“I think you need to show me how much you love me and the lengths you are willing to go to keep the truth of me being alive hidden,” she said against his lips. “Because if the goddesses find out I’m free, and have been for eighteen years, we will both be punished, if not killed.”
Khaldun let his fingers dive into her sweet heat and assaulted her mouth with his tongue. He needed to claim her. No, they needed to claim each other before their djinn natures, then their budding passion would simmer, and they’d return to their human façades. Khaldun’s true nature had been released, and nothing but sex or violence would settle the vibrant blue glow writhing within the lines of his tattoos. Khalida was the same, only her tattoos were not tattoos at all. They were hieroglyphs etched into her skin that shimmered silver, depending upon her mood.
She’d been forced all her life to hide who and what she was. The goddesses expected her to be more like her holier-than-thou sister, but ever since she’d been with Khaldun, she could be all she was, without fear of him shunning her for it. They were quite the pair, a watcher and the watched, in love and in hiding. Nothing else mattered but being together. They’d risked everything the day she and Amani were released. It had been a mistake or fate, depending on how you viewed it, but nonetheless, the outcome was exactly as it should be.
Khalida had met Khaldun when she and Amani were originally imprisoned. He was a watcher of wayward djinn—djinn who’d fallen out of favor with the gods and goddesses. Shortly after the twins were captured, Khaldun was assigned the duty of reporting any incidents that gave him pause—anything that could endanger the world if they were ever to be released.
The twin girls were unique and more powerful than expected. Their power was too great and thus was supposed to have been hidden away forever. No one could have predicted human archaeologists would unearth them and inadvertently release them. It was a misfortune Khalida and Khaldun took full advantage of.
Khalida didn’t dwell on the day she was freed. She’d made certain she’d remain alive, but without Amani to keep her from living her life as she saw fit. However, now that she could sense her sister, things would have to change once again.
“Your mind is elsewhere, and I need your sole focus,” Khaldun commanded as he moved his fingers purposely to bring her attention back to the present.
Khalida arched her back and moaned. “I’m focused.”
“You are now,” he said, hovering over her naked body.
Khaldun waited until she was ready for release before he entered her. The two writhed in pleasure until they both were sated. The moment they came, the symbols on their skin ceased to pulse. Their djinn sides were satisfied, and now they could focus on what lay before them.
Khalida sighed, and Khaldun pulled her closer. “I will find Amani, and I will fix this for us. Nothing has changed.”
“I want to believe that, but I’ve evaded my fate for too long. I’m afraid now something drastic will have to happen to make any of this right, and we still haven’t found a way to unlink my and Amani’s lifelines.”
“We don’t need to. We will simply trap her again, and this time, we’ll make sure she’ll never be found,” he said, and kissed her. “We’ll make a plan tomorrow. For now, sleep.”
Khalida was strong, hardened to the world, but in Khaldun’s arms, she was a young girl in love with a man twice her age and three times her strength. Just as he was putty in her hands. She knew he’d go to the ends of the earth for her, and soon they were about to find out how far that journey would take them both.
Chapter 9
Nathan woke to the sound of Amani moaning and writhing on the bed. At first he thought something was wrong, but as he watched her, he realized she appeared as though she was pleasuring herself. He was shocked. Never before had he seen a woman like this. Nathan knew he should try to wake her, but he too was aroused as he watched her move her hands over her now exposed breasts. He wondered what she could be dreaming about that would have her doing what she was doing. However, when she called out the name Khaldun, he wondered who that could be. A lost love, perhaps?
Nathan moved to sit up and froze when he heard her gasp and cry out. Amani looked over at him, his hands in the air in hopes she’d understand it wasn’t him touching her. She blushed and fixed her dress to cover herself.
“I—I don’t understand. What was happening to me?”
Nathan shook his head. “I—I don’t know,” he replied in a rush. “I woke up, and you were—um, well, yeah.”
Amani sat up and bowed her head. “I’ve never felt my sister’s emotions so vividly and so . . .” She trailed off.
Nathan stood, grabbed the blanket that had fallen on the floor, and wrapped it around her shoulders before stepping away. “It seemed like you were dreaming or in a trance. You said the name Khaldun. Do you know who that is?”
Amani’s eyes went wide, and she stared at Nathan, as though unsure of what to say.
“Is he your betrothed or something? Husband?”
“No,” Amani snapped. “I am not mated. I’ve never been with a man in such a way.”
“Oh, well, who is this Khaldun, then?”
“He is a watcher. Our guardian. Assigned to watch over Khalida and me. Nothing more.”
“Okay, well, what do you think it meant that you were . . . um . . . ,” Nathan stammered, “calling out his name?”
“There is only one way.” Rage fell over Amani’s features. “I was feeling my sister’s emotions. She is alive and doing well, it seems.”
“You two are that connected? Wow.”
“We are twins. Forced to feel one another’s emotions. Our lifelines are interconnected. If one of us dies, the other will follow. The same is true with everything else.”
“Are you kidding?”
She shook her head. “No. I have not been able to sense her all this time. I assume it’s because I was trapped in your father’s camera, but now that I am free, our link will reconnect, and she will be able to sense me, too.”
