“No, this is Ms. Frisco.” Her voice shook a little. “Morgan called me and told me to reach out to you if… if I knew something.”

  His heart dropped. “Ms. Frisco, this is Osiris. Tanya went missing twenty-four hours ago…”

  “She has a mark on her. I… I know.” She swallowed. “When Tanya was in elementary school, she took a field trip at a history exhibit and…” she took a deep breath. “There was an attack. Tanya almost died in the explosion, her blood… it was everywhere.” She choked on the memory.

  Osiris looked at Morgan, who shrugged like she didn’t know about this.

  “But the others touched by her blood were healed or saved from any damage. Three days later, while she was healing in the hospital, a curator visited us, and he said he was very interested in what happened with Tanya and one of the exhibit displays that had been there.”

  “A mummy?” Osiris guessed, putting pieces together. He hadn’t seen a member of the Bennu tribe in centuries. Many of them fled Egypt after the Greeks invaded.

  She said nothing to confirm or deny it. “Listen, my husband, he doesn’t believe any of this. Tanya was convinced that it was all a horrible dream while she was unconscious. She has no idea what her blood can do. None of the tests came back weird… but she always saw…”

  “Shadows.” Osiris finished and then cursed. “Do you have any idea where they might have taken her?”

  “No, but please, bring my baby back to me?” she begged.

  Osiris’ heart broke. “I will do everything in my power to do such.”

  He hung up after a promise to keep her updated. A moment later, his phone dinged with a location.

  Adam: My people said something was going down. Ancient magic in the area, Jackals on patrol.

  He texted out a quick thanks and then jerked his head. “Come on, Morgan. Time to go.”

  She nodded and jumped off the desk without a word. She hadn’t said much since they’d left Scottie asleep with Ammet on his chest.

  Damn croc had something for the panther shifter, like he was a giant teddy bear.

  But Morgan, Morgan insisted on going with Osiris to get Tanya. He was thankful for the backup. If Nebo had regained his human form, he’d be able to perform rituals with Tanya’s blood to bring others back.

  “Is she going to be okay?” Morgan asked.

  Osiris pressed his lips together. “Depends on what kind of shape we find her in. She’s the only known Bennu. The blood could have come from either parent’s side, but I don’t think he would go after them.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s smart enough to keep Tanya alive while he cuts her up.”

  Morgan put a hand on his shoulder and turned him around to look at him. “Why do you know this?”

  “Because he tried it on me when he thought I was a human. Left a nice scar down my chest.” Osiris gripped the back of his neck. “Why do you think we let the Greeks take over? Why he was the last Egyptian pharaoh?”

  Morgan’s eyes grew wide. “So torture. He’s torturing her.”

  “Yes, so let’s go get her before I lose my mind.” He growled and took Morgan’s hand.

  They disappeared and reappeared in front of an old tan brick building. Osiris cringed at the magic he felt surrounding the place.

  “Someone’s been playing with dark forces,” Morgan muttered. “Shall I look around?”

  Osiris nodded, and in a quick moment Morgan shifted from her human form to a black cat. She meowed and then trotted away.

  The world around Tanya spun. Her body ached as she tried to breathe. Was it the wine? Or was it the blood loss? What was making the world spin?

  Why had Chad given her wine?

  She looked up as the man in question approached her again, holding a bronze chalice. “No… no more. Please, Chad.”

  He shook his head. “Trust me, you don’t want me to stop giving this to you. It’s keeping you alive,” he whispered in her ear. “Without it, your wounds won’t heal, and Nectanebo would kill you.”

  “Chad, the world is spinning. Please. No more.” She looked down at the small brown drops below her. Blood on the gray floor.

  Nectanebo hadn’t let a lot of blood escape whenever he cut her, but a few drops always fell from the knife.

  “You’ve done this to me before.” She tilted her head. “The wine.”

  “I slipped some into your drink that night before I left you with the shadows,” he admitted. “Nectanebo was supposed to get you that night, but that damn hunter showed