Pharoah (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Pharaoh

  “Not intentionally, but that is what it appears to be to me.”

  Khai took her arm and led her around the rest of the palace, showing her where he and Asar and the other council held meetings. He stepped through the door of a huge suite. “This is where I lay,” he informed her. Zuri hesitated a bit before following him in. Two or three young women busied themselves cleaning and dusting.

  “Peace be with you,” one of them greeted.

  “And upon you be peace,” Zuri told her. The young woman smiled and left the room with the other two in tow. “They certainly are nice.”

  “They want to make you feel welcome. Come, let me show you the view.” He walked her over to the wall, and he showed her the Nile.

  “One floor up does make a difference. You can actually see the top of the water.” Zuri sighed. “It’s beautiful at night with the waves and tides coming onto shore.”

  “I wish I had the power to widen the Nile for your people. It would help with irrigation and allow you to do a lot of farming.”

  “You cannot change what Amon has created. There must have been some reason why he built it the way he did.”

  “Or why he gave Nubia such glorious wild animals and mines filled with precious treasure.”

  “I figure he did it to give both countries something to talk about. If we both had the same things, life would be boring.”

  “You are a philosopher. “

  Zuri smiled. “I just speak with what I feel in my heart.”

  If he did that, she would not leave his suite of rooms. “Would you care to see the grounds? It’s a bit dark, but I think we can manage.”

  “I’d like that,” she said. She walked away from him and through the door.

  * * * *

  It was a beautiful night. The stars shone brightly in the sky, and the guards peered down on them from their towers. The palace was impressive even at night. Tall columns decorated with etchings of scarabs and fish were built around the entire building. Monuments of long dead pharaohs and huge obelisks and temples stood out in the foreground. There wasn’t much grass, but there was sand as far as the eyes could see.

  “I should like to take you to the Great Temple Complex of Karnak. It’s a grand conglomeration of temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings. It’s not too far away.”

  “It’s getting late.”

  “Are you tired?”

  “No, but you must have something better to do.”

  “If I did, I would be doing it.”

  “Could we do it tomorrow? It’s been a long journey from Kush.”

  “Yes, I apologize. It’s just that I was thinking about your fascination with religion, and I thought you might like to see it.” He escorted her back into the house. “Is there something else you might want to do before you retire?”

  “A swim would be nice.”

  “Ah, finally something we have in common.”

  He tried hard to make conversation, but she was not being a very good guest. Maybe she should have gone with him to Karnak. She heard it was a lovely place. She and Najre were only going to be there for a couple of days, and they might as well take in the sights. It might be a long time before they made it to Thebes again.

  “Do you have something to swim in?” he asked.

  “Not really but I think I can find something.”

  “Just ask Bast. She is knowledgeable of these things.” He quickly pulled her up the stairs, giddy like a child. He deposited her on her floor. “I’ll meet you at the pool. Bast will show you the way.”

  Bast found her a short, sheer, white pleated linen gown that fit perfectly, and then she led her through the palace out to the pool. Khai was there swimming laps. Bast bowed and hurried back inside the palace, leaving the two of them alone.

  “You look beautiful,” Khai replied.

  “It’s a little different than I’m used to.” She dove into the water and swam around.” She went under and stayed for a few minutes before surfacing. Khai was there to greet her.

  He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. “You’re a very good swimmer.”

  “My father taught me. He said it was a good thing to know. He threw Najre and me into the river when we were babies. My mother used to tell me the story. She started screaming, and he laughed and dived in after us.”

  He chuckled. “That sounds horrifying.”

  “I do not remember, but since I am here, I guess I did not drown.” She wiggled out of his arms and swam away. “Would you care to race?”

  Khai dove back under and came up spouting water. “I’ll race you to the other side of the pool.”

  The two of them swam, and with luck, she beat him to the other side. Zuri laughed and teased him for losing to a girl. Khai swept her up into his arms and bounced her on the water, splashing both of them. She did not know when she laughed so much. And then he did an unspeakable thing. He kissed her.

  Khai’s lips bore down on hers, covering them completely. His tongue moved slowly inside her mouth. The sensuality of the act startled her. She had never been kissed before, and it was strange to her. The blood pounded at her temples, and an unwelcome blush crept up her cheeks. Not knowing what to do with her arms, she brought them around his massive neck. Khai deepened the kiss, moving his lips against her slowly. Conflicting emotions ran through her that alternately thrilled and frightened her. His manhood pushed against her stomach. Zuri gasped, and he broke the kiss. A wave of apprehension swept over her as he looked into her eyes. Zuri backed out of his arms and swam to the safety of the edge of the pool.

  He swam over to her. “What is wrong now? You act as though you have never been kissed before.”

  His caustic tone made her flush in shame. “Do not be silly.”

  He touched her cheek. “You are blushing.”

  Zuri knocked his finger away. “I am not.” The embarrassment quickly turned to annoyance. She tried to swim away again, but he caught her before she could. He pulled her to him, pressing her heaving breasts against his chest.

  “Your first kiss. I am honored.” He lowered his lips to hers again, this time kissing her deeply and passionately.

