Shadow of the Sheikh (13 page)

G
emma's heart beat painfully when she found herself on her knees at the Great Western Gate for the second time that day. But this time, when Seth-Aziz bid her rise and enter the
per netjer
, she didn't bolt like a scared rabbit.

Probably a huge mistake, but there you go.

Of her own volition she was to become one of Set Sutekh's
shemsu
. And not because she had no choice.

Or because her sister had. She was unbelievably nervous and frightened over her decision. But under her very real fear, a hum of excitement stirred within her. She wanted this. She did.

She was an ethnographer, a specialist in the myth
and lore of Egypt. She'd been given an impossibly rare opportunity not only to observe a five-thousand-year-old living mythology, but also to become a part of it herself. Not to mention immortal! Although she would believe that part when she saw some hard evidence. It was difficult to accept such a thing could really be true. Then again, she had also doubted the magical spells and shape-shifting, of which she
had
seen abundant evidence.

But the real reason behind her excitement was the handsome, irresistible Sheikh Shahin. A man she felt such a deep connection with that despite his denial of returning those feelings, she was willing to give up her entire former life for the possibility of getting to know him better. And maybe change his mind.

Talk about a magic man.

She walked through the monumental gate toward him, but Seth-Aziz stepped forward to greet her instead. He was tall, taller than Shahin by a few inches, his shoulders nearly as broad. His hair was black and his eyes as well. His face was square-jawed and handsome, if a shade stern. Seth was an impressive man. Physically at least.

And powerful. Very powerful. As the vampire approached, his otherworldly power rolled over her like a heavy wave of sleepiness, a satin wind that was thick and warm, like the darkness of midnight
against her skin. Oddly calm and neutral, but definitely there, ebbing and flowing like the bulge of a tide waiting for the moon to shift.

Spooky. And relaxing in an even more alarming way.

She gathered her courage as Shahin made the formal introductions.

“Welcome, Gemma,” the vampire priest said, and held out his arm to her. “Let us walk.”

Shahin nodded encouragingly. She made an awkward sort of bow, as she'd seen others do for him. “Yes, okay.”

Hesitantly, she laid her hand over Seth-Aziz's, stifling a gasp at the wave of physical sensation that curled through her at his touch, and tried not to trip as he led her into the palace. The throng of onlookers parted, making a path for them down the wide, stone-paved corridor.

The interior of the palace was even more magnificent than its silver-gated entrance. Elegant, fire-burning torches lit their way as she and Seth-Aziz walked past soaring papyrus-shaped columns, elaborate stone-carved reliefs, gorgeous painted murals depicting scenes of the gods and secular life aboveground, luxurious tapestries hanging from the walls, and a collection of glass and precious metal objects and marble statuary that would have any museum doing cartwheels just to see, let alone own.
It was all spectacular, and gawking at everything nearly had her forgetting where she was…and that she was holding the arm of a vampire.

Shahin walked behind her, alongside the red-haired woman Gemma had noticed earlier, a priestess named Nephtys who had been introduced as Seth-Aziz's sister. She could hear her lover's steady footsteps following, reassuring her of his presence.

A few moments later they arrived at a soaringly large room flanked by more rows of glittering silver columns and headed by a raised dais where two elaborate silver thrones sat. An audience chamber, perhaps?

They went through a side door, into a more intimate room containing a scatter of tasteful furnishings and a sideboard that held plates of snacks and urns of drinks. Shahin closed the door after the four of them entered.

Seth-Aziz gestured at a cozy furniture grouping for her to sit. She waited until he took a seat on a silk-covered divan before perching on the edge of a matching chair opposite. Nephtys sat next to him.

“So, I trust by this development that you are over your misgivings about us,” Seth said, his voice mild.

“Not completely,” she admitted, possibly foolishly. But he didn't seem to be holding a grudge.

Thankfully, his lips twitched. “Sheikh Shahin warned us you are stubborn and skeptical.”

“Family traits, I'm afraid,” she said, watching as Shahin strolled to the sideboard and poured wine into four heavy silver goblets.

