Soul Reborn (Key to the Cursed Book 1)

by Jean Murray

  Asar kissed her face. Lilly panted heavily against his neck frozen in an eternal contraction of pleasure. He could almost see his dark power bloom as his seed raced through her body. He stroked her cheek, watching her body be marked by him—a very intense experience, especially for a human. Fear flickered across her eyes. The change would deeply alter her physical and spiritual being.

  “Shh... You are okay,” he spoke softly, forcing her into a hypnotic state.

  He rolled to the side and pulled her into his chest. Not wanting her to see the emotional torture on his face, he pushed her trance into a deeper state of sleep.

  “What have you done to me?” he whispered against her skin.

  * * *

  Lilly jolted awake and in a state of complete disorientation. She rolled onto her back and found herself very much alone. A soft white canopy of linen draped across the ceiling above the enormous, gold four-poster bed. Multiple torches cast a yellowish orange glow across an expanse of neutral sandstone. She pulled one of the silk sheets around her naked body and sat up.

  The rush of memories flowed over her body like a warm wave all the way to her toes. With her eyes closed, she could pretend his hands still caressed her body. A strange energy pulsed through her cells, making her intrinsically aware of every beat of her heart and breath of her lungs.

  You will carry my mark.

  She gasped, remembering Asar’s words, and jumped from the bed. The sound of her bare feet hitting the stone floor echoed through the large room. She halted in front of one of the large mirrors. Over her heart rested a mark identical to the pectoral pendants that hung around his neck. She touched the black hieroglyphics imbedded deep in the layers of her skin, branded all the way to her soul.

  She never acted so impulsively before, but something about him unraveled her senses. Kit’s words kept echoing in her head. Live it up now, it may be your last. If this was her last, she’d die a very happy and satisfied woman. Her dry spell was over, and what a way to end it—making love to the God of the Underworld.

  Her stomach dropped. She’d sold her soul—a sacrifice she would make again in order to stop the spread of the revens—but what about her sisters?

  The loss weighed on her conscience like an iron yoke. She only hoped Asar would let her continue to hunt the goddess. She would correct her mistake with her life, if necessary.

  Only then would her sisters truly be safe.

  CHAPTER fourteen

  Asar dropped his robe and lowered himself into the bath. He needed to clear his mind, and the only way to do that was to wash Lilly’s sweet scent from his skin. Having severed his ability to absorb her emotions, he searched frantically for the hate and contempt he had grown so fond of over the years. Not difficult to find, the familiar darkness came raging back with the hunger. The beast inside him violently protested, demanding he reconnect with Lilly to feed his need. He refused, despite the painful ache in his chest. He needed to stay focused. The goddess Kepi and her conspirators would pay severely for what they had done. She had robbed him of everything, his soul and his beloved son.

  After searching these past five years, the gods had given him his first solid lead in finding Kepi. Instead of capitalizing on it, he had become a victim of his own blinding hatred and allowed the goddess to get the better of him. Again! The thought sent acid burning through his veins. He steeped in the pain and shed more of the residual positive emotion. He wanted to be free of it. To leave nothing but his rotting shell.

  A servant entered the water behind him. Without looking back, he barked his commands. “I want my skin scrubbed. The harder, the better.” The scent of Lilly only seemed to get stronger, and he wanted nothing of it left on his skin. “What are you waiting for?”

  The water rippled around his waist and he felt the heat of the servant at his back. Instead of a hard course sponge, soft hands touched his back, and caressed his flank. Asar growled. No one touched him in that manner without his permission. He whipped around in the water to reprimand her, only to find the mischievous eyes and beautiful smile of his huntress.

  “Lilly,” he said, surprised and immediately stepped back. Just the sight of her dissolved his acrid mood. Tightening his body, he willed his anger to swell in his chest. He wanted to punish her for affecting him the way she did.

  She stepped forward and placed her hands on his chest. “I assume I’ve over stepped my bounds.”

