Soul Awakened (39 page)

Bakari stepped forward, inching closer to Kepi. “What you speak of is true, in my soul I have always longed to explore the human world without the persecution of the sun, but war with the Creation Pantheon is not the answer.” He looked at Kendra finally understanding of the Mother Goddess’ intent. The Carrigan sisters were the first step to their freedom. Light and darkness. Life and death brought together, the best of both worlds.

“If you hate us so badly, why would you ever encourage Lilly and Asar? Encourage me to train with Inpu?”

Nebt glanced at Kepi and smiled. “How else could we get everything we needed in one place? Although, we would have succeeded earlier, if Asar had died on the battlefield.”

***

Kendra assimilated the moves on the chess board. A well-orchestrated plan and she and her sisters were at the center of it. If it wasn’t for her mother’s interference Lilly would have never made it to the battlefield of Thebes to save Asar’s life. They had always feared Bakari’s tomb was a trap and it was.

Kendra stared at the spell book on the floor. She had found Nebt’s hair on Bakari’s tomb. Bakari was the trap and Kendra was the key. She had given Nebt what she wanted. Kepi resurrected in the Underworld. Swallowing against the constriction in her throat, she swung her gaze to Bakari.

Kepi pointed the blade at Bakari’s chest. Kendra expected to sense fear through their blood-bond, but she only felt determination. He had a plan that much she could tell.

Nebt smiled wickedly. “So, now to have a little fun.” Nebt jabbed the tip of the Mevt dagger at Kendra. “I will give you the choice of who lives and who dies.”

Kendra placed her palm over her chest, as it skipped a beat. She looked at Bomani.

“Choose,” Nebt hissed.

“No!” Kendra’s voice quivered. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She loved them both.

“Choose,” Nebt shouted, and moved toward Bomani.

Kendra’s heart slammed in her chest. She considered generating more blue energy, but in such a confined space and her lack of accuracy would certainly kill all of them. Bakari no doubt faced the same dilemma with his powers to kill.

How could she possibly choose? Her gaze whipped from one male to the other. Only Bakari could kill Kepi and end the curse in the human world. There was no other explanation for the revens continuing to persist, other than Kepi’s soul still lived. With Kepi gone the curse would be broken, finally. But, the loss of Bomani’s life was unacceptable to her, no matter the consequences.

“No.” More tears began to fall against her cheeks. Losing either ate a pit into her chest. Bakari’s gaze held an understanding that no matter her choice he would stand by her. Conversely, Bomani hung his head in apparent resignation.

She may have fallen in love with Bakari, but that did not make Bomani’s life any less important to her. She owed him so much.

“This is your last chance before I choose for you,” Nebt said.

Kendra straightened her spine and raised her chin. “I will not.” Bomani stared at her in bewilderment.

“Kill him,” Nebt shouted at Kepi. The dagger pierced Bakari’s chest. Kendra screamed. Bakari knocked the dagger away and grabbed Kepi by the neck. He wrapped his hand around the scorpion hilt of the dagger at his back. The silver glint flashed before he plunged it into Kepi’s chest. A deafening screech filled the room. Kendra covered her ears.

 “No!” Nebt screamed.

Kepi’s body exploded into a cloud of sulfuric ash. Kendra ducked as a black shadow flew through the room before falling to the ground in metallic sparks. The ash burned Kendra’s skin.   

In the dim haze Nebt targeted her murderous stare on Bomani and tightened her grip on the dagger. Kendra’s chest tightened, knowing Nebt wouldn’t leave without evening the score in the most painful way possible—killing Bomani. Forcing herself not to think of the consequences, Kendra threw herself between the goddess and the warrior who meant the world to her. Bomani had saved her life not long ago. It was time she repaid the debt.

Kendra met Bomani’s startled gaze when she slammed into his chest. The pain of the dagger penetrating her back stole the words of gratitude on her tongue. She inhaled a ragged breath. Exhaling, the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth.

In her heart she made the right choice.

Bright red blood coated Bomani’s hands. Time hung as Kendra slumped forward against his chest and the gleam of Nebt’s vicious eyes bore into him. The distant roar of agony echoed in the small chamber. Small hands clutched his linen shirt. Bomani stared into Kendra’s terrified but knowing eyes.

The noise and shouts of his brother faded. Mortally wounded, the light dimmed and the yellow flecks faded in her eyes. Her knees buckled and Bomani knelt to catch her. Blood bubbled from her now pale blue lips. 

Bakari staggered over with his hand clutched to his chest. His brother crashed to the floor, his strength diminishing with each waning pulse of her heart. The red stain on her shirt grew. Kendra had chosen him. Sacrificing not only her life, but the life of Bakari. Why, after all Bomani had done?

Bomani collapsed to his knees and cradled her against his chest. Bakari drew up on shaky hands and knees and dragged himself to them. It shocked Bomani to see the level of agony painted in his brother’s silver gaze. Not pain, but horror. Bomani gave no resistance when Bakari tugged Kendra’s slack body from his arms and slouched against the wall with her clutched to his chest.

Kendra reached up with bloodied fingers and caressed Bakari’s face. A cerise trail stained Bakari’s wet cheek.
I’m sorry
, she mouthed.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Parvana. I would not want to live in this life without you. We shall be together forever.” With tears spilling from his eyes, Bakari kissed her.