  Zuri swooned in his arms, succumbing to all the emotions roaring through her body. The air around them turned hot, even though they stood up to their waists in water. Khai’s lips burned a trail down her neck, landing just at the top of her breasts. “You are the loveliest flower ever to grace Egypt,” he uttered as he reclaimed her lips. “Just ask me and I will give you the world.”

  “You cannot give me what I want.”

  “I am pharaoh. I can buy you anything.”

  “What I want does not cost money,” she said as she swam away.

  * * * *

  The priest droned on and on. Khai half paid attention but found it hard to concentrate through the prayers and worshiping to their gods. Asar had gone off to talk to Dakari to find out how negotiations were coming with Assyria, and he had left Najre and Zuri at the palace to get acquainted with his mother and sister. After seeing Zuri to her room last night, he went to the throne room and had a talk with his mother. Before it was over, she had made him promise to act like a gentleman with the princess and begged him to give up Mandisa. Funny, he had not thought of her since Zuri arrived. Come to think about it, he had not seen her in the last couple of nights. Maybe it was just her way of letting him know she understood, or she was very mad and plotting how to murder him. He shuddered. Either way, it was bad of him to be thinking such thoughts in the sacred temple. How could he mediate between the realms of the gods and the humans when he could not make a decision on what to do with his life?

  The priests shook the sistrums at him. “Pharaoh, all-powerful and omniscient, the controller of both nature and fertility…” Those types of chants and prayers went on for hours. Usually he liked hearing about all the power that had been invested in him since his father’s demise, but not today. He only had one thing in mind…his birthday celebration. The priests finally ran out of
things to say about him and ended their prayer. Khai walked out of the temple with them, hopped in his chariot, and rode back to the palace. His guards hurried on foot to keep up with him.

  His mother had transformed the hall into a fantasy. The finest woven cloth hung from the ceilings and on priceless statues. Food from all over the kingdom graced the tables and wine chilled in the streams that ran through the room. The musicians were there entertaining guests who had arrived early. Asar waved at him from the atrium as he walked in. He was talking to Dakari who had decided to grace them with his presence long enough to celebrate and wish him good tidings on his birth.

  Dakari hurried over with Asar. He grabbed Khai up in a big hug and beat him soundly on the back. “Asar has been filling me in on everything.”

  “You do know that my great vizier lies.”

  Dakari laughed. “That part I did know. He boasts about holding two beautiful Nubian princesses captive upstairs.” He released him.

  “That part is partially the truth. They arrived the other day and have come to dance at my party.”

  Dakari was nearly as tall as he now and powerfully built from rigorous training. As captain of the Egyptian army, he held a position almost if not more powerful than Khai. They shared the same dark hair and coloring, but Dakari’s eyes were green like their mothers instead of blue like he and their father.

  “He tells me that one of them has you strung out like a panther in heat.”

  Khai rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “I am not strung out. Yes, I am interested in her, but she is not responding to me.”

  “She does not like you.”

  “What’s not to like?” Khai asked. “I can give her the world.”

  “You cannot buy love,” Dakari said as he sat down in the library.

  Khai poured them drinks. “Where did you learn that from?”

  “I have been around,” Dakari boasted.

  Khai cuffed the side of his head. “You better not be saying what I think you are saying. Are you dallying with fallen women?”

  “That depends on what your definition of a fallen woman is? Yes, I have been keeping company with a few women of ill-repute, but what is a lonely soldier to do?”

  “Get a wife,” Asar suggested. “I can fix you up with one. I know this other Nubian princess. She is a really good dancer, and I think she is related to the ones upstairs.”

  “They are cousins.”

  “I am not ready to settle down,” Dakari answered. “I have villages to pillage and wars to win.”

  “I am going to remind you of that when you are very old and alone.”

  “I am never going to age. I am pharaoh’s brother.”

  Khai laughed. “Unfortunately, neither you nor I can do anything about that.”

  “What time is Bandru arriving?” Dakari asked.

  “He should be getting in later this afternoon. Just in time for the party.

  Bandru was coming to talk about Assyria and to celebrate Khai’s birthday. Bandru was in semi-retirement now and only called on for the most important matters.

  “We have much to talk about,” Khai replied. “I hope my party does not last too long or we will not get a chance to talk until tomorrow.”

  “You think you will be able to talk or hold a decent conversation once Zuri dances?” Asar asked jokingly.

  “Who is Zuri?” Dakari asked.

  “One of the princesses.”

  “You are not talking about little Zuri, King Bassey’s daughter?”

  “You remember her?” Asar asked.

  “Yes, she used to follow me around like a little lost kitten.”

  Asar laughed. “Well, the little kitten has grown into a fierce tigress.”

  “I don’t think she would like you referring to her as a feline,” Khai said. “She has a pretty nasty temper.”

  Asar scoffed. “Unlike you, pharaoh, I am not afraid of women. I know how put them in their place.”

  Khai frowned. “I am not afraid of women. I am just smart enough not to get into arguments with them…especially this one.”

