“This mark says otherwise. You need me.”

“No, your Pantheon needs you.” She broke his grasp
and back peddled along the orchard’s path.

“Damn it, stop pushing me away.” Bomani pursued
her, giving her no means of escape.

“You have not asked me my crime,” she said, desperate
to break his will.

“The answer will not sway me.”

She stared at him and memorized his face, knowing
it would be the last time she would see him.

“Khalfani did not die on the battlefield.”

“What?” Bomani narrowed his eyes on her face.

“I killed him.”

“Did you not hear my words?” Siya asked with a mix
of anger and surprise.

Bomani stood frozen, slack jawed. Her words were
spoken to incite him, but he could draw none of the fury from his soul.
Khalfani’s memories would not permit it.

“I
killed
him,” she repeated as if stating
it again would lobby a reaction. Yet, he had none for
her
. For Bast and
the Council, he had plenty to be angry about.

“The Council did not inform Asar, but kept it
secret all this time?” More shocking, his father had lied about Khalfani’s
demise. Why? “Did they give you the order to execute him?”

“What is wrong with you?” She stared at him with
mouth agape.

He paced the orchard’s path, milling over the
implications. “Did they order his execution?” he asked with a hard edge.

“No.”

He turned and looked her in the eyes. “So you
killed him in cold blood.”

“Yes.” Her eyes were hard and calculated.
Believable, but the bond betrayed her mask. She could not hide the agony in her
soul, not from him. “You used him for your own gain. Had sex with him to win his
favor?”

“Yes.”

Bomani shook his head. She wanted him to hate her,
but she was lying. “He found out you used him.”

“Yes.”

He backed her up against the sharp black rock.
“The Council covered it up and exiled you for his death.”

“Yes.”

He wrapped his hand around her throat and leaned
in against her ear. “You deserve death?”

“Yes.”

He registered the catch in her breath and the
bound of her pulse against his thumb. He inhaled, taking in her scents. Despite
the uptick in her heartbeat, she was not afraid. “Why are you lying to me?”

“I killed him.”

“That I believe, the rest is a load of shit.” He
pulled back and stared into her eyes. “Tell me the truth of his death, Siya.”

Her haunted green gaze stared back. A single tear slipped
down her soft cheek. He pulled her to his chest and closed his eyes. “Tell me.”
He sought her energy as he had done before under the tree. The waves vibrated
into the once again lovely melody.

“The fire lit up the night sky,” he spoke the
words flying through her mind as her memories began to unfold. She did not
fight his presence this time. He followed the pain to the dark mark on her
soul. The smell of smoke and burnt flesh choked him.

Siya coughed against his chest as the memories
replayed.
Drawing water from the river she extinguished the flames. Fire had
consumed Khalfani’s face and exposed skin.
No, do not leave me. Screams
of terror and grief. Pleas for mercy.

Pain seared through Bomani’s mind, unlocking the
last latch to his own memories. Bomani saw Siya’s tortured face through
Khalfani’s eyes and sensed his predecessor’s fear, not for his own imminent
death, but for Siya. Khalfani could not protect her or speak the name of his
attacker, but Bomani saw it clearly in his memories.

Siya thrust the saber into his neck and heart.
Khalfani’s pain eased and darkness wrapped its wings around him. Cool tears
rained down upon his face. The scent of lilacs and vanilla slipped from his
senses. You will not be forgotten.

Bomani’s body flushed with pain as Siya sobbed
against his chest. He lay down on the soft moss and pulled her closer. He had
what he had come for—the truth. “They cannot have you. I will not let them,” he
said, brushing the hair back from her tear stained face. He knew what he needed
to do to keep her safe. He would finish what Khalfani started, protect the
goddess they loved.

“Sleep,” he said and then kissed her lips. He
savored the salt of her tears on her soft mouth until she relaxed and her
breathing slowed. He pressed his forehead to hers and forced her deeper into
sleep. “Forgive me.”

He stood and looked down at her body, lying limp
in the blanket of moss. There was nothing he would not do for her, even if it
meant sacrificing himself. He turned and jogged out the way they had come.

He had a date with Khalfani’s killer.

With the sun in the other hemisphere and the moon
no more than a sliver, Bomani was filled with the power of the Underworld. He
stalked down the dock, hands fisted tight. Theris would pay in blood. He
forearmed the warehouse door. The hinge splintered, and the force threw the
door across the cement floor. Several younglings scattered out of Bomani’s way.
Dennu and the other officers arrived with weapons drawn. Bomani ignored them
and scanned the balcony.