The terror faded in her beautiful face. A small smile formed on her soft lips before she closed her eyes, never to open them again.

Bomani clutched his head and slid to the floor. Not the words of the god whom he believed his brother to be—selfish and calculating. How had he been so blind? At no time did Bomani believe his brother’s words of repentance.

Another scream pierced the room. Bomani looked up to meet the mortified eyes of Lilly, as she looked upon her dying sister. Bakari’s eyes had closed and his arms hung limp at his sides. His face peaceful.

Despite Lilly’s power to heal, Bomani knew it was too late. Kendra’s heart beat its last. The glow of life in Bakari’s soul flickered faintly. He would soon follow with the blood-bond complete. Bomani should have listened to his brother. He should have listened to Kendra.

Kendra expelled her last breath and with it blackness descended upon Bomani’s soul. Hatred and loathing. This time it was for no one else but himself. Who had he become? Where was the honorable warrior he claimed himself to be? He betrayed Kendra’s trust, hurt her in the most despicable way. Despite all this, she was the one to give her life and that of his brother’s for someone she should hate. He did not deserve her mercy. Her death was his fault.

Bomani forced himself to look upon the lifeless body of the woman he destroyed. The pain of his errors seeped deep into his body. The loss and grief festered to the point his chest would collapse.

He shot to his feet. His hand smeared a bloody trail against the black stone. He staggered out of the room with the cries of sorrow and desperation chasing him into the darkness.

Long auburn curls sparkled in the bright light that bathed Kendra’s body. His beacon of hope. When death did not take him as quickly, Bakari feared he would never see her again. Worse, his sins may not allow him to make the journey with her.

Looking over her shoulder, she smiled at him. The yellow flecks in her brown eyes glittered with the same ethereal illumination.

The long grass of the field shielded her nakedness. A warm breeze blew across his bare skin. Funny, coming and leaving in nothing other than what the Mother Goddess gave them.

He walked forward, parting the tall reeds that separated them. She turned and reached her arms out to him. No evidence of her wound remained. Even the scorpion mark over her soul was absent. A bitter sweet relief washed over him. He had prayed so many nights to release her from the bond that he had forced upon her, but this was not the way he intended. He was startled that she would sacrifice both their lives for his brother who did nothing to stop Nebt. He did not regret it and had meant what he had said,
he would not live in a world where she was not present
.

He hoped Bomani would make the most of the gift he was given. He did not blame his brother. He never would. Kendra had forgiven Bomani and so would he. Her selfless sacrifice accentuated the fact that she was stronger and braver than all of them.

It seemed like an eternity for him to pass the distance that separated them. She stood before him within arm’s reach. Afraid, he hesitated touching her, not wanting her to disappear. She stepped forward and embraced him. Her warm flesh pressed against his body. He swallowed against the sob threatening to escape his throat. He dropped to his knees and hugged her tight to his chest. The sweet scent of honeysuckle ticked his senses.

“Thank the gods.”

She giggled with the joy he felt in his heart. “I didn’t get to tell you. I love you.”

He kissed her with all the heat he felt in his soul. His life as a god may be over, his arms bare, his powers gone, but he would never exchange it for this.

They flopped back and flattened the grass beneath them. He settled over her body and between her legs. Propping himself up on his elbows, he gazed into her beautiful face. “If we had more time,” he started but stopped himself of the
what ifs
. He needed to be free of his regrets. Forgive himself, as she had. Easier said than done.

“What?”

“Marry me,” he blurted. He knew how stupid it sounded considering the circumstances, but he wanted her to know, she owned more than his blood. She owned his entire soul. 

Her grin spread all the way into her eyes. He caught a slight glimmer of grief, but she blinked it away. “Yes.” She caught his tear with her fingertip. “I would love to be your wife.” They cried in each other arms knowing they never could. In his heart he was married to her and that is what counted for him.

He sought out her mouth among the tears that fell from his eyes onto her cheeks. The sweetness of her tongue met his and spurred a heat in his chest and swirls of fire through his veins. In this moment, he opened his heart to her completely. Strangely, he felt his soul shift in his chest, righting itself within his heart.

Confidence and hunger infused her every flick and lick of her tongue. Truly beautiful. He had never known something so powerful could reside between two beings even in death. He was strong before, but with her a new kind of power consumed him.

She slid her leg up his side, seating him deeper within the delectable warmth between her legs. The same intense hunger consumed him, but it was not bloodlust. It was something much deeper and pure.

Were they really dead? He wondered because the sensations were so intense, he ought not to believe it.

Her hot palms swept the length of his back to his butt and tugged him gently. Her coaxing seated his arousal against her. He ground his hardened shaft against the heat between them. When she arched beneath him, he captured her taunt nipple with his mouth and flicked it with the tip of his tongue.

He had no intentions of stopping this time. She needed to know he desired her as a woman. Everything he wished he could have done before their lives had come to an end. He pulled her leg up over his hip. The tip of his cock met the heat of her arousal. So wet. So sweet.

He growled low in his chest.

He pressed into her, but hesitated when he felt the tightness of innocence. He gazed into her large eyes. “I do not want to hurt you.”