Page 73 of Beyond the Ruby River
Temaj grabbed for Mahu before the river could claim him. He jerked him from the Nile’s clutches and lifted him into his arms. Casting his eyes skyward, Temaj cried out, “Solon!”
Then his frantic gaze sought Daka’s. “Mahu might hate us for this. Are you absolutely certain?”
Daka nodded with such force his neck strained. “Yes, do it, hurry before it’s too late!”
Mahu was limp as Temaj held him close. His head fell backwards, exposing his elegant neck.
Daka held his breath.
Temaj sank his fangs into Mahu’s throat and sucked. His cheeks hollowed with the effort. Mahu’s heart no longer pushed blood through the veins, so Temaj had to pull it out by force.
The act took longer than Daka would have expected. He trembled in the river, watching as his lover died in front of him. It was a wonder his own heart continued to beat through the ordeal because his chest clenched so tight as to threaten its pulsing.
All sound died away save for the wet suctioning noises of Temaj’s lips on Mahu’s flesh. A trickle of blood escaped the seal, and the river stole the droplet away.
Temaj tore himself from Mahu’s neck with a loud moan.
Daka panicked. He would finish it, wouldn’t he?
Yes.
Temaj bit deeply into his tender wrist and thrust the gaping wound he’d made over Mahu’s lips. Blood poured between them, welled up, and spilled over.
“He’s not drinking,” Daka stammered.
“He will,” said Temaj without looking up. His voice came out raw.
Shifting his weight from one foot to the other and back, Daka waited in absolute agony for Mahu to respond. Bile rose in his throat. What if this didn’t work? What if Mahu’s last moments were fear, arguments, and pain? Daka would never forgive himself.
He stared down at Mahu, willing him to drink with all the power in his being. His lips had turned blue, his face white as desert sand.
Please, Mahu, please, please.
Mahu’s eyelids fluttered open. His irises glowed like jewels in the starlight. With a growl he latched onto Temaj’s wrist and swallowed great greedy gulps.
Daka had never heard a nicer sound. He began to breathe again. His chest loosened, but his fear went nowhere.
What if Temaj was right?
What if Mahu hated him for what he’d done?
21
Mahu
Sorrow.
Thirst.
Rage.
Blinking, Mahu hurtled away from the underworld and back to this one. He woke with the metallic taste of blood on his lips, his body soaked by river water, in the embrace of a man he barely knew. He’d seen Ahset, with Beni and Kasmut behind her. Just as he’d remembered them, vibrant and alive. They’d been waiting for him. They’d reached for him, then their faces had twisted in fear.
Yanked from the arms of his family and returned to the mortal coil with such force as to turn his stomach and spin his head, Mahu wailed at the robbery. His dreams had been within reach, and now they were lost to him forever.
Dakarai had done this.
Snarling and gnashing his new demonic teeth, Mahu reeled away from the vampire who held him and spun to face his betrayer.
