Lady Sheba

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Lady Sheba ISBN # 1-4199-0635-6 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Lady Sheba Copyright© 2006 Marianne LaCroix. Edited by Kelli Kwiatkowski. Cover art by Willo. Electronic book Publication: May 2006

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 443103502. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Warning: The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. This story has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers. Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (Erotic), and X (X-treme). S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination. E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature. X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

LADY SHEBA

Marianne LaCroix

For my friend Liz. Thanks for being such a big Sheba fan.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Starbucks: Starbucks U.S. Brands

Author’s Note There are several legends and myths about the gods and goddesses of Egypt, especially Set and Horus. Some stories tell of Set being the brother of Osiris and Horus, as well as Horus being the son of Osiris. Therefore, Set would be Horus’ uncle. Other stories depict Horus, Osiris and Set as sons of Ra and, thus, all were brothers. As with many mythologies, the gods were all interrelated, and the stories vary from source to source. For the purpose of this story, the author chose the legend that Set, Osiris and Horus were brothers.

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Oh, Blessed Bast, our powers come from you. Grant us the strength of your body, and the understanding of your wisdom. Help us bring justice to those who threaten your children.

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Prologue Back in the days when the sands of the desert were ruled by the gods and goddesses of Egypt, war had struck the land, pitting brother against brother. It was all in the name of power and dominance. Set knelt before his brother Osiris, awaiting the decision of the council of the superiors. Set really didn’t see them as superior but, bound by magic to obey, he had little choice but to calmly await their sentencing. Beside him knelt his son, the great Anubis—the one-time ruler of the Underworld. Little did Set know that his murder of Osiris would boot Anubis from his domain. Now, Osiris was Lord of the Underworld and Anubis, like Set, had been bound to obey. His anger over the abrupt change in his status radiated from his every pore. The black hairs of his neck and jackal face stood on end while he, too, awaited his fate. Yes, Set had paired with his son and tried to destroy Osiris and his followers. That included Set’s lover, Bast. She stood by, her feline face virtually blank of emotion as the other gods whispered around her. She was the beautiful protector of the Two Lands, the defender of all those who’d defy Amun-Ra. Although Set would have never believed she’d battle against him. Near her stood more lovers from his past. Ah, the gods may hate him but the goddesses loved him—or at least his sexual prowess. He had earned quite a reputation among the goddesses for his love charms. They liked the fact he was so sexually talented. In fact, he was at his best when he was bad. “Set, former Lord of the Upper Kingdom, and Anubis, former Lord of the Underworld,” Horus began. “You are both here to witness the sentencing for your

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crimes as deemed by the gods. You have been charged and tried by the gods for defiance and traitorous behaviors in trying to destroy our lord, Osiris.” Set watched Osiris as his green skin tightened in a stifled grimace. Set hoped the god felt pain still from the torture he had bestowed. “Set, you have shown anger and hatred toward your brother Osiris, and attempted to take his power through murder. You killed him and cut him into pieces, then spread his body parts into the Nile. However, Isis, his grieving wife, was able to collect the pieces, and in calling upon Anubis, revived our lord.” At Set’s side, Anubis sneered at the reminder of the act that had lost him his kingdom. “To seek retribution upon you, Osiris sent me, your brother, to hunt you down. However, when Osiris announced his plan to return to the Underworld to rule and judge, Anubis became angry. You both vowed your revenge and plotted to raise the Anubite Army of Darkness to destroy all of the gods, thereby setting yourselves up as supreme rulers. The world would only know cruelty and depravity as evil ruled without constraint.” “Luckily,” Osiris broke in, “Horus stopped you and bound you to face trial for your crimes.” Horus strode forward. “Have either of you anything to say before the gods pass sentence?” Anubis growled. “Had I known Osiris planned to take my throne in the Underworld, I would never have called his spirit back from the Land of the Dead. I swear, I will return from any damnation to which you send me. I will take my revenge upon your beloved humans and there will be nothing to stop my army from rising up! We will wipe clean the land and start anew. My father and I will rule the Two Lands and beyond!” So much anger and hate. Glorious. Anubis made Set proud. “And you, Set? Have you anything to say?” 7

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“I will escape from whatever prison you condemn me, Horus. Know this—nothing is impervious to my strength. Nothing. And when I escape, I shall also seek revenge. I shall find my true son and we shall conquer all the pitiful humans and rule over all. None will defy us! The gods and goddesses will bow before me, begging for mercy when this is through. I swear it!” Then, glaring at Bast, Set spat more heated words. “And you. How can you stand there and let them condemn me?” “Set, I lov—” “Words of love mean nothing to you,” he broke in. “They are meaningless and empty like a clay jar beneath the desert sun at midday. I have no wish to hear your declarations of love, woman. And never again shall you hear words of love from my lips. Never! I shall go to my punishment and spit upon your memory. I’ll hate you until the pyramids turn to dust. You, my sweet Bast, because of your failed loyalty—you will not escape my wrath!” Set watched as Horus went to her and held her shaking form in his arms. “And you, brother,” Set began as he glared at Horus. “You’ll feel my anger one day as well. I’m glad I blinded you! You’re not fit to live and rule the lands. I shall find you one day and we will face off in a final battle. And, I swear, I shall prevail!” “Enough!” Osiris rose from his throne. Dressed in his white shroud, his green skin seemed to have changed to a darker shade in his rage. “We will pass sentence.” Silence dropped over the room as all awaited the announcement. “Anubis, for your crimes, you are to spend eternity in limbo. Neither dead nor alive, you shall rest beneath the sands, chained for all eternity.” This was a dismal sentence. They all believed in life after death, and being denied an afterlife was a cruel punishment. Once a key figure in the transition from life to death, for Anubis, this was an extremely horrid exile. Osiris continued. “Set, my brother, you have done everything in your power to destroy all goodness in the world. Not only did you attack and kill my person, but you 8

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threatened my subjects. Therefore, you will be condemned to spend eternity locked away. Guarded by Horus himself, you shall never again see the light of day.” Anubis was led away, followed by Set. He fought the guards as they dragged him from the room. Before he disappeared from sight, he yelled a final warning. “Nothing can keep me from my revenge. I shall return!”

***** “Is there any prison to keep them from returning to Earth?” Bast asked as she stroked one of her children, a small black cat. He shook his head and lapis and glass beads on his collar tinkled softly. “No prison is foolproof, Bast.” Horus paced the chamber, now deserted except for the two of them. “I am to protect the vessel Set is imprisoned in, but you never know if someday, something could go wrong.” She watched his hawklike features shift from anger to concern. In his human form, Horus was a handsome creature. Maybe that’s why she stood now in her human form as well. Dressed in a white sheath, beaded collar and the traditional black decorated wig, she wanted to look beautiful. When did this shift in her feelings come about? She used to love Set…no, she still did. The relationship with Set had ended some time ago. She’d concluded in her heart that her love for Set would continue on regardless of his schemes and threats. There was more to a relationship than love—understanding, companionship and honesty were also needed. Set had little understanding for anyone’s opinion but his own, a need for companionship only when it suited him and no concept of honesty. And now, her attention shifted to the troubled Horus. Perhaps he could ease the pain in her heart. “If Set or Anubis were freed,” he continued, “I have no doubt their threats will be carried out.” 9

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“We should guard the humans and the world from any future attack if they do find some way to escape.” She knew that the chances of Set or Anubis ever breaking free were real possibilities, however slim. “Yes, I think I may leave some guardians among the humans to watch for trouble. The necropolis priests are loyal and devoted. I will gift my favored priests with powers to aid them in their duties to protect the living and the dead.” “And so shall I. My priestesses are dedicated and strong. Among the most worthy, I will bestow special abilities. However, I don’t wish for them to have to learn of their powers alone.” She continued to stroke the black cat. “Good idea. Who will you leave to walk among the humans as their teacher?” She smiled down at her precious cat. “I shall gift my favorite subject with immortality and he shall assist my subjects. He shall not only be their teacher, but also their companion.” Great, I’m destined to be a nursemaid forever, the cat muttered in his mind, sparking the laughter of his mistress and Horus.

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Chapter One Dr. Katina Felinni heard the call, a desperate cry through the jungle from one of her brethren. Help me! The grating voice echoed in her mind as she raced out of her hotel room into the Jakarta city streets. Jumping into her small rented car, she turned the key and revved the engine to life. Dodging in and out of traffic was difficult considering the overcrowded and narrow streets, but Kat quickly made her way to the city limits, which emptied out to the edge of the vast, untamed jungle. Leaping out of the car, she broke into a full run. In mid-stride, her body began the transformation. Bones crackled and shifted as Kat took on an alternate form—a great black panther. Leaping through the air in giant bounds, she gained momentum, taking full advantage of the big cat’s strength and speed. Within her mind, she zeroed in on a caged tiger. She called out to her friends, the entire jungle feline population, to lend their help to free the Sumatran tiger from the poachers’ clutches. The hunting of Sumatran tigers in Indonesia had been declared illegal, although the authorities claimed they hadn’t the resources to regulate the crimes. As it was, the wealth gained from the various body parts of the tigers had been enough for them to turn a blind eye. Skins were sold as rugs or coats, bones sold for use in Chinese medicines, and the heads mounted and sold to the highest bidder. It was enough to make Kat sick. And since she was in Jakarta on a visit to acquire several pieces of ancient artifacts for the museum, she’d never expected to rush out into the jungle to save a distressed tiger. 11

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The jungle air was hot and heavy with moisture, typical of the tropical climate of the island. Luckily, the rains had held off for a few hours, giving Kat a clear scent of the vile men hunting in the dense jungle. She leapt over a rotting stump, landing in the soft ground covered in thick foliage. A path was nonexistent as the overgrown plants grew without restraint. The soft mud and the wet flora made running even more difficult. Vines reached out and threatened to tangle around her moving legs, to capture her within the jungle’s relentless grip. She relied on her natural agility, feline senses and instincts to navigate through the dangerous terrain and remain on course. Arriving moments later outside the poachers’ camp, she got a clear view of the caged tiger. I’m here to help you, young one, she whispered in her mind to the frightened big cat. Telepathic communication with any feline species was one of the immense gifts she held dear, inherited from her ancestors, the Egyptian priestesses who worshipped the cat goddess Bast. Those favored by the goddess were gifted with the Powers of the Cat. When her mother broke the news to her on her tenth birthday, Kat was speechless. She sat in wonder and amazement when her mother shifted in size and shape from a beautiful woman to a black panther. Three years later, Kat was also able to transform her body into any feline form, from a Sumatran tigress to a cheetah. Upon hitting puberty, Kat also realized her body’s changes were more extreme than the other girls’. She was more sensitive to her instincts. When she disliked someone, for instance, the urge to hiss and scratch at them was overwhelming. Even the hairs on the back of her neck would stand up. A similar reaction occurred when she was aroused. Her sexual appetite was immense, especially during those times of the year when she was “in heat”. As a young woman she was often left confused and bewildered. What was she to do with her strange powers that could make a difference?

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Unlike any other woman, and charged with continuing the line in protecting humans in the name of Bast, Kat used her abilities to fight injustice and help those in need. Right now, a tiger needed her help. As she crouched on the edge of the camp, the tiger called to her. Please, hurry! They’re going to kill me. Her earlier call to the other cats had been answered and they now gathered together at the edge of the clearing. We must help our brother gain his freedom my friends, she said, communicating in her mind to the audience of several other Sumatran tigers, five panthers and four jaguars. I want you all to go in and distract the men while I open the cage. Then once he’s free, we’ll deal with the evil men who dared invade the jungle to kill members of our pride. Thunder-sticks! What if they have thunder-sticks? one large male jaguar asked. We won’t give them enough time to gather their weapons when we attack, Kat answered, and then proceeded to instruct the team of big cats on how to carry out her plan.

Night had fallen and darkness engulfed the camp. A fire had been built in the center to ward off any wild animals in the area. If they only knew the entire camp was surrounded by a pack of angry cats working together to help their trapped friend… Silence fell in the jungle as the cats closed in on the hunters. One of the posted guards realized the danger, but he had no time to sound an alarm. Kat pounced upon him, bashing him to the ground. She shifted to her human form, shocking the already frightened man beneath her. Pulling back, she landed her fist hard on his jaw, knocking him unconscious.

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She willed herself dressed in a black latex catsuit as she crept toward the cage to free the tiger. Unfortunately, the cage was secured with a thick steel padlock. “Damn it,” she muttered, turning to her comrades holding back the now-awakened hunters. Glancing around the camp, she knew the leader had to be the one with the key, and he would likely be in the largest tent. At the moment, that tent had a very large male Sumatran tiger within, growling at his prey. Quickly, she darted across the camp and into the tent, coming face-to-face with a pudgy, sweaty man writhing in fear of the hungry-looking tiger. “Help me! Call it off,” he said in a shaky, unsure voice. He was obviously more confident when he held a gun. “Give me the keys to the cage and I may consider not letting him eat you,” she demanded with a smirk. Reaching down under his blanket, she heard the tinkle of keys as he grasped them and held them out to her. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the tent filled with various weapons, all for hunting. “Follow me,” she ordered sternly. He hesitated and the tiger let out another growl, hurrying the man out of bed and onto his feet. Behind him, Kat shoved him forward out of the tent. As they crossed the camp, she calculated it was a hunting party of six men. Watch that this one doesn’t move a muscle until I release our friend, she told the tiger hovering near the leader. Then turning to the man, she offered a warning. “Don’t move.” He answered with a nervous nod while gazing down at the tiger’s bared teeth. Jogging to the cage, she found the key that fit the lock and opened it, freeing the Sumatran. How can I thank you? he asked as he rubbed his strong body against her legs. What will become of these…men?

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They shall pay for their crimes. Then to the team of big cats, she commanded, Come, we’ve work to do.

***** The next morning, the six poachers were found at the front steps of the local police station, caged and frightened, surrounded by several large tigers, panthers and jaguars. Amid the cats stood a woman dressed in skintight black latex, the smooth rubber hugging her body’s curves. She looked exotic, barbaric—a kinky wet dream. Her long, dark hair hung about her shoulders with a sensual air. She resembled an ancient mythological Amazon who had emerged from the untamed jungle. Her heated emerald gaze bore through the officers watching her amid the big wild cats. “These men,” she gestured at them while walking through the group of animals with ease and composure, “illegally trapped a Sumatran tiger, planning to sell his parts for profit on the black market.” One tall, dark-skinned officer approached her, staring at the spectacle. “We are illequipped to do much monitoring of these types of activities.” “Well, I assure you, my friends here do not like being hunted, especially when they struggle to survive even without man’s interference.” Her declaration was met with several growls from the surrounding cats, making the officer appear more nervous. “Is there proof of these men’s crimes?” She cocked an eyebrow, having known they would be apprehensive to just take her word alone. “A daring thing to say, considering you’re surrounded by their intended victims.” She tossed a tiger skin to the ground, collected from the leader’s tent. “Here is one of the skins I found within their camp.” The young tiger that the poachers had caged stood and padded over next to Kat, rubbing himself against her legs as he stared at the officer now fidgeting with his belt loops. “I’ll lead you through the jungle so you can check out the remnants of their camp, filled with more tiger skins and other various body parts, all illegally obtained.”

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The officer looked at the poachers and back at her then asked curiously, “Who are you?” “Call me Lady Sheba.”

