Page 62 of Death and Desire

“It isnotworthless.” The words drifted around her with a soft growl.

She lifted her wrist, still in his grip, and showed him. “No one can tell me what it is. There is none like it in the world.”

“Which makes it priceless.”

“That explains nothing.” She glowered at him. “Why does Seth want this so desperately?”

“Because it belongs to me.”

Violet prayed for strength. “Did you create it?”

“In a way, yes, I did.”

“I tire of your evasive responses, Anubis.” Violet changed tactics. “What did Seth mean when he said you couldn’t guard your heart forever? What does that have to do with me?”

For the first time in their acquaintance, Khalid flinched. Quicker than a flash of lightning in the night sky, the pained look vanished, as though it never existed.

He inhaled deeply. His thumb brushed over the racing thrum of her heartbeat beneath the skin of her wrist before he released it.

“The gemstone you wear is not of this world.” He paused as she lifted it for inspection. “A millennia ago, I made a rash decision. One I believed would benefit those in my care. I had no use for my heart. Therefore, I wanted it removed.”

Violet blinked before shifting her gaze to Khalid. What was he saying? She bit her lower lip to keep from asking more questions, breaking the intimacy of his revelation. Finally, he was unveiling the truth.

Was she truly prepared to hear it? Her hands trembled.

“Ra removed my heart, at my request, and transformed it into this jewel,” Khalid continued. “I buried the gem, praying it would remain hidden for eternity.”

“Then how...?”

“It was stolen. Grave robbers sold it to local merchants. It was then sold to your mother.” He sighed. “When it left Egypt, I could not follow to retrieve it.”

“Oh.” Violet quieted, pondering his words. “But how...?” She blinked twice as the reality settled in her mind. “The dreams.”

Khalid nodded. “You possessed the jewel—my heart—and a bond was formed. I used it to reach across the space between us. To bring you here. To return my heart to Egypt, that I may be reunited with it.”

Reunited with his heart. Violet stilled, stunned surprise covering her like a shroud.You possessed the jewel, and a bond was formed.The words echoed in her mind, over and over, until they took root and sprouted into a twisted, gnarled knot of vines threatening to choke her.

“This is the reason for our bond?” She swallowed a lump rising in her throat. “This is yourheart?”

“Is it so difficult to believe?”

“No, it’s just...” She gasped, blindsided by the realization materializing with this new information. “Is this why you followed me? Why you offered to protect me?” Fury blossomed, a ball of fire in her chest, consuming her from within. “This was never aboutme. You lured me here...to Egypt...knowing I would bring this.”

She wrenched the bracelet from her arm, pinching her flesh as the metal scraped her wrist, and held it up. The jewel reflected the dying sunlight. All those years of dreaming of Egypt, ofhim, she believed there was somethingmore, more substantial than kismet or fate. Her desire to travel to Cairo to uncover the secrets plaguing her for years now left her twisting with regret and disgust.

Violet backed away from him, putting distance between them. Pain clawed her heart at his betrayal. Shame cloaked her, making her draw away, want to run, to hide her face. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her cower.

“You tricked me. Made me believe youcaredfor me...you were here toprotectme.” She stifled a sob rising in her chest. “But you only wantedthis.”

She thrust the bracelet into the solid wall of warmth and muscle that was his chest. Khalid stood as still as the stone statue of Anubis in the Egyptian Museum.

“Take it.” Violet snapped, the shattering of her heart drowning out the conflict churning in her mind. “This is what Seth wants, whatyouwant.” She pushed harder, bringing them toe to toe. The heat of him surrounded her, his familiar, comforting scent teasing her with wicked, painful memories.

“Vio—”

“Youusedme.” Her voice cracked. “You filled my head with desires...and I...I believed there was something between us.”

“I cannot remove the pain, nor can I find regret in my actions.” Khalid reached his hand up to stroke her cheek, but she jerked away from his touch. “I can only apologize for not being honest with you from the beginning.”

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