My, oh, my… two chapters in two days! I'm on a roll. Please reward me with all sorts of reviews… pretty please!
Salik was sweating like a pig. The man sitting across from him remained rigid, cold, and impenetrable. Salik was afraid.
"So it's agreed? In a moon's time, I will return to Egypt whereby you shall turn over every available able-bodied man for my troops to train. My generals will have the power of vassals in your land, and I will have rules over all matters military, until you establish your own councils, of course," Damondius summarized the past hour of negotiations.
Salik nodded solemnly. Over the past three days he had considered the Amorite's proposal. He reasoned that it was logical. He wasn't sure that he could completely trust Damondius, but if he refused, the man will ruin him politically, or worse. It hadn't been easy to quell the rumors sprouting about the palace about the mysterious foreigner especially with the simultaneous rumors of a man arriving to the palace and claimed his name was Da'Mon. Salik had spent the past days and nights to himself, avoiding anyone and everyone who dared to question him about the stranger. So distant was he from palace life, he had not seen his sons or his nephew Endymion and had never heard about the three enchanting slave women who resided in the palace under the Prince's protection.
"There is one more thing needed to seal the deal," Damondius said slowly and easily. Although his tone was light almost as if it was an afterthought, the narrow flash of his cold eyes told Salik that his words were not to be taken lightly.
"Yes?" Salik prompted anxiously. A single sweat-drop rolled down the side of his temple. Damondius' face scrunched in a derisive smirk at the sight of the Pharaoh's fear.
"As I mentioned before, I'm not getting much out of our deal except for my own peace of mind. Yet now, it has come to my attention that I desire to see more of one of Egypt's woman. My attentions to the woman are honorable although persuading her to leave her family here to join me in Babylon would be quite trying. Thusly, I want you to find her and present her to me as a tribute to the peace between us. In time she will learn to love me…" Damondius trailed off wondering if he had revealed too much of himself.
'Is it a weakness to want to be loved? Will she become a liability to me when the rest of my plans are carried out and much of Egypt is burned?'
"Who is she?" Salik asked curiously. He had never seen any emotion in the man before, and its sudden appearance shocked him. 'Could this woman be the key to Damondius' control? If I could somehow make the woman a spy, she could keep an eye on the inside for Egypt, but who is she? What woman could finally arouse sentiments in the Diamond?'
"I know not for I have only seen her once. Her name is Selene, and she was quartered in the guest chamber next to mine for the past nights. I assumed she was a noblewoman's daughter, your guests…"
Salik shook his head.
"I have been preoccupied as of late and have been unaware of palace events. But if she stayed in the palace, she will be relocated with relative ease. You have my word that she will be ready upon you and your army's arrival in a moon's time."
"I would advise you to not spring the announcement until a few days before I return. If I were you, I would not want her to overreact and escape. Are we understood?"
Salik nodded firmly.
'Oh I understand all right. Whoever this woman was, she was the key to controlling Damondius, if such a thing exists,' he thought as Damondius stood from his seat and stalked off to begin preparing for his departure.
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Lita had been spending each available moment in her kitchen, cooking the most delightful courses she could think up. Anyone who had the pleasure of tasting her creations sent messengers to bring her gifts and money only to get a tired reply. She wouldn't admit it, but she was disappointed. The man hadn't returned to see her. She had been hoping that perhaps he would show up with butcher knife in hand ready to cook with her again. Although his cooking skills were elementary, it was his enthusiastic presence and his intimate gaze that she missed the most.
Chopping furiously, she turned her attention back on her cooking. A stray curl fell out of the messy bun she threw her hair in earlier, and she tried vainly to blow it out of her field of vision. Suddenly, she had a vision of being in the kitchen with him and having him reach out to take her curl between his fingers before pulling back behind her ear.
Groaning in anger at her turn of thoughts, she gave the curl one last harsh blow before giving up entirely.
'And stop imagining him here. He's more trouble than he's worth anyway. His large body takes up most of the room in here, so I have no choice but to lean against him when I stir the soup or have his hand cover mine when I teach him how to chop…And the nerve of the man! Distracting me by trying to kiss me in the middle of cooking a meal? But then stopping! Well I'll show him who's the stronger of the sexes. I don't care. See? I don't care. I'm perfectly content to cooking by myself, and I'm doing a hell of a job too. Not caring! OUCH!'
She looked down to see a cut on the tip of her thumb. A small trickle of blood started to well up on the offended finger, and Lita cursed under her breath. She has never, ever, ever cut herself while chopping vegetables before!
But that hardly mattered now. She had to get the wound bound before she could return to cooking, and she had to get treated fast or the pastries would burn! She strode to the doorway while squeezing her finger to slow the blood flow with quick steps… and walked into the wall.