Seth shot her a look and the tide of energy in the room swelled noticeably. His power swirled around her, rubbing at her body like a great, invisible animal. His eyes glowed black as obsidian. “Yes, I am quite aware of that,” he said, not quite as mildly.

Her sister Gillian had no doubt already tested the limits of the man's beneficence.

“Our father taught us from before we could walk to question everything in the world,” Gemma explained. “He was never more pleased than when we balked at his parental orders and asked ‘why' so he could lecture…er, persuade us of his reasoning, using the best Socratic method.”

That seemed to smooth Seth's ruffled feathers. He smiled wryly as he accepted two goblets of wine from Shahin and passed one to Nephtys.

“How tedious for you,” the priestess said, holding the goblet delicately between her fingers. “And your mother? Did she approve of such a scientific approach to child rearing?”

A prick of the old pain pierced Gemma's heart. “My mother died when I was young.”

Seth took a sip of his wine, exchanged glances
with Shahin and Nephtys, who both nodded slightly, then he turned his gaze back to Gemma. She shivered, again swamped by a brush of power, and her own uncertainty.

His next words shocked her. He said, “No, I don't think she did die.”

Gemma blinked. “Excuse me?”

Seth-Aziz looked directly at her and said, “The Lady Gillian found evidence in our library that your mother, Isobelle Haliday, may still be alive.”

Stunned, Gemma shot to her feet.
“What?”

Naturally she remembered Gillian's note with its similar message. The handwritten note Shahin and his ghost riders had delivered, the one that had started this whole bizarre adventure.
Incredible news—our beloved mother may still be alive. I am following every clue to find out the truth about her disappearance.
It had lived in her heart every moment since. But she never dared hoped it was really true.

“You know something about my mother?” she demanded of Seth-Aziz, forgetting momentarily with whom she was speaking.

But the demigod seemed to understand and forgive her urgency. “She was kidnapped by Haru-Re,” he stated, “and taken to Petru, the
per netjer
of the Sun God, Re-Horakhti, our enemy. There is a good chance that she still lives.”

Tears flooded Gemma's eyes and she made a choking sound.
Omigod!
Her mother really
could
be alive? She covered her mouth with trembling fingers, hopeless to stop the tears from trickling down her cheeks.

Two strong arms enveloped her in a warm hug. It was just what she needed. She let herself be drawn into the comfort of Shahin's embrace. “It's okay,” he murmured, pulling her against his chest. “This is a good thing, yes? That she may be alive?”

Gemma gave a watery nod, burying her face in his robes. “I'm just… Oh, God, Shahin, didn't you say Khepesh is on the brink of war with Petru? My mother could be in danger! I have to get her out of there!”

“You will do nothing of the kind,” Seth interjected sternly.

A thousand scattered thoughts blasted through her mind, all ending in alarm. She pulled away from Shahin and looked over at the demigod. “But I must—”

“If anyone is going to mount a rescue, it will be the captain of my guard,” Seth said forcefully. “Not a woman, and certainly not a mortal. You are my subject now and you
will
obey me. Is that understood?”

She bristled and opened her mouth to object, but Shahin squeezed her shoulders, giving her
an unmistakable sign to keep it shut. “Yes, I understand,” she made herself say, then pressed, “But…does that mean you have plans to rescue her?”

Seth leaned back on the divan, regarding her. “That all depends on you, Miss Haliday.”

Without thinking, she rushed over and flung herself down on her knees before him. “Please, Lord Seth. Tell me what I must do and I will. I'll do anything to help my mother.”

“Anything?” he quietly asked.

Her heart stalled and she realized what a stupid, stupid thing that had been to say. Except…she probably
would
do anything he asked, to get her mother back safely. “Almost anything,” she hedged, bowing her head respectfully.

She didn't see him smile—she was too busy studying the stone floor. But she could feel the triumph in the shift of the air in the room. A cool, tingling breeze of energy wafted over her. Shahin came to stand at her side, his hand returning to her shoulder.

“You know what I want, Gemma,” Seth said.

“No, I don't,” she insisted.