  He grimaced. Her touch sent a multitude of electrical shocks through his system. Losing his struggle—and quickly—Asar needed to act.

  Push her away. Tell her to leave. Teleport her ass right out of here.

  Pulling her lower lip between her teeth, she picked up the sponge and laid it on his chest. “Seems like I’m breaking all sorts of rules since meeting you.”

  He inhaled sharply. The rough sponge grazed his nipple and down his abdomen. His cock hardened instantly, despite willing it not to. Unable to stop himself, his gaze gravitated to the mark on her chest and the long curve of her naked body. The anger mixed with sexual tension fueled a dangerous mix of lust.

  Like a lion taking down prey, Asar brutally grabbed her by the hips and locked her tight against his pelvis. His aggressiveness startled her. Her hands went to his chest.

  When she accused him at one point of wanting to take a bite out of her, she was not far from the truth. All he wanted to do was sink his incisors into the tender flesh of her neck. In the gentle curve of her shoulder he grazed his teeth up the length of her neck to her ear. Low in his throat, he vibrated a growl of warning. He fully expected her to push him away. He wanted her to push him away.

  Against her nature as a fighter, Lilly opened the most vulnerable part of herself to him. Her soft probing hands slid up his chest and around his neck, and pulled him in tighter to her throat. It was all he could do not to follow through on his threat. He closed his eyes fighting his beastly desires under control. Despite all his anger and hatred, he did not want to hurt her.

  The heat and sweetness of her soul seeped into his body. The ache of his hunger subsided, along with the rage he so desperately wanted to hold onto. How was this happening?

  He pulled away to look into her bright green eyes, which were confident, but guarded. Her boldness was like putting her hand into a lion’s cage to see how it would react. Would it bite or accept what it was given?

  He would not mind doing a little of both at the moment.

  Keeping her tight to his body, he crushed Lilly against the stone tiled wall of the tub. He reminded himself she required a gentler touch. Relaxing his grip, he slid his hands under her round bottom and pulled her legs up and around his hips. His hardened cock pressed into her soft, wet flesh.

  Lilly’s sultry gaze remained steady with only quick glances down to his lips. She waited instinctively, the desire on her face evident. Whether she sensed his state of mind or not, she gave him control. Slowly coaxing the lion out of his den.

  Damn if it did not do him in.

  He shifted her weight into one hand, and grasped behind her neck. He hovered above her lips and drew in a breath when she exhaled. With it came a prickling energy filling his lungs. The depth and rate of her breathing remained even and level, despite the tremor shimmering through her body. The warmth of her arousal encircled his hardened flesh, but she remained agonizingly still, taming the beast.

  Asar’s resolve broke first. He closed the distance between their lips and hungrily sealed their fate. Instantly, she tightened her legs around his waist and rocked against him. He arched back with a gasp. She seized the opportunity and slid her lips and tongue down the side of his neck, caressing and nipping his most sensitive areas while continuing her seductive grind against his pelvis.

  He cursed and shifted her higher on his waist to seat his cock in one smooth motion. Despite his size and the urgency of his thrusts, she accepted him entirely. Her orgasm broke quickly and aggressively, strangling him in pure pleasure. A primal roar escaped him as he came in sharp spasms.


  Racked by heavy tremors, he dropped to his knees in the bath, and buried his face in her neck. The pain and hunger in his chest dissipated, his anger nearly forgotten.

  She started to run her fingers through his hair. He inhaled a rare breath and sighed, feeling the rush of her life force surge within his dead body. Every cell tingled with energy. Much to his surprise, he did not need to consume her soul to sate his hunger.

  Only when her breathing slowed and his muscles relaxed did he slide her back onto her own feet. She sunk all the way into the water, dunking her head beneath its surface. Coming back up, she blew out a breath and smoothed her wet hair back from her face. She grabbed the sponge and reached out to him.

  Asar caught her wrist. “You do not have to do this,” he said, harsher than he intended. Lilly seemed completely unaware how she twisted and abused his mind and body in the most erotic way. She asked nothing of him. In fact, he held all the cards.