***** Back in New York City a few days later, Katina felt both relieved and edgy. Coming home meant keeping her abilities a secret from those closest to her. Although, she could never let anyone too close for fear they would find out she was more than human. It wasn’t every day one met someone with her abilities. It wouldn’t have bothered her too much having those attributes, but at certain times of the year it was hard to ignore her catlike responses—like when she was in heat. It being April, she was on the verge of another round of intense longing. Once Kat learned of her true nature, she dreaded these times of year. Dating was a nightmare, especially when she would become overexcited. She’d put it off until high school, but from then on everything had changed. Her feline attributes attracted the opposite sex like catnip did a housecat. She was tempting in body and grace, and the men flocked to date her. She’d gained a bad reputation and hadn’t had many girlfriends because of it. That was okay. The boys liked her and she used them to ease her longings, but she’d never met anyone who could fully satisfy her needs—her one true mate. Then she met him. Now, only one man would satisfy those urges to mate—her boss, Dr. Seth Matthews, the Curator of Ancient Antiquities. Since Seth had been named the head of the antiquities department last year, Katina had been struck by an intense, immediate attraction to the man. Unfortunately, the attraction seemed one-sided—he treated her with cool, distant respect. It was annoying to be brushed off by the man who could awaken her every nerve with the sound of his

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voice. For that reason, along with her secret other life, she tried her best not to run into him too often. Today, walking down the bustling street filled with people of every race and culture, vile aromas assaulted her nose as she made her way to the Met. Scents of urine, coffee, fried food, sweat and body odor filled her nostrils, making her nauseous. Most New Yorkers had grown immune to the stench, but with her acute sense of smell—one of her gifts—Kat suffered each time she entered the street. Overall, Kat felt at home in New York City, right there amid the hundreds of cars screeching to stops, drivers yelling obscenities at inattentive pedestrians, buses churning to pick up and drop off commuters, and sounds of construction machines chiseling away the old to make way for the new and improved. Moving with the morning multitude of commuters making their way to work, she admired the tremendous diversity within the city. People from all cultures, races and walks of life lived together with a moderate degree of toleration. In general, New Yorkers were some of the best people she had ever met. But there were plenty with less than stellar intentions, and sometimes Kat would meet them at the end of her massive claws. She was much better than a comic book heroine—she was real, much to the dismay of the criminals in the city. On her way to work, she stopped in a Starbucks for her morning cup of mocha latté. It was her delicious sin, her creamy chocolate indulgence. There was just nothing like the sweet, creamy taste of a mocha latté to start the day. She had passed by the coffee shop for months before finally stopping to try them out. What a wonderful day that was. Since then, she stopped by each weekday morning for her sinful delight in a cup. The counter girl was a nineteen-year-old college student named Caitlyn. She automatically knew what Kat wanted, so she never had to wait too long, even though the line was lengthy at this time of morning. “’Morning, Kat,” Caitlyn said cheerfully as she steamed some milk at the espresso machine. “It’s been a week or so since you’ve been in here. Everything okay?” 17

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“Everything’s fine. I was away on a business trip.” “Oh, where’d you go?” “I was in Indonesia to look over a few pieces recently found at an archeological dig.” “Sounds exotic,” a dark man behind her in line said, now leaning his elbow on the counter and inching closer to her. Kat turned away from him, rolling her eyes. She emitted hormones to the opposite sex while she was in heat, making her the recipient of many come-ons. This time was no exception. She wasn’t interested in anything most men had to offer—unless it was Dr. Matthews. Caitlyn turned back to her, beaming with excitement. She tucked a stray strand of straight red hair behind her ear and said, “That sounds so exciting. I wish I could travel someday.” “I’m sure you will.” As she prepared the latté, Caitlyn continued. “I have this dream to go to Egypt. I’ve always been fascinated by Egyptian culture. I almost feel like it calls to me sometimes.” She turned to Kat, the paper cup in her hand brimming with a foamy concoction, and said with a laugh, “I think I was Egyptian in a previous life.” “Sands of seduction—the call of the desert. If you hear the call, you will answer it someday,” Kat replied. “Oh, I hope so. It’s just kinda expensive on a college student’s income.” As Caitlyn rang up the sale, Kat gazed at her, remembering her first trip to Egypt at eighteen, fresh out of high school. She’d heard the same call, drawing her to the land of her ancestors. There, she discovered there were more guardians than she ever dreamed. “Anyway, it’s going to be a while until I get to see Egypt. Until then, I can dream,” Caitlyn sighed as she handed Kat the latté.

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Kat left the coffee shop wondering briefly about Caitlyn. Was it possible Caitlyn could be one of the guardians? Then passing an outdoor newsstand, she glanced at the headline on the latest Egyptology Today cover. “Tut’s Mummy Revealed.” She immediately thought of Talon, the young man she met in Luxor on that first trip. Talon was a necropolis priest, a guardian, and they became fast friends. It was only after she agreed to tour the Valley of the Kings with him that she learned he was a sheik. He told tales of his grandfather and the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Apparently, his grandfather, also a sheik, was a key player in preserving the boy king’s remains within the tomb. He had used his abilities, gifted from Horus, to watch over the excavation and ensure the dead pharaoh’s mummy would not become another museum display piece. However, he was unable to stop the destruction that Howard Carter, the excavation leader, inflicted on it in his search for jewels. At least the final resting place of the boy king would remain within the Valley, regardless of his condition. Kat questioned Talon as to why his grandfather didn’t stop the desecration of the mummy. Talon was secretive and cryptic in his response, murmuring about ancient curses and forbidden tales of demon worship. Sipping her coffee, Kat let the warm creamy taste ease her mind away from Talon and ancient curses, and turned her thoughts to her workday. She had a shipment of Indonesian artifacts to report on, as well as her entire trip. Except her little jungle run with the cats, of course. Once at the massive Metropolitan Museum of Art building, she climbed the long, narrow stone steps up to the red brick, neo-Gothic-style building that housed over five thousand years of art from all over the world. European armor, costumes and firearms, American paintings and sculptures, and Asian prints and ceramics were some of the riches gracing the massive historical building located right across from Central Park in the heart of New York.

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The Met was lucky enough to boast works by some of the greatest artists the world had ever known, like Michelangelo, Monet, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Picasso and Vermeer. Each gallery held priceless paintings and sculptures for the millions of visitors who came to the Met in search of culture and history. Kat’s favorite was the Egyptian wing. Thirty-six thousand objects made up the collection, ranking it the finest outside of Cairo, and the most extensive in the United States. Funerary objects, statues, jewelry and various other pieces comprised the famed collection, much of which had been acquired by museum-sponsored archeological digs beginning in the early twentieth century. Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb had had a tremendous impact on the interest in all things Egyptian. The world got to view history in the making as Carter revealed the riches within the tomb. Elaborately carved tables, gilded chariots, jewel-encrusted chairs, preserved food and any other items the Egyptians believed the pharaoh would need in his afterlife were included throughout the burial chambers. Also entombed with the pharaoh were the mummies of cats, Bast’s beloved feline representatives, sealed for all eternity beneath the desert sands. That is, until Carter came along and opened the tomb. The primitive archeology methods used in 1922 had damaged some of the pieces from the find, including the pharaoh’s own mummy. Although not happy with some of the methods used to acquire most of the items, Kat felt a sense of peace in their presence. She felt lucky to be one of the privileged employees to work in that section of the museum, although she had helped out in other areas, such as the Chinese displays and some primitive culture exhibits. One piece of the Egyptian collection held a significant meaning for Kat—a great stone statue of her patroness, Bast. The larger-than-life carving depicted Bast as the feline-headed goddess, the popular image used in Egyptian culture. Dressed in a gossamer gown, the goddess exuded her catlike qualities—virility, strength and agility.

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Kat made a point to visit her each day, giving thanks for the gifts bestowed on her and her family. Ancient Egyptians had worshipped Bast for nearly three thousand years, starting in the time of great strife between Upper and Lower Egypt. The battle between the evil god Set and Horus, the sky god, had raged on for years as they fought for power to rule over all of Egypt. Horus had eventually defeated Set and put an end to his chaotic habits. Followers of Bast viewed her as a protector of the chief gods Ra and Osiris from evil—namely Apep, a serpent controlled by Set—and she’d been linked to Set. It was also said that after the disappearance of Set after the war, Bast and Horus became lovers. Together, they protected the good against the evil forces threatening the gods and all humankind. “I wish I had a lover like Bast had Horus,” she muttered to herself. Her thoughts turned back to the handsome curator and her overwhelming need to mate. If he only knew the power of her feelings, would he dream of turning her away? What would it be like to have his naked flesh against hers in the throes of passion? Would he stroke her clit with the skill of a master lover, or give her control and let her ride his cock night after night? Katina growled softly at the thought. Striding across the massive lobby, Kat turned right past the grand stairway and headed toward the Egyptian collection. It had been days since she had given thanks to Bast for her gifts, which had come in handy on her recent trip. She hoped the Indonesian government would keep their word and hold the poachers in jail for a long time. Their crime, the inhumane slaughter of tigers, deserved the severest punishment. Stepping through the Tomb of Perneb, Kat was taken back to ancient times when pharaohs ruled Egypt. The limestone façade, or mastaba, and chapel from the Old Kingdom marked the entrance to the Egyptian galleries. The reconstructed chapel was bought from the Egyptian government in 1913, and featured a tomb painting depicting 21

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Perneb seated before an offering table. Worshipers could offer food and other gifts to their beloved, departed palace administrator. Farther into the galleries, Kat passed the statue of Hatshepsut, pharaoh and one of the greatest women in Egyptian history. If any women inspired modern females, it would be Hatshepsut and Cleopatra. Cleopatra used sex and beauty to achieve her goals, while Hatshepsut used her intelligence. Hatshepsut had definitely had many obstacles during her reign. To help prove her worthiness, she dressed in typical male garb—kilt, headdress and a false beard. Her rule was peaceful and she was eventually recognized as the legitimate pharaoh, constructing an elaborate tomb out of the side of a mountain in the Valley of the Kings. Unfortunately, her nephew Thutmose III resented her position and power. At her death, her mummy was stolen and destroyed, and the many images of the female pharaoh were defaced. However, through her courage of beating the odds and ruling over the Two Lands, her memory would never be forgotten. On the other hand, Cleopatra used her famed beauty to love two of the most powerful male figures in history. Both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony had fallen under her spell, spending their days and nights by her side, forgetting their duties and wives back in Rome. Katina always enjoyed the story of Cleopatra delivering herself to Julius’ bedchamber concealed in a carpet, wearing nothing but a smile. To no surprise, they became lovers that very night. The woman had guts, and Kat had to admire her for it. Passing the illuminated glass cases filled with artifacts and several preserved mummies, Katina reflected on her feelings of displaying the remains of the dead. Personally, she had always been sickened by the practice. It was one thing to exhibit objects such as jars or statues, but she found the display of a real person’s remains unpalatable. She considered the practice not only degrading to the memory of the dead, but thought the mummies should remain in their tombs, their intended eternal resting places. 22

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Walking into the room where the statue of Bast was on display, Katina stopped in her tracks. Seth stood before the statue, examining it with a cool curiosity. She knew him instantly from the broad expanse of his strong shoulders and the long, black hair tied into a queue trailing down to the middle of his back. His black suit was impeccable and immaculate, a perfect accent to his tall, muscular physique. Katina shivered at the thought of that perfect body pressed against hers in an intimate embrace. Closing her eyes, she exhaled a slow breath, trying to get her emotions and physical reactions under control. Going into heat was especially difficult when the object of her affection hardly knew she was alive, and now he stood before her, magnetic and virile. “I see you’ve returned in one piece, Katina.” His voice held a hint of British accent, causing a ripple of excitement to travel down her spine. She held in a purr from just the sound of her name on his lips. “Yes, I got back last night,” she said, watching him. His back was still turned as he continued to examine the statue. Turning his face toward her slightly, she saw one piercing, clear blue eye travel over her. “Run into any trouble?” A small smile played on her lips as she drew up next to him. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.” Her body was alive with want. He was her ultimate male—physically appealing as well as intelligent. Standing next to him, her body sang out its need, her hormones calling to him with the desire to mate. She was in heat, true, but she wanted Seth any time, any place. Images of him naked in her mind’s eye flooded her and her clit swelled, aching for his touch. Lying on a bed, she pictured herself splaying open her legs, her nether lips opening to him, beckoning Seth to taste and devour her.

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Her cunt creamed as she stood there next to him. The ache grew and the urge to rub her thighs together to find some small amount of relief became very appealing. What would Seth think if she told him how much she wanted him to fuck her? She didn’t just want to use his body to seek her own relief. She wanted more from him. She wanted not only his cock deep within her—she wanted to possess his heart, to worship him with all her being. “And were the items offered to the museum worthy?” He continued to watch her with interest. She could almost smell his body’s reaction. She could swear he was aroused. His body heat seemed to increase and his nostrils flared. Kat was transfixed. “Yes, I ordered quite a few pieces to be shipped here. I think they’ll make wonderful additions to our collection.” Turning back to the statue, he said in a controlled voice, “Good. I trust you’ll have a full report of the items you obtained on my desk by the end of the day.” With that, he turned and sauntered away, back to his office, leaving her alone among the lifeless statues of the Egyptian gods and goddesses. And feeling very much rejected, as well as hot and extremely bothered. Damn the man for his cool indifference!

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Chapter Two Seth knew he needed to gain better control of himself. Katina was haunting his dreams these days in ways not appropriate for a colleague. When she walked into the room he’d known instantly it was her, even before he turned. Her spicy musk scent filled his senses, arousing his body to instant awareness. During the time she’d spent away in Indonesia he had hoped to get over this infatuation, but upon seeing her again he knew it was hopeless. He could no longer deny his attraction to Katina’s dark, exotic beauty. He could picture her naked now, smooth copper-toned skin a tempting contrast to the whiteness of the sheets on his bed. Her silky, straight black hair would be fanned out on the pillows as she watched him with those catlike emerald eyes. Never had he seen such striking eyes before and he had been mesmerized from the first moment she’d looked at him. He could imagine her luscious body beckoning for him to taste her, touch her, caress her. Those ripe breasts would call out to be suckled and licked as he plunged himself into her wetness. He moaned low in his throat as erotic images of Katina surrendering to him over and over flooded his mind. He had to get a grip on himself. She was a coworker and probably hadn’t even thought of him as anything more than her boss. Entering his office and sitting behind his desk, Seth tried to immerse himself in his work—anything to get his mind off the sensual images. But he found that virtually impossible. There was something about Katina that made him want to lose restraint. Whenever she was near, the urge to take her into his arms was more and more intense. Sometimes it took every fiber of control not to just grab her and crush her body against

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his. At those times, the craving to devour her body’s treasures decreased a little once she left his presence, but his desire was never wholly forgotten. A few hours later, his assistant, Robert Sims, knocked on his office door and carried in a large manila envelope. “This arrived in the mail, Dr. Matthews.” The young man stood nervously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. Sims reminded Seth of a man on his first job interview. After a year here, he still acted anxious. Yet he had been an excellent assistant, keeping Seth organized amid the museum’s endless, trying mountain of paperwork and appointments. But still, the man’s continuous apprehension was annoying. Seth couldn’t warm up to him at all. Seth looked up, cocking a dark eyebrow and freezing his assistant with a cold stare. “And?” “It’s from the Cairo Museum.” Seth grabbed the envelope and ripped it open. Pulling out the pile of papers, he scanned the cover letter. The Cairo Museum had finally sent the shipment of artifacts promised to the Met a year before for a Mysteries of the Pharaohs exhibit. And the shipment was due in late that same night. “Looks as if I’ll be staying late tonight, Mr. Sims.” He addressed his assistant with polite coolness. “Will you need me to stay with you, sir?” “No. I’ll only check in their arrival, then leave the rest for tomorrow.”

***** At five o’clock, Kat knocked on Seth’s door with her report in hand. He looked up, watching as she walked gracefully into the small room which now seemed even smaller with her presence. Air seemed harder to breathe as he fought the urge to pull her across his desk, crushing her body against his. Damn, that musk she wore drove him insane. “Here’s the report you asked for,” she said in a wavering voice. 26

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His eyebrow shot up as he considered her body language. She seemed tense, almost fighting to keep composure. Her dark-rimmed glasses, conservative navy suit and swept-up black hair made her appear confident and businesslike, but something else edged beneath the surface. Could he be wrong in thinking she felt nothing for him? “Thank you, Katina.” He realized he never referred to anyone else on the staff by their first name. It had seemed natural to call her Katina, an intimate term among friends. Hopefully he would become more. Clearing his throat, he leaned back in his chair, gazing intently at her. Perhaps he should test her and see if she was interested. What would be the harm? “There’s a shipment of Egyptian pieces coming in from the Cairo Museum tonight, Katina. I’m staying to check them in. Would you like to stick around to be one of the first to see the treasures?” She paused, probably registering the possibilities behind his suggestion. “With all the traveling I did yesterday, I’m kind of tired. I think I’m just going to go home and soak in the tub, then climb into bed.” The thought of her lying naked in a foamy, scented bath—combined with the knowledge she wasn’t going to be with another man—made him feel daring. “I thought maybe we could’ve gotten dinner together then come back here for the delivery. But since you’re tired, you can go on home.” Getting up, he started grabbing books strewn about his desk, placing them back onto the assorted bookshelves that lined his office. “Dr. Matthews, I hardly know what to say.” “Please, call me Seth, Katina.” He said her name slowly as he stopped and stepped in front of her, looking down into her face, gaining her quick intake of breath. “Seth,” she whispered. “It sounds more like a date than two people working late.” “Does that seem distasteful to you, to go out to dinner with me?” he asked in a seductive voice, bringing his fingertips to her jaw, tracing the curve of her face. Her skin was soft and warm, just as he had imagined. “No,” she breathed, turning her face toward his touch. 27

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He paused, wanting to kiss her like he had longed to do for a year. Would those full lips yield to his, tasting, tempting with each tender brush? Part of him wanted to take the chance. The other part, his doubting side, cautioned against the act, dreading her rejection. He dropped his hand and turned away, picking up more books off his desk and replacing them on the shelves. “Perhaps some other time then. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your night of relaxation.” “Maybe I could hold off on that for tonight.” His back turned, he opened one of the books and flipped through the pages. “No. Go home, Katina. We’ll talk about the shipment tomorrow.” He hardly understood why he wouldn’t let her reconsider. He was nervous and having her so close undid his confidence. He wasn’t weak, but something about her made him unsure of himself. He had traveled the world, studied at the best schools and had a doctorate, yet this one woman made him shake. He wanted her to accept him as a man—not a scholar, not her employer, but as a regular man with needs, lusts and hungers. Silence. He should’ve let her change her mind, but wasn’t completely sure of himself. His feelings for her were so strong. He wanted her to feel it, too. “Good night then, Doctor…Seth.” She left his office and he felt the emptiness penetrate his very being. All that lingered behind was the exotic scent of her spicy perfume. Inhaling slowly, he absorbed the scent deeply. By all that was holy, he wanted her.

