Chapter 201: Chapter Nineteen

Kyra

~Egypt, Same Day~

My dreams didn’t prepare me for the lavishness of the temple or the castle within its walls, for the rose petals that fell from a place in the sky that was impossible to see or the smell of ambrosia as its heady scent filled the thick, hot air.

I was dressed in a golden gown that draped over my horse nearly hitting his hooves, it was held together by a black diamond in the front like a cape, the rest was wrapped around me in tight layer after layer of what felt like silk, except the material breathed.

Slits went up both legs as I sat in the saddle, hitting me mid-thigh, and as we stopped in front of the marble steps to the throne where King Set waited, I had never been more petrified in my life.

How did I know what was right? What was wrong?

Beside me, Alex, Mason, and Tarek were quiet.

My dad and mom were so tense it felt more like a funeral march than a wedding betrothal, and even then I was minutes away from hurling onto the pristine white stairs.

I looked over to Tarek.

His gold helmet was back on his head but he must have seen me from the corner of his eye, he gave me a confident nod just as massive hands wrapped around my waist and helped me off my horse.

It was him.

The Jackal.

I gaped as his fingers burned against my skin in such a delicious way that I wanted to lean into him.

My body had forgotten this part, where my heart felt like it might burst out of my chest at the sight of him.

It wasn’t fear.

It was like coming home.

I gave him a bright smile only making him stiffen more as a hand pressed against my chest and pulled something blue out an inch.

It tickled against his fingers, its tentacles wrapped around his tanned thumb like it was afraid he was going to let go.

I had to stop myself from saying, keep it, it’s yours.

When he pressed it back into my chest I felt such loss that my knees knocked together.

“Pure,” his voice rasped. “Of both body and soul.”

I remembered this entire thing differently.

This wasn’t how it happened the first time.

Then again, I wasn’t the same person, was I?

Furthermore, neither was he.

I met his gaze. Even as part beast, he was beautiful with a long sharp snout and matching pointy black ears. His chest heaved as he watched me.

Something stirred inside as my fingers burned to reach out, to touch that jet-black fur.

“Well then,” King Set laughed and spread his arms wide. “Bring my betrothed here.”

My feet didn’t budge.

He was massive, the King, at least twelve feet tall with jet-black hair and eyes that glowed both red and gold, switching every few seconds.

They reminded me of Timber’s eyes, and longing pulsed through my body.

I was doing this for him.

For Timber.

For the beast currently holding his hand out to me.

I took it because I had no other choice.

“Prince Anubis,” Set said through clenched teeth. “You will escort the princess to the throne.”

Anubis.

Anubis.

Of course he was.

The Prince of Darkness.

The damned.

My mythology or what I thought was mythology, was rusty, but thanks to my parents I knew exactly what Anubis did. He judged the souls, determining where they would be placed in the afterlife.

He was also one of the oldest gods mentioned in mythology, some say more powerful than the one I was supposed to be marrying.

His head tilted toward me and with a slight growl he changed into a man, a beautiful man.

“Timber,” I whispered.

It was Timber.

My heart hammered so loud against my chest I figured he was going to tell me to calm down.

Instead, he inspected me like I was a science experiment, his golden eyes narrowing into tiny slits as he held out his hand. “Princess.”

Tears stung, but didn’t fall.

I kept them in as his warmth wrapped around me, the simple graze of his hand was enough to make my knees buckle.

“Remember,” I whispered under my breath. “I need you to remember.”

He jerked his head toward me. “You dare speak to the god of death?”

I lifted my chin. “You dare look at the face of Apollo’s one and only daughter?”

He stopped walking, his eyes searching mine.

“Anubis,” Set was making his way toward us. “In this century, if you please.”

Timber looked at his father and then to the left of the throne where another godlike man stood, his face softened as they shared a look.

“Brother!” The man jogged ahead of Set, he was in front of us in a flash. “What the ever-loving hell is going on?” His voice was quiet, we had seconds before Set would be standing in front of us.

“I need some time alone with Ti—Anubis,” I clarified. “Before Set and I…” I moved my hands. I had no idea what happened next. Did Set just take me in front of a priest or was that not how gods did things? There had to be a ceremony of sorts. I just hoped it wasn’t today.

Time, I needed more time.

“Set won’t like it,” Anubis said under his breath.

“Set can go to Hell,” I muttered, earning a curse from both Horus and Anubis.

“You can’t intervene.” Horus nodded to Anubis. “Remember, brother, or everything will be for naught.”

“Understood.” Anubis sounded so cold, calculating, at least some things didn’t change, right? Timber in my time was the same way, like he was constantly doing math in his head.

And then Set was there, stopped in front of me. I was maybe up to his waist. Power radiated from his black armor as he eyed me up and down. “Are you scared, daughter of Apollo?”

“No, King Set, why? Are you?”

Horus burst out laughing while Anubis seemed to go completely still.

The crowd watched in rapt fascination as I waited for Set to either murder me or appreciate my sense of humor. They should have given me a damn manual!

I felt it then, the presence of Alex behind me, the sharp intake of breath around the crowd as Mason and Tarek moved to stand beside me, both of them without their helmets.

One looking every inch the fallen angel, the other a menacing watchdog, and I knew without looking that Alex had gone full god.

Perfect.

We were going to die, weren’t we?

Set took a step back, his eyes wide. “What’s the meaning of this?” He glared at my father. “You dare bring a fallen into my temple?”