  “Trust me. I’m doing this for purely selfish reasons.” She grinned and slid her soapy hand down over his still rigid cock. His balls tightened instantly.

  He sucked in air and arched his neck. The corner of her mouth twitched. She moved onto another area of his body, and traced the lengths of his corded musculature. Watching her meticulously wash every inch of his skin gave him a strangely invigorating rush.

  Truly beguiling.

  Lilly handed him the sponge and turned her back toward him, pulling her hair to the side. He cocked an eyebrow. A god wash a human? Inexplicably, he found his hand with the sponge against her skin, following her spine down to her bottom. His other hand joined the slow caress. How shockingly intimate and sensual. He turned her and started to wash the fine curves of her breasts and hips. Completely lost in the sensation of his lathered hand against her skin, he failed to notice when the last of his dark emotions evaporated completely.

  When he finished his exploration of her tight body, Asar pulled her into his lap. In uncharted territory both physically and emotionally, he remained quiet for several minutes, unsure what to even to say to her. Once the euphoria ended, he would again descend into his dark abyss— he knew this.

  Thankfully, she seemed lost in her own thoughts. He gently brushed his thumb over his mark on her chest. Did she regret her decision? Unfortunately, her eyes gave no indication of her feelings.

  He shifted her slightly to make eye contact. “I need to meet with someone before we return. When you come to serve me, you will see them with greater frequency.”

  She swallowed and gave a simple nod.

  CHAPTER fifteen

  Chewing on her fingernail, Lilly paced the floor of Asar’s room. She would rather face a swarm of revens than meet more gods. Who was she fooling here? Asar was out of her league on a multitude of levels. She chastised herself for getting too consumed and drawn in by him. She never had great luck with men, and the last one turned out to be a disaster. This one would be no different. What the hell was she thinking?

  Obviously, she’d fried her brain out on the beach because she had slept with a man—no, correction, a god— who threatened her and her sisters. How could she trust him to follow through on his promises? He could change his mind as he saw fit and she’d be powerless to do anything about it. She yanked her nail out of her mouth and sighed.

  Despite all her regrets, she’d love to repeat what had happened in the bath just an hour ago. Her clit tingled just thinking about the orgasm he gave her. His body couldn’t be any more perfect. And, god, the size of his penis would make any woman beg to be bedded. Although he seemed different since they first met, how long that would last? He was very quick to remind her of her place.

  His servant.

  Trying to calm her nerves, she looked out over the veranda at the beach and slow moving water. It was peaceful here, nothing like what she had to return to. A flash of guilt washed over her. She left her sisters unattended. How much time had passed? What if something happened and she wasn’t there to take care of it? Surely, if Asar knew about it, he would take them back immediately.

  “Lilly.”

  Asar’s strong voice sounded behind her. Taking a deep breath, she turned with a small smile on her face. A gorgeous brunette female and an equally handsome male in a dark black robe stood next to Asar. Despite their placid facial expressions, they unsuccessfully hid the astonished look in their eyes. The two gave each other a furtive glance before the female smiled.

  Uncertain as to the proper protocol for meeting deities, Lilly fidgeted. The male looked at Asar with a half-eaten smile that communicated some unspoken male message.

  “My name is Nebt,” the female said, “and this is my husband, Inpu.”

  Lilly smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  Nebt held out her hand in an odd sort of way with her palm down. Lilly glanced at Asar. Shake the goddess’ hand or kiss it? He just nodded his head.

  Taking a deep breath, Lilly reached out and gently touched her palm to Nebt’s. A slight tingle manifested between their hands and the goddess’ eyes narrowed— had Lilly just been sized up?— but Nebt’s smile never wavered. Finally, Nebt pulled her hand away, looped her arm through Lilly’s, and led her down a long corridor, away from the men.

  “So. Have you enjoyed your stay here in Aaru?”

  “Yes, it is beautiful. So peaceful.”

  “I guess you will find in your future it can become quite boring.”

