"Put me down!"

 I flailed and kicked against my captor as he headed out the grand hall, turning right past the priests' sleeping chambers and to the communal bathing pools that backed onto a river, trickling in from the great Nile. The man remained silent as we stepped into the night air, passing the first steps into the bath, as he waded further.

"I said put me down!" my fear rising with the water line. I didn't like open water- ever since that day. "I am the Priestess Nefari! Are you not afraid of punishment for touching Ra's wife?"

"The better question is, what were you doing down there.... Princess?" His voice low and controlled as he set me on my feet. The water came up to my waist, thankfully it wasn't deeper, and I shivered at the sudden change in temperature, staring up into furious golden orbs.

"A-Amon...How did you know?"

"I was waiting for you by the statue. I saw the priest take you away and followed."

"Ah..."

A frog croaked in the silence between us before he said, "thinking of a job change?" His eyebrow raised at my servant's robes.

"No. No, I-" I couldn't think with him so close. His large hands seared my skin as he held my waist, steadying me. My palms itched to touch the rigid scars on his chest illuminated in the moonlight, as the dusk wrapped us in her dark wings, and I suddenly realized we were the only ones here. 

We were alone.

"You, what? Tired of being a priestess? You should have told me sooner," he quipped dryly when I didn't answer back. His eyes, still hard as amber. Was he angry? It was so hard to tell. As a boy his emotions flowed so brightly on his face, but now it was like reading lines of stone. 

"No," I said a little more firmly, finding my voice and clarity now that we were out of the smoky haze of that room. "Hotep has me guarded. I had to find a way to sneak out and then..." my voice trailed, remembering how close I'd been to shedding my purity.

It wasn't an issue for unwed men and women. Sex was as normal an activity as eating or dancing. Zahara often took a hand-maiden or two into her chambers and Anaka had practiced with a priest boy. But I had kept myself for Amon, and when I was announced as Ra's wife only my godly husband could lay with me. Now I would never know the pleasure... A small part of me wondered what would have happened if I'd stayed.

"That was stupid and dangerous," his jaw ticked and he pulled me lower into the water by the waist.

"What are you doing!?" my hands clawing to remove his grip as he dragged me down. All sense of formality and propriety forgotten in my apprehension.

"We have to wash off the smoke. It seeps in your skin. And you probably inhaled a bit," he explained calmly. "How are you feeling?"

His hands roamed up my arms, rubbing any bare flesh that wasn't covered by my dress.

"I'm fine." I stepped back into the pool, pulling from his grip that sent jolts of lightning to my core. "I'll do it myself." I rubbed at my legs, my arms, my face; each touch heightened. My body felt flush. Warm. Happy. Almost bubbly, like a good cup of wine. A giggle escaped me.

"You don't sound fine, Princess."

I bristled. I hated it when he called me that. He knew it too. Like he was denying that I'd ever become a part of the temple.  Who is he to tell me how I feel? And suddenly I remembered I was supposed to be mad at him. Though, it was hard with such close proximity. But I could still pretend.

"It's Priestess now. Oh mighty Pharaoh," my words dripped with satire. "And you can't just call me as you please. I am the wife of Ra, and my title deems you to request an audience through the priests." I jutted my chin at him as authoritative as I could manage in the shadow of his towering frame.

He had the brass to look amused. Did he just smirk?

"Then why did you sneak out to meet me? You could have sent a letter back or told the priests. You're not as rigid with the rules as you'd like to appear."

Monkey turds. He got me there. I should have known. Even if ten years had passed between us, Amon could still read me like a hieroglyph. Still pull out the small reckless part of me that yearned for the pulse racing moments of devilry and adventure.

I could feel the heat rising on my cheeks and I was thankful Imi had tied the sheer covering on.

I changed tactics.

"...What did you mean, we were never friends? What about all the time we spent together?" The effects of the blue lotus gave me the strength to ask the questions in my heart, even if it came out just above a whisper.