"Oomph," the wall grunted.
'Wait a second! Walls don't grunt!' She thought wildly as she looked up to see him looking down at her bleeding finger.
"You're not a wall," she said dumbly.
"You cut yourself," he replied instead.
"What are you doing here?" She asked growing hot of embarrassment of her previous remark.
"You cut yourself?" He looked as if he was amazed by the feat.
"Who the heck are you anyway?" She demanded while jabbing him with a finger on her other hand.
But instead of answering or even acknowledging the question, he was busy ripping off a piece of his fine linen uniform and dressing her finger in a make-shift bandage.
Dumbly, Lita looked on at his work without saying a word. The feel of his strong fingers working nimbly to cover her wound was the only thing real to her at the moment. Until she finally realized that the tunic uniform he wore was very special indeed.
"You're royalty," she said simply. She wondered why it took her so long to notice the fine fabric and cut of his clothes. Each time she's seen him, including that first night in the kitchen, he had been exceptionally well-dressed and groomed yet she hadn't noticed until now when all she could do was stare at the ripped uniform in awe.
"My name is Natum. I am one of the Pharaoh's sons," he replied softly as he held her newly bandaged hand in his, afraid to let her go.
"I don't understand… why did you seek me out? Why are you here?" She asked dryly, the blood draining from her face. She didn't know why the truth scared her–she was most often the bravest and toughest out of the girls.
"I couldn't stay away. I tried too, but I can't. Don't reject me for who I am, Lita. Can you handle the truth about me?" He asked her sincerely. Natum had avoided coming to her for the past several days knowing that she would be waiting for him. He hadn't wanted to capitulate to her whims, but in truth he already had since the night he let her go. He didn't know how this would work with the difference between their statuses, and for once it didn't seem to matter to him. All he knew was that this meant more too him than any common palace romp featuring a horny noble and a young slave beauty. He had too much honor for that, and he knew that despite what society told him to feel for slaves, Lita deserved more than an illicit, ill-fated tryst.
"I just wish you hadn't told me," she answered softly.
For a moment Natum's heart deflated. His shoulders sagged slightly and his jaw went slack. 'Was it over before it even began?' He wondered.
And then she looked up to him with those wide almond-shaped eyes of hers and gave a timid smile. Imagine! His fiery chef smiling timidly! The sight made his weak uncharacteristically weak but it was her next words that stopped his heart.
"Before I had a chance to do this," she said as she tilted her head to capture his lips with hers.
The kiss ended all too soon to Natum's liking and he protested by pulling her closer to him keeping her trapped in his embrace.
"I hope that meant as much as it would have if you hadn't told me your true identity," Lita said softly. To Natum, she almost looked shy.
"It meant everything to me," he replied reassuringly. He understood her fears and knew that they were valid. Most women would jump into his arms without knowing his status, but almost all of them would cling at his robes with the knowledge that they could become a princess.
At the whispered words, Lita softened his arms even as a light blush colored her sun-kissed cheeks. Clearing her throat almost self-consciously, she turned her head to the bubbling of jars and bottles behind her.
"I think my pastries are burning," she said thoughtfully, her mind once again on her art.
Laughing in joy and relief, Natum picked a stunned Lita by the waist and twirled her around the cozy kitchen. Both out of breath yet content, he tugged her close to him before whispering sweet promises into the smiling woman's hair.
The pastries sizzled forgotten on the clay stove.
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"You wouldn't dare!" Amy challenged.
"What would you do if I did?" Zachariah retorted.
Amy pretended to think over it for a bit before resolutely whispering her answer into his ear.
Grinning wolfishly, an odd sight on the usually stoic scholar-prince, Zach winked conspiratorially at her.
"Be right back," he said before exiting Amy's chamber. She sat expectantly, wondering if he'd actually go through with it. Moments later a large shriek came from outside followed by the sound of deep laughter and a squealing Raye charging after the prince.
Feigning innocence, Amy looked up quizzically at the two, one laughing uncontrollably and the other soaking wet staring daggers at the other.
"What is the meaning of this?" Amy asked.
"Your –your boyfriend over here drenched me for absolutely no reason! I demand justice," Raye finished haughtily as she noticed the bright red flush spreading across Amy's face.
'Aha! I knew calling him her boyfriend would've done the trick,' she thought satisfied.
Zach stood beside the fiery woman studying the petite woman blushing furiously at her table. Papyrus full of data he provided lay neatly in front of her. Her recovery had advanced greatly during the past three days, and she had demanded to continue her work on perfecting her treatment of heat sickness. With Mina and Selene away at the palace, Raye was able to remain to care for Amy should she need it. But with Zach spending most of the day with the intriguing young woman, Raye was hardly needed.