***** What in the world has gotten into him? Kat was completely taken by surprise at this show of interest from Seth. By the will of Bast, could she be mistaken about his invitation to dinner? And she had said she wanted to go home to soak in the tub? A hundred cold baths wouldn’t extinguish the heat that built within at the thought of him wanting to be with her. Oh, why hadn’t he at least let her change her mind? 28

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Men. They all had to make everything so difficult and complicated. Throughout her life, each man who had found his way into her heart had only made trouble. Peter from high school was a prime example. Granted, he was new at the love game too, but it wasn’t an excuse for treating her feelings as if they were petty concerns. She dated him in her senior year, easing her own needs and wants with his body. That was where it should’ve stopped, but instead she’d allowed her heart to get involved. It was a mistake. Peter eventually dumped her, claiming, “I only told you that I loved you because I thought that’s what you wanted to hear.” The jerk. Later that night, the temptation to show up as a jaguar to rip his cold heart from his body was overwhelming. Just that image helped her get over his cruel words. He deserved no tears and she refused to give them. Yet it took her a few years to fully get over his rejection. When she was twenty-one she met the second man to turn her heart into mush. Matt, a fraternity brother, was popular, handsome, smart and therefore considered a great catch. She was introduced to him at a sorority mixer and they hit it off immediately. Mutual attraction simmered beneath the surface and they ended up having a lost weekend filled with seemingly endless passion. It was the best sex she had ever experienced. Ah, Matt. He was the first man she’d ever confessed her fantasies to. Whipped cream, chocolate sauce and handcuffs were some the fun things they experimented with together. They spent two years together having incredible sex as their physical relationship flourished. Their emotional relationship, on the other hand, left much to be desired. When Kat had started her graduate studies, her time was too short to concentrate on anything else. That included her relationship with Matt. Her schooling came first if she was going to succeed in a career in antiquities. He couldn’t understand why he came second, even though she explained it would only be temporary, until she graduated. 29

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A few months later, Matt began visiting her less frequently on the weekends. Eventually he’d broken off the relationship, claiming to have fallen for another woman. Kat had been hurt, but by the time they’d split she’d been ready for it to end. After the breakup, she poured herself into her studies and received her doctorate in art history, specializing in ancient cultures. She had moved to New York while working on her thesis and gotten a job at the Met soon afterward. One day, Seth had walked through those rotating doors and into her heart. She admired him from afar, never acting on her primal instincts. She hoped one day he would see the light and notice her. Unfortunately, after a year of working with him, she had begun to lose hope he’d ever take notice. Tonight was the first time he had expressed any interest in her. Why in the world didn’t she just refuse to leave, slam him down across his cluttered desk and kiss him? She could have acted on all her pent-up desire and passion, but she didn’t. She acted noble and walked out of his office. Damn it. She was either stupid or insane or a bit of both. What was he like away from the museum? She wanted to get to know him and spend time with him outside work. She yearned to know more about his private life. Hell, she wanted to be his private life. Leaving the museum, Kat walked along the busy street, assaulted by the noxious smells of the city once again. Suddenly, she heard a desperate cry for help from one of her many feline friends, the urban guardians within the city. Someone was in trouble.

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Chapter Three Quickly, Kat ducked into an alley and began running. While running, she became her alternate self. Fur in place of clothes. Paws instead of hands. She became Lady Sheba. Racing through the darkened alleys, Sheba dodged within the shadows, hurrying toward the crime in progress. What’s going on? she asked her guardian. A human male is hurting a female, and she can’t fight him off. Hurry! the guardian cried telepathically. Minutes later, Sheba came upon the man ripping his struggling victim’s dress. She let out a loud roar. He turned his head, spotting her. As a gigantic black panther, Sheba padded slowly and easily toward the man, growling at him, baring her great white teeth, menacing and ferocious. Tense muscles worked along her legs and body, flexing, readying for a chase. His growing fear filled her nostrils and she was able to taste it on her tongue. The rapist panicked and shoved the woman in front of him. Tossing the woman toward Sheba he made a break to escape, bolting off down the alley. She instructed the guardian, a nearby tabby cat, to stay with the woman. Then Sheba raced after the rapist. Much faster than a mere human, she caught up to the man within a few strides. Once upon him, she leapt into the air, coming down on the man’s back, crushing him to the ground. “Oh God, have mercy on me. Have mercy,” he begged as she leaned her weight on his body.

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Katina was able to communicate with humans on a psychic level while in feline form. She considered it one of her most fun gifts. She asked in a mental snarl, Like you showed that woman mercy in attacking her? “Oh God, I can hear it too!” the man cried, becoming hysterical. His panic filled her nostrils, mingling with the foul stench of his body odor. He hadn’t seen soap in a month at least, judging by the smell. What is your name? she asked. “Richard Jenkins. For the love of God, let me go!” I’ll let you go, you pathetic being, but on one condition. Go to the nearest policeman and turn yourself in. I’ll be watching you to make sure. Don’t think you can trick me, or I’ll hunt you down and show you what my claws can really do. “Oh, yes, yes, I’ll turn myself in. Just please, don’t hurt me!” Just so you know I mean business, Richard Jenkins, you need only look at your jacket to remember your meeting with me. With that, she extended her claws on one paw and snatched them down his back, ripping the jacket to shreds. He screamed, but she never touched his flesh. Easing off the man, she backed into the shadows. Go and do as I told you or you’ll find out how vicious I can be. She stood and watched him run off. Then she turned and ran back down the alley. Before coming upon the shaking woman, Sheba shifted back to her human form. Petting the small tabby cat by her side, the woman looked up at Kat with tear-filled eyes. “Are you okay?” Kat asked, gently grasping the woman’s arm, helping her to her feet. “Now I am. Some filthy man attacked me, but some large animal jumped from the shadows and he ran. I just hope whatever that beast was chases him for miles. I don’t think I want it to come back though.”

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Kat feigned alarm at the woman’s mention of a large animal. “What do you think it was that scared the guy?” “I don’t know, some kind of beast—but it was big and moved fast, like a big cat.” “Maybe we should go to the police and report this.” The woman straightened her dress as best she could, wiping away her tears. “I’m not sure it would do any good. The thing is probably long gone by now.” “I was talking about the man who attacked you. He’s obviously a criminal.” She was shaken but nodded in agreement. “Come on, I’ll walk with you to the police station then see you home, okay?” “Thank you so much,” the woman said as they began to walk down the alley together. Once at the station, Kat was pleased to learn that Richard Jenkins had just come by claiming an attack from a large black cat. He also admitted to the attempted rape. Apparently he had a criminal history and had been wanted by the police. So, without much trouble, he would be put in jail. He would receive counseling as well, at least until he stopped believing he had been attacked by a large black panther in a New York alley. The woman never mentioned the “beast” to the police. Kat smiled to herself while she escorted the woman to her apartment. “I couldn’t bring myself to tell the cops about the thing that saved me,” the woman admitted. “Why not?” “If I told them, they might try to hunt it down like an escaped convict. I couldn’t let them do that.” “But what if it’s a wild animal in the streets?” “It’s not. I can feel it. It was like it sensed I was in trouble,” she admitted. “Like a hero straight from a comic book.” 33

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***** Seth waited around the museum until the deliverymen showed up at ten o’clock. After the necessary paperwork had been filled out, the men left and he was alone once again. Katina. Every time he was alone these days, his thoughts turned to Katina and her exotic beauty and sharp intelligence. He had never been so entranced or infatuated by a woman before. The way she moved hypnotized him, and the sound of her voice was melodious and intoxicating. She was not only physically attractive, but incredibly smart too. Many times in departmental meetings she would disclose a sliver of history about a culture so remote, Seth sometimes thought she was a walking computer. Brains and beauty summed up his Katina. He had never really had much luck in love. Women pranced in and out of his life. It was like he was a department store—they’d come for the sale then rush off satisfied. It was fine most of the time, but he longed for one woman to stake a claim and stick around for longer than a week or so. One woman that had stuck around for a while was Jodie, a perfect blonde model type. She knew how to turn him on in ways he’d never dreamed. Jodie had been a wild thing in bed and he’d loved it. She liked to play games, like the naughty French maid and the punishing master. Getting spanked was a big turn-on for her, so he’d played along. He had learned how to turn her on with a few well-placed slaps on her ass—in addition to a healthy teasing of her clit with his fingers. Listening to her moan in ecstasy had been incredibly stimulating. Unfortunately, after a while, all they talked about was the next sex scenario. Not much to build a relationship on but she hadn’t been interested in anything else. She had become obsessed with her new lifestyle. Less than a year later they had a long discussion about their future and came to a mutual agreement to part ways.

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It seemed Jodie had met a fascinating couple at a BDSM club interested in trying a few new things, too. Wishing her well, Seth had watched the doors to his only steady relationship close. Many nights since he first saw Katina, he wondered what she would do if he gave her a good spanking or asked her to suck his cock deep into her sweet mouth. Would her cunt get wet and quiver with need for him to dip his fingers deep into her heat? Since he met Katina, she had become his fantasy. He dreamed of her ripe ass across his lap as he brought her to climax after he reddened her sweet flesh with his paddle. His desktop clock chimed, marking the late hour and bringing his thoughts back to the present. He needed to check over the list of items to be put on display for the upcoming gala event for the Mysteries of the Pharaohs. After glancing through the inventory sheet, one piece caught his attention. The Eye of Horus. He remembered reading something about its unique qualities. Anxious to gaze upon it himself, he opened the box containing the gold vessel. It was discovered in 1923 in the temple of a minor god. Seth had heard the vessel was part of the permanent collection of the Cairo Museum, so its inclusion in this exhibition was a rare treat. Remembering the tale he had read in one of the Cairo newsletters, he recalled that The Eye of Horus was said to have magical powers, molded by the gods to replace the eyes the god Set had ripped from Horus in a jealous rage. Seth obviously couldn’t believe in the local legends of every piece he encountered. If there were any credibility to those hocus-pocus spells, he would have been struck down long ago. “Legends and curses,” he muttered, lifting the bubble-wrapped object from the box. Carefully peeling back the protective plastic, he gazed upon one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Made entirely of gold, this small hollow statuette resembled every drawing of The Eye of Horus, only more decadent. Encrusted with brilliant blue lapis, turquoise, carnelian and glass, it glowed with color and vibrancy. Energy vibrated from the object, sending strange sensations through his fingertips and racing throughout his body. 35

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Picking up the magnifying glass from his desktop, Seth examined the piece closely. As he turned it over, a large piece of lapis, the iris of The Eye, popped open, revealing a secret compartment. A force threw him back, knocking him off his chair and onto the floor with a thud. A great black mist escaped the vessel, forming a dark cloud. It shifted as it drifted around the room then stopped before him as he lay on the ground, stunned. Before he could resist, it attacked, entering his body. He lay on the floor, unable to fight off the phenomenon as it coursed through his veins, pumping its evil through each cell. Pain jolted his nerves, sending electric shocks through his system, causing him to arch his back and scream out for help. But no one heard his call.

***** Kat finally arrived at her apartment, her cozy retreat from the world. She had decorated the entire apartment with numerous feline accents throughout the rooms. The kitchen had tiger canisters, and the living room had several prints of tigers in jungle foliage and a tiger-striped throw tossed casually on the back of the couch. Even the bathroom was decorated with leopard spots along the shower curtain and on the little soap dish and toothbrush holder. Her bedroom also featured a tasteful spattering of leopard spots. The bedspread and an area rug echoed the leopard theme, while the curtains, walls and carpet were all a creamy tan hue. On the bureau across from the bed, small figurines of various big cats lined the surface, from porcelain male and female lions to a cut-crystal jaguar on the prowl. Various candles were scattered about the room’s surfaces. Kat loved to light small votives on the nightstand, bureau and vanity, filling the room with an intoxicating vanilla fragrance. The bedroom had a comfortable tropical look and feel, perfectly matching the personality of the owner. She was home.

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When she opened the front door, she was met with the cocky comment, So, look what the cat dragged in. “Look Nathaniel, I’m in no mood to debate with you as to why I’m late.” She dropped her keys on the chair by the door and draped her suit coat over the chair back. I think I have a right to know why my dinner is late. You know I like my meals on time. “I ran into a little trouble on the way home,” she said, kicking off her shoes in the foyer and glancing at the black cat perched on her kitchen counter. She hated it when he sat his dirty butt on her eating surface. Hearing her thoughts, Nathaniel replied, I’m sitting here awaiting my dinner, madam. If you’d gotten home at a decent hour, I wouldn’t be contaminating your precious counter. Nathaniel, named after her favorite author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, had been her dearest companion for the past five years, the only close friendship she had ever known. He just showed up one day on her doorstep. She knew very well he thought of her as his pet, not the other way around. She hadn’t been surprised to hear him “speak” to her psychically. Her mother had taught her long ago how to hone her telepathy skills. However, unlike the other felines she’d communicated with, Nathaniel had come to her doorstep with a purpose. He claimed he’d been sent by Bast herself to instruct her in the ways of the desert guardians—ancient necropolis priests and priestesses gifted with unique powers. He allowed her to name him, claiming it strengthened the bonds of trust between guardian and guide. He’d had various names throughout his lifetime, but he kept his past veiled in secrecy, instead focusing on instructing her in the use of her powers. With Nathaniel’s help, she completed her transformation into Lady Sheba. He trained her to keep to the shadows, choosing secrecy instead of sensationalism like some kind of comic book hero. The women in her family were the blessed descendants of Bast’s loyal priestesses. Throughout time, back to when ancient Egyptians ruled, Kat’s family had been part of those who helped the human race fight evil, protect the innocent and preserve the past. 37

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Perhaps this was the reason archeology came to her so easily, the wish to protect ancient remains of civilizations long past. Ahem. Nathaniel was very impatient when it came to his dinner. “Dinner is coming up, okay?” I’ll be patient. “Ha! That’ll be the day.” Stepping into the kitchen, she reached into a cabinet for Nathaniel’s food. Grabbing a clean bowl from the dishwasher, she poured some dry food and set it on the floor before reaching for the water bowl to refresh its contents. Perhaps I should make you give me some of that bottled water you like to drink, he said with a light tone as he jumped down onto the floor, padding toward the full bowl of food. “Now you’re pushing it, Bubba.” He mentally laughed as he said, So tell me, why were you late? “A man tried to rape a woman, but I stopped him in time. He turned himself in and she filed charges. Apparently, he was wanted for other rapes.” After grabbing a bottle of water out of the refrigerator, she sat down on a stool in the kitchen, watching Nathaniel eat his dinner. In between bites he said, Bast would be pleased. Pausing, he looked up at her and asked in a sincere voice, And how was Dr. Matthews today? She told him about the early morning encounter, then the disturbingly arousing meeting later. She still couldn’t believe he had actually touched her. The simple act had been stimulating and enticing, still sending tiny thrills through her body as she thought of it. Every nerve had been put on alert from the gesture. Bringing her hand up to her face, she retraced his touch. She imagined she could still feel the warmth of his skin against hers. That magical moment, in addition to his proposal to go out on a date together, had been more than she ever expected. Sounds as if the doc has finally taken notice. Or maybe he just realized his own feelings.

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“Whatever the reason, I’m glad. It’s hell working for a man to whom I feel so attracted. I just want to…” She left the rest unsaid, knowing Nathaniel would understand her reasons. She wanted Seth as her mate, her life partner, but how could she tell him her secret? “I think I’m going to take a bath, then go to bed.” Taking another long swallow of her spring water, she got up and wandered into her bedroom. Nathaniel listened to her move about the room, readying for her bath. In love with her mate for almost a year and today he finally makes an advance—and she turns him down only to be hot and bothered for the entire night. “I heard that!”

***** The next morning, Kat walked to work feeling refreshed. The bath and the night’s sleep had done her good and she felt confident climbing the stone steps toward the museum entrance. Once inside, however, she sensed immediately that something was very different— a sinister air had permeated the atmosphere. Making her way through the Egyptian collection, she stopped cold. There again stood Seth, this time in front of a statue of the falcon-headed god Horus. Something was definitely different. He turned at her approach and smiled. Instead of the cool manner she had come to expect, a fire lit his eyes as they traveled slowly over her body, making her feel naked, vulnerable—excited. Oh dear Bast, the desire he ignited with that look! Her heart skipped a beat, her palms began to sweat and her pussy tingled as it stirred to life. He looked different as well. While still dressed to perfection in his signature dark suit, his hair fell loose about his shoulders, giving him a wild, untamed look. “Katina, you look beautiful this morning.”

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Her heart beat a little faster at his seductive tone. Never had he commented on her looks. “Thank you, Seth,” she replied in an unsure, cautious voice. What’s caused such a change in him? And what was that overwhelming sense of dread she felt in her bones? “You look…different today.” “I felt it was time for a few changes.” Stepping closer to her, he stopped just a breath away, near enough for his cologne to fill her senses with the scents of sex, desire and danger. Her breathing quickened as she inhaled his closeness. Then he clasped her face between his hands, letting the warm touch of his skin flow through her. “One of those changes involves you, Katina,” he said in a low, husky voice. He lowered his face to hers and whispered against her lips, “I want you in my life—much more intimately.” Then he covered her lips with his. Kat felt her own control melt away at the gentle play of his warm mouth against hers, lips mingling tenderly. His tongue flicked out, urging her to open to him. With a gasp she parted her lips, allowing him entrance as she wrapped her arms about his neck. As his tongue darted inside, tasting her, his hands traveled down her body, molding her soft curves to his hard muscle. Cupping her buttocks, he pulled her hips toward his, letting her know the extent of his excitement. Their breathing had become fast and labored as they broke their kiss long enough for his mouth to travel down her neck to her blouse, tasting every exposed area. He murmured against her skin, words too low to hear or understand. She didn’t care. The magic he wreaked upon her senses had made everything else unimportant. The only thing that mattered at the moment was being here with Seth. They were the only ones who existed. Her fingertips brushed through the silkiness of his long midnight hair, relishing the feel of it against her skin. His mouth traveled still lower as he unbuttoned her blouse, searching for more skin to taste.