  “What are the two of you talking about? Little Zuri barely spoke.”

  “She has changed,” Asar insisted. “You will see later on.”

  “You make me want to stay just to see my brother bow down to a woman.”

  Khai glowered at him. “You better get yourself in the solarium and speak to mother. You know she has been anxiously awaiting your arrival.”

  Dakari rose. “I cannot help that I am her favorite.” He strolled out of the room.

  Khai grumbled. “He is not the favorite.”

  Asar nodded. “Yes he is. Your mother just tolerates you because you are pharaoh.”

  “I have not always been pharaoh.”

  Asar disagreed. “You were born to be pharaoh.”

  He pouted. “I would rather be the favorite.”

  * * * *

  Butterflies jumped in the pit of her stomach as she waited for the time to pass. Her mind kept replaying the kiss she shared with Khai last night and the uncomfortable situation at breakfast earlier when she tried to pretend that nothing changed between them when she talked with his mother and sister. Of course, Khai did not make it easy on her, looking at her with those big blue eyes when he thought she wasn’t looking. Najre hadn’t been any help either, talking constantly about the fun time she had with Asar.

  As if by magic, Asar appeared in the same spot Khai had stood a couple of days ago. She’d been avoiding this one since her arrival, and it appeared her luck had run out.

  “May I enter?”

  “Can I refuse?”

  “What a strange sense of humor you have developed.” He entered the sitting area and sat down. He was by far the youngest vizier she knew and certainly the handsomest. That fact added to the problem. She never forgot the look he gave her at the coronation when he saw her for the first time in years or that smile.

  “Najre told me that she had a lovely time last night.”

  “Yes, she’s quite entertaining and lovely. I promised to take her out tomorrow and show her around Luxor if I am not too busy.”

  “Like a date?”

  He smiled at her. “Are you jealous?”

  “No.”

  He crossed his legs and got comfortable, like he planned to stay for a while. She looked him over…smartly dressed in a brown and tan robe with matching neckpiece and bands. His sandals were crafted of fine leather and complemented his feet. His feet, she noted, were not quite as long or large as most men. He did not wear much in the way of cosmetics…just a touch to the eyes with kohl to emphasize their size.

  “You answered that too quickly.”

  “What do you want, Asar? What do you want to discuss with me?”

  He smiled. “Straight and to the point.”

  She nodded. “Always. I figure that is the best way on how to deal with a person like you.”

  He feigned being hurt. “A person like me?”

  “One who may or may not have Khai’s best interest in mind.”

  “He is my best friend. I always have his best interest in mind. He is looking for a bride. That is why I am here.”

  “To proposition me?”

  He shook his head. “No, to find out how you feel about Khai.”

  Zuri sat down. “I do not know how I feel about him. He is pharaoh and an old friend. So it is safe to say that I like him.”

  “But do you love him?”

  A good question. “I do not really know since I have never been in love before.”

  “But there is some kind of chemistry going on between the two of you. I felt it at breakfast.”

  Zuri blushed.

  “So I did not imagine it.”

  “Look, I’ll admit that he desires me, but it is too soon to know if it is love. Anyway, I may never find out since I am leaving in two days.”

  “Ah, yes, the dance. I am looking forward to seeing it. Najre tells me that the two of you have been dancing together for years.”


  “Dancing is a part of our culture, and I would have gladly danced at the coronation had he not ordered me to do so.”

  Asar smiled sheepishly. “About that. Khai didn’t order you. I sent the message. I take full responsibility.”

  “Then why am I here making amends for my actions?”

  “I am afraid that is my fault, too. Your refusal to dance appeared as an insult to the pharaoh since everyone else thought he sent the invitations, too. So, in order to make him look good in the eyes of the other guests, you have to dance.”

  “Now it is all beginning to make sense. It does clear up the doubt whether Khai is a chauvinist when it comes to women. I should have known that you were behind this.”

  He did not even pretend to be ashamed.

  “I will dance for him, show him respect in front of his people, and then go on my merry way.”

  “That might not be as easy as you think. I have the feeling that Khai is not ready to let you go.”

  “He might be pharaoh, but I have a life to get back to.”

  “He is pharaoh. He should come first in your life.”

  “Yes, yes, I know all that. So, because he is pharaoh I am supposed to drop all my duties as a princess of Nubia and just hang around Thebes like one of his concubines?”

  “What concubines?”

  Zuri rolled her eyes at him. “I am not foolish. I know what goes on with men. A man who looks like Khai does not sleep alone.”

  “What about a man like me?”

  “You are no different, but at least Khai is discrete. Your exploits are legendary.”

  He smiled. “I do not know if I should be glad or insulted.”

  Zuri patted him on his knee. “Neither. You should be ashamed.”

  Asar rose. “I think it is time for me to leave.”

  “I know you are not offended.”

  “No. I am just not used to hearing my faults from a woman I might or might not be interested in.”

  Zuri opened her mouth to complain but just gave up. Asar smiled and left the room. She was only alone a few minutes before Najre entered and came over to her.

  “Was that Asar I just saw leaving here?”