Soul Awakened (40 page)

“You’ll never hurt me, Bakari. You never have.”

The last restraining thread of his sins snapped and with it the realization— he deserved to be happy. He penetrated in one smooth stroke and filled her completely. She gasped, as her body adjusted to the change. He brushed back the hair from her face and assessed her any signs of regret, but only found intense loving eyes staring at him. “Thank you,” he said and kissed her again.

He slowly withdrew and then slid into her. He ground out a curse as she wrapped him so tightly and so completely. She answered with a throaty laugh which he cut short with another thrust. Her eyes widened in surprise and her fingers dug into his shoulders. He flexed his hips in a slow rhythm and sought out that special place inside. “Bakari.” She arched and pushed him deeper inside. Her core tightened and tested his control.

He moaned. Her soft screams echoed across the field of grass. His whole body shook with her pleasure, like lightening zapping his senses. He knew this might be their last time together for the journey to the gates of afterlife was treacherous. Not wanting this moment to end, he paused and lay panting against her skin. “You are so beautiful,” he choked.

She pulled him to her lips and sucked his tongue into her mouth. With her legs cinched around his waist, she pulled him into her. He thrust deeper into her core with lustful urgency.

His panting and groans came more rapidly, as the urge to mark her filled his senses. The honey scent of her drew his balls tight. He worshiped every inch of her body with his hands. Her softness tightened on his head and shaft which unraveled his control. When her orgasm broke she arched and drove him deeper into her core. From the base of his spine, his orgasm shot through his entire being and spilled his seed into her in a long contracted wave of pure glory. He cried out at the intensity of their union.

He buried his face into her neck and took long shuddering breaths. “My soul is forever yours.”

“And mine, yours.”

He rolled onto his back and pulled her across his waist, careful not to break the connection he so desperately wanted to keep. She rested her head against his chest and her hair spilled out over his shoulder. “Now I understand,” she said.

He stroked her hair. “What is it?”

“When Asar looked at Lilly, there was always this glint in his eye.” She pulled back enough to meet his gaze. “The same look I see in yours now.”

Bakari never understood it either until this moment. The raw need to covet something so beautiful. Always protect her and love her. Unable to exist without her. The blood-bond paled in comparison to the need he felt toward Kendra. She was part of him now on a level that even death could not separate.

“What do we do now?” she asked with a sniffle. Her warm tears dropped silently on his skin.

He hugged her tighter to his chest. He knew the answer, as did she, but didn’t want to break this moment. The draw to go tugged at his soul. He sat up with her still cradled against his chest.

Her breath hitched. He pulled her closer and trailed his hand along her spine. “It will be okay.”

“Someone’s here.”

Bakari stiffened. He did not sense anyone. Then again, he had no powers in death. He shifted into a crouched position. Annoyed at the intrusion, he scanned across the sea of waving grass toward the location that beckoned his soul. A man stood at the edge of the field between two large palm trees. The Underworld River winded off into the distance behind the stranger.

His heart began to drum in his chest. Strange to feel that sensation, since his heart had never beat a day in his life and the undeniable fact that he was dead.

“Oh my god,” she gasped. “It’s my father.” Kendra jerked up and called out his name before Bakari cautioned her. He pulled her down, but not before the man zeroed in on their location.

“We need to be careful. Duat is treacherous with demons intent on dissuading our passage. They feed off our suffering.” He did not mean to scare her, but it was the truth. Many a soul would not make it to the gates of the afterlife. The journey was the final test of one’s soul.

“You must leave.”

Kendra yelped. Bakari pushed her behind him and faced off their intruder who had appeared not twenty feet from them. The man’s panicked eyes shot over to the edge of the field where he had come. “Go back.”

“Father.” Kendra leaned around Bakari. “We can help.” She reached for her father, but Bakari restrained her.

Kendra’s father raised his hands, warning her off as well. Shaking his head, he said again, “Leave now.”

“We cannot. Nor do we know the way. We shall proceed to the gates.”

Tears shimmered in the man eyes, when he looked at Kendra. “It is not time. Not your time.”

“That may be,” Bakari argued. “But yet we are still here.”

Tears slipped down the man’s face. He glanced toward the palm trees. Without warning he seized Bakari and Kendra by the shoulders and with surprising strength shoved them away from the awaiting river. “Run.”

“Bakari,” Kendra’s voice spiked. He followed her eyes and found numerous people gather at the edge of the field. A sudden sense of dread descended upon him.

“Run,” Kendra’s father cried.

Bakari grabbed Kendra’s hand and sprinted through the tall grass. The long golden threads slashed and cut his bare skin. He picked up speed knowing the mob was coming by the prickling dark energy at the base of his neck and the wave of nausea. Kendra tripped. He yanked her hard to her feet. He kept running to where he had no idea. He knew he had to or something very bad would transpire. Kendra’s father had come to warn them.

He shot a look over his shoulder and he was sorry he had. Multiple hands reached out for Kendra’s arm. She screamed.

A flash of brilliant light blinded him. Kendra slipped from his grasp.

He lost his Parvana.  

Hot explosions of energy arced off the walls of her white prison and slammed into her chest. Kendra toppled backward. She reached out for Bakari, but met nothing but air and unending white.

