* * *
“She is like Kiya, Gideon,” Jill said thoughtfully. “She’s a survivor. Her story has been a nightmare so far, yet here she is on the road to her own Great Journey.” She tilted her head. “But I didn’t mean for you to practically adopt her, Gideon. I just wanted you to do something to make her feel better.”
“And I did it,” he said lightly. “But I’m warning you that she’d be insulted if you mention adopting her. She’s having enough trouble understanding the friendship concept. If there’s any adoption going on, I have an idea that she’d be the one in control.” He leaned forward and brushed a kiss on Jill’s forehead. “Don’t worry about it, this is right. It’s what I should have done a long time ago. We’ll work it out together. Maybe I should be grateful that Novak is pulling me into that mess in the Kiyani government. It will give Dalai something to challenge her.” He straightened and turned to leave. “What’s next for you? Are you going to be at that news conference tomorrow? I need a friend in the media to glorify all my good points.”
“The media loves you. That’s another reason why Novak is bulldozing you through the legislative session. You’re perfect, Gideon.”
“True.” His brows rose. “Does that mean you’re deserting me?”
She shook her head. “It means I’m tired and need to move on,” she said wearily. “It means I don’t want to be around when all of Maldara is fawning over Zahra’s memory. It means I’ve been fighting this battle for two years, and now that we’re ending the story, I’m ready to skip the epilogue. I feel flat. I need something fresh and new to spark me.”
“I’m fresh. I’m new. Just watch what I do to those stale old bureaucrats once I get my foot in the door.” He added coaxingly, “It will be fun, Jill.”
“I’ve been doing some research in my spare time on a project that will be fun, too. And you’ll be too busy to miss me, Gideon. Maybe I’ll come back for the coronation.”
“Coronation was Zahra. I have no royal aspirations. Just a little fun for the shortest possible time, then I’m back in my plane and heading for the wild blue yonder.” He grinned. “Don’t lose touch, and I’ll head your way.”
She watched him walk out of the room before she turned and started packing up the few belongings Eve had brought to her. She was going to miss Gideon. He had been her friend and ally since this had begun. But it wasn’t as if she was losing him entirely. People moved constantly in and out of her life. It was how she lived, how she worked. It didn’t alter how she felt about them.
It wouldn’t change how she felt about Novak.
Don’t think about Novak right now.
It was hurting, and it wasn’t as if she hadn’t known that it was going to end like this. It was why she’d fought to keep it from beginning. It was too intense. He was too dominant. They’d both do far better alone.
Alone.
She wasn’t really alone, she told herself. She had friends, she had her work, she didn’t need a man like Novak, who would be a constant disturbance.
She didn’t need Novak.
She would finish packing, check out of this hospital, and go say good-bye to Eve. Eve had said that their friendship was for the long haul, and she owed her that courtesy.
Then she would give Novak a call on her way to the airport. That would be the best way to handle it.
No, Novak would be furious. He would recognize it for the escape it was. She didn’t care. It would be too easy to let herself delay the inevitable. She would take any way she could to avoid the pain of what had to be done.
She needed that escape, she thought wearily.
* * *
“You’re not going to get away with it,” Eve said flatly when Jill walked into the museum two hours later. “Gideon blew the whistle on you with me. I squealed to Novak. He should be here any moment.”
“So much for enduring friendship,” Jill said. “I was going to call him. He’s just…busy.”
“Absolutely. Novak is doing a hell of a lot to keep this country stable. He doesn’t deserve having to face you running out on him right now. Don’t be a coward. It’s not like you. At least you should stick around until he has a chance to get his breath.” She crossed the room and gave her a quick hug. “Ordinarily, I’d stay out of your business. But you’ve never made it a practice to stay out of mine, so why should I worry? We’ve gone way past that.” She smiled. “Whatever you choose is fine with me. But you never ran out on me, and it’s not fair to do it with Novak.”
“You’re damn right it’s not,” Novak said grimly from the doorway. “But that doesn’t mean you didn’t try to do it.” He was across the room and pulling Jill toward the door. “And I could see it coming when you woke up in that hospital room.” They were outside now, and he slammed the door shut behind him. “You were worried and concerned and wanting to set everything in order.”
“Of course I was. I’d just returned to consciousness, and I wanted to make sure everyone was alive and well, dammit.”
“No, there was more to it than that. I know you very well now, Jill. There was an edge. You were relieved when I was called away by Quinn. If Eve hadn’t phoned me today, I would still have been here with you anyway. I would have tracked you down. I wasn’t about to let you walk away.”
“It seemed to be a good time to do it.” She moistened her lips. “We have our own lives to lead, and they would interfere with each other. We both know that what we had was purely sex, sparked by the adrenaline from what we were going through.”
“Do we?” He jerked her into his arms and kissed her. “I don’t know anything of the sort. I don’t know what’s happening with us, but I’m not afraid to stay around to find out. But it’s clear that you are afraid.” His hands closed on her shoulders. “Not that I blame you. You haven’t had the most stable life since your father tossed you out into the world. But it still makes me mad as hell.”
“I can tell.” She tried to shrug away from him. “I’m not afraid. I’m just being reasonable.”
“And keeping your own personal story close to you, private and untouched. I know you don’t want to let anyone come in and add anything to your life. But I’m not going to let you get away with that.” His eyes were boring into hers. “Because I’m too selfish, and I won’t let you go. And I won’t let you lie to yourself and cheat us both. Remember the night you were so afraid Varak was going to cheat us? It’s the same thing, Jill.” His grasp tightened. “You’re smart, recognize it. You don’t have to commit. Just admit to yourself what you’re doing.”