“I prefer king,” Mason said in a bored tone. “You can thank me later for the very ground beneath your feet.”

Alex’s warm chuckle wasn’t helpful as he put a hand on Mason’s shoulder and shrugged. “You’ll have to forgive him, he’s still part wolf, forgets his place, just like you have, my king. After all, is it not proper to bow to royalty? Kyra’s godlike essence may have been taken from her blood, but she is still a princess and soon to be your queen, am I right?”

Oh, hell.

Set’s jaw snapped closed as he very slowly inclined his head. I was pretty sure that was all I was going to get.

Too much testosterone swirled between all the men.

I was afraid someone was going to pull a weapon, so I did the only thing I could think to do.

“Should we go inside the temple? And make a toast to King Set?” When all else fails, build their ego. Hadn’t my dad told me that the gods liked to talk about themselves? About their own prowess? Power?

Set seemed to soften in that moment as he gave me a bright smile that I’m sure any woman would love to have directed at her, but beneath it was something more sinister, like I wasn’t going to be marrying him, but sacrificed on an altar so he could keep his beauty, his power.

“Of course.” Set nodded. “You may bring your… protectors, though I should warn you… the last god who challenged me was sent immediately to Tartarus, compliments of my son Anubis. We don’t take kindly to threats. Death would be better than facing Anubis while he draws your soul from your body before sending you into eternal darkness.”

I could have sworn I heard Alex whisper under his breath, “Cool story, bro.”

“They’ll behave,” I said quickly.

“Never thought I’d see the day when a human has immortals on a leash like a pet.” Set’s mocking laugh had me digging my nails into the palm of my hand as he gave us his back and started walking back up the marble stairs.

Servants moved around us in a flutter of black and red.

The men were shirtless, wearing only black loose pants, and the women were in dark red dresses that were tied at the waist and strapless; so much material had to be heavy.

“Why red and black?” I wondered out loud.

It was Timber, or Anubis, who answered. “Red is the color of the blood that has been spilled for the humans to live in this world with free will.”

I nodded. “And black?”

“A reminder, of what humans’ future holds—when I take their souls.”

My eyes widened. “Do you carry all the souls?”

“Yes.” He rolled his eyes. “In my pocket, care to see?”

I grinned. “Sarcasm, how surprising.”

He jerked his head down to me. “You play a dangerous game, princess.”

“Afraid you’re going to lose?”

He shook his head. “Exactly the opposite. I’m afraid I’ll win.”

With that he moved ahead to join his father, leaving Horus by my side with the guys on the other.

“Forgive him,” Horus had bright blond hair and blue eyes that seemed to flicker with the same gold as Timber’s. “There is a lot that weighs upon his mind.”

“Like what?” I asked as casually as I could as we made our way into a large room with several tables of food and what looked like wine.

“Careful,” Horus said in a sing-song voice. “You cannot trick a god.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

His eyes flashed gold. “Maybe you should have asked your parents that question before standing in front of our father. They should have coached you better.”

My skin broke out into goosebumps. “Coached?” That word didn’t exist in this time, I knew that much.

“Isn’t that the correct word?” Horus asked. “You are not in your time, Kyra. You’re lucky that Anubis’s darkness has shielded you from our father. Pray he never finds out that you’ve traveled back.”

“Because he’ll kill me?”

“No.” His eyes flashed again. “Because he’ll suddenly remember that the gods can move through time—and he’ll leave this world for yours.”

Well, shit. “Can you?” I asked. “Move through time?”

“I choose to limit myself as does my brother. The gods belong here, there is no place for us in the future. You’ve seen your protector in your time. The Creator would not allow us to rule there the way we do here, but that wouldn’t stop Set from trying.”

Horus pulled out a chair for me, it was purple velvet, and so soft I let out a sigh as I settled in it and then asked, “Why would he try?”

“Because his power is dwindling. It’s why he needs you.”

“Oh.” My eyes flickered to Set as he discussed something with Anubis and then pointed at me, his smile cruel. “Why is it dwindling?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” He sighed like he was annoyed but he seemed to be enjoying our conversation enough to sit across from me and smile.

I shrugged. “Like you said I’m out of time, I’m curious.”

“Humans are so convinced that anything which is light is pure and good whereas darkness is evil. What if it was the exact opposite? The absence of light is not evil, the mind is evil. It is where we make decisions that alter the course of history. Anubis is one of the purest gods in existence, his darkness protects, it heals, it kills, it gives life. His very existence helps keep the balance between immortals and humans. It bothers my father, has created a jealousy that runs so deep that it has caused a cancer in his soul. A sick soul starts to fester, especially with a god. The baser instincts start to take over. In my father’s instance, and in ours, we turn into something else entirely, a reminder to stay pure, a reminder of who created us in the first place.”

This. This was it. This is what happened to Timber! “So…” I was desperate for more information. Alex, Mason, and Tarek had even leaned in. “Out of curiosity, if one of you loses your soul… or if one of you is… cursed, what happens?”

Horus narrowed his eyes. “Is that why you’re here, human?”

“Maybe.” I gulped. “Maybe not.”

He sighed. “Only Anubis can pull a soul from a body.”

“Oh.” Deflated, I sat back against the chair.

“Set traps them.”

“What?” I nearly collided with Mason, who had suddenly jerked to his feet at the same time.

He ignored me and whispered. “And I, Horus Prince of Light, can set them free.”