Read Online The Concubine's Tale by Jennifer Colgan - Free Book Online Page A

Nayari, his long, swollen member protruding from his hand, straight as an arrow. She stood silently, naked before him, her eyes closed in ecstasy. Khanu waited outside the circle in which Min danced, watching the god weave closer and closer to Nayari. He wanted to step in, to claim her for his own, but how could he challenge a god?
    A hand fell on Khanu’s shoulder, startling him. His heart raced when he turned and looked into the fearsome visage of Set. The god himself, part man, part animal, and all-powerful, gestured to Min and Nayari.
    “Take her.” His command was clear and strong, delivered in the voice of Ammonptah. “She is yours. Don’t let that creature have her.”
    “He is Min—”
    Pain lanced through Khanu’s shoulder, and the hand of Set became a claw with the talons of a hawk. The talons dug into his flesh. “He is inferior to me. I am the god of the pharaohs. God of kings. I am their blood and their flesh. Take her in my name, and your union will be blessed.”
    Khanu needed no further encouragement. Even as Min thrust his straining erection at Nayari, Khanu reached across the circle to claim her. She danced out of his way and fell into Min’s outstretched arms.
    “You can’t have her just for the taking. You must earn her.” Set released his death grip on Khanu’s shoulder and rivulets of blood ran down his arm. With eyes the color of the sun, Set followed the trail of crimson drops. “Like me, the blood of kings runs in your veins. You must prove yourself worthy to claim your prize.”
    “How?”
    “Save Pharaoh. Blessed of Set, he is the true ruler of this land. Ammonptah is a pretender to the throne, and he will hold your heart in his hands if he gains power. He will hold her body beneath his again and ravage her in a fruitless effort to bring forth progeny. She will die at his hands, having failed her purpose. Do you want that?”
    “What can I do?”
    “Stop Ammonptah. You run from him like a rabbit runs from the jackal. You must prove your loyalty to Seti, and you will have everlasting peace. Then you will have her by your side forever.”
    “I’ll kill Ammonptah.” The words sounded strange in Khanu’s mouth. How could he pledge to kill the man who had been his master?
    “No. You will help Seti to kill him. And then no man but you will touch your beloved Nayari.”
    Khanu looked back to the circle, and anger surged in him at the sight of Nayari cradled in the arms of Min, eyes closed, head back, her slender throat exposed to the god’s lips.
    “I will do whatever you ask of me.”
    “Then wake.”
    Khanu sat up with a cry of defiance. Cold sweat covered his body and, for the first time in his life, his hands shook. The god Set had come to him in a dream and commanded him. He had to obey.
    He looked down at Nayari, who stirred fitfully in her exhausted sleep. He smoothed her hair and kissed her brow. “I will do as Set commands me, for you. You will not have to leave Egypt in shame.”

    Grant slid his eager hands over Cait’s hips, molding her to him in the sensual warmth beneath the crisp sheets of her bed. She moved beneath him, wrapped her legs around his and moaned softly when he kissed her neck and worked his way to her lips.
    “Khanu dreams big,” he said against her mouth. She stretched and laughed.
    “The gods were so much ingrained in everyday life that it wasn’t uncommon for people to feel their actions were guided by them.”
    “Khanu believed his dream was a message from Set directly.”
    “Of course. An offer he couldn’t refuse, so to speak.”
    “What did he do about it?”
    Cait’s response was lost in a sigh as Grant’s tongue swirled around her nipple. She drew her legs tighter around him and took him inside her again, reveling in his length.
    “He left her in the cave.”

    Nayari woke alone, silver moonlight bathing the grotto where she’d slept so long, dreaming of Khanu. His scent lingered on her hands, and the flavor of his mouth remained