Page 69 of Death and Desire

“Why do you remain?” Anubis half murmured the question over her shoulder.

Violet shivered at his proximity. He stood directly behind her, his heat and scent surrounding her with every breath. In this form, he towered over her. How he fit in the room, she did not understand. Part of her wanted to turn, to face him, commit every detail of his face to memory. But she knew if she did so, her nerves would falter and reveal every fragile piece of her soul.

A tear slipped free. Then another.

“Damn you,” she cursed him.

He plucked the empty glass from her and set it aside. His enormous black clawed hand was deceptively delicate in the simple action.

“You did this to me.” Violet spun, bracing herself for the god before her but failing miserably.

Her heart stuttered at the sight of him. His height and breadth were formidable in the confines of her room, yet he looked at ease in her presence, as though he belonged there. His brilliant golden eyes regarded her with a softness she hadn’t anticipated.

“I am sorry for any pain I caused you. It was unintentional.”

Her breath caught at the unexpected apology, but it did nothing to soothe her ire. “Unintentional?” She scoffed, swiping angrily at the tears betraying her emotion. “Every single word out of your mouth has been full of intention. Every time you stepped into my dreams. With every gentle nudge urging me to come to this cursed place, you made your intention clear. It was nevermeyou wanted...only your precious stone.”

He straightened but said nothing. His canine expression remained as immovable as his human one, as though carved from stone. She pushed her hand against his chest and felt the slow, steady beat of his heart beneath her palm. A reminder of his intent. His goal.

“You have your heart. Now leave me mine.” Her voice cracked on the word, shattering what remained of her resolve. “I–I can’t...”

“Why did you not call for me tonight?” Anubis traced a finger along her jaw.

“What?” Violet snapped, startled by the question, her body thrumming with awareness of his touch, the soft scrape of his nail along her throat as he caressed her skin.

“Did you think I would not remain true to my word? That I would cast you aside once I retrieved my heart?”

“You are under no obligation to protect me.” Restraint stretched tight beneath tension as it pulled them closer.

“But I am.” He tilted her chin as he knelt before her, bringing them eye-to-eye. “The bond between us remains. A golden thread from your heart”—he pressed a fingertip to the valley of her breasts—“to mine. No distance can come between us. Not even death.”

Heat flared beneath his contact. His eyes glowed, an eternal flame flickering in darkness, searching the depths of her soul.

“I saw you take his hand. Felt the beat of your heart when he stole your breath.” Anubis’s fingertip blazed a trail over her abdomen before resting on her hip. “You surrendered to him so easily.” He inclined his head. “Why?”

No words would form. He’d followed her to the club.Felteverything she felt. How could henotknow?

“You chose your heart over me.” She ignored the press of his hand, the heat swirling around them, and redirected her fury. “You saw what transpired, yet you did nothing? You could have stopped him.”

“Stopped him from doing what?”

“Making a fool of me.” She bit back a sob. “Hestolemy locket. The last connection I have to my mother is gone.”

“He stole your jewelry, but he can never stealher memory.”

“But she gave it to me, entrusted me with it.” Violet relented to the flow of grief inside her. “Now I have nothing left of her.”

“You will always carry her with you.” He closed his eyes.

A soft, effervescent light filled the room. Violet blinked through tears to admire the glow of stardust encircling them. Then she saw it, figures in the swirling sand. Her mother playing the piano. Laughing over tea. Picking wildflowers in the meadow. Reading her favorite books to Violet on the sofa in the library.

They werehermemories.

“How?” She reached out to touch the glittering image, her fingers drifting through them, scattering them into darkness.

Anubis opened his eyes and studied her face. “You carry them. Here.” He touched her temple. “And here.” He pressed a fingertip to her heart.

Violet grasped his hand, holding it between hers, the velvet of his fur soft beneath her touch and the warmth of his presence filled her with comfort.

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