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When his hand stroked the fullness of her breast, she tossed her head back, allowing his touch to infiltrate her. He rubbed her nipple to a hardened nub between his forefinger and thumb, then dipped his head down and suckled it through the lace of her bra. His hot mouth felt intoxicating as he teased the nub with his teeth, nibbling gently. When he finished with one breast, he lavished the same delectable care on the other. The sensations were so wonderful, she thought she would climax just from the attention he gave her breasts. “Oh, Seth,” she said breathlessly, as he feasted on one breast while caressing the other with his hand and fingers. His lips traveled back up to her mouth, capturing her in another passionate kiss— fiery, stoking, burning. Then someone cleared his throat behind them. Shocked into the realization she had just made out with Seth in a very public place, Kat closed the front of her blouse and turned away. Seth shielded her body with his as he addressed the intruder. “What is it, man?” he asked in an irritated voice, his British accent very pronounced in anger. “Dr. Matthews, there’s a phone call for you from Cairo.” His assistant sounded shocked and embarrassed. Seth sighed and asked angrily, “Don’t you know how to take a message?” “Sorry, sir. I didn’t know…well, if I had known…” After Kat had buttoned her blouse, she straightened her hair and turned to Seth. “Go ahead, I’ll see you later.” With that, she scurried out of the room to her office. She could give thanks to Bast later. That is, after she got over the physical and emotional upheaval of this morning.

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Chapter Four A dark shadow loomed along the cool marble floor where the beast gazed upon his brother’s likeness. Darkness had fallen over the city while he once again stood before the statue of Horus. The statue’s falcon head bore a great likeness to that of his enemy. Before the watchful eyes of Horus, Set had been found by the woman Katina and she had been too tempting for his human host to resist, clawing for domination to act on his innermost desires. Once he regained control, Set kept his distance from her throughout the day. Human lust and love were dangerous to a creature such as himself. Love didn’t exist. Bast proved that. He’d never forget her face as she stood by while Osiris condemned him to that golden prison. He lifted a brow and turned to the statue of Bast. Katina had been there recently— he could smell her distinct sexual musk hanging in the air. He’d been swept away by her appeal right along with his host, but there was something familiar within her that made him pause. Was it possible Katina was somehow connected to his former lover? If so, the situation may need greater caution than he first thought. But then, causing havoc was his purpose to exist—invoking chaos. And chaos could not evolve with caution. The God of Chaos. That had been what the Egyptians had called Set. That was before his brother trapped him in the vessel, keeping him at bay for thousands of years. But now he was back. In this body, Set could resume his purpose. “Ah, my brother,” he said as he glared up at the statue of Horus. “The time has come for the humans to find out what real chaos is, for Set has returned from exile. I will start with this city and move beyond as my powers increase.” Stepping through rooms filled with priceless treasures and starting up the stone stairways, Set made his way toward the roof of the museum. After climbing the last flight of stairs, he opened the 42

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steel door leading outside. He strode out onto the roof, balancing on its gently sloping surface. Crouching, he scanned the buildings filled with thousands of people. A small smile played on his lips at the thought of his potential to terrorize these unsuspecting humans. The possibilities were endless. Eying the city below, he took in his new surroundings. So different from the world he’d left behind—but so much better. The temperature wasn’t so blistering and no sea of sand anywhere to be found. Nothing was familiar, but Set was willing to explore and learn. But then, if he was to destroy this metropolis, what did it matter? He’d replace it all with his own designs and creations. And any who opposed him would be eliminated. However, he first needed to give his powers a good stretch. What to do first? A large, reddish-brown insect scurried across the rooftop. Grabbing the bug, he lifted and examined it more closely. It was much like the scarabs of his homeland. As it struggled against his hold, an idea came to mind. Reaching out over the city with his magic, he sensed the presence of millions of insects like the one he held. Laughing aloud, he released the insect then stood erect, glaring over the entire city, aglow with thousands of points of light, completely unaware of his existence. But not for long. Spreading his arms wide, he called out, “Rise, my friends. Show the humans I have returned to Earth!”

***** Kat sat at her kitchen counter eating a pitiful frozen dinner while Nathaniel ate his own food. This hadn’t been what she’d expected to be eating tonight. After the passionate encounter with Seth that morning, she had thought he would ask her to

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dinner. Instead, she hadn’t seen him for the rest of the day. It was as though he’d avoided her. Damn it. Even more disturbing was the air of evil that had drifted throughout the museum. A presence seeped through her pores, telling her something was definitely wrong. But what could it be? Oddly enough, she felt the change in Seth had something to do with it. Could there be a connection to Seth’s strange behavior? She couldn’t fight the feeling he was involved, but his attention had been something she desired intensely. How could she fight the warmth of his touch, the feel of his mouth on her skin, the taste of him filling her senses and bringing her every dream to life? After they’d been disturbed by his assistant, she’d expected him to search for her later to continue his sensual assault. But he never appeared. She eventually looked for him, but Seth was nowhere to be found. Yet the hint of unrest had tainted the atmosphere and she’d remained uneasy. The workers in the museum had seemed to unconsciously sense the change as well, and tempers ran high that day. A visit to the ladies’ room proved dangerous as women complained and raged about everything, more so than usual. It was like the entire female staff was suffering from PMS. Not good. Now, her feline senses perceived evil near, out on the very streets. A negative aura seemed to surround the entire city. A roach scurried across the counter, jolting her out of her thoughts. How she hated the buggers! Reaching over to the paper towels, she quickly ripped off a sheet and caught the offending insect, squashing him. You’re going to need more than one paper towel, Nathaniel said, drawing her attention to the kitchen floor, now moving with several roaches—and the numbers steadily increasing. “Good God, where the hell did they come from?” she asked as she jumped off her stool, trying to avoid the drove of roaches now crawling all over the floor. 44

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The exterminator came last week, so I think you need to ask for your money back, he replied sarcastically as he jumped up on the counter, swatting at the roaches and knocking them to the floor. “This isn’t some simple infestation.” As the words left her lips, a barrage of calls from her cat guardians flooded her mind. Roaches! They’re everywhere, overrunning the city! In an instant, Kat’s clothes melted away only to be replace by her black latex catsuit. At the front door she glanced back at Nathaniel, still swatting at the bugs. She called out, “Don’t let them get the best of you.” We just need to build a better roach trap, madam. Dashing out into the hallway crawling with thousands of roaches, the residents running out of the building, Kat knew this was the work of something evil—and she knew where to look first. Out on the street, Kat witnessed the hysteria gripping the city’s inhabitants. The streets moved in waves made of millions of roaches scurrying over every surface. Darting down an alley, Kat shifted into a great black panther and raced toward the museum, crushing insects along the way. She cringed at the sensation beneath her giant paws, but tried to ignore it. Chaos was everywhere. People ran through the streets, screaming in terror. Then she saw him—a tall figure walking slow and easy amidst the pandemonium, laughing aloud as he watched the people try to escape the roach swarm. It was Seth. She should have been completely shocked, but somehow she had known he was the source. But how was it possible? She watched him glide along the street, laughing as the show unfolded before him. Taking a deep breath, she trotted over and halted before him. It was time to confront the source of the city’s latest woes.

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Stopping in his tracks, he gazed upon her as she stood a few feet away, baring her teeth and growling. His eyes, normally a clear blue, now glowed with a red hue, like two fires within, burning with hatred. “Ah, now there is a surprise. One of Bast’s pussies has come to face off with me.” Who are you and why are you doing this? she asked in a menacing mental voice, ending in a pointed growl. “I am Set, God of Chaos. I was trapped by my brother Horus for thousands of years and now I have escaped. Mankind will feel my wrath. I shall have my revenge by plaguing the beloved of Osiris!” Set has returned? Seth was possessed by the demon spirit of Set, the Egyptian god, the Destroyer of Peace. She knew immediately the stories of Set and his murder of Osiris. Set was free, here in New York City. Crap. He had to be stopped, and soon. Tonight. But how could she match off with a god holding various magical powers that dominated her own? You have no place here, Set. Go back to where you came from and release the soul of the man you possess. He laughed, approaching with slow steps. “No, I don’t think so. I find I like it here in the future. And as for this body, he’ll do very nicely to serve my purpose.” Crouching, she paused, ready to pounce. Not if I can help it. Stopping, he looked down at her with glowing eyes. “Try and defeat me, little pussy,” he taunted, crooking his finger. “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.” She jumped, forcing her full weight into the air as she threw herself toward him. Landing on his chest, she knocked him to the ground but he still laughed, evil and menacing. “Is that all you can do, servant of Bast?” He chuckled, holding her front paws steady, his strength tenfold that of a normal human.

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Then an invisible force threw her off him, tossing her body through the air and onto the street. Her body scraped against the hard pavement, muscles and tendons screaming in pain. Bones snapped at the force of her fall. The only way to fix herself quickly would be to shift back to her human form. Her head ached with shooting pains, breaking her concentration. Through slitted eyes, she watched him approach and stand over her crumpled body. As she felt her own consciousness fade, her body shifted, repairing the injured bones and muscles in the transformation. The last thing she remembered seeing was the shock that registered on his face as he gazed down at her. She heard his voice crack and the glow faded from his eyes as he said her name in whispered recognition. “Katina!” She was comforted by Set’s loss of control, ending the roach nightmare. Then darkness engulfed her into its peaceful nothingness.

***** Sometime later, Kat awoke. The exact time that had elapsed escaped her. Her limbs were numb, still aching from the earlier fall. The transformation had repaired her injuries but the pain remained, although to a lesser degree. The softness she lay in at present was a welcome relief, though something was definitely wrong. She tried to move to relieve her strained muscles but found she couldn’t. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the softly lit room she now occupied. As her vision cleared, she looked around the small room. She lay in a strange bed in a stranger’s bedroom. Where in the world was she? Looking down at her legs, she saw why she couldn’t move. She had been tied down with what appeared to be silk scarves. Trying to move her arms, she found them bound as well. Okay, she was bound to the bed. And naked? How did that happen? She tried to conjure some sort of covering, anything to give her some modesty and control over the 47

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situation, but her attempts failed. Then it dawned on her—Set had used his magic to bind her powers, keeping her vulnerable. She was his prisoner. Jasmine incense filled her senses—the ancient scent used in seduction. She knew it well, having used it herself in the past. What was Set planning? Would she be able to resist her powerful attraction to Seth without her magic? Restrained, naked, powerless and in heat, she knew she couldn’t. Her clit throbbed in yearning for Seth’s touch. A jolt of excitement shimmied through her core, muscles contracting in anticipation and juices seeping through her pink folds as she thought of him mounting her body and plunging his cock into her. By the gods, being in heat was torture, especially in her present predicament. The year of longing was going to take a toll on her tonight. Of course, gathering that she was naked and tied to a bed, her mind jumped to the first conclusion. She was to become a sexual outlet. But what would Set have to gain from seducing her? True, Set had certain charms that had made him quite the skilled lover with many of the goddesses, but his purpose in seducing her was unclear. Fighting the evil one possessing the man she secretly loved was going to be difficult. She thought back to the morning in the museum. If Seth had been possessed at that time, Set’s control on him had weakened when they kissed, she was sure of it. Perhaps she was Seth’s weakness? Maybe it was time to turn to Cleopatra for inspiration—use sex and feminine charms to tame the beast. Those would be her best weapons. Feeling the ache in her body with a shift of her hips against the soft mattress, she was reminded that brute force would never work against Set. Until Kat could figure out how to get out of this mess and help Seth purge the evil essence of Set, sex was her ultimate weapon. Set. In the recesses of her mind she knew he was the reason she was charged to protect the humans. His actions toward his own family made him the most feared of all

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the gods. He couldn’t jointly rule Upper and Lower Egypt with Osiris. Set had been determined to obtain all the power for himself, even turning to murder to obtain it. Horus went on to seek vindication for Osiris’ murder. He had met Set on the battlefield with brutal consequences. Set, in the form of a wild boar, tore out Horus’ weak eye. His vision was restored by a tribunal of gods, and power over the entire kingdom was bestowed upon him by Osiris before he descended into the Underworld. Set was tried by the gods and sent into exile, never to be heard from again. Until now. Glancing around the room for any indication of her location, she noticed several lit candles flickering on a nearby night table. The soft glow danced along the light paint of the walls. The room was small and neat. Several massive bookshelves filled with numerous volumes lined the walls. A noise drew her attention. A door opened and Seth entered the room, dressed only in black pants, the smooth golden skin of his chest glowing with health and vitality. His muscles moved fluidly, entrancing her. He was a splendid example of a desirable male, at least to her, making her mouth water. His long, midnight black hair fell about his shoulders loose and unbound. It gave him a wild, barbaric look that made her breath quicken, her heart speed up and her cunt weep. His eyes raked over her naked form tied down to the bed, helpless and vulnerable. “Katina, had I known of your uniqueness I’d have bedded you long ago,” he said with a smirk as his gaze lingered on her exposed sex. She felt her own body betray her by reacting to his stare. Her internal muscles clinched in her growing excitement. “Seth?” He chuckled. “What has become of Seth?” she asked, watching him move about the room, his muscles gliding under his skin in alluring movements.

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“I am Seth. And I am Set. We are one,” he answered, amused. He continued his slow examination of her body, setting her on edge. “I don’t believe that. Seth would never allow such a monster to use him.” Her neck strained to keep him in sight. Why did he have to reek of sexual prowess? “Ah, but he has. He needed me to answer his greatest desire.” He paused as he stepped next to the bed. “He wanted to have you.” His forefinger touched her foot before trailing a delicate line slowly along her shin and up her leg, sending tiny thrills surging through her body. She gasped at the erotic sensation. Was there any way to fight her traitorous body? “He didn’t need you to do that,” she spat at him. A dark brow cocked as his crystal blue eyes met her emerald ones. “Indeed?” “Yes,” she answered breathlessly. Leaning over her, his mouth hovering above hers, he allowed her to feel his warm breath against her face. His intoxicating scent filled her nostrils as her resolve melted. She wanted Seth more than anything she had ever known. He paused above her and her eyes closed in surrender, but nothing happened. He moved away and strode across the room. Opening her eyes, she watched a play of emotions cross his face as he paced. “Seth,” she whispered, his name a plea. Stopping, he gazed back at her. As if winning the internal battle, Seth crossed over to the bed and climbed on top of her. His body covering hers, he captured her mouth in a burning kiss. She opened to him immediately, yearning to taste him once again. His tongue slid against hers, moist, hot and enticing. His hands cupped her face in a rough embrace, holding her still to assault her mouth. She tried to move, to rub her body against his, aching to feel his flesh against hers, but the ties allowed little movement.

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Her nipples hardened and swelled, the tips teased by the movement of his flesh above her. Pleasurable pain increased as she urged him on with her hips, bucking up into him, moaning at the feel of his erection rubbing against her exposed cleft through the fabric of his trousers, driving her insane with need. He groaned as her body worked against him. Breaking away from her mouth, he raked his fingers through her silky hair, caressing the softness between his fingers. His lips traveled across her face to her ear, trailing hot, moist kisses in his wake. As he nipped her lobe between his teeth she jumped, purring as she drowned in a whirlpool of desire. He whispered huskily against her ear, sending chills down her spine. “Katina, you’re mine from this moment on.” “Seth, make love to me, please,” she begged as his mouth worked wonders on her earlobe. Goose bumps rose along her legs as he licked and nipped her sensitive skin. “We’ve got all night, my love,” he murmured against her skin. He rained moist kisses down her throat. She tried to catch her breath while her heart beat so rapidly she thought it would burst from her chest. Could this be happening? Is it just a dream? When his tongue flicked out, tasting the tip of her pebble-hard nipple, she realized this was no dream. No dream could feel this wonderful. As he traced his tongue around her areola, Kat thought she would fall to pieces. But then he took the entire nipple into his hot mouth and she gasped at the sheer pleasure. Suckling, he sent electric jolts through her body right down to her weeping core, which was aching for his touch. The pleasure grew and so did the longing to hold him—to grasp his strong body in her arms. The restraints held her back, causing her own hunger to increase. “Seth, please,” she begged again. “Release me.” He paused against her breast, still teasing the tip with light flicks of his tongue, and said, “Soon, my love. Right now I want to worship your body, taste your cream.”