She couldn’t look away from him. Was it true? She wouldn’t be questioning herself if there wasn’t an element of truth in his words. And she’d thought she knew herself so well. She smiled with an effort. “And admit you’re right?”
He went still. “That would also help a hell of a lot.”
“I won’t do it.” She paused. “But I might admit that I was running away, and that’s neither honest nor intelligent. That would also mean I thought there was a reason to be afraid of you. But you’ve never done anything to make me afraid. You never will.” She suddenly kissed him. “So that means this is my problem, and I refuse to be afraid of it. I’ll have to examine why it exists and face it.”
His arms tightened around her. “Yes.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Not that easy, Novak. I told Gideon the truth about being ready for something new and fresh. I’m still going to leave Maldara. You’re going to be busy here for a long time straightening out Varak’s identity and preventing those bureaucrats in Botzan and Kiyani from starting another civil war. After you finish, if you still think there’s something besides sex between us, come and see me. And who knows, maybe the sex will be enough.”
“I don’t believe that will be true.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “And just where am I supposed to find you?”
“I’ll let you know. My first stop is Cairo to do more research.” She found herself drawing closer to him. She wanted to touch him. The exc
itement was growing. Why be afraid to take a chance? Why not have it all? Novak was the most exhilarating man she had ever met. Share the sex. Share that wonderful mind. There was time enough to see what else might be waiting for them. “After that, I could let you know where I’ll go from there.”
“Research?” He tilted his head. “Just what are you doing, Jill?”
“I’ve been thinking about Kiya. I thought I’d try to find out her story. Or at least where she was buried.”
“In Egypt?” He shook his head. “She died in Maldara according to the journal.”
Jill shook her head. “No, not Cleopatra’s daughter. We already know a good deal about her. The first Kiya. Akhenaten’s Great Beloved Wife from the Eighteenth Dynasty. She had such a powerful influence, yet no one knows that much about her. Her life is surrounded by mystery, and we’re not even certain where her remains can be found.”
“You’ve found yourself a deeper mystery to dig into?” He shook his head ruefully. “And you can’t resist the story.”
“No, why should I?” It was all clear to her now, all hesitation gone. “The world is filled with millions of incredible, wonderful stories. And each one is an adventure to explore. But I’m inviting you along on this one, Novak. Do you know why?” Her brilliant smile lit her face as she went back into his arms. “Because I’m beginning to believe that if we’re lucky, if we don’t screw this up, in the end, you might be my very favorite story of all time.”
Author’s Note
Kiya, daughter of Cleopatra VII, never existed except in my imagination. However, Queen Kiya, the Great Beloved Wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, was real and one of the most mysterious and intriguing figures in Egyptian history. No one is sure where she came from before arriving at his court, though some scholars believe she might have been a Mitanni princess. But once she was established in Cairo, Kiya was evidently a source of boundless controversy and excitement. From the richness of her monuments, there was no doubt she had an exalted status, and, at one time, Egyptologists thought she might have even been the mother of Tutankhamun. This proved to be unlikely, but her title of Great Beloved Wife certainly must have made her position at court very competitive with Akhenaten’s beautiful chief wife, Nefertiti.
But Kiya disappeared from history during the last third of Akhenaten’s reign. Her name and images were erased from monuments and replaced by those of Akhenaten’s daughters. Why?
Exile? Death? Disgrace?
Or did Kiya just become bored with the court and go away on her own Great Journey to a far land?
You know which one I would choose.
But it’s a mystery…
About the Author
Iris Johansen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 consecutive bestsellers. Her series featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has sold over 20 million copies and counting and was the subject of the acclaimed Lifetime movie The Killing Game. Along with her son, Roy, Iris has also co-authored the New York Times bestselling series featuring Kendra Michaels. Iris Johansen lives near Atlanta, Georgia.
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Also by Iris Johansen
(in order of publication)
EVE DUNCAN
SERIES
The Face of Deception
The Killing Game*
The Search
Body of Lies
Blind Alley*
Countdown*
Stalemate
Quicksand
Blood Game*
Eight Days to Live*
Chasing the Night
Eve
Quinn
Bonnie
Sleep No More
Taking Eve+
Hunting Eve+
Silencing Eve*+
Shadow Play+
Hide Away+
Night and Day
Mind Game*
Shattered Mirror
Dark Tribute
*Starring Jane MacGuire
+Featuring Margaret Douglas
KENDRA MICHAELS
SERIES
(written with Roy Johansen)
“With Open Eyes” (short story)
Close Your Eyes
Sight Unseen
The Naked Eye
Night Watch
Look Behind You
Double Blind
CATHERINE LING SERIES
Chasing the Night
What Doesn’t Kill You
Live to See Tomorrow
Your Next Breath
STANDALONES
The Ugly Duckling
Long After Midnight
And Then You Die
Final Target
No One to Trust
Dead Aim
Fatal Tide
Firestorm
On the Run
Killer Dreams
Pandora’s Daughter
Silent Thunder (Iris & Roy Johansen)
Dark Summer
Deadlock
Storm Cycle (Iris & Roy Johansen)
Shadow Zone (Iris & Roy Johansen)
The Perfect Witness
No Easy Target (featuring Margaret Douglas)
Vendetta
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