Page 96 of Death and Desire

Hands clenched tight, Anubis stiffened against the bite of his claws against his palms. “My heart has been restored to its rightful place.”

“What a shame.” Seth mused with a sigh. “What potential such a treasure would hold?” Blue flame flickered around his dark pupils. “It would be a travesty if you lost it again.”

Anubis held his tongue. Seth’s words were nothing but bait to draw him out. He inhaled deep, suppressing the urge to react out of emotion. The absence of his heart for so long and its recent return had left him susceptible to unexpected bouts of irrational thoughts and actions.

“The jewelry.” Anubis said, his words clipped. “Return it.”

“And what do I get in return?” Seth asked.

“I will spare your life.”

“You have threatened me before, Anubis.” Seth smirked. “Yet you would kill me over something of such little...value?”

“You will return what you stole and then you will leave us in peace. Forever.”

“Violet—” A spark lit Seth’s gaze, turning the blue flame to a vibrant sunset. “—holds your heart.” His gnarled muzzle drew back, revealing yellowed, crooked teeth. “Perhaps I should return these itemspersonally.”

Unbridled fury pierced him. Anubis opened his palm and summoned hiskhopesh, the curved blade glinting in the firelight. He rarely carried a weapon, especially a sword, and never had reason to summon it. But he would protect what belonged to him, regardless of the cost.

“If you come within a league of her, I will finish what I began when I hunted you after my father’s death.”

Seth growled, the gargling sound a hiss of warning. “No, we finish it now.”

A plume of flame appeared beside Seth, and Anubis heard her panicked cry as Violet appeared amid the retreating flames wearing a simple linen nightgown. Her wide green eyes flew to his, fury replacing the fear and confusion as she realized what had happened.

“Anubis!” She darted forward but yelped as Seth snatched her by the throat. His fingers tangled in her auburn curls, his claws digging into the tender skin. Tears sprang to her eyes, illuminating the rage burning there.

“Such a lovely vessel you’ve chosen for your heart.” Seth sneered as he drew a claw down her chest and between her breasts. “It would be fitting to claim both it and her to watch you suffer.”

“I would ratherdie.” Violet’s defiant words surrounded Anubis, bolstering his resolve.

I love you.Anubis whispered into her thoughts as he soothed her mind with a gentle caress.

As I love you.Her response came swiftly.Now, end this.

“That can certainly be arranged.” Seth gripped her tight, his teeth bared.

Anubis lunged forward, plowing headlong into Seth. Violet tumbled to the ground in a plume of dust and rolled until she collided with the wall. The jewelry clattered as it landed beside her limp form.

“Vio—!” Anubis reared back, but the blade fell from his hand as Seth twisted his wrist. In a flash, Seth caught him by the neck and pulled him close, sinking his teeth into Anubis’s throat. A howl ripped free from deep in his chest.

Grabbing Seth’s jaw, Anubis wrenched his mouth open and ignored the sting of his teeth tearing into his palm. With an open, clawed hand, Anubis swiped across Seth’s muzzle and pinned his head to the ground.

With a shove, Seth dislodged himself from beneath Anubis, knocking him off balance. Anubis’s gaze darted between Seth and the floor as he searched for his curved sword. It lay at the foot of the dais.

When he darted for it, Seth did the same. Both clasped the hilt simultaneously, each of their claws tearing at the other’s hands. The struggle for control of the blade brought them eye to eye. Matched for height and strength, neither could outmatch the other. Anubis cursed, the ancient words rolling off his tongue.

Seth laughed, the heat of his breath burning Anubis’s eyes and his skin.

“Concede, and I will let her live,” Seth prompted, his voice hoarse.

“Never.” Anubis ignored the burn of his muscles and the blood streaming from the open wounds across his black hide. With a final shout, he wrenched thekhopeshfree from his opponent’s grip and pressed the sharp edge to Seth’s throat.

Seth stilled beneath the press of the blade, his red eyes murderous and blazing. “You have bested me, Anubis. Now end it.”

“I will take from you in kind.” Anubis allowed his heart to calm before speaking. “Your eyes, that they may never look upon another in lust and greed. Your tongue, that it will never spread another falsehood. Your hands, to ensure you never steal again.”

With the precise cut of his blade, Anubis collected his payment, leaving Seth sitting on the throne, bloody tears flowing from vacant eyes. He turned away and knelt to gather Violet’s unconscious form in his arms after tucking the jewelry in his fist.

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