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A moan escaped her throat as he continued his suckling at her breast, taunting the other with squeezes of his hand. Her back arched and her breast pressed toward his mouth, demanding more. Wanting him to touch her in places she yearned for him to invade. He finished lavishing one breast then gave the other the same loving attention, bringing her to another level of ecstasy. Never had any man made her feel such pure want. The physical need would not be as satisfying, though, if she hadn’t the emotion behind the act. She truly cared for Seth. And now he was above her, driving her mad with his caresses. But was it Seth or the demon Set? No, it’s Seth. She knew in her heart it was Seth making love to her now. Set would have no concept of the emotion—in fact, it was unknown to him. All Set had known was evil, loneliness and pain. Seth grated his teeth lightly over the tip of her hardened nipple, bringing her thoughts back to the present. Back to the wonderful sensations he alone awakened within her. Now he rained kisses around her full breasts and down into the valley between. After swirling his tongue, spreading warm moisture over her skin, he blew a cool breath, slow and easy, causing more goose bumps to rise along her arms and legs. Moaning, she strained against the ties, wishing again she were free to hold him. She felt him move down her body, slipping flesh against flesh. Stopping just above her cleft, he breathed deeply, inhaling her. “Ah, Katina, how long I’ve wished to taste you.” His accent rolled over her, exciting her. His breath moved the moist, trimmed curls at her mons, bringing her to the edge of control. Then his tongue touched her sensitive nubbin. She gasped at the sensation, writhing against his mouth. He tickled the fleshy spot with light strokes, driving her into a frenzy beneath him. His hands slid along her sides then cupped her buttocks, steadying her hips. When his mouth completely covered her clit, she climaxed in violent contractions,

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screaming his name as each wave of ecstasy crashed forth. Lapping wildly at her cleft, he prolonged her pleasure into a seemingly endless orgasm. As the orgasm receded he eased the pressure, allowing her body to recover. She lay sagging within the restraints, her body drained of strength by the incredible climax he had given her with his mouth. Closing her eyes, the thought crossed her mind, What will it be like with him inside me? Heaven. She mewed at the thought. And she wanted to find out…soon. The idea rejuvenated her strength. He moved off the bed, drawing her attention. He gazed down, those crystal eyes watching her, full of desire. He reached for the belt of his pants and unfastened the buckle, following with the removal of his pants and underwear. There he stood in his naked glory for her to gaze upon, and he was everything she had dreamed he could be. Magnificent. His dark hair wild about his shoulders, and with his smooth chest and golden skin, rippling muscles and large cock, he was the picture of the ultimate sexual male. And he looked at her as if she was his ultimate woman, made for his pleasure alone. Already she wiggled her hips, anticipating his entrance into her. She wanted him, could feel herself growing wetter with need. “Katina, I’m going to take you.” It was a statement, a promise, and she loved hearing it. “Seth, take me. Now.” Months of yearning ached to be released within the arms of this powerful man. He climbed back onto the bed, hovering above her, rubbing his body along hers. Her nipples hardened at the contact and she writhed beneath him. Looking up into his eyes, his arms braced on each side of her head, she felt his cock slid along her wet folds. The head of his penis slipped over her clit and she whimpered. Once wasn’t enough. She could never get enough of him.

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With a mighty thrust, he entered her slick passage. As she gasped at the invasion, he leaned down and kissed her hungrily, devouring her mouth. After letting her adapt to his size, he moved his hips slowly, filling her then retreating, then filling her again, easy strokes to stoke the fire that burned between them. She tightened her muscles around him. He groaned against her mouth as she squeezed him, milking him for more. She tossed her head back into the pillows, breaking their kiss, and Seth’s rhythm increased in tempo. Within a few thrusts, his movements had become even quicker, pounding his cock into her receptive body, searching for a release. When she felt the beginning tingles of another climax, her muscles seized him and his control broke. He spilled his essence into her in hot sprays while she met him over the edge in another earth-shattering orgasm. His weight felt welcome and loving as he collapsed on her. Moments passed and he covered her face in light kisses, whispering, “Sweet Katina, my love.” The endearment warmed her heart. She loved hearing him whisper those words in the afterglow of such a powerful moment. But still she needed more. She wanted to hold him, touch him. “Seth, please, can you release me? I want to touch you.” He jumped up and untied the scarves, one arm then the other. After untying her legs he moved once more over her body. She gingerly touched his face with her fingertips, absorbing the warmth and roughness of his shaven skin. He gazed intently into her eyes as she ran her fingers over his face in slow strokes, memorizing each line, each curve. His lips parted, his breathing shallow and quick. Then she leaned up and kissed him, tenderly and delicately. She wrapped her arms around his neck, rolling him to his side. He grasped her head, running his fingers roughly through her hair, pulling her closer into the kiss, deeper, more intensely. Now unbound, she took full advantage of her freedom. Hands traveled over his skin, feeling the fluid movement of the muscles beneath. She gently caressed the hard 54

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muscles of his back, relishing the feel beneath her palms. His kiss had become more urgent, more frenzied with want as she melded her body to his, wrapping her legs about his thighs, needing to get closer still. Moaning, he pulled her atop him until she straddled his waist, thighs hugging his body against her moist core. She ran her hands over his smooth chest, flicking his nipples with her thumbnails. She felt in control, powerful while he watched her with renewed desire and want in his eyes. A smile graced her lips when she rubbed her wetness over his now hardening erection and asked, “Is this Seth or Set I’m making love to?” He reached up, clasping her face, and said in a tender voice, “It’s me, Seth. Only you can help me keep that monster under control.” Then he pulled her down and kissed her, affectionate and heartfelt. She answered his kiss with her own growing passion, brushing her sex against his length. Then she impaled herself, taking him into her to the hilt. He groaned as he gripped her hips, guiding her movements over him in a slow beat, drawing out the rapturous sensations of their joining. The leisurely pace slowly built the inferno, stoking the flames higher and higher with each motion. Lifting her body up then gliding back down, Katina fought to withhold her satisfaction a little longer, relishing the feel of him within her. Heated blood thrummed through her veins as she approached the precipice of surrender. Her mouth dropped open and she moaned aloud, her climax washing over her in fitful bliss. As her muscles contracted around him, she felt him lose control and orgasm, spilling his seed inside her again. She collapsed on him as her breathing slowed and her racing heart returned to normal. Incredible. The feeling was absolutely incredible. Never had she thought to meet such a man. She could spend all her days just making love to him and never grow bored or unsatisfied. He made her feel like a woman—a vibrant, sexy woman. And she loved him for it. 55

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Chapter Five The realization hit her like a sudden desert sandstorm. She was in love with Seth. Not a love from afar or one created from fantasies but true, real love. How could she help Seth rid himself of Set and secure him back in his proper place? Where had Set’s spirit come from? Then she suddenly knew. The shipment from the Cairo Museum! It had to be one of the artifacts that had held Set, but which? She intended to find out, and quickly, before Set took over once more and wreaked havoc on New York again. Sliding off Seth’s body, Katina lay nestled in the crook of his arm, still catching her breath from their workout. He touched her hair in light strokes, calming her into a restful, content drowsiness. Tracing her fingertips over his chest, she was at ease in his embrace. But how long would it last? Dare she ask him about the object that had held Set? “Seth?” she asked in a dreamy voice. “Yes, love?” Sleep tinged his tone. “I want to help you. Can you tell me what you were looking at last before—” She hadn’t finish her question when he screamed, arching his back in pain. Jumping off the bed, Katina stood feeling helpless while Seth’s body writhed on the bed, the two souls within battling for control. Looking around, she grabbed the first thing she saw—the night table lamp—and brought it down hard over his head, knocking him out cold. “Well, it isn’t spectacular but it’s effective,” she murmured. She hadn’t wanted Set to take over while she was still there or she’d be trapped once again. Stopping for a

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moment, she willed herself into a simple navy pantsuit appropriate for work. She then stepped over to the bed where the unconscious man lay. “I’m sorry honey, but you left me no choice.” Kissing Seth’s forehead, she turned and bolted from the apartment.

***** Set awakened some time after Katina slammed a light over his head. Some payback for allowing my human host to enjoy the luscious pleasures of her flesh. Bringing a hand to his head, Set felt a bump that had formed on his skull, causing shooting pains. “Damned human bodies,” he muttered. Climbing off the bed, he shook his head to try to clear it of the cobwebs. The feelings the woman created in his host were far too dangerous, more so than he had first realized. Set had only wanted for this body to find the sexual relief she could give, without any emotional attachments. Obviously what had taken place between them had been much more than lust, and Set could never allow it again. Although the body seemed to have gained some relief, he knew it wouldn’t be enough. The man Seth wanted more. He would fight that battle when he would, no doubt, see the servant of Bast again. Love. What real use was the emotion when it caused so much pain? All women were poison to the heart. Set knew this well. Bast had betrayed him. Kat was a servant of Bast, which made her no better or different from any other woman. If his host had any sense, he’d forget this heart and just use women for their purpose on earth—a good fuck. A smile graced Set’s lips as he thought of Kat. She was definitely a good fuck.

***** Katina dashed through the alleys, relieved to see the city had returned to relative normalcy. Nothing like New Yorkers! They always bounce back stronger after a tragedy. In the

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morning light only a few scattered roaches still crawled in the streets, seeking dark recesses in which to hide. On Fifth Avenue, Kat raced toward the Met, hoping to find the object that had held Set’s spirit so securely for thousands of years. Climbing the stone steps, she pushed through the rotating doors now open for the day. The new objects from Cairo were in the process of being put on display for Mysteries of the Pharaohs. Walking through the portion of the Egyptian wing designated for the collection, Kat didn’t see anything she thought could be of any magical significance. Maybe she could get an inventory listing. Taking the stairs, she made her way to Seth’s assistant’s office. “I’m sorry, Dr. Matthews isn’t in yet today,” Sims said in a cracked voice, looking up from his computer monitor and studying her warily. “I know.” Obviously telling this kid she needed to look for an ancient magical object to save the world wouldn’t gain her entrance. She’d need to come up with a more believable excuse. “I need to get a few books on Indonesian sculpture. I acquired a few odd pieces on my trip and need to do some cross-referencing.” Hey, sounded logical to her. He looked her over then nodded. “Dr. Matthews has lots of books. I’m sure there’s something on whatever you need, Dr. Felinni.” Getting up, Sims retrieved his set of keys and unlocked Seth’s office door. Once he had the door open and gestured for her to enter, the curious youth followed her in. She turned and, grabbing the door handle, said, “If I need help, I’ll call you.” He simply nodded and went back to his desk. Closing the door behind her, she scanned the room. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with books about and objects from every culture, including many Egyptian artifacts. It could be anything!

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A closer look, however, revealed that the room appeared to be in greater disarray than it had at her last visit. Sitting down behind Seth’s desk, she rummaged through the surface papers for a clue, perhaps an inventory of the objects delivered from Cairo. After a few minutes of looking, she decided it wasn’t there. No list could be found. Maybe he filed it? Glancing up, Kat saw several massive drawers filled with files. Sighing, she knew it would take hours to go through each. She could ask Sims for help, but then he would know she hadn’t been looking for a book. Standing, she crossed the room and opened the first cabinet, praying it wouldn’t take her all day.

***** Later in the day, Set glided out onto the city streets, watching the people bustle about their daily activities in a rush. These New Yorkers always seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere. They even rode in metal chariots to get where they were going faster. Although, those lights blinking above seemed to slow things with their constant changing colors. Red, stop. Green, go. Yellow, speed up or slow down. That was the confusing one. That one color seemed to have two meanings. If they had no lights to stop them, what would happen? He smiled, thinking of the possible outcomes of such a concept. Chaos. What a lovely thought. He had enjoyed the terror on the faces he had seen when the insects had run in droves through the streets. Why not have some more fun? “Hey, wanna buy a watch, buddy?” Some disheveled-looking fellow had stopped in front of Set, pulling back his outer robe to reveal several timepieces hanging within. “No,” Set said, waving his hand in dismissal. “Then how about handing over your wallet instead?” The man pulled an object from his coat and held it steady before Set, his tone clearly conveying a threat. Usually Set felt no fear of others, but in a mortal body, he figured he should be somewhat cautious—even if he could strike this fat, smelly lowlife into oblivion with a

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simple wave of his hand. Set raised a brow and looked down at the man. What was this one human life to him anyway? Many would die before his plans were through. The man began to sputter, clutching his chest as he fell to his knees, gasping for air to fill his lungs. A crowd formed around the fallen man but none moved to help. No one seemed to feel anything beyond curiosity at watching a fellow human die before their eyes. Grappling with his mortality, the would-be thief slumped to the dirty, gritty street, dying with no one to care. The man’s life slipped away and they all just watched in silence. A man in some sort of uniform had broken through the crowd, pushing forward to get to the dead man. He stopped and stared, then crouched next to the man and felt for a pulse. Looking up at Set, he asked, “What happened here?” Another person piped in. “He just grabbed his chest and fell down dead.” The uniformed man stood up, watching Set closely. “Is that what happened, sir?” Set cocked a brow and, pulling from his host’s memories and mannerisms, said with a cool British air, “You heard him. The man just died before our eyes.” The man didn’t need to know Set had helped the process along slightly. Once the man asked a few last questions, Set felt sure of his purpose. Humans deserve to suffer. How could Horus love them so much, over him, his own brother? They were no better than animals—wallowing in mud and slop, content to watch each other die. Set despised them all. Well, maybe one had better qualities than most. But then, she hadn’t been entirely human.

***** Hours later, Kat was no closer to finding the inventory list or any object remotely possible of carrying Set’s spirit. 60

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Giving up for the night, she left Seth’s office. Set must’ve hidden the object. But where? Duh! At Seth’s apartment, of course. But how could she go back there after slamming a lamp over his head? Yet she knew Set gained power with each passing hour, and her time was growing short. She had to find that object fast, before Set attacked the city again. She needed to help Seth regain his soul for his own sake. And hers. As she exited the museum, cars sped along Fifth Avenue as usual. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, Kat contemplated her next move. Suddenly, loud crashes exploded around her, rumbling with the sound of crunching metal. The smell of blood pierced her nostrils. She tasted the tangy sweetness in her mouth. Glancing about, she could see several cars piled up at the corner. No, not just one accident—more cars had crashed at another intersection. And another. She saw the reason why immediately. All the lights were green. By the grace of Bast, Set had struck again. He was controlling the city’s traffic lights! Kat slipped down an alley and transformed into a white Bengal tiger, needing the extra strength and power to confront Set. Although she knew force would never defeat him, it would at least help her somewhat against a physical attack. Several bums, hookers and winos just stared as she padded down the alleyways, probably thinking she was an alcohol-induced hallucination. If they only knew the truth. She had to find Set. Sniffing the air as she padded through the back alleys of the city, she tried to sense his presence over the stench of the streets. Where would Set have a nice view of havoc in the streets? Could be anywhere. Then a faint essence of Seth reached her nostrils—his unique masculine scent that she recognized immediately. She followed the tantalizing scent as it led her to the heart of the city—Central Park.

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She loped over to the park, scanning the area for any sign of Seth. Moments later, she caught his fragrance again, stronger this time. Why did he have to be so damn alluring? Images of her surrender to him only hours before flooded her mind as she followed the scent. Smelling him, filling her senses, only made her want him again. The few times they’d mated would never be enough. Now that she had experienced pleasure in his arms, she wanted more. Much more. She approached him as he sat comfortably on a park bench watching the hysteria in the streets. “I knew you would show up sooner or later,” he said without looking at her. Well, at least I didn’t disappoint. She stood in front of him in her large feline form. Her alabaster coat glowed against the dark contrast of her chocolate stripes. You must stop hurting the people of this city. He gazed at her, red eyes glowing in the evening darkness, and smiled. “What would you do to stop me?” Everything within my power. It was difficult to threaten him, smelling and looking like he did. He was sex personified. Her tongue licked her furry lips at the thought of him between her legs, yielding his power to her with the shift of her hips. Sex was her weapon, just like the night before. That was the key to diverting Set’s powers. She could work on Seth’s attraction in an effort to thwart Set’s plans. It was her best bet until she could entrap him once again. “It won’t work, Katina. I will not allow the human’s feelings to get in the way of my work. The moments shared with him earlier will never reoccur.” His voice didn’t sound convincing. Oh? Stepping closer, she rubbed her body against his legs. She heard a quick intake of breath as his hands rested upon her thick fur, lightly stroking its downy softness. Placing her paws on his lap, she shifted into her human form, now wearing her familiar 62

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catsuit. “Seth,” she whispered, running her hands along his strong thighs. On her knees, she leaned closer and nuzzled the now-enlarging bulge in his pants with her mouth. His hands grasped her head, holding her steady as she teased the sensitive flesh with her mouth through the fabric of his pants. He moaned when she playfully nipped at his erection. “Fight him, Seth,” she murmured, continuing her assault, sliding her fingertips along the hard muscles of his legs. She glanced up at his face etched with growing desire. His eyes closed and his head dropped back in surrender. “Katina,” he breathed in a plea. “Seth, I’ll help you fight him.” She continued touching him, wishing they weren’t in such a public place, even though the nearby people were busy with the multiple traffic accidents. Sirens sounded in the distance as well as nearby, announcing the extent of the citywide damage Set had caused. She drew her fingertips along his fly, tracing his length through the fabric, wishing she could take him into her mouth there and then. Nothing like getting picked up for indecent exposure or lewd acts. His breath caught then he grasped her shoulders, ceasing her sensual attack. “What’re you trying to do to me?” he asked with a raised brow, the red glow gone from his eyes. “You’re driving me insane.” “I want to make love to you, Seth. I want to taste you.” It was true, even if she had ulterior intentions. She had to get back into his apartment to look for the vessel. He quickly stood then captured her about the waist, throwing her over his shoulder. Carrying her, her head bouncing and hair waving freely, he said in a commanding voice, “Not until I’m done with you, Kat woman.” As Seth stalked through the streets crowded with people, victims of the chaos or just onlookers, several gave them strange looks. Seth must have looked like a caveman with her body slung over his broad shoulder. Several times his hand caressed her buttocks, causing her to wriggle. Giving her a playful slap, he told her to hold still. 63

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His hair still hung loose and wild about his face. What glorious hair for a man to have. His broad, strong body moved fluidly as he strutted though the streets. At his building, he didn’t wait for the elevator, opting to climb the stairs. Once inside his apartment, he headed straight to the bedroom, strode up to the bed and threw Kat down, immediately covering her with his body. Capturing his mouth with hers, she instantly answered his rising passion, opening to him wholly. Wrapping her arms around him, she melted her body into his, losing herself completely. His tongue plunged into her mouth, sliding along her own, tasting the delights. He tasted of peppermint, coffee and male. It was intoxicating. She felt like a woman deprived, needing to have him closer, wanting more intimacy. She started tugging at his clothes, wanting his skin next to hers. A groan sounded in his throat as he unzipped the front of her catsuit, slipping a hand along her ribs, under her breast. She moved restlessly beneath him, bucking her hips, grinding into his erection. “Seth, please,” she begged. He broke the kiss and eased off her. She leaned back on the bed and her catsuit melted away, revealing a skimpy black satin thong and a rich black velvet bustier. He watched with piercing blue eyes. “Nice trick. You wish those up just for me?” he asked, tossing off his perfectly pressed suit coat, oxford shirt and tailored pants. “Of course,” she purred. When he stood in all his naked glory, she gasped at his male beauty. His cock stood proud and hard, ready to plunge into her wet core. Her muscles clenched in response. A small devilish smile played at his lips as his eyes raked over her body. Slyly, she watched him as she moved one leg from side to side, open and closed, tempting him with glimpses of the scrap of fabric covering her cunt. “Damn, you look good enough to devour.”