But that wasn't what was on the prince's mind at this moment. Raye's words had affected him as much as they had affected Amy.
'Was she really my girlfriend? Is this even allowed?' He wondered as he watched the nervous fluttering of her eyelashes. Their relationship, if you could even call it that, had grown by leaps and bounds during the past few days, but it could hardly be classified as romantic at least by Amy anyway. Zach knew that the stirring of desire flooding his senses whenever he watched her chew thoughtfully on her bottom lip or smile with the pure, undiluted joy never found in the stuffy lives of noblewomen in palace was not platonic feelings for a close friend. For the first time in his life, Zach knew that he wanted this woman. Sure she may not have been the most beautiful woman in the universe or the most seductive yet each time Zach laid eyes on her, he knew that this woman was his equal in heart and mind.
'I want her to be more than my girlfriend even though that may not even be possible. She deserves so much more than that single meaningless title. She has earned it,' he thought. At that moment, Amy looked up at him with those wide, curious eyes of hers as if she read his thoughts.
Sensing the shift in mood in the room, Raye smiled knowingly before bowing out gracefully.
"Well I guess I needed a bath anyway. Any is forgiven, this time. Just don't do it again," she said menacingly. When she saw that the couple was too engrossed in their own world, she shrugged to herself. They won't miss her for the afternoon.
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Endymion strode purposefully down the corridors with one goal in mind. He was looking for Selene. That past three days has shown him a lot about her, her family, and himself. He learned how she hated idleness, loved running about learning about anything and everything; how she wrinkled her nose at times or winks charmingly at others. He saw how she was kind to everyone, how she respected herself, how she expected the best out of people. He loved the way she looked at him because it was the same way she looked at herself. But then he saw other things about her. She was afraid of something. He'd frequently catch her staring intently at some invisible entity only to accidentally frighten her when he shakes her out of her reverie. She was hiding something from him –but what?
To be fair, he knew that she had a right to her secrets. They barely knew each other after all. But the thing was that Endymion was afraid as well. Selene didn't know it but Endymion was scared to death! Imagine, the great Prince of Egypt, a man with a heart of ice, scared of one beautiful slave! Ludicrous! Preposterous! Yet he was afraid of the fact that he wanted to know everything about her. He was terrified of wanting to wake up to her face in the morning and to tell her his desires and thoughts during the dark of the night.
But most of all, Endymion was petrified of loving her when it meant betraying two decades of promises he made upon his fathers grave. And he knew he would do it, for her, for himself. What he didn't know if she could love him back knowing he would always have a vendetta against her people for a murder committed 20 years ago.
He intended to find that out and more today. Time was running out, and this time, Endymion was going to prevent her from running away for the last time.
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Selene was packing up the last article of clothing into the chest when Endymion slid into the room. Kenlum had taken Mina on a walk around the palace while Anack had invited Iris to dine with her for the afternoon. Tomorrow they would be leaving the palace and all the riches they had come to enjoy. A part of Selene wondered if she should be ashamed of enjoying herself in the palace, but she knew she held no qualms of letting the luxuries go. She didn't know if letting Endymion go would be just as easy.
Since when had she started thinking of him as Endymion? It made it all the more real. And now he was standing behind her running those impossibly beautiful hands over her bare arms.
She stood tall trying not to let him see how much a simple touch affected her. Sooner or late he will find out about her father. Selene knew her father was innocent, but Endymion didn't. She had no proof, and even if she did, Endymion may never believe it. So the future wasn't clear, but she had the now. She had the feel of his fingers caressing her shoulders, her jaw, and her cheek. She had him now… she won't waste it.
"Come with me," he said.
"Where to?" Her heart was racing. Why does this happen every time he was near?
"You'll see," he replied huskily even as he led her out the room. Dazed, she wondered if she could have even refused.
They traveled on foot under the hot afternoon sun. She wondered if the whole world was burning up, if the fire of desire coursing through their veins had teamed up with the sun to consume everything in heat. The only thing preventing her from liquefying into a puddle was the firm yet possessive hand on her waist.
She concentrated on the heat of his hands. 'Oh how many lives are under the control of his hands? How many pleased lovers have felt their touches? How much of my soul they hold!' She shuddered in pleasure at the memory of those hands on her. Endymion noticed yet did not speak. They continued until they reached the bank of the Nile and then continued north from there. When Endymion finally stopped his long strides, he whirled Selene around him to face their destination.
It was the lagoon. The sanctuary she had stumbled upon the night after she escaped from Endymion…the place her father proposed to her mother…the place Endymion had brought her for some unknown reason…it was before her and he was behind her. Time stopped as she turned abruptly, her reaction surprising him, and propelled herself into his arms.