  Lilly jolted in surprise. “Asar told you of our arrangement?”

  “No, you did.”

  “You read my mind when we touched?”

  Nebt shrugged. “Your soul actually, but yes.”

  Lilly wanted to tell the goddess to stay out of her private thoughts, but then again maybe they didn’t regard privacy the way humans did. So much for keeping any secrets in this place.

  “You have your work cut out for you.”

  “I have my family to protect. I’m sure you understand my reason for doing it.”

  “I was not referring to your noble sacrifice. You are in love with a man incapable of returning it.”

  Lilly pulled up, stopping the goddess. “You must be mistaken. Yes, there is a mutual attraction, but it would stupid of me to think something like that could ever work between us.”

  “So, it was just sex then?”

  Lilly felt her words jumble in her mouth and her face flushed. “No, of course not. It was… God, I don’t know.” She put her hand over her mouth. “I suppose it looks worse when you consider I’m going to be his servant when this is all through. I don’t want you to think I did this to secure my position. I’m the last person to degrade myself in that way, but it felt right at the time…” Lilly pressed her hand to her forehead. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Nebt regarded her with a most curious expression, then touched her arm. “Despite what Asar says, he does not consider you his servant by any means. He would have never brought you his home, let alone introduce you to his family. I am very surprised you are here. Asar has been very unapproachable since Kepi betrayed him. He holds his vengeance very close and has been feeding off of it for a very long time.”

  Lilly took a deep breath, feeling slightly reassured Nebt didn’t think of her as a whore. “Asar told me she stole the gate key and his son, but to be honest, I saw the way he looked at her. She has a greater hold on him than that.”

  Nebt’s face paled. “I wish that was all she stole from him.” The goddess started to walk again, her once placid face now stricken.

  Lilly gently stopped their progress. “What did she do to him?”

  Nebt averted her eyes. “I do not think it is my place to say.”

  “If I knew, I might be able to correct it.”

  “You take on too much burden for one human to shoulder. You have your sisters and father to help. Asar will survive.”

  Lilly flinched. Nebt had seen everything. Everything. “Yeah, well. What’s one more thing when they all revolve around the same goddess?”

  Nebt
regarded her for several moments before leading Lilly over to stone bench. “Asar has always had his wealth of women, no offense. I think he viewed Kepi as a project of sorts. She had made mistakes— broken the laws of the Pantheon— but he tried to give her a second chance. Gave her anything she could possibly want, thinking that it would cure her evil ways. She had manipulated him so well, he could not see straight.

  “After Kepi seduced his son, Asar finally saw her true nature. He sentenced Kepi to purgatory refused her entry into the afterlife, and fed her soul to the beast. Her body was entombed for an eternity in the other world, your world, several thousand years ago.”

  Lilly gasped. “Until we unearthed the tomb five years ago.”

  “Unbeknownst to Asar, Kepi had planned her escape prior to her entombment. We are uncertain who helped her place a curse on her tomb, allowing her release. Five years ago, she came back to Aaru, stole the key to the gateway, bound his son to eternal death-like sleep, and hid the sarcophagus in which his body is encased. Worse, she used an ancient spell to extract Asar’s heart, his soul.” The goddess grabbed Lilly’s hands and squeezed. “If you know anything about our culture, you must understand the soul is the single most important entity in our world, our being. You are nothing if you have no soul.”

  Lilly understood the basic Egyptian belief the soul bound itself to the heart. But, how did Asar remain vertical after having his ripped out? “How is it that he still has physical form and powers?”

  “He is a god. He does not require organs to sustain his life, but without his heart, he has no essence, no sense of life, love or positive emotion. He needs his soul to fulfill his duty as guardian of the underworld. Without it, he is nothing. Nothing.”

  Lilly shook her head. “I understand what you are saying, but I feel Asar’s emotions, his desire. I’ve felt it in his touch and kiss.”

  Nebt’s features softened. “What you are feeling is your emotions. He is absorbing your essence—your emotions—and mirroring it.”