“Is that bad?”
“I don’t know, exactly. I guess it will depend on if my sister is with Khaldun, or if she is his captive.”
Nathan crossed to the window and opened the curtains. “It’s morning. We can go talk to Calla Lily and see if she has any information about how the camera came to be in her possession.”
Amani nodded and pulled the blanket around her tighter. “It’s a start, at least.”
Nathan checked his watch. It was barely seven o’clock, but when he opened the door to the hall, the smell of breakfast cooking tempted his every sense.
“Are you hungry?” Nathan said as he opened the door to their room. “They’re serving breakfast downstairs. We can grab something to eat before going to see Calla Lily, if you’re interested.”
“Will they be serving the meatloaf you spoke of?”
Nathan laughed. “We do not eat meatloaf for breakfast.”
“Then what do you eat? Grains and beer?”
“No, we eat eggs, bacon, toast, and potatoes.”
“Okay,” Amani said as she stood, the blanket slipping off her shoulders as she did. Nathan sucked in a breath, and Amani looked down at her dress. “What’s wrong?”
“I think you should wear this,” he replied as he reached for his coat and offered it to Amani. “At least until we can get you something more to wear.”
“I don’t understand. What is wrong with what I am wearing?”
Nathan paused to gather his words so as not to offend her. “Women of the day tend to wear more modest clothing. I’m not sure the people of Havenwood Falls will understand why you’re not covered.”
“Oh,” Amani breathed.
Nathan held out the frock coat for her to put on, and she took it without another word. He buttoned the front and stared at her for a moment.
“You look great both ways,” Nathan said, before he kissed her forehead and reached for her hand. “Besides, if I’m being honest, I don’t want any other man look
ing at you the way I look at you.”
Amani blushed and squeezed his hand.
The two walked down the hall and took the stairs to head toward the dining room. Madame Luiza grinned when she saw Nathan.
“Only here a day, and you’ve already found a beautiful young woman to accompany you to breakfast?” She cast a glance at Amani. “You’re lovely.”
“What are you?” Amani asked.
“That’s an odd question, dear.”
“Not really. You are something different, but nothing I’ve encountered.”
“What can I get you two for breakfast?” Madame Luiza said with an emotionless smile.
“Two of whatever you are serving sounds great,” Nathan blurted, hoping to ease the awkwardness.
“I’ll get right on it. You can sit right over there, Nathan.”
“Thank you, Madame Luiza. She’s not familiar with the social mores of the time. I’m sorry. I don’t think she meant any offense.”
She patted him on the shoulder. “None taken. We’ll get you fed and then you can take a walk around the town,” Madame Luiza said before stopping short. Amani was walking toward the table, and Madame Luiza’s eyes went to her feet. “Where are her shoes?”
Nathan’s eyes went wide. Shoes. How could I have forgotten shoes for her?
“She must have forgotten them upstairs. I’ll make sure to grab her a pair before we head out,” Nathan said in a rush.
“Very well. I’ll bring your food to the table here soon.”
“Thank you.”
Nathan looked at his watch as Amani was taking her last bite of toast. It was eight o’clock, and he was anxious to see Calla Lily—anxious to see if she could explain where she got the camera from. Maybe then he could understand who and what Amani was.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Yes,” Amani replied after she swallowed her toast.
“Was everything to your liking?” Madame Luiza asked as she reached for their empty plates.
“Your food is wonderful. Almost magical, in fact,” Amani replied. “I’ve never had toast before. Especially with this wiggly blue stuff.”
“It’s blueberry jam.” Madame Luiza laughed. “It’s homemade.”
“I like it very much.”
“Well, I will save you some for tomorrow.”
Nathan stood and pulled out the chair for Amani. “Your cooking is delicious,” he added.
“I’ll expect you both for dinner later.”
“We’ll be here.” Nathan grinned. “I was wondering how I get to Calla Lily’s shop.”
“That’s easy. Out the front door and to the left. Go down Main Street, and it’ll be on your left. She opens promptly at eight-thirty, and if I know her, she’ll be expecting you.”
“Normally, I would say that was odd, but after the past twenty-four hours, nothing is shocking. I will welcome her foresight.”
When they walked out of the dining hall, Nathan asked Amani to stay put. “We don’t have any shoes for you to wear, so I am going to grab a pair of mine until we can get you ones of your own. Okay?”
She nodded and watched him as he took the steps two at a time. Nathan returned a few moments later with a pair of work boots.
“Here, put these on,” he said, kneeling down to help her into them. “They’ll keep your feet warm too.”
When he stood back up, they were face to face with one another. Amani reached up and touched his face. “You are so kind to me.”
“It’s nothing,” he said offhandedly. “Ready to go?”
Amani nodded as Nathan reached for her hand.
The two of them walked slowly over the cobblestone streets, Amani tripping slightly in the boots that were at least four sizes too big for her.
“Can you smell the dew on the spruce trees or hear the heartbeat of the Aspens?” she asked distractedly, her head tipped toward the sky.
Nathan looked at her. “No. How can you?”
“I’m connected to the energy of all nature,” she said as they reached the storefront, “and this place pulses with it.”