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“So do you.” She reached out to touch his length. It jumped at the contact. Wrapping her fingers about his cock, she leaned over and flicked her tongue over the tip. He inhaled sharply when her tongue moved in slow circles across his sensitive organ. She glanced up at his face, his lips parted and his breathing ragged—he was in ecstasy. His fingers swept through her dark hair, holding her head steady while she licked him in light strokes. When she took him into her mouth—sucking, tasting, relishing—a moan passed his lips as she continued to work his hard member. He gasped and pushed her away. Watching as she licked her lips, he said in a husky voice, “Love, you’re going to be the death of me if you continue like that.” Kissing his skin, traveling up his firm abdomen to his nipples, she teased them into hard points with her tongue and fingertips. “I just want all of you, Seth. I’ve wanted you for so long, and now I find I can’t get enough.” Placing her hands on his chest, she gazed up into his face. His eyes reflected the emotion she longed for, yearned for, but he remained silent. Touching his face with a gentle caress of her fingers, she whispered, “Please tell me you want me.” He cupped her face between his hands, lowering his head, lips a breath away. “I want you, Katina.” That clipped British accent made the words even sweeter to her ears. How she loved him so. If only she could bring herself to tell him. What held her back? The presence of Set. Words of love were for Seth alone. Then he covered her lips with a blazing kiss. The heat burned through her body. The need for him to take her—right here, right now—lapped at her insides. Her tongue glided along his hungrily, pleading for more, craving for him to join his body and soul to hers in a wild mating. He was her mate—her mate for life.

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Chapter Six Temptation and captivation were words that sprang to mind as Seth looked down into Kat’s face. Those emerald eyes sparkled with desire and he was blown away. When she’d caressed him in the park, he’d fought to dominate the beast within. Seth had yearned too long for Katina, and taking her body the night before had been the most erotic and passionate evening he had ever experienced. Now that he’d tasted her, he wanted more. He hadn’t thought any woman would ever make him feel such extreme desire. His body had fit against hers perfectly and when he’d finally plunged into her, it had been more than ecstasy. More than lust. A year of longing had come to a head and when she had collapsed from Set’s attack last night, shifting back into her human form in the street, his heart had beat fiercely in his chest as he feared the worst. Clawing his mind for control, Seth had taken her, cared for her. It had been the beast that had prompted him to tie her to the bed, making him crave to have her at his mercy. Seth couldn’t bring himself to regret his actions. It had turned out to be highly arousing, seeing her naked body sprawled out and ripe for the taking. And she was everything he had ever dreamed of and more. She’d responded to his touch with such vigorous passion. She had become a she-cat, a temptress. Now her copper skin glowed in the dim light, her long black hair highlighted with an angelic luminescence. Her cat eyes had a fire burning within, blazing, searing. When he touched her warm, soft flesh, the need to mate with her was primal and ferocious. When she had taken him into her mouth, he feared his lust would make him come before he could truly enjoy the feel of her hot, moist mouth working its magic. He

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couldn’t take any more without falling to pieces and his body had groaned in protest when he stopped her. Now her tongue probed his mouth, urging him to consume her. He couldn’t resist. He needed to have her again. She tasted sweeter than the finest claret and just as intoxicating. Her body was inviting as she rubbed her feminine curves against his hard muscles, awakening an intense arousal within him. But there was something more—something deeper was driving him to join with her. The beast was fighting to keep that unknown sensation from revealing itself. Grasping her body, he eased her down to the bed, never breaking contact with her mouth, feeding hungrily. A bestial urge to ravish her had overtaken him. She moaned softly when he raked his hands over her body in rough, insistent movements. He cupped her full breast in his hand, feeling its shape and weight in his palm, then squeezed it, gaining a purr against his mouth. It was the last straw. “I want you naked now,” he commanded in a barely controlled voice, indicating her panties and bustier. When the fabric disappeared, his eyes grazed over her full breasts, dark areolas surrounding erect, pointed rosy nipples begging for his mouth to claim them. Lunging at her, he aggressively sucked one berrylike nipple. Her nails dug into his back as she arched upward, panting his name. As he lavished her ripe breast, he dipped a hand down her flat abdomen to the nest of feminine curls. As he slid his fingers along her moist cleft, she tightened her hold on his back, causing a pleasurable pain with her nails. She was a wild cat, purring and mewing when his fingers found her aroused clit. Within two strokes she shattered, screaming with each contraction of her climax. Before she could recover he drove his hard erection into her dripping core, filling her, fitting perfectly. She gasped at the sensation and rocked her hips to meet him. The mating was frenzied, urgent and carnal. Each swift thrust brought him closer to that edge of human restraint. Kat ground her hips into his, reaching for another 67

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precipice of pleasure. As her womb contracted in another massive orgasm, the barrier of containment broke and he joined her in an explosive climax. Shooting his essence into her, he found total bliss, complete satisfaction. Her muscles squeezed about his cock, sucking every last drop into her hungry core. The waves of ecstasy receded slowly. He gently pulled out then rolled onto his right side, taking her with him. Her head nestled against his chest and he stroked her silky hair as she held him in a tight embrace. “I should punish you, you know.” His voice was gentle as he continued to absorb her closeness. “What do you mean?” “You hit me over the head earlier. That wasn’t very nice.” She lay silent, her breathing stilled for a moment. “What do you have to say for yourself?” he prodded. She leaned up on her elbow. “I did what I had to do.” He sat up and moved to the edge of the bed, his back to Kat and his feet firmly on the floor. Turning his head back to her, he said in a flat voice, “You are a bad girl.” Then in a flash, he grabbed her and positioned her over his thighs, her breasts swaying gently. She squirmed and screeched, but he was too strong. He grasped her wrists and held them in place behind her back. Capturing one of the discarded scarves on the floor from the night before, Seth tied her wrists, binding her helpless. “Seth! What are you doing?” she cried as she wriggled on his lap. Lord, her ass in the air was temptation beyond anything he’d ever known. “I’m going to teach you a lesson.” He held her securely with one hand as his other began to explore the soft curves of her ass. “No, wait, Seth!” she spat out just as his hand came down on one of her butt cheeks.

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“That was for hitting me over the head,” he said with his hand on her, feeling the sting of the contact. “No, stop!” Whack! “That was for seducing me into untying you from the bed in the first place.” She wriggled, but it was no use. He held her steady. Whack! “That was for breaking my lamp.” “Ah! Stop, Seth. This hurts!” “Sweetheart, it isn’t supposed to tickle.” Whack! “And that was for making me wait so long to make love to you.” “I didn’t—” He soothed his fingers over the heated surface of her rump, slowly dipping into the crease. His fingertip grazed the puckered entrance of her anus and she moaned. “Like that, eh?” Slipping along her folds, he let the warm juices of her cunt lubricate his fingers, gaining more cooing noises from Kat. “Mmm, I may forgive you, little Kitty Kat, especially if you keep making those sexy noises.” “You’re a beast.” Whack! “Don’t deny how much you like my being a beast.” She panted as his fingers dipped into her once again. “Do you like getting spanked, Kat?” He pushed two fingers inside her slick channel and she whimpered. “Well, do you, Kat? Can you deny that I excite you?” “Seth…you excite me!” He pulled his fingers out then reentered her cunt. “Tell me how much.” “I want you. I’ve always wanted you.” Continuing his sensual assault, he teased her sex to a higher crescendo. “How long have you wanted me?” She paused, but when his thumb grazed her clit she cried out, “Ever since I met you!” 69

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“Want to hear how long I’ve wanted you just like this? How I dreamed of you at night, coming to the thought of you screaming my name in climax?” He passed over her clit once again and she struggled to open her legs a little more. “I wanted to fuck you every time you walked into my office, lay you down on my desk and drill into you like an animal in heat.” “Seth…” She couldn’t continue. He controlled her pleasure points. She was on edge and he wouldn’t let her find release until he was ready. “You aren’t allowed to come yet, Kat. Only when I say you can. You understand?” She made no answer and he stilled his fingers. “You understand me, Kat?” he insisted. “Yes…please…just touch me.” Her movements matched the rhythm of his fingers dipping in and out of her cunt. She lay across his lap, lost within his touch. This is how he dreamed of her, panting, moaning, crying for him to complete her, to bring her pleasure. Seth stroked his thumb across her clit again and he sensed she was fighting for control, on the edge of climax but battling to obey his command. Then, using the slick juices from her cunt, he lubricated his forefinger and slid it slowly into her anus. “Come for me,” he said in a hushed voice, barely controlled as she bucked upon his lap. She screamed as she came and her tight rear entrance squeezed about his finger. The sound of her ecstasy combined with her body rubbing against his thighs made him want more. Before she had time to even think of recovering, her vaginal walls continuing to convulse, he untied her wrists and placed her on the edge of the bed, her beautiful ass in the air. She braced herself on her elbows—a perfect fucking position. He took little time for grace as he placed himself behind her, and she groaned and wiggled when she

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felt his cock brush along her slit. Satisfied with her ample cream to lubricate his path, he entered her anus gently. “Oh Seth,” she moaned in agony. It was such a sensual pain, unlike anything she’d felt before. This was so intimate, so loving, his slow movements within her tight passage making her senses go wild. When she bucked, he stilled her with his hands. “Easy. We have time. Let’s enjoy this.” She could feel her next orgasm just ahead on the horizon, barely out of reach. He caressed her buttocks with strong fingers and she melted beneath his touch. When he reached around to tease her swollen clit, she felt as if the world had fallen off its rotation. Everything seemed to spin out of control. He filled her ass and she loved it. As each inch of his cock entered her, she felt closer to him than ever before. The completion radiated throughout her entire body, head to toe and everything in between. Kat was lost in the tune Seth played upon her body. He strummed her clit and beat a tempo with every thrust. She sang her cries of sheer ecstasy as her climax crept closer with every speeding second. Just when she thought she’d collapse in sexual exhaustion from her attempts to reach the pinnacle, she was hit with another orgasm. She cried out his name as he increased his thrusts in rhythm to her spasms. She’d spent so much time dreaming of Seth, wishing he’d give her one look, one indication of his feelings—and now he was with her, surrendering all. Her body continued to rock, squeezing and releasing as Seth pumped wildly in and out of her ass. Lights danced before her eyes as another orgasm broke over her, practically on top of the previous climax. So tight and delicious! Already anxious to find completion, Seth exploded within moments. Streams of hot semen burst forth and he yelled in triumph as he filled her, the woman he loved, the woman he longed for. 71

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Once spent, she relaxed on the bed, her strength seemingly drained. He felt the same. She edged up the bed and he lay down next to her. Taking her in his arms, he stroked her black hair, like silk beneath his fingers. So precious, so beautiful. And she was his. “Seth,” she asked in a dreamy voice, “can I use your bathroom? I want to freshen up a little.” “Sure,” he answered quietly. He missed the warmth of her body as soon as she padded out of the room. Moments later, he heard dishes clanking in the kitchen. She reappeared, holding two glasses of wine. “I found something to celebrate with. Hope you don’t mind.” Handing him a glass, she scooted next to him on the bed, smiling. “To our future together, my Seth, my mate.” Her mate. He liked the sound of that. “And you’re mine, my Wild Kat.” Clinking his glass against hers, he sipped the chilled wine, tasting a sweet bitterness against his tongue. “I think this wine has gone sour.” “Tastes fine to me.” She gazed at him from above the rim of her glass. He sat mesmerized, watching her mouth touch the cool glass, her tongue swiping out slightly, tasting the liquid as it entered her mouth. The simple act was highly erotic. And stimulating. He drank more wine, this time ignoring the faint bitterness. When Katina finished her wine, she set the empty glass on the night table then curled her body against his. He finished his wine and, after setting his glass aside, held her close, absorbing the comfortable easiness of her presence. Lying in silence, time passed and he began feeling tired. The past few days must have finally caught up with him. Looking at Kat, her eyes closed, he knew she felt relaxed in the comfort of his arms. Closing his own eyes, he sighed and let his tension ebb. 72

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***** Slipping a few sleeping pills into his wine had been downright sneaky, and she hated doing it, but she needed to search the apartment for the vessel Set had hidden. Quickly conjuring some clothes, Kat wondered how effective those three pills would be. She had hoped she would find something to sedate him in his medicine cabinet. After all, didn’t most people have something to help them fall sleep on occasion? Luckily for her, Seth was no different. But how long would he be out? Hopefully she’d have enough time to rummage through his apartment. Two hours later she was no closer to finding the mysterious object that had held Set prisoner. “Damn it,” she muttered, looking at Seth’s sleeping form on the bed, now covered with a blanket she had found. Just seeing him naked on the bed had proved enough to divert her attention, so she’d covered him. Not that she thought his was a body that should be covered. He would be naked all the time if it were up to her. Well—naked and in bed with her. His face was relaxed and serene. He looked younger than his thirty-eight years as he slept. Glancing at the small clock on the night table, she saw it was almost eleven at night. She hadn’t been home in more than twenty-four hours. Poor Nathaniel! Before dashing out into the now quiet streets, she paused and kissed Seth on the temple. Her first thought was to contact Nathaniel via telepathy. Not wanting to face his wrath yet, she opted to just wait until she got home. He’d waited this long, a few minutes longer wouldn’t hurt. She didn’t feel like mentally explaining to a hungry cat the delay for his meal. As she stepped out onto the sidewalk, her mind turned back to Seth’s dire situation and the need to find Set’s portable prison. Where would he have put it? Ten minutes later she unlocked the door to her apartment. Where in the world have you been? 73

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She moaned as she closed the door, greeted by Nathaniel’s controlled anger and concern. “I’m sorry. Things got…complicated.” Well, you can tell me all about it after you feed me, madam. I’m starving. Kat poured Nathaniel some food and fresh water and raided the refrigerator for herself. After she’d settled down at the counter with a glass of milk and fixings to make a ham and cheese sandwich, Nathaniel started prodding her for details. Where to begin? It wasn’t every day she got swept off her feet by a man living with two souls in one body. One minute he could be the cruel heartless Set, evil and bent on destruction and chaos. The next he was Seth, the sexy, loving man who made her heart race with just the sound of his voice and a heated look from those piercing, crystal blue eyes. Not to mention the animal magnetism calling out to her to act upon every wild desire she had ever harbored. He looked like sin personified. Oh, how she loved him. So, I gather you were with Doctor Delicious most of the time then? Nathaniel asked. “Well, most of it, yes. He can be very…time-consuming.” She giggled as she spread mustard on a slice of wheat bread. Sounds as if you found some relief to being in heat, after all. “Yes, but how long can it last? Set grows more powerful with each passing hour. Right now he’s knocked out at Seth’s apartment, but he won’t stay that way for long. I’ve got to find that magical prison.” Work through his weakness for you, which you know is your best weapon at this point. The longer Set remains in the doctor’s body, the higher chance of Seth’s soul being lost forever. “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Ask yourself, where would an evil Egyptian god hide his prison of the last thousand years? “I’ve asked myself over and over, but I come up empty. He could’ve thrown it off the Brooklyn Bridge for all we know.” Nathaniel made a small thinking noise as he jumped up onto the counter, sitting next to her plate. She bit into her sandwich, relishing the taste. She hadn’t realized how

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hungry she’d been, probably from the heavy workouts she’d gotten with Seth over the past twenty-four hours. Luckily she’d had a snack at— At the museum! Could Set have hidden the vessel in the museum? Would he have put it with other treasures already on display? It wouldn’t be an obvious place to look, right out in the open. It was a good possibility. “It has to be at the museum. Has to be. I’ve looked all over Seth’s apartment and his office. It must be mixed in with the collection.” Out in the open? Quite a bold move. But then, we’re talking about Set. “Well, if it’s in the collection I’ll find it. I know everything there, so spotting something out of the ordinary should be easy, even considering I have several rooms to search.” Or he could have placed it in a whole other collection. “Leave it to you to look for a dark spot in my plan,” she said after swallowing her last morsel. Glad to be of service. He snickered then said, You’d better take me along so I can help. An extra set of eyes will come in handy. “You don’t even know what to look for.” Neither do you. “Unfortunately we can’t do it tonight. It’ll have to wait until morning, after the museum opens. Besides, I’m so tired I could sleep for a thousand years.” Getting up, Kat put the dirty dishes in the sink before heading to her bedroom. How will you explain my presence tomorrow? Nathaniel asked, following her. Last I knew, cats weren’t typical visitors to the Met. “I’ll sneak you in, but then you’re on your own.” Ah, the use of stealth and cunning. My specialties.