'The future belongs to Abba, but He has given me the now. I won't waste it,' she thought as she met him for a passionate kiss that rivaled the brilliance of the very moon.
'This is home,' they both thought silently as they slid to the mossy bed of the lagoon.
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"Why are you all wet?" Jaden asked bemusedly as he lifted a silky strand of Raye's hair.
"A certain brother of yours decided that it was time that I had a bath," she remarked airily feigning annoyance. She was in her lover's arms, how could she complain of anything else?
"Do you want me to beat him up for you?" He asked in a solemn voice, his possessive manner coming out to Raye's chagrin.
"Since when have you been so eager to fight for my honor? Egypt is a peaceful nation, at least from the outside," Raye said soberly. What had almost happened to Mina had affected her deeply. That could have been her…
Sensing her unrest, Jaden pulled her closer so he could rest his chin on her soft shoulder.
"I can't change how the kingdom is run. The violence that befell on Mina is the result of 20 years of change, and I am one man. I will, however, protect you, Raye. Because seeing you safe is very important to me," he said seriously.
"But you are not alone. Your brothers and Prince Endymion, they will join you. Once Endymion takes the throne, won't---"
Jaden snorted.
"As of late Endymion hasn't been himself. For two decades I listened to his plans of punishing the slaves for his father's death…how could one woman change a man's character?"
"Forgive me if I sound presumptuous, but what of you and I? You have changed me, Jaden. Have I not changed you as well?" Raye asked looking up at him. 'He is too beautiful for his own good, really.'
Jaden smiled wistfully replying.
"Well if you put it that way, then maybe Endymion has changed after all."
"Now that we've decided on this issue, how about you help me out of this wet robe?" Raye whispered huskily as Jaden's hands moved to obey.
What began as gentle kisses and caresses quickly turned into liquid fire as two hearts melted together into one.
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"This palace is huge!" Mina sighed exhausted as she hoisted herself unto the large bed. Laying back she propped her arms under her head as she studied the intricate canopy pattern.
"You did well considering how sore you still must be," Kenlum replied pleased at the view of Mina stretched out on the bed. 'My bed,' he amended.
"Tell me, do you usually hop on someone's bed and make yourself at home?" He asked knowing he'd receive a scowl from her.
"Well you dragged me down here to grab a change of clothes. Can I help it that I'm tired?" She retorted moodily even as she rolled to get up.
"Don't get up, Mina. There's no where else I'd rather have you anyway," Kenlum replied as he walked over to his wardrobe.
Mina blushed madly at the insinuation but stayed where she was. She couldn't move anyway at the sight of Kenlum's chiseled back. 'Are those muscles even possible?' She wondered.
Lita sent some pastries and beverages to her earlier, compliments of her and Prince Natum, which made Mina smile, and Kenlum had accidentally spilled his drink on himself. Insisting that he wanted to change, Mina had followed him to his room before they were to continue on their walk through the palace grounds.
But now Mina wondered what would happen if she were to stop the tour here. If she were to bid Kenlum to his bed and have him take her as his…Shaking her head at her wild thoughts she smiled to herself. Since when did she become so wanton? She knew more of the intimacies between man and woman than Selene did. She's kissed more, flirted more, and teased more. But what was so different about this particular half-dressed prince? The kisses they shared before were absolutely amazing but that's all they'd ever be. The secret touches between slave and royalty. Mina knew that Selene's problems with Endymion were far worse than her own, but her identity and her past still prevent her from being with Kenlum. Should scandal break out, and there was no doubt that it eventually would, society would separate them. They were fighting an uphill battle.
What had the past few days meant to her? What had she accomplished? As her wounds healed so did her spirit. The life-loving girl she had always been resurfaced after years of dormancy. It seemed that she'd been unable to be free since the year she developed breasts. Men flocked to her for her beauty but never for her accomplishments, for her soul.
She was sure that whatever Kenlum felt for her that it was this kind of desire that she's been craving. Kenlum desired her soul.
He finally finished dressing, knowing that Mina had watched his every move. The way he stalked to the bed was predatory and calculated. He left just enough time for her to refuse. Thankfully she didn't. The serenity of her expression did not betray the hunger in her eyes but Kenlum noticed. He knew her as well as he knew himself. She didn't know it yet, but they were already one. There was one act left. One act Kenlum found himself wanting to repeat everyday for the rest of their lives. It was so much more than sex or even making love.
It was a single act of celebration for not what two people searched for but for what they already found, as natural and as necessary as breathing the very air that gives life to newborns.
"Are you sure about this?" Kenlum asked even as he saw the answer reflected in her liquid blue eyes.
"Aren't you?"
Then there were no more words exchanged between them.
And that was that.