A searing fire pierced her chest. The sounds of her screams filled her ears. Agony like no other. The pain before death had been fleeting. This was unending. The beings, whatever they were, captured her for sure. And what of Bakari? In the midst of her agony she called out to him. He was her strength.

She clawed at her chest to remove the source of her misery, but the flames only grew hotter to the point her throat closed and no more screams breached her mouth.

Bakari had been tortured in darkness, now she was being tortured in light. Her arms and legs stiffened and jerked wildly of their own will. Her jaw tightened and snared her tongue between her teeth and spilled blood into her mouth. Her muscles locked into prolonged and painful contractions.

A black curtain fell over her eyes, despite them being open. The pain in her chest consolidated and her heart stuttered and then thumped on the inside of her rib cage. Erratic at first, it began to beat rhythmically and then accelerated into a gallop.

Flashes of yellow spots bombarded her eyes. She blinked several times trying to clear her vision. To her surprise she was met by two sets of glowing green eyes, surrounded by brilliant golden hair.

Lilly and… her mother?

Each breath scalded like boiling water poured down her throat. Kendra mouthed the words,
Bakari
.

Her mother placed a hot hand to her forehead. “Easy, little one. He is right beside you.” Mut lifted Kendra’s hand and placed it on Bakari’s arm. Kendra expelled an agonizing breath. Her chest and back ached with a vengeance.

“He’s waking,” Asar’s voice boomed in the small room. Where were they? Kendra looked around and found white alabaster arches and pictures of the gods reaching toward the heavens. An enormous white statue resembling her mother stretched floor to ceiling. They were in the Mother Goddess’ temple, lying on the alter in the inner most chamber. Bakari’s arm moved under her palm. She turned her head to meet his silver eyes. His normally olive skin looked ashen. He rolled up on his side and reached for her, but stopped, his eyes widening. In fact, everyone in the room stared at her. Her chest to be specific. She followed their gazes to find a gaping wound in her chest. Lilly quickly covered it with her palm.

Kendra squeezed her eyes shut, realizing what they had done. Somehow with her mother’s help, they brought her and Bakari back from the dead. Kendra didn’t know what was worse—the pain in her chest, being chased by shadows in the field of reeds, or the loss of peace she felt lying in Bakari’s arms. She sobbed uncontrollably. Her hitched breaths sent jolts of hot pain through her chest.

A trembling hand gripped hers. She knew by the large size and shape it was Bakari’s. She opened her eyes and sought his gaze. She needed his strength to ride this agony out.

“Where is Inpu? He can take her pain away,” Bakari begged the crowd.

Silence fell over the group. Kendra and Bakari hadn’t found Inpu in their search of the palace and warrior village. By the anguished looks on everyone’s faces, the outcome couldn’t have been good.

Asar moved into sight. “He is unavailable. I can draw some of it away, but not all.” Asar raised his hand to touch Kendra’s forehead. Bakari growled at his father. The possessive tone shocked everyone in the room. All but the Mother Goddess backed off. 

A cold jet of air shot out from Asar. “Watch your tone with me, son.”

Lilly placed a restraining hand on her mate. “He has been through quite enough.”

Asar sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I am sorry. I still cannot believe Nebt would do this.”

Her mother’s beautiful face framed in long curly blonde hair came into view. She smiled at Kendra, unfazed by the tension around her. “Welcome back.” She brushed a fingertip over Kendra’s forehead. A soothing wave of warmth penetrated her head and cascaded throughout her body. The burn in her chest lessened. Such a loving feeling, Kendra closed her eyes.

“I saw him,” Kendra rasped and then met her mother’s gaze.

Tears welled in her mother’s green eyes and she pressed her fingers to her lips. A choked sob escaped her mother’s chest. Lilly wrapped her arm around their mother’s shoulder. Mut swiped away the tears that cascaded along her pristine white cheek bones. “Is he well?”

Kendra frowned remembering the fleeting moment she had seen him. Her father had been lucid enough to warn them. Was it his hand that almost grasped hers?

“No, he isn’t.” Kendra surveyed the room. “Where’s Bomani?”

Lilly chewed on the edge of her nail. Her sister’s gaze darted to Asar’s.

“Tell me,” Kendra spat, suddenly angered by their silence. She winced when her effort sent pain shooting through her body. Her mother held her hand. Lilly pulled up next to her. “He left when we arrived.”

Kendra didn’t question his whereabouts, not wanting to remember what had come to pass. She saw the agony in his eyes when the blade meant for him pierced her back and through her chest. Knowing Bomani, he would be distant for a very long time.

“How did you know to come?” Bakari asked his father.

“One of the warriors arrived in the human realm to tell us of the siege against Aaru,” Asar replied. “He said you sent him.”

“Sin.”

“The fledglings did a fine job of guarding the gates. I want to thank you both. Aaru would have been lost, if not for your interference.”

“Kendra!” Kit shouted from the outer chamber. Kendra turned her head toward the entrance. Her sister ran into the room breathless. Kamen stood at the doorway, but didn’t breach the inner chamber. Kit hesitated when her gaze fell on their mother, but then brushed past the Mother Goddess without a second glance. “Jesus.”  Kit grabbed Kendra’s hand.