“Nammu,” he cried. “Nammu, I need you.”
The air around him grew humid and moist, a drastic difference from the frigid clime just moments before. Nammu, the mother of all the gods, shimmered to life. Her raven hair swept away from her face, showcasing her turbulent sea-green eyes which reminded him of a tropical storm, and her wide, generous mouth wore the color of a sunset. The emerald colored gown she wore was simple elegance, the bodice fitted, the full skirt sweeping the floor. Fine white lace edged the neckline and her ample bosom. A delicately arched brow hiked as she looked on him from her regal pose.
“Why have you summoned me?”
Fierce and wild, Dagan cast his tear-filled gaze in her direction. “She is dying. I need you to save her.”
“You know it is forbidden to change the course of events.”
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he screamed through the anguish twisting his heart.
“How can you know this?”
“Because I didn’t do my job, if I had, she wouldn’t be lying here on death’s door.”
“If you were lax in your duties…”
“Not lax,” he countered hotly. “I defied the Pantheon. Instead of turning her over to Scion, I thought to cleverly have my way, and in doing so, I put her life at risk. This is my fault.”
He brushed a stray hair from Reese’s face and watched her chest rise and fall in shallow breaths. “I failed her,” he whispered.
Her noble features sternly assessed him as she floated slowly toward them. “If what you say is true—”
“It is.”
“Then I will save her.” She raised her hand before his gratitude spilled forth. “But, it will cost you, Time Walker.”
“Anything.”
Lifting her hands toward the sky, Nammu chanted in the ancient language. A soft glow radiated from her palms until it encompassed Reese’s entire body. The warm light exuded energy which it siphoned into her still form.
Dagan felt the swell and reluctantly moved away from Reese’s body, not wanting to interfere with the rejuvenation. In his desperation, the minutes seemed like hours. Slowly, the color returned and her breaths grew stronger. He placed his unsteady palm over her heart and felt the strong, hardy beat.
With deep sincerity Dagan said, “Thank you, my lady.”
Nammu lowered her arms and smiled at him. “She will be fine, Dagan.” In a motherly gesture, she stroked his head like one would a small child. “It is you I am concerned about.”
“I care not for myself. That she is alive and well is enough for me.”
“She is your
blethred
.”
He slowly raised his eyes to her. “I know, my lady.”
“The
fury
has everything to do with your decisions on this matter.”
His jaw clenched. “I should have handled things better.” He lifted Reese’s head to cradle it against his chest.
Nammu crossed her arms. “Tell me more about the Pantheon’s orders regarding the female.”
Dagan explained everything, including his intentions to defy their order, at least until he could dispose of Kur. Lastly, he informed her of the punishment imposed on him, to return to Dilmun and work with Gilgamesh training new time walkers, while trying to live through the separation.
She growled. “This is most cruel even for the Council. They know what toll the
fury
can have on our kind.”
“They are afraid of change, my lady. While I don’t agree with their thinking, I will accept the punishment.” Nammu faded away.
Reese gasped. Dagan kissed her forehead, her cheek, the tip of her nose.
She opened her eyes. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He had to fight the urge to scream to the heavens with joy.
“What happened?”
“Don’t you remember?” His voice was thick and husky.
She closed her eyes briefly. “No, I don’t remember anything after that demon bitch latching on to me.”
Blessed be Nammu. She must have erased the torture and near death from Reese’s memory.
“Thank you, my lady,” he whispered under his breath.
“What about Rufus?” Reese asked anxiously.
“He’ll be fine. Got a bit of a headache, but he’s fit and ready to fight again.”
She smiled. “That’s good.”
“How do you feel?”
“I think I’m all right. I guess I got knocked out or something because I dreamed of this beautiful angel with green eyes and black hair, telling me to rest and heal and come back to you.”
“I’m glad you listened.” And forever grateful that Nammu had heeded his call.
“What happened to Kur and the wicked old witch?”
He cocked his head. “Wicked old witch?”
“You’d have to know the
Wizard of Oz
story.”
“I’m not familiar with this story.”
“Never mind, just tell me what happened to Kur.”
“We dueled. He lost.”
Reaching her hand up, she caressed his face. “You’re my hero, you know.”
Lowering his head, he captured her mouth in a tender but needy kiss. Her warm breath against his skin sent shivers of pleasure coursing through him.
Dagan made up his mind. He would perform the
démarr
, the ritual that would bind him and Reese in mind, body, and heart forever.
Chapter Sixteen
Dagan called Rufus, knowing he would worry until he reported in. After Dagan had filled her in on what had happened, Reese insisted on seeing her father and sister, so when Rufus drove up in a snazzy gray Jaguar, they went to her father’s house.
Riley sat on the floor between Scion’s legs. Clive and Gideon recounted the attack by Venom and the
zulies
, and Riley filled in bits and pieces that she felt were necessary to get the full effect.
Dagan stood behind Reese, kneading her shoulders. “Tomorrow, I’ll go to Enki and let him know of Venom’s involvement, and that there is a sorcerer or sorceress helping them. Percilious will set a new, stronger magick on this place for protection.”
“Tell him I’d like to see him face to face this time, would you?” Clive asked.
“I shall. I’m sure he’ll be pleased to hear it.”
Riley leaned forward, putting her elbows on her knees. “So what will happen now?”
“The danger is far from over. Now that Kur knows you’re all here, in this time and place, he’ll continue to send the
galla
back until he gets what he wants.”
“Does that mean you’re going to stay here as well?”
