Soul Unbound (Key to the Cursed Book 3)

by Jean Murray

  “Touch it again.” She moved closer so their bodies touched. Her hand slid to his wrist and held it out. “Earth, wind, water and…”

  “Fire,” he said, seeing the element form in his mind. Blue flames ignited between his fingertips and the surface.

  “Our powers are grounded in these four elements, although the measure varies in each of us.” Siya leaned into his chest. “Fire cannot exist without air and heat. Fire erupts because you will it to.” She broke contact, walked to the waterfall and held out her hand. The falling water froze in place, suspended. “We draw strength from them, manipulate them.” Removing her hand, the water began to flow again.

  He remembered the first time he saw her burst from the dark depths of the island’s sea. So at ease. He stared at the seemingly random hieroglyphics carved into the black stone throughout the room. Symbols for the Goddess of the Nile. The Nile River, the very water feeding the Underworld River that gave birth to him. Would it be any wonder Siya and he would be drawn to each other?

  “This is your mother’s temple,” he said, joining her at the water’s edge. It astonished him at how well the threads of fate were weaved.

  Her gaze jerked to meet his. “How do you know that?”

  He ran his fingers through water. Despite his will, it merely slowed. Siya owned it. “Truth and destiny can be found here.”

  “I suppose it can.” She stared down at the pool. “I look upon it with a heavy heart. A memory too sharp to bear.”

  “Yet, you are at peace.”

  “Oddly, yes. It is the magic of the temple, I suspect. Come, there is more.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the pools. She entered a large crack. The narrowness forced him to turn sideways. Warm air whistled through the tighter corners, singing a chorus of history.

  He ducked under an overhang and the ceiling opened up to what he swore was another realm. A mystical voice carried in the wind. Another turquoise pool stretched out before them, encased in volcanic rock. Similar to the smaller pool, this one had a larger waterfall dropping from the ceiling. Plush green foliage clung to the walls and hung down from overhead. Bright flowers of orange, pink and yellow crawled up a large branch reaching out over the water. He could not discern all the floral scents saturating the air. Only lilacs commanded his attention.

  Siya released his hand and parted the soft vines hanging from the tree above. Lost in the green curtain of vegetation, he weaved along the soft moss path following her footprints.

  Paradise had no meaning here. It was beyond heavenly.

  He could be tempted to stay forever, far out of Bast’s reach. Now that he thought about it, Bast had not called upon him since sending him to Siya’s side. Despite his concern and attempt to dwell on such things, the power of the temple diluted his sour thoughts.

  He ducked under a tree branch and came to a clearing with fruit trees in perfect parallel lines. “Siya.” His voice stalled as his gaze fell upon a goddess in a bright white flowing gown with ice green eyes framed by brown hair. Extraordinary beauty stared back at him. He recognized the sharp angle of her cheek, full lips and almond eyes. Siya stood with her shoulders back and her chin tipped up, like royalty. The gown draped from her shoulders in such a way his mark was revealed. “When did you have the means to change?” he asked, attempting to cover the flush of heat.

  Siya’s amused gaze tracked down the front of him. Bomani followed. His utility clothing had been replaced with black silk pants and no shirt. “Okay,” Bomani said in disbelief. He walked forward and scanned the room. “My apology, goddess. I am looking for a friend.”

  “Funny.” She smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. Turning towards the tree, she plucked two red apples from the branches.

  His gaze consumed her exposed skin. So much flesh in need of his attention. He stepped up behind her, his fingers itching to touch her.

  “Apple?”

  “Should I be concerned?” he asked, a certain legend coming to mind.

  She bit her lower lip, failing to suppress her grin. “Stop with the jokes.”

  He chuckled and gently grasped her waist. “I cannot seem to help myself.”

  “It is the magic of the temple talking,” she replied, attempting to bring seriousness to the subject.

  “Are you sure?” He trailed his lips along her exposed neck and shoulder and slipped his hands under the fabric of her dress. Her silky skin heated under his touch.

  “We really need to talk,” she said on a long exhaled breath. Despite her words she made no attempts to pull from his grasp, but tilted her head farther to the side.

  Bomani’s gums burned and his fangs ached to taste her. He widened his mouth, intent on consuming her. At first prick against her skin, she jerked away. He closed his jaws around empty air.

  She backed away and covered the small droplet of blood on her neck. “We talk first.”

  “Then let us talk,” he said, frustrated and unfulfilled.

  She walked the path on the opposite side of the trees. “On the beach when we first met, I was meeting Haru. Do you know of him?”

  Bomani nodded, although he never met the god personally. “The neutral party among the protectors.”

  “He was my mother’s friend and confidant. Raised me in her absence.”

  Bomani stopped and turned to look at her through the branches, annoyed she needed the barrier between them. “When did you lose her?”

  “Six months after my birth.”

  He knew the handful of names of the gods who had passed onto the afterlife and Anuket was not one of them. It was rare a god died, let alone with honorable intentions. If not by the Mevt daggers, then it was self-inflicted. He held his tongue and followed her along the orchard’s path.

  “I grew up believing she killed herself because she could not raise the child of the monster who attacked her.” She fidgeted with the fabric of her dress and raised her eyes to meet his. “All lies. Menthu did not rape my mother. They were bonded.”

  “Menthu bonded?” Bomani failed to hide his horror.

  “I think this is where they used to meet.”

  Bomani ducked under the tree’s canopy. Siya’s life and behavior was beginning to take shape before his eyes. “What happened?”

  “The Council decided it was an unholy union. They took her from him. The separation was too much.”

  Bomani had only known the monster. Menthu instigated war among humans for sport. When that was not enough, he released the reven curse upon the human realm. The God of War had declared war against the Pantheons and almost killed Asar during the battle of Thebes. It was hard to digest the terrifying male had been in love. Even harder to believe the Goddess of the Nile had actually loved the monster. In all the days Bomani hunted Menthu, he never considered the God of War’s motivation. Nor did he care for someone so innately evil.

  “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.”

&
nbsp; “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.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “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.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  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 y
ou.”

  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.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  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.