“Theris,” Bomani bellowed.

“Sire, he is not here.”

“Where is he?”

“I do not know where he goes. Nor can I follow,”
Dennu said, staring at the younglings gathering around them.

“Looking for me?” Theris filled the door frame.

Bomani stared at Dennu. “Get the children out of
here.”

“No one leaves.” Theris stormed into the room, a
wave of heat preceding him.

“Now, Dennu!” Bomani intercepted Theris’ advance,
slamming into the god and throwing him across the room. Theris crashed into the
steel beam. The metal groaned and buckled under the impact.

The younglings ran to the door along the back wall
of the warehouse. Bomani sensed no panic, but an orderly and calculated
retreat. Dennu gave him a nod before closing the door behind him.

“You have overstepped your bounds, warrior. This
is my house,” Theris said, leaping up from the floor. His eyes flickered with
deadly intent.

Bomani shook off his jacket. He had no weapons,
but then again this was personal. “I think we both know whose house this is,
and it is not yours.”

“Where is my esteemed goddess? We have many things
to discuss.”

“She is safe from you.”

Theris sneered and sidestepped around Bomani.
“Safe? Would you stake your life on that statement?”

Bomani attempted to quell his uneasiness. He had
left Siya in a vulnerable state, making it more imperative to end this god’s
existence and get back to her. Flames erupted and climbed the walls around
them. Bomani reminded himself he was more than a warrior. He was Asar’s son,
created for this moment. He would protect Siya and avenge Khalfani’s death. “We
both know what must happen here.”

“I am counting on it,” Theris replied. “I do not
miss twice.”

Bomani charged, accepting the invitation. Wrapping
his arms around Theris, Bomani flipped and slammed him into the cement floor.
With his knee pinned to Theris’ chest, Bomani leveled a crushing blow to the
god’s face. Bright red blood splattered across the floor.

Although Bomani outmatched Theris in strength, the
god was quick and light on his feet. Bomani had to keep him down to defeat him.
Ash from the burning wood rained down upon them, but Bomani did not lessen his
strikes.

Fire burst from Theris’ body, searing Bomani’s
exposed flesh. He staggered back and slammed into the weapon’s cage. The blades
crashed and scattered across the cement. The silver metal reflected the raging
flames growing around them.

Siya’s words echoed in his head. Fire cannot exist
without air and heat. Bomani righted himself and squared off. He stretched his
arms at his sides and pulled at the surrounding energy. Theris threw a ball of
red flames.

The wall of heat blasted Bomani in the face.
Imperfect in his countermeasures, fire burned Bomani’s back while other areas
cooled the flames.

Theris’ eyes widened as Bomani emerged from the inferno.
“Vengeance is mine.” Bomani sneered and charged forward towards destiny.

Asar sensed the disturbance seconds before the
office door burst open. He rose to intercept Bakari. “Who and how many?” he asked,
grabbing his sword from his desk. It had been a little over a month since
Menthu’s last attempt to invade the Underworld.

“You will want to see this for yourself.” Bakari
turned and jogged down the palace hall. Kamen waited at the top of the stairs.

“Where are the females?” Asar asked, alarmed he did
not see Kit standing at Kamen’s side.

“Down on the beach with the legion,” Kamen said
and followed him down the stairs.

The warriors parted in a wave around Asar. He
targeted Lilly’s blonde hair in the distance. His wife and her sisters did not
heed his warning to be careful. Asar pulled up sharply next to Lilly. “What is
going on?”

“I thought you may have ordered them.” Lilly
snickered and laced her fingers in his hand.

“Easy, big boy,” Kit said, snagging Kamen’s arm.
“I do not think Menthu means to attack us with prepubescent teens.”

“Do not be mistaken, Kit. They are fully capable
of inflicting harm.” Bakari moved in front of Kendra.

Asar stepped forward and stared at the fifty
children littering his beach. Creation gods. Four of the oldest males knelt and
the rest followed. The largest held a square object wrapped in burlap with a large
saber sitting on top.

“What is the meaning of this? You may not enter
this realm without my permission or risk death.”

“We humbly ask for your mercy and protection, Lord.”

Asar glanced at Kamen. The male could sense even
the slightest hint of evil. Kamen stepped back, seemingly more relaxed with the
situation.

Lilly’s grip tightened on his hand. “Asar.”