*****

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After soaking in a hot bath and curling up in her soft, inviting bed, Kat fell asleep instantly. In the morning, she quickly washed up and conjured a jade pantsuit. The green color brought out the highlights in her emerald eyes and she liked how the suit hugged her curves just right. Meanwhile, Nathaniel regaled her with tales of his ancestors, all experts in using stealth to complete their missions. His chatter had progressed to bragging by the time Kat sat at the counter with her breakfast of half a bagel with cream cheese and a quick cup of instant coffee. Kat opted for a large purse that Nathaniel could jump into and enter the museum without a raised eyebrow. She only hoped he wouldn’t run across some gung-ho guard ready to send him to the pound. She would never hear the end of it if that happened. A half-hour later they were in the museum. Kat made her way to the Egyptian collection and released Nathaniel. Sneezing, he complained, Next time, keep in mind you’re carrying a living being in that purse when you ask me along. “‘Ask you along’? You invited yourself.” Same thing. “Okay, quit kidding around and start looking. If you find anything that may look out of sorts from the rest of the collection, let me know. Everything has identification tags anyway.” Aye, aye, captain. As Nathaniel trotted off to another room, she stowed her bag behind a pillar by the entrance to the collection and started looking at the glass cases one by one. By noon, they were no closer to finding Set’s treasure. It had become a great mystery. Where could it be? “Dr. Felinni?” a small male voice cracked behind her.

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“Yes?” she asked, turning toward Seth’s assistant. “I’m worried about Dr. Matthews. He hasn’t shown up to work for two days now.” He pushed his glasses up his nose in a nervous gesture. He obviously cared about his boss, even though Seth treated him in his typically cool manner. “I’m sure there has to be a good reason.” Like harboring an evil god’s spirit within his body. “I even tried calling his place. No answer. Just the answering service. I’m really concerned.” Was Seth still knocked out from the sleeping pills she’d slipped him or was he out and about, planning his next caper? She hoped he was still in bed. A small smile played at her lips of the thought of joining him, playing hooky and making love throughout the day. A chill ran down her spine at the thought. “I’ll go over to his apartment after work, okay?” She patted Sims’ arm, trying to comfort him. She needed to find that vessel—and soon. But even if she did, how would she get Set out of Seth’s body?

***** Set awoke with a massive headache. Does that woman know how to leave without causing this body pain? Throbbing at his temples made the room sway as he rose from the bed, still naked from the night before. What time was it? Set stepped to the window and gazed out over the dirty alley. Judging by the sun, it was after midday. What the hell had happened to make him sleep so long? She must have drugged him. Sly Kat. A smile played at his lips in appreciation of her ingenuity. She had known how to play to the human’s carnal desires—keeping Set himself at bay—then found a way to buy more time. And he knew why.

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Walking around the room, he could see some disorder. She’d searched his room, obviously hoping to find The Eye of Horus, but she had come away empty-handed. He chuckled evilly at the thought of her frustration. Did she think he would leave it in such an obvious place for her to find? And did she actually think she could send him back into its small confines? Her magic was nothing compared to his. She’d need more than her kitty-cat purring to send him, Set, Destroyer of Peace, back to that small prison. Though she did have her beneficial uses. Unfortunately, those uses were risky. The human had taken control too easily when she touched him. Hell, even looking at her made the human claw for dominance. Far too dangerous. Set grew in his powers, but she was still too much of a weakness. There would be only one way to ensure his success. Katina has to die. He flipped on the amusing picture box the humans used for entertainment. As he was about to clean himself up, one of the humans on the box began to talk about some recent news in the city. “The malfunction of the city’s traffic lights remains unexplained. The Department of Transportation denies any failure in the computer systems and reports that the city’s traffic light system is in top condition. Despite hundreds of accidents and casualties due to this strange phenomenon, the reason for the failure, at this point, remains a mystery.” A mystery? Damn Horus! The humans had no idea it had been he, Set, who had caused such fantastic chaos. No! The humans would go to bed this night knowing Set had returned. His name would spout from their lips in horror as they feared the next dilemma. By the gods, they would know! Glancing back at the box, Set seethed in rage while listening to the next clip. “The New York City subway system has reopened the remodeled Penn Station today. Tune in for coverage of the grand reopening at five.”

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He watched the news program flash footage of serpent-like vehicles running underground. The New York subway? Humans traveled beneath the ground as well as on top? No wonder they were a bunch of mindless creatures. Burrowing beneath the sand and dirt into darkness and— Then an evil thought came to mind. If the humans wanted to be underground, who was he to deny them? The plot began to form as he whistled in self-satisfaction. They would indeed know him by the day’s end.

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Chapter Seven “I just don’t know where to look, let alone what I’m looking for,” she muttered aloud. After searching the collection all day, she was no closer to finding a way to recapture Set. “He must have ditched it off the Brooklyn Bridge.” Standing before Bast, Kat felt ashamed. How could she help if she couldn’t find a way to purge Set from the world and send him back into his prison? Kneeling before her patroness, she sobbed in frustration. Set had another plan in the works. It was inevitable. She could practically feel the dangerous crackle in the air as he powered up for the night’s terrorizing. Fighting Set would become harder and harder as he regained his powers. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to confront him again in battle. Only passion seemed to override Set’s control over Seth. But each time they waged an internal struggle, it would take a toll on Seth—especially if he grew comfortable with Set taking charge. She loved Seth, and seeing him like this broke her heart. Sex was fantastic, but it meant nothing unless it was Seth making love to her. How long would Set allow love to take over? It was only a matter of time before he destroyed Seth—and the rest of the city along with him. Gazing up at Bast, Kat prayed to her. “Holy Mother Bast, I need help. I’ve been unable defeat the powers of Set without knowing how, and his prison is nowhere to be found. How can I release Seth from Set’s control if I can’t even find the vessel that imprisoned him?” My cherished one, do not despair. We are here to help you battle the Evil One. The statue’s eyes lit up with a brilliant golden light, piercing the gloomy room. Look into your heart to defeat the Evil One. The magic you hold is more powerful than any he can control or resist.

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“My magic?” She was momentarily amazed at both the method of communication and how comfortable she felt talking to the goddess. She spoke to Bast on a daily basis, but never had Kat receive an answer in this way, only visits in her dreams. This seemed natural to her, like an old friend calling with advice. Yes, you possess the magic to purge the demon from your mate. “The power of love conquers all.” A tall, dark, robed man strode into the room. Standing among the Egyptian statues and relief carvings, he appeared as if in answer to her prayers. Kat recognized him immediately. “Talon!” She got off the floor and rushed to hug her old friend. “Horus commanded me to come. I did so as soon as I could.” “You know what’s going on?” Talon nodded. “Horus visited me in a dream, showing me everything.” He lifted a brow and smirked knowingly. “Everything?” she asked, blushing and stepping back. “Well, he glazed over a few parts, but I think I can fill in the blanks.” Trying to regain some composure, she changed the subject. “Love is the magic that will save Seth?” she asked. “Love is a powerful magic. Not even Set can fight it.” I should have known, piped in Nathaniel as he slinked into the room, obviously still in stealth mode. Never underestimate the power of love. Set did believe in love once, the goddess stated sadly. Talon bowed to the goddess. “We will have to make him believe in it again.” “But if Set leaves Seth’s body, we’ll have to recapture his spirit somehow.” Look to Horus and his Mighty Eye to recapture the Evil One. When the battle comes, I will be with you. The statue’s eyes dimmed as the goddess left the earthly plane.

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“Look to Horus?” Kat turned to the mighty statue of Horus. “Oh Lord! The first day I felt the evil, I found Seth standing in front of Horus.” Kat, Talon and Nathaniel began searching the statue. Kat examined the eyes, but nothing seemed out of order. Investigating further, she circled the statue until, at the back of the base, a slab of loose stone caught her eye. “Hey, wait, this looks promising.” Talon wedged his fingers between the cracks and shimmied the stone left and right, pulling it out a centimeter at a time. When he’d finally worked it loose, a secret compartment was revealed—along with the flash of gold. “Looks like there’s something in there.” Talon grunted as he let the heavy stone panel fall to the floor. He pushed the slab aside and Kat reached in and pulled out a gold vessel shaped like an eye. “It’s The Eye of Horus. I read about it in a book about the Cairo Museum’s collections. It’s supposed to be magical and priceless, and rumored to be molded by the gods. I didn’t even know they had intended to send it out of Egypt.” “It shouldn’t have left.” “You knew about The Eye?” “The Eye has been under the protection of the guardians for centuries. It was eventually given to the Cairo Museum in 1923 for safekeeping after an incident when it was almost opened.” “But how did it get into the collection that came here?” Talon shook his head as he took the vessel from Kat. “That’s something I’ll have to find out once we finish our mission here.” Perhaps someone sent it in the hopes of an accident—like a blundering curator breaking it open, Nathaniel added. “Hey, he couldn’t have known,” Kat protested. “It’s entirely possible,” Talon agreed as he gazed at the gold vessel. Well, we have the vessel. Now all we need to do is find Set.

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“Dr. Felinni!” Sims burst into the gallery—and skidded to a stop. Kat imagined the scene from his point of view. Kneeling behind Horus’ statue with a black cat, a slab of priceless statue propped up next to her and a dark, strange man holding an even more priceless object in his hand probably wasn’t the most advantageous position to be found in. “What?” “What’re you doing? Who’s this man? What’s that in his hand, and what happened to the statue of Horus?” Then he added, “What’s that cat doing in here?” “We’re trying to help Seth. There’s more going on than you realize and I don’t have time to explain. Now, what is it?” she asked, rising and taking The Eye from Talon and clutching it close to her body. “I just saw him on television. He’s at the Penn Station reopening.” “Oh, gracious Horus, he’s going to do something to the subway!” We better go now before something dreadful happens. “Right. No time to talk. We’ve got work to do.” Kat rushed to the exit, grabbing her handbag along the way, Talon and Nathaniel following in her wake. “Hey, keep that cat at home. Dr. Matthews hates cats,” Sims called after her. “Not anymore,” Talon said with a chuckle as he passed the little man on his way out of the Egyptian wing. In the lobby she paused, stopping the group. “We’ve got to get to Penn Station quick.” “I have a way,” Talon said, pulling up his sleeve to reveal an elaborate wristwatch. He pushed a button and spoke into the receiver. “Meet us on the roof of the Met.” Kat cocked a brow. “I’m a sheik, remember? What would I be without a private helicopter to get around New York City?” “A common rich guy?” 83

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“I’m anything but common.” I hate flying, Nathaniel complained. Chuckling, Kat picked him up and stowed him in her handbag. “You want to stay here with Sims?” she asked. No, I’m coming. I’m your mystery-solving sidekick now. They made their way up the stairs and out onto the roof, and as promised, Talon’s helicopter waited. Once inside the helicopter they sped toward Penn Station. “What do you think he’ll do at the subway?” Talon tossed off his outer robe to reveal a cream-colored linen tunic and pants with high brown leather boots. “Anything he wants.” Around his waist, Talon strapped a belt filled with tools of the high-tech and stateof-the-art sort. He was definitely not a common rich man. “How many missions have you been on that required all this stuff?” she asked as she watched him double-check his gadgets. “A few. I’m sure this won’t be the last.” Above Penn Station, they could see people crowding the entrance for the reopening event. Landing the helicopter on the roof allowed them to bypass the throng. However, the steel door leading to the station was bolted from the inside. “How are we going to get through that?” Kat asked as she tugged on the door. It was solid and not about to open easily. I thought a fire escape was supposed to always be unlocked. “It probably opens easily when pushed from the inside, but it must lock automatically when it closes.” Kat toed a nearby piece of wood on the ground. “Look, the employees probably come up here to smoke and prop open the door with this.”

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Talon pulled out a small black device that resembled a mini pistol, but when he pointed it at the door lock, a red laser began to cut through the metal. Kat watched in awe as, minutes later, the hinges and lock melted away. “Handy device,” she quipped as the door fell to the ground with a loud, resounding thud. Crude, but effective. I don’t think anyone heard us. “No one is paying attention to what’s up here if they have Set stealing the scene below,” Talon said as he tucked the laser back into his belt. “Come on, let’s go join the party.” They raced down the stairs just as the ground began to rumble. Then the mild shaking turned into violent quaking. The building shook fiercely beneath their feet as they reached the terminal. Inside the station people started to run in every direction as they tried to escape. Kat fought to remain on her feet amid the crush. “He’s trying to cave in the subway!” Fear radiated through the station as Kat, Talon and Nathaniel battled the crazed crowd to get into the underground tunnel. All the while, the building rocked with terrific force, causing the ceiling to crack under the stress. Below the surface more people continued to run, trampling others in their frantic attempt to get out. Meanwhile, firemen bravely fought their way down into the tunnels. The trio scanned the area but Set was nowhere to be seen. What with the commotion from the firemen commanding the mad crush of commuters to get out of the area, the crumbling building and the quaking ground, it was close to impossible to find anyone. Least of all Set. “He must be farther down a tunnel. It feels like he intends to cave in not only the station but the entire subway system,” Talon yelled, jumping down onto the tracks. “The entire city would collapse!” she exclaimed, following Talon.

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A fireman yelled at them but they continued to hurry down into the dark tunnel, unwilling to lose a single moment explaining what they were doing. “I’ll fly down this way to see if he’s there. You go the other way. He’s in one of these tunnels.” Then without another word, Talon shifted. Size and shape changed as his body took on his alternate form—a great golden falcon. She placed her bag with The Eye on the ground beside the tracks. Nathaniel jumped out with a sound of relief. But the relief was short-lived as he was thrown to the ground by a new quake. He’s grown incredibly powerful. Kat shifted. The strength and massive body of the Sumatran tiger would withstand several attacks in case she found the demon Set. And she prayed she would. I’ll try another tunnel. Between all of us, we’ll find Set. Nathaniel dashed off into another tunnel. Kat sprinted into a third. Like a mouse in a maze, she thought. The ground rumbled and shook violently beneath her, and concrete fell in great chunks from the tunnel’s ceiling. Then she saw him standing in the tunnel. Wearing a black suit, hair loose down his back, red eyes glowing and arms spread wide, Set laughed demonically. The earth rumbled in violent jolts as she galloped to him. He looked up just as she leapt into the air, landing her heavy front paws on his chest and knocking him over. “Haven’t learned your lesson have you, Pussy Girl?” He laughed, grabbing her thick paws and drawing the exposed claws from his body. I won’t let you destroy the city! You’ll kill thousands of innocent people. He laughed again. “What are the humans to me?” Nothing. But they mean something to me.

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A cold smile curled his lips. “And to Bast.” He then pushed her off in an effortless magical thrust, sending her sprawling down the tunnel. He lay on his back, leaning on his elbows and gazing at her with burning eyes. Bast still loves you. “Impossible.” She does. “Love doesn’t exist and Bast is a liar.” Love does exist. And she didn’t tell me anything, I felt it. She loves you. “How can she possibly love me after all these years, and after everything that happened? This is trickery.” Look into the heart of the man you possess. He loves me—love is real. You know it. You have felt it too, through Seth. Set shook his head, unbelieving. Kat began to plead to Seth. Seth, please, show him your love for me. Show me that you love me, I know you do. I could never love anyone else. Only you. Set rose from the ground and flung his hair back from his eyes with a flick of his hand. He announced calmly, “Seth is no longer.” Seth is in there still. And I intend to help him fight you. She pierced him with her emerald eyes. With a smirk, he answered, “Really? And how will you do it? Claw up this body to get me out? What use would it be to you then, bloodied and torn?” Love will show him the way. He tossed his head back, roaring with laughter. “You only used his body for sex.” No, there is more between Seth and me than sex. Do you feel it, Set? Feel his love for me? Just then, she noticed the earth’s shaking had stopped. She had succeeded in diverting his attention from his plan.