But her sinking heart told her she did. There was only one possibility.

“Your sister,” he said softly. “I want Josslyn.”

Her heart squeezed in torment.

“Will you tell us where she is?” he asked.

She swallowed heavily.
Her mother or her sister.
An impossible choice!

Oh, God, what should she do?

 

Seth might be an all-powerful demigod, but he didn't know Gemma, thought Shahin. Seth believed he could intimidate her, but Shahin knew better.

He was very afraid she would do something very foolish in response to the high priest's not-so-subtle ploy. He held his breath as she rose to her feet with as much dignity as any mortal could muster.

“Blackmail is unworthy of you and your god,” she announced to Seth unflinchingly. “As is forcing a cruel choice like that.” Ouch.

But well played. Shahin had to stop himself from smiling.

Nephtys did it for him. “I agree,” the priestess said approvingly, with a look of reprove for her brother. “You know very well you have every intention of rescuing Isobelle Haliday when we invade Petru. Why not simply tell the girl and win her over? She is much more likely to give you the information you seek if she trusts you.”

Seth scowled, while Gemma looked nonplussed.

“Is it true?” she asked. “You already have plans to rescue my mother?”

“Yes,” Seth admitted grudgingly. “Along with all of Ray's other captives. But it's far from certain we'll win this war or even invade Petru at all. In fact, it's more likely we won't. You shouldn't get your hopes up.”

Gemma blinked, apparently surprised speech less.

Shahin said, “We will naturally do what we can to right the recent wrongs at Petru. As I said, here at Khepesh we have long abandoned the practice of taking mortals against their will.”

“And yet you plan to do exactly that with my sister,” she pointed out.

“We planned
your
capture as well, Gemma,” Shahin reminded her. “And yet here you are, by your own choice. Why do you think your sister will react any differently to us than you did? Or to the man who has chosen her for himself, as I did you?”

She blinked again and a flush of pink stained her cheeks. Then her gaze darted to Seth and back again.

“Because he is a vampire?” Shahin asked, reading her thoughts. It wasn't difficult.

She bit her lip, but before she could answer, Nephtys said, “I think, dear brother, you should give Miss Haliday a taste of what it's like to be with a vampire. Then maybe she'll understand that
a small blood sacrifice is a small price to pay for the pleasures her sister will enjoy every night.”

Shahin straightened like a shot. “My lord, I—”

But Seth waved him off as he rose lithely from the divan and approached Gemma. “Would you like that?” he asked.

“No!” she squeaked and slid behind Shahin's back for protection, clinging to his arm. “Thank you,” she added belatedly. As if that was going to help.

Shahin narrowed his eyes at Seth-Aziz. The beginnings of a temblor rumbled the floor under his feet. “She is mine. You gifted her to me.”

“I have no intention of taking your woman,” Seth assured him. “But by keeping me from her sister she has delayed my feeding. I only seek remedy.” His face took on a look of calculation. “We could share magic. That way all three of us would see a benefit.”

Shahin's jaw dropped in stunned surprise. He met Nephtys's rounded eyes and they exchanged a look of silent astonishment.

This was an unheard of privilege.

In Shahin's lifetime, Seth had not shared magic with any man. There had been only two vampires left in existence by the time Shahin became an immortal, and neither one enjoyed bedplay with other men. Of course, Shahin didn't either. Seth
also tended to stick to one bed partner at a time. As did Shahin. To be honest, he wasn't sure how he felt about sharing his woman, even with his lord and leader. No, he did. He would not countenance it.

But sharing magic was different. Shahin would be making love with Gemma as Seth fed on her. In ancient times, it was a way for the demigod to bestow special favor upon a male subject. A man would be a fool to turn down such an honor and its attendant breath-stealing pleasures.

Finally, Nephtys broke through her astonishment, smiled and said into the taut silence, “Sharing magic. Oh, what a lovely idea!”

Gemma sidled out from behind Shahin's back. “What is that?” she asked warily.

All eyes turned to her. Shahin could feel the dark roil of erotic male power purl through the room as he and Seth contemplated the intriguing possibilities.