He followed her eyes to the package. “Take the
weapon,” Asar said to Bakari.

Bakari turned the blade over in his hand. “It is
one of ours, but I do not recognize it.” Bakari handed the saber to Asar.

Asar stared down at the weapon, barely able to
believe what he was seeing. “Where did you come by this?”

The prostrated young god raised his gaze. “My
Commander said to give it to you if my brothers and I ever found ourselves in
trouble.” He raised his hands but stopped the minute Bakari pointed the Mevt
dagger at his throat.

“I will take that,” Bakari said and slipped the
covered object from the god.

“It’s a pyramid text,” Kendra gasped even before
Bakari unwrapped the black book. “Do you know where the others are?”

Asar recognized it immediately. He had been there
when the three books were hidden among those of their kind. He had received the
Book of the Dead, the demotic text, containing the most powerful dark magic.
The very book Kendra used to awaken Bakari. The sender had to be pretty damn
important to carry this book. Only when the location was compromised was it
passed onto another. “What is the name of your Commander?”

“Siya. You may know her by her given name—Sekhmet.”

“The Goddess of War,” Kendra whispered. “She
exists, really exists?”

“Menthu’s daughter?” Lilly asked in a hushed
voice.

“Sekhmet?” Asar scanned the god’s soul and found
no deceit. He looked at the saber again, honing in on the symbol on the handle.
An hourglass, half dark and half light. The symbol held many meanings, but
first and foremost it represented the passage of time. The beginning and the
end.

“What trouble has befallen you?” Asar asked,
uneasiness settling over his soul.

The young god scanned the crowd of warriors.
“Sire, may I have the privilege of your counsel—alone?”

“You do know to whom you speak?” Asar scowled down
at the Creation youth. “You risked your life and the life of your brothers by
coming here.”

“I am well aware of my actions and the
consequences. I do not take the lives of my brothers lightly. We have no
allegiances. We serve the goddess who saved us. She trusts you, so I must now.
My request comes with urgency. The longer we wait—”

“Enough. Come. Bakari with me.” Asar turned and
traced his steps back to the office. He palmed the blade made by a warrior’s
hands in their ancient ways. His guardian detail fell in step around their
guest. The male stood as tall as his warriors. No doubt skilled if Sekhmet
raised him.

Asar passed through his office door and pointed to
the seat in front of his desk. “You have my ear, Creation. Speak.”

“Will you care for them?”

“This is not an orphanage. Creations are not
permitted here.”

Dennu narrowed his eyes. “Did I not see Creations
on the beach? Three to be exact.”

Bakari advanced on the god and pressed his dagger
to the male’s chest. “Do not think to threaten us.”

“My intent is not to threaten but to state the
obvious.” Dennu leveled his gaze on Bakari. “I do not fear death, but I would
prefer to die in battle at my Commander’s side.”

“Bakari,” Asar said, waving him off. “They may
stay until more appropriate accommodations are made. Is that sufficient?” Asar
glared at the youth.

“Yes, Lord,” Dennu said with a bow. “My Commander
has befriended a male you may be familiar with.” The god’s gaze strayed to the
scarification tattoos on Bakari’s arms.

“Bomani,” Asar said, stricken with relief.

“Yes. He is in danger and has engaged Theris, our
Second, who I fear is working with the enemy.”

He turned to the sound of the door opening. Lilly
ran into the room followed by Kendra and Kit. “Asar, we need to go now.”

“Yes, Bomani is in trouble,” Asar responded and
moved around the desk.

Kendra stepped forward with her hand placed on the
center of the ancient pyramid text. “Far worse than trouble.”

Asar stared down at the petite redhead and soon to
be daughter-in-law. The young demi-god had the incredible gift to read the
history of any object. “To what extent,” he implored.

“Nebt has broken the spell I placed on the demotic
text. Menthu is intent on releasing Apep and his demons.”

Asar cursed. “Deploy the legions. Leave one behind
to guard the palace and the younglings. Lilly, you need to address the Creation
Council.”

“Yes, Kit and Kendra with me.” Lilly kissed Asar
on the cheek, and then signaled for her sisters to follow. “Be careful.”

“Kamen stay with the women. I will call if we need
you.”

Kamen nodded and jogged out the door.

“My officers and I will take you there,” Dennu
said, stepping forward into the group.

“Fine. We are going to need all the help we can get.
Let us hope it is not too late.” If anything happened to Bomani, Asar would not
forgive himself.