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“Did you think I’d allow the human to feel love, especially for a half-human pussy like you?” Had he really thought he could control Seth’s emotions? No, Set—you can’t disconnect Seth from his feelings. I know he loves me. He grew silent as he watched her transform into her human self. She willed herself into her black latex catsuit, tempting and revealing. He growled. Stepping toward him, purposely putting a sway to her hips, she held her hand out cautiously. “Seth, I love you. Please, search your heart and tell me you love me.” Again the ground began shifting, moving. Concrete crumbled around her as the tunnel protested against the earth’s quaking. “No! I won’t allow it!” Set shouted at the top of his lungs as more of the tunnel collapsed. Still she approached with her hand extended, beckoning, inviting. “Please Seth, say you love me. Fight Set and free your soul. Love me. You have my heart…now give me yours.” Screaming, he fell to his knees, clutching his chest. As Set raged, part of the tunnel caved in, raining debris on Katina and knocking her to the ground. The rubble piled around her, but she could still see Seth battling for his soul, yelling out in pain. Pain shot through her own body as the ruined tunnel ceiling pressing against her. The smell of her own blood filled her mouth, tangy and metallic. Dust and dirt floated all around, making it difficult to breathe, and her lungs began to burn. She managed to clap her hand over her mouth, hoping to prevent breathing in more debris. The battle ensued between good and evil and Kat was unable to help. She fought against unconsciousness to watch her lover fight for his very life. It was the final showdown.

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Falling back onto the floor, Seth turned his eyes to her. They locked gazes for a split second, but it was as though a lifetime of love and longing passed between them in that. Despite the debris-filled air, she read the words on his lips. “I love you.” She whispered back to him, praying he would understand. “I love you too, Seth.” He smiled—and then with a wrenching jolt, a bloodcurdling scream broke from his throat. Kat watched, horrified. Just when she began to fear Seth would perish as his body spasmed, a black smoky form burst forth from his mouth, spilling out the evil essence of Set. Set’s black form spiraled from Seth’s body into the air. They’d driven out the demon! Love was truly the greatest power against evil. But as Seth lay upon the ground, his figure still, Kat began to panic. Did the release of Set kill Seth in the process? “Seth! No!” she cried as the dust still fell from above, pasting her tears to her face. She struggled against her tears, looking for a sign of life from Seth as she herself fought for her own. It was then she spotted the evil cloud turn toward her. For the love of Bast, no. She wouldn’t let the beast take her! Then a cry rang through the tunnel—the cry of a great falcon. Talon! The giant falcon swooped down to the black cloud and wrestled it. But Set without form was difficult to control and he tossed Talon back down the tunnel. Then from the darkness of the very same tunnel emerged the shadowy spirits of Horus and Bast. Their ethereal forms of a falcon and a snowy white lioness descended upon the black spirit of Set. They fought with the cloud as it tried to wrap around their bodies in a demonic grip. Lightning struck about them in the tunnel as a powerful war

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between good and evil was waged. The ground shuddered and shook as Set was beaten down. “Seth.” Kat’s voice cracked from the dry dust coating her throat. She squinted through the showering debris to the supine form lying not far from her. Was he dead? Did she lose him now that he was free? A screech from the tunnel drew her attention and she watched Talon soar over the battling gods clutching The Eye of Horus within his grasp. Landing to the ground, Talon flipped open the vessel with his beak. Horus and Bast guided the struggling Set over to The Eye of Horus and forced the spirit into the vessel. A piercing scream ripped through the tunnel as Horus locked Set inside. With a moan, Kat saw Seth move. He’s alive! Her entire body relaxed in relief. Seth was safe, free from possession. He was alive and free. And Set had been captured and held once again in his eternal prison. Kat was numb to the pain of the pressing weight from the fallen concrete and steel. The stress was too much for her body and her lungs burned, laboring for each breath. Consciousness wavered as she fell gratefully into dark oblivion.

***** Set’s spirit was gone. Lying on the hard concrete, Seth slowly became aware of his surroundings. The tunnel had caved in various areas. Dust and debris continued to rain about him. His head spun with violent turbulence as he sat up, trying to gather his senses. Great slabs of concrete had luckily missed his body. Covered with only concrete dust and small bits of debris, Seth came out of the ordeal fairly unharmed, considering his body had been possessed by an evil demon. 90

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The weight of the past few days was staggering. Seth knew it would take a long time for him to recover, but he also knew he could endure it with Katina by his side… Katina! With sudden clarity, Seth remembered the events leading to Set’s recapture. Images of Katina confessing her love flooded him as his eyes scanned the ruins, looking for her. Rising up, he staggered over to a large pile of rubble and began picking though the debris—and quickly saw shiny black hair and a hand buried beneath. His movements became frenzied, sifting through the fallen concrete and steel, trying to rescue the woman who had rescued him. “Hey, down here! Someone! Help, there’s a woman trapped!” he yelled frantically as he continued to dig. He knew absolutely that she had saved him with her love and devotion—on many levels. She’d faced and defeated Set, risking her own life in the process. She had kept the beast at bay by appealing to Seth’s emotions, his desires. As he dug, firemen finally found him and began to help, carrying away the wreckage to release the trapped Katina. “Katina, can you hear me?” he asked, frantic with worry. She wasn’t moving. His heart pounded in his chest as the adrenaline pumped through his veins, fueling his strength to save the woman he loved. Then, very faintly, he heard a moan followed by a weak voice. “Seth.” “Honey, we’re going to get you out of there. Hold on, love.” He absently stroked her hand. The group worked together and lifted a large slab of concrete that had pinned her to the ground. They slid a backboard under her body and pulled her out quickly. One of the firemen lay a blanket over her injured body before Seth leaned down to her, stroking her hair with his hand. “I thought I lost you, love,” he murmured into her hair, kissing her temple. “It’ll take a lot for you to be rid of me now. You’re stuck with me.”

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Chapter Eight Much to the amazement of the doctors, Kat was released from the hospital after only one night. She healed quickly from her wounds thanks to her gifts, though a little slower than if she’d been able to shift. However, the soreness remained deep within her muscles. Seth swore to take care of her and she couldn’t think of a better way to recover. Exiting the hospital, Seth escorted Kat to a taxi where an insistent Nathaniel awaited her. “He refused to wait until you got home to see you,” Seth said with a sigh. The traffic was jammed as usual and the ride home was a long one. As they passed Penn Station, Kat said, “It looks like the reopening will be delayed. At least the damage didn’t collapse the entire subway. It should only take a few weeks of cleanup before things are back on track.” Don’t talk to me about cleanup. I still can’t get all that dust out of my coat. I’m so dirty I can’t stand it. And need I tell you I hate coughing up fur balls with cement dust? Nathaniel went on and on about licking his fur and the details of cement dust flavor. “Can you please make that mangy cat of yours shut up? He’s been yapping at me the entire time you were in the hospital. I have a headache just from listening to him bitch and moan,” Seth said. Mangy? I’m here to tell you, doctor, I am not mangy. I am of royal blood. “Yeah, as in a royal pain in the ass.” “Wait…you can hear Nathaniel?” Katina asked in amazement. “Yeah. Odd, isn’t it?” “How?!” But the answer flashed through her mind. Bast had given Seth the gift of telepathy. Was that the only power Bast bestowed? “Seth, do you feel, you know, different?”

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“How do you mean ‘different’? I’ve been possessed by a demon for the past few days. Of course, I feel different.” I think she means, do you feel any other special abilities? “Oh…no. I don’t feel anything other than annoyance that I can hear your griping.” Kat snickered, listening to Seth argue with her cat. It was a welcome carefree moment. The past few days had been too trying and she needed the chance to sit back and laugh. But then a terrible thought came to mind. “Seth, The Eye!” “Don’t worry about it. I personally signed the papers to ship it back to Cairo immediately. Turns out it wasn’t supposed to ever leave the country. The Sheik Talon is escorting it back himself on his private jet. Did you know he’s with the Egyptian Department of Antiquities?” “Yes, I knew. Talon is an old friend.” “Old friend?” Seth sounded…jealous. She smiled and caressed his face. “We met years ago in Luxor. He’s one of the desert guardians, those charged to protect the living and the dead. We hit it off—like friends. Nothing more.” “That’s a relief.” Seth gathered her into his arms. “But right now, I don’t want to think of anything but you, my sweet, beautiful Katina.” Oh, please. Is this what I have to live with from now on, listening to mushy love talk? Nathaniel griped. Katina wrapped her arms about Seth’s neck, drawing him closer. “That sounds wonderful to me.” “I love you, Katina. You have my body, my heart, my soul.” He ran a thumb across her bottom lip, watching her with crystal blue eyes brimming with love and promise. “Seth, I love you too. I can’t imagine life without you.” “Will you marry me?” His lips gently feathered against hers in light kisses. 93

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She hugged him as tears trickled down her cheek. “Oh, yes. I love you so much.” Oh, good grief.

***** Once they got to her apartment, Kat headed for bed. Stiff and sore, she wanted sleep. Of course, having Seth curled up behind her in bed was a definite plus. For the first time in what seemed like forever Kat was content, and she slept soundly within his arms. Hours later, Kat awoke, Seth gone and Nathaniel curled by her side in his place. “Where’s Seth?” she asked in a groggy voice. “Right here.” Seth strode into the room, shirtless and positively dreamy. Her body reacted to his presence. Her heartbeat quickened and her pussy ached. And that’s my cue to leave. Nathaniel got up and leapt from the bed, padding out of the room. Closing the door, Seth smiled at her. “You look better.” “I feel better. I needed the sleep.” He stepped over to the bed. “You know, just seeing you in bed makes me want to fuck you.” “Why don’t you?” “Aren’t you in pain still? I mean, your bruises aren’t as bad as they were yesterday, but still…” “I heal quickly.” He seemed unsure for a moment. She reached out a hand in invitation. “I won’t break.” The tension ebbed from his shoulders. “I know. It’s just…I have a request.” She lifted an eyebrow. “And that would be?”

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“Would you wear that latex catsuit for me? You know—the one you wore down in the tunnel. That was fucking sexy.” She smiled knowingly as it magically appeared over her body. He eyed her black-clad body with appreciation in his eyes and breathed deeply. “I love the smell of latex, so fresh.” She moved slightly, prompting him to add, “And the sound of latex rubbing together. So sexy.” She opened her legs to reveal the shaved surface of her labia. She’d conjured a crotchless catsuit! Very convenient. “Mmm, yeah. Very sexy.” He moved to lean in but she stopped him with her spiked-heel latex boot upon his chest. She heard his sharp intake of breath at her move. “Katina, you’re a temptress.” “I just know what I want.” He laid a hand upon her boot and the heat of his skin seeped through the latex. “And what do you want, Kat?” “For you to pet my pussy.” “Oh yeah, I’ll make that pussy purr.” He gazed lustily at the pink flesh that swelled for his touch. “And it looks so beautiful framed in black latex.” “What is it about latex and men anyway?” She giggled, playing with the exposed skin at her crotch. “Tight fitting, slick to the touch…mmm…tight fitting. It contours everything, from the curve of your hips to the pucker of your nipple.” “I like the way it feels, like a second skin. It moves with me as I move.” “And I like seeing you move in it.” Wasting no more time, Seth stripped his pants off and climbed into bed atop her. “Oh God, you feel so good.” He squeezed a breast and sighed. “You know, I’m not too sure I like the idea of you wearing this out in public anymore.” “Ah, just want to keep it for yourself?” 95

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“Just for me…in our bedroom.” She scrunched up her face as though considering his request. “Hmm, I don’t know.” He lowered his mouth over her latex-enclosed nipple and she groaned. “Okay, you win. The catsuit is for your eyes only.” He nibbled at her hardened peak, grunting his approval. His hands mapped her body as he continued to lavish her breast. Kat’s skin heated within the latex. The catsuit’s smooth surface caressed her body along with his movements, driving her crazy with want. Her cunt was exposed and just seeing the stark contrast between its naked surface and the slick catsuit made her juices gather, coating her labia with cream. His weight pressed her into the soft mattress and she felt consumed by him. When he began to feast on her other breast, still squeezing the already sensitive mound he’d finished with, she abandoned conscious thought. He controlled her—and she wanted him to have it all. Seth kissed her, ravishing her mouth, plunging his tongue deep, tasting, devouring, controlling. She wrapped her arms about his shoulders, holding on to him for dear life as he fed his passion. And in turn, he fed hers as well. He pulled back enough to see her body, supporting himself on one elbow, his chest just inches above her. “Let’s see what treasures you have hidden beneath this slick outfit.” He reached up with his free hand and grasped the zipper at her neck. Slowly, one tooth at a time, he pulled the zipper down, revealing her tanned skin beneath. He leaned down to lick the newly exposed skin and she bucked beneath him. She wanted him to touch her pussy but he silently refused. Instead he drove her further over the edge as he teased her skin with his tongue. She was crazed by the time Seth worked his mouth over her bellybutton. His hair curled about her gripping fingers as she pleaded with him, pushing him farther down her body, longing for him to end the torment. Anything—a touch of his tongue, a swipe 96

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of his thumb—would set off her explosion. The pressure that built through her body was too intense and she strained for release. “You have to purr first, honey,” he whispered against her navel. She tossed her head back into the pillow, frustration seeping from every cell. When he backed away she cried out, but he didn’t let her suffer long. In one swift plunge, he thrust his cock into her cunt. He moaned as his body pressed down onto hers. It was possessive, engulfing—and completely masculine. He kissed her, his tongue seeking hers as his penis moved within her. He retreated then thrust into her again. The act was not gentle, but dominating. He left no doubt between them—she belonged to him. His lovemaking branded Kat to the core. With each penetration her muscles stretched and gripped about his length, a glorious sensation. He increased his tempo and his cock seemed to grow impossibly larger with each thrust, with each grunt. The ecstasy of him deep within her drove her higher to the point of blissful climax. She locked her legs about his waist, her boot heels a perfect lock to keep him close. He moaned as her shift of position allowed him to deepen his penetration. He drove into her wetness again and again, savoring every moment, every movement bringing them closer to the edge. His kisses were bruising and possessive, and she loved it. He reached down between them, his hand at the very joining of their bodies. Then he said in a husky voice, “Purr for me. Tell me how you want me.” His thumb stroked the sensitive surface of her clit and she mewled. “Prrrrrrrr.” Kat lost coherent thought as he pounded faster into her. She spread out her arms and grasped the sheets in her hands, holding on to the bed as he rammed into her cunt. By the gods, it was beyond passionate—it was uncontrolled.

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Her body convulsed as she came and Seth rode out his own blissful orgasm along with her. His back arched and his head thrown back in abandon, he screamed as his seed pumped into her. Kat had never experienced such a climax. She felt her muscles spasm, from her toes to the roots of her hair. It was a complete, fully realized orgasm. Her hands clutched the sheets as she rode out her body’s involuntary responses, and she reveled in the glory of love-driven passion. There were no questions, no doubts. Seth was truly the one man who could complete her. Her consciousness edged away. She blacked out from the intensity, carried away by total satisfaction. “Kat? Kat, are you okay?” She heard him somewhere in the darkness. She was only vaguely aware of his weight sliding off her. “Katina! Come on baby, wake up!” He sounded worried. Opening her eyes, she looked up into his. So full of love and passion, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. And the love was all for her. “I love you so much, Seth.” He wrapped his arms about her, breathing in her clean scent. “You scared me there.” “I’m sorry. I guess I blacked out for a moment.” “That’ll be a first for me. God, you felt so good, I just wanted more and more. And that outfit and your heels digging into my back—fuck, I was lost.” His warm breath teased her neck, sparking excited shivers to move down her spine. A sense of rightness washed over her while she lay within his embrace. “I love you, Seth.” “And I will love you always, my Lady Sheba.”

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Lady Sheba

Epilogue Damnable situation. Set was cramped in his prison once again. His brother had trapped him once more. Kat had succeeded in defeating him— through the power of love! The sentiment was enough to make him sick. If he had a stomach, he would’ve thrown up. Instead he existed confined, without form and without life. Horus! If Set had hated his brother before, now he burned to defeat him. Horus would pay for his interference. And his beloved Bast… How could she possibly love him when she had helped Horus trap him once again? Her betrayal proved her true feelings. Damn them all for giving him even a glimmer of hope. Love may exist, and he may feel…love…for the cat goddess, but her actions were unforgivable. When he escaped, Bast would feel his anger. Nothing would save her from his wrath. But once again he had to bide his time and wait. Perhaps for another millennium. Yes, a damnable situation. But in time I will escape again. I will have my revenge!

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About the Author Multi-published author Marianne LaCroix lives in the American south in the land of cotton and mint juleps. She’s an active member of the RWA in the ESPAN, GothRom, Passionate Ink, and First Coast Romance Writers chapters. She’s had several recognitions for her writing including a Romantic Times BOOKClub Reviewer Choice nomination. Her tastes run to the alpha male with a dark streak in the form of a vampire, shape-shifter or other tortured-soul type. When not writing, Mari can be found with her twin toddler girls and her husband of eleven and half years.

Marianne welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

Also by Marianne LaCroix Beast In My Bed Descendants of Darkness

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