Amon looked at me like the answer was obvious.

I pursed my lip in frustration, when he refused to confirm my hope, noticing as his gaze dipped.

"Fine, since we're not friends I don't see the need to stay. Perhaps I'll just head back downstairs."

As soon as the words left my lips Amon ripped me out of the water with a beastly snarl, his eyes burning. And a small shiver of fear climbed up my throat. I squealed, wrapping my legs around his muscular waist. The thin fabric of my dress pushed up and I could feel the heat of his skin on my thighs, as my arms gripped his broad shoulders for support.

His one hand trailed down my thigh, thumb brushing at the large scar there. It ached like it was still fresh. Like the jaw of the beast were still sliding through my flesh as my skin ignited under his feather light touch. 

"Are you truly so eager to break your vows? If so, I would be happy to help," his voice dipping low. Husky. 

My body shuddered, in the cool night air. Bumps rising on my flesh like a plucked chicken as his words drove all the heat to my core. My breathing, shallow and short. How I had fantasized about this.

As a girl it was with a different version of Amon. A sweeter, softer boy. A pure kind of affection, but now it was hunger. A raw aching need to know his lips on mine. Brush my hands across his sharp jawline and coarse stubble. To feel the ridges of hard muscle and scars as he showed me the kind of pleasure those women in the room experienced. My mind was hazy from the lotus, body taking control, as my hands slid down his back feeling firm lines and ridges. 

"Ari." The words came out a warning, and I froze, eyes flicking to his, a world of secrets held in those golden pools. The lost time between us. But I could no longer read his gaze. "I-" he swallowed, his grip tightening on my ass. A soft moan escaped my lips, eyes fluttering closed. His touch sent me to the stars, and my grip tightened trying to pull our flush bodies closer. "Ari," my name on his lips grounded me back to earth. He shuffled me, gripping with one hand as the other came up to pull down the veil on my face. "...All you have to say is stop," his voice a rough whisper that tugged on my skin.

"Stop wha-" but before I could finish his mouth was on mine. His lip's, soft. Warm. Pressing firmly as his free hand came up to cup the back of my neck, drawing me closer.

My eyes closed, shutting out the world, focusing on the sensation of him as my heartbeat soared. I felt something warm and wet slide along the seam of my mouth. My lips parted at the sensation as he slid his tongue in. I stilled, unsure what to do as he explored the cavern of my mouth with slow languid strokes. 

Oh Isis! It felt like pure heaven. Trying to match his rhythm, my tongue darted out experimentally, exploring his mouth in return. With a grunt Amon angled his head deepening the kiss. His mouth moved rougher on mine as if trying to steal the very air from my lungs.

My head was dizzy, I couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. I pushed against him and he stilled, pulling back, eyes clouded and unfocused. "W-wait. I can't breathe."

With a smile that could steal souls he hummed an acknowledgement, instead dipping into the crevice of my neck, his tongue and teeth licking and nipping at my sensitive flesh. I dug my nails into his back, not caring if I left marks, as I arched into his touch. "A-Amon." I couldn't focus. A nagging feeling prickled in the back of my brain. A warning bell so soft, it was drowned by the heartbeat in my ears.

"Call me like you used to Ari." His breath ghosted my flesh sending a wave of shudders down my spine. He gripped me tighter to him, my core rubbing against hard plains of muscles as fire rippled through me.

A whimper parted my lips. I needed him closer. Need him to quell the ache between my legs. "Settie..." The childhood name fell from my lips and it seemed to be his undoing.

His mouth was on my neck, his hands sliding up the side of my waist to cup my breasts. His large thumb brushed over my nipple that pearled under the thin dress. A cry of pleasure jolted through me. Dear gods! My legs felt numb, like I'd suddenly lost the strength to hold on as my head tipped back to the stars. Were they watching us?

"Please...s-stop" my words trembled, barely making it past my lips. Did I even want him to stop?