Chapter 10
It was 8:23 on the dot when Nathan and Amani arrived at Callie’s Trinkets and What Nots, and as Madame Luiza had said, she was waiting for them.
“I trust you enjoyed your breakfast,” Calla Lily said as she opened the door.
Nathan simply shook his head. “What is it with this town? You and Madame Luiza seem to just know things.”
“I told you, Nathan. It’s filled with a magical energy. Everyone here has a gift,” Amani replied, matter-of-factly.
“Something like that,” Calla Lily said, motioning for Amani and Nathan to come in. “Welcome to Havenwood Falls . . .” Her voice trailed off for a second before continuing, “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Amani,” she replied as she stepped inside.
Calla Lily tilted her head to Nathan as he stepped in behind Amani. “Your name means wishes and desires. How apropos.”
Amani turned back to Calla Lily. “You are very gifted. Most do not know that.”
Nathan watched the two women for a moment before shifting his focus to the store.
“Your shop is quite large and well stocked with treasures,” he remarked, eyeing a glass chalice with a Greco-Roman scene featured on the front of it. “Is this a . . . ?”
“It is.”
“And are these . . . ?”
“They are.”
“How did you come to acquire such treasures?” The excitement in Nathan’s voice was unmistakable.
“Sometimes in the same way I acquired your father’s satchel.”
Nathan arched his brow. “And how was that exactly?”
“Unexpectedly,” she replied.
Amani, too, was mesmerized by the large space. It was filled with this and that—treasures or trash, depending on who was looking. To Amani, everything was beautiful, new, and interesting. She wandered over to a rack of clothes near the window and ran her hands over them. The unique fabrics, textures, and colors were all so different from what she was used to. She’d worn nothing but a sheer linen sheath for centuries. “These are beautiful.”
“You’re more than welcome to try on anything you like,” Calla Lily said as she looked over at Nathan. “Your boots and coat, I presume?”
He sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Yes. She is in need of some clothes in the same way I am in need of some answers.”
Calla Lily grinned. “How about we start with her first, and then we can move on to the questions and answers.”
Nathan nodded and laughed as he watched Amani twirl with a dress in her hand. “That’s probably a good idea.”
Amani and Calla Lily worked together to gather some clothes and shoes to try on. When they’d narrowed it down to a few things, Nathan interjected his opinion. It didn’t take long for Amani to find an outfit she looked amazing in, but then again, he was sure she’d look good in a potato sack. Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off Amani. He watched Calla Lily fix her hair and wondered what it was about her that had him so enthralled. None of this made any sense, but even if he was willing to indulge the fantasy, what would the future look like for him, for her—for them? She wasn’t human, and he was. How was that going to work? Perhaps Calla Lily’s information about his father’s satchel would come with answers about Amani and whether or not she could remain with him, but for now, he’d simply enjoy the moment.
“How do I look?” Amani asked.
Nathan stared at her for a long moment before replying, “Beautiful. It seems to be my favorite word to describe you.”
Amani’s smile radiated. “Oh, good. I was hoping it would please you. I couldn’t tell what you were feeling when you were watching me try on all those garments.”
Nathan took her hand in his. “It was joy. Nothing more.”
Amani’s smile faded. “Why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying . . . exactly,” Nathan replied as he dropped his head. �
�I’m trying to understand all of this and thinking about how we go forward from here is all.”
Amani reached up and placed her hand over his heart. “One step at a time until we find the answers we seek.”
He exhaled a breath and put his hand on hers. “One step at a time then.”
They both turned to see Calla Lily watching them from behind the counter. “How about we start with one answer at a time,” she offered.
Nathan took Amani’s hand, and the two of them walked over to Calla Lily. “We are going to be here a while. We have lots of questions.”
“I’ve got all day.” She grinned. “What shall we start with? I promise nothing but honesty.”
“What are you?” Amani asked. “I know you are something, but I’ve never encountered anyone like you. You are otherworldly, like me, are you not?”
“I’m sorry. She keeps asking everyone that,” Nathan replied nervously.
“It’s fine, and she’s right. I’m what’s referred to as a gypsy,” she said, and turned to show them the mark of the gypsies on the back of her neck. “I have the ability to read you,” Calla Lily admitted.
“You’re a mystic?” Nathan blurted. “I mean, not that there is anything wrong with that,” he offered, realizing he may have unintentionally offended her.
“No offense taken, Nathan, and yes, I am, but I am more than a mystic.”
“Do you know, then, what I am?” Amani asked.
“I have an idea, but I’ve never encountered your kind either. I can see more if you let me,” she said, reaching for Amani’s hand. “I can tell a lot by your palm, and I can tell you even more if I use my tarot cards.”
“Can you fill in the missing pieces for us? We are lost. We do not understand how it is that I came to be here. I was in Egypt with my sister, Khalida, and I knew Samuel, well, met him,” she corrected, “before I lost my sister and was trapped.”
“And it seems like my father’s disappearance is connected to Amani’s entrapment.”
“I’ll do my best,” Calla Lily said as Amani turned her hand over so her palm was visible. “You said you were with your sister?”
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