Free Soul Reborn (Key to the Cursed Book 1) by Jean Murray Page B

white scar on his side, the only evidence that
remained of his knife wound.
    Why had she
returned to the church?
    The methodical rise
and fall of her chest was hypnotic. He dared to crouch beside her and brush
back her tangle of hair. Her head rolled in the direction of his palm. With her
face cupped in his hand, he brushed the pad of his thumb across the pink glow
of her perfect cheekbone. Her skin blanched white at his cold touch.
    He lifted her effortlessly
and placed her gently on the bed. Her long, luscious body stretched out to its
full length. Her taut sleek abdomen sunk to expose her prominent hip bones. Shifting
in her sleep, she moaned softly.
    “You are
beautiful,” Asar whispered, continuing to touch her hair, the only part of her
that did not burn him.
    “What do you plan
on doing with her?” Kamen said, entering the room.
    “She will return
with me, once our mission is complete.”
    “Willingly?”
    “Since when does it
matter?”
    Asar scowled. The thought
of her not wanting to be with him bothered him greatly. It should not. He was a
god, and she, his servant. It was the way of their world.
    Kamen sat and
leaned on the back legs of the chair. “These women are not our usual… preference .
There is nothing subservient about them. In fact, they are extremely abrasive,
especially her sister, Kit. They may be more trouble than their worth.”
    “Are not they all?”
Asar growled at the memory of the goddess’ sharp nails against his skin. The
thought replaced quickly by the memory of Lilly’s hungry kiss and hands on his
body. The taste of her was the most excruciatingly erotic sensation he had ever
experienced. His cock throbbed as he imagined her naked under him.
    Kamen put his arm
behind his head. “At least this one seems a little more trustworthy than the
others.”
    Asar rubbed his jaw.
The question was why ? “Did the sisters make it back?”
    “Yeah, they are
tucked safely behind the fortress.”
    “Any sign of the
goddess or the gate key?”
    “No, the church was
leveled. The Nehebkau are cleaning up as we speak.”
    Asar ran an
agitated hand through his hair. “It was there, damn it. I could feel it!”
    Kamen dropped the
chair back on four legs, nodded toward Lilly, and headed out of the room.
    Asar turned around
and found her sitting up in bed, seemingly confused that she was no longer on
the floor. The glint of surprise in her glowing green eyes told him she had not
expected him to be standing after such a severe injury. Instead of getting out
of bed, she lay back down and curled on her side with her hands tucked neatly under
her cheek. Her unexpected vulnerability drew him in close to the bed.
    Lilly cleared her throat
and looked up at him. “You are better?” Her eyes scanned his torso.
    “Yes.” Despite the
injury, he returned to his previous state. Empty and soulless.
    She sighed deeply,
and remained in the fetal position.
    He interrupted the
silence. “I will be leaving for a period of time. Kamen will stay behind to
watch after your sisters.”
    She simply nodded
and curled up into a tighter ball on the bed.
    Hesitating at the
door, he looked over his shoulder at the huntress. “Would you like to come with
me?”
    Her eyebrows shot
up. Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she asked, “Where are you
going?”
    He did not answer
her, but exited the small room.
    Asar cursed at himself. Stupid. You are falling into your old habits. Worse, a heaviness insufflated
his stomach when she did not follow. Angry with himself, he stalked toward the
exit, but stopped when he heard the metal door open wider behind him. Lilly peeked
around the door with her weapons belt in hand. Her other hand attempted to
smooth back her tangle of hair.
    “You will not need
those,” he said, gesturing to her weapons. Hesitation and fear flickered in her
eyes. Taking a deep breath, Lilly placed the belt up against the wall and
walked forward behind him. She gave it one last glance before