"Ari" His lips found purchase on my mouth again, his tongue silencing my protests before trailing down. They were soft, warm- a little rough- as they lightly brushed over the skin past my collar bone. "Be mine. Leave the temple, come with me. It's not too late to be my Queen." My mind was hazy with the sensations, each touch igniting a feeling that grew deeper and hotter, but his words sobered like a cold rain.

I pushed back on his chest. "Wait. I-I'm married...this is wrong," my thoughts tumbling from my lips.

"Come now," he chuckled low, "we both know he doesn't warm your bed at night."

He did not! It was one thing to assume, but he seemed so certain it infuriated me. It was none of his business. I had a noble position. An honorable duty, and yet he laughed. I struggled, pulling away from his iron grip as he let me slide back down into the water, his features furrowed.

"How can you say that now? After all these years of silence. You are betrothed to my sister!"

"It wasn't my intention." His hands reached out to cup my cheek, but I turned pulling back from his touch. "My late father arranged it after-"

"- you never even wrote me back! Did you even receive my letters?"

His jaw clenched, before he slowly exhaled, "yes." My heart dropped. Eyes widening. For years I'd wondered. Had the priests intercepted them? I had sent carrier bird after carrier bird in secret and all came back without a letter. "I couldn't write back. It was-" He opened his mouth, closing it again, seeming to wrestle with telling me.

"What," I encouraged.

"It was improper."

"Improper?!" I practically screeched. "And this isn't?"

"Ari, please listen-"

"No, you listen!" I didn't care that his status was above me now, formalities could fall into the pits of the afterlife for all I cared. Rage boiled in my stomach as I pushed against his chest creating more space between us. He was strong enough that my hands wouldn't move him, but he took a gracious step back. "How can you do this to me? To my sister? You had every opportunity to tell me well before now. And yet you come here mere hours before the wedding feast and stir my heart. Is this a game to you?" My blood boiled so hot, I worried I would burst into flames.

"No." he answered quickly, "And I couldn't. I had a kingdom to protect. There are things out there..."

"What? Like waging war?" I bit back.

His eyes burned as he leaned down toward me, his voice dark. "You know nothing of my life. Of what I've endured to come back here. You live in your temple walls like a pretty caged bird only knowing what you're fed."

Tears pricked my eyes as his words cursed me. "Well, better a pretty bird than a ravenous dog." I brushed past him, face burning but he caught me at the wrist. "Let me go Amon-Set," I seethed.

"Ari-."

"-It is Priestess Nefari, my pharaoh. Please do not forget that." Softer, I added, "Anaka will make a wonderful wife. Treat her well."

His hand dropped from my wrist and I couldn't find the courage to look at his face. I'd extinguished whatever embers had flickered between us.

"You are a cruel woman- priestess." His words were sharp- bitter- as he turned stalking out of the pool.

Not as cruel as you.

I stood there frozen. When the sound of his footsteps finally faded my legs gave way, crouching in the pool, as a shuddering sob racked my body. I didn't know how long I stayed there, watching my tears ripple the dark glassy surface. Anger, longing, pain, desire all swirled inside me. I tried to convince myself I did the right thing, by my family, by my sister, by the temple but it didn't stop the ache in my chest. All I knew is that it was finally over. My lingering thoughts and curiosities had come to rest. Now I knew for sure. The boy I had played with by the river; the boy I had loved, was gone.

Once my tears had dried, I waded to the edge of the pool, my gaze rising to see the head of a statue turn. I sucked in a gasp. Not a statue, a man. He pulled away from the shadow of the temple archway.

"Hotep," I breathed, fear prickling through my body as my legs seized on the edge of the pool steps. His face warped with a crocodile grin that showed too many teeth under the moon's glow, as he stomped toward me. Gripping my arm, roughly pulling me up, as he leaned in with his dark beady eyes.

"I knew it," he hissed.

And his words affirmed my fears.

He saw.