He felt Reese’s shoulders tense. “Measures will be taken to increase the magick surrounding you. Some of the
doghume
, like Gideon and Rufus, will be assigned to keep an eye out. Kur is recovering but he’ll be planning. He doesn’t like being defeated.”
“And I will start learning and re-learning everything about my powers so I’m prepared should we be attacked again,” Clive offered.
“What about the time walkers?” Riley persisted in her quest for answers.
“We go where needed. Kur has his minions searching different time periods for more descendants.
Riley sat up and curled her arm around Scion’s leg. “So.” She slipped her hand under his pant leg and massaged his calf. “That means you can come back here sometimes?”
Dagan watched Scion give a lazy smile and his eyes darken. Something told him that Scion would be visiting here when his duties permitted it.
“Yes, that’s true.”
Reese still had not relaxed.
A short time later, they loaded into the car that Rufus had secured for them and headed back to Reese’s house.
He drove. She sat quietly watching the landscape whiz by, like the night they’d first met.
Something had happened. Her clothes had been bloody and she didn’t like the fact that she couldn’t remember anything. Had he done another mind sweep? Why would he only take those few memories and not everything? It had to be bad.
Part of her was angry because he wouldn’t fill in the missing time. He’d told her, “All that’s important is that you’re here, whole and safe. Nothing else matters.”
But it mattered to her.
“Dagan, why did Scion show up tonight?”
“He came to help.”
He hadn’t looked at her in a while. She knew by the way his hands gripped the steering wheel and his jaw clenched that he wasn’t telling her the whole truth. She wanted to punch the big jerk. How could she love someone who lied to her?
Should she rethink that question? No, she knew it to be true.
She loved Dagan.
Although it had been a short time rout with demons trying to kill them and gods showing up on her doorstep, she loved him. She had fallen for him the first night when he’d cradled his body against her to keep the chills and the boogieman at bay. Then, bringing her donuts and coffee the next morning. Noble, courageous, compassionate, incredibly sexy, and the son of gods; what more could a girl want in a man?
“Why are you lying to me?” She twisted in the seat to look at him.
His dark eyes sought her out. “I’m not lying, Reese. Scion came to help protect you.”
What would happen now? All the reasons she’d fallen in love with him were the same reasons he couldn’t stay. Their occupations, if that’s what you could call what he did, an occupation, were too different for them to be together. She stared at his stoic profile as he concentrated on the driving. Should she tell him how she felt? Did he feel the same way?
Dagan wondered what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. He hadn’t lied to her about Scion, not really. He left out the part about turning her protection over to Scion and going away…forever. A minor tactical move on his part. He would rather bask in the brief time they shared than dwell on what manner of punishment Nammu and the Pantheon would deal him when he returned to Dilmun. The dictate to work with Gilgamesh, if he survived the separation from Reese and enduring whatever flaying he would receive, meant nothing compared to spending a few precious moments gazing into her beautiful eyes. Over the centuries, that memory and the warmth of her smile would stay with him.
“Dagan, I have the item you requested.”
Flame’s voice communicated clear in his mind.
“In Reese’s living room by the hearth you’ll see a glass box mounted on the wall with a sacred chalice inside. Please place it on top of the box.”
“How the hell did she get one of the Naruki chalices?”
“
I didn’t ask
.” Dagan glanced over at his life mate and smiled. “
I’m sure she dug it up somewhere
.”
“No doubt. It’ll be there when you arrive.”
He paused briefly.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely. Thanks.”
Bonding with Reese would unleash the
fury
he’d fought so hard to contain. This course of action guaranteed a painful separation and increased his risk of dying. Of course, once the Pantheon learned that he’d bonded with a human female without their consent, they may very well execute him, saving the pain of separation altogether. Either way, he was damned.
“Will you tell me something about yourself?” she asked.
He inclined his head.
“Where are you from?”
“Originally, my home is Lysara. It’s a city in the clouds where Enlil, the air god lives.”
“I’ve never seen anything about Lysara in my studies nor heard about it in any teachings.”
“Nevertheless, it is there.”
“Is it beautiful?”
“It’s the most peaceful and pleasant place.” He smiled. “My father does enjoy the opulence of deities.”
His feelers were out before they pulled up to the house. He helped her out of the car and used his body to shield her from any attackers. Upon entering the house, he locked the door then went through every room to tightly secure it before putting the seal up for what would most likely be the last time. Prior to chanting the ancient spell, he secretly willed the items he would need for the
démarr
.
She barely had her coat off before he slid his arms around her and kissed her. No words, just actions as he picked her up and headed for the bedroom. She didn’t argue or question. Did she feel it too, the overwhelming lust and sexual power? He could no more walk away now than he could the first time they had come together, only tonight would be different.
He needed to prepare everything for the ritual. Laying her on the bed, he touched his fingertips to her temples and she fell instantly asleep. He shed his coat and shirt then went into the living room where he found the item Flame had delivered on top of the glass case. He removed the case and wrapped his fingers around the Basco chalice. In their beliefs, the four chalices were created by the original Naruki gods, Aradumas, Basco, Parsimion, and Gartyemar, to bond the brethren. When the females were created, lust ran rampant until the first male experienced the
fury
and died. First, they thought it an isolated incident, until the next one broke into the frenzy followed by death then the next and the next. It took thousands of deaths to the point of near extinction before his people discovered similarities in each case and started conducting massive studies. Each new discovery brought them closer to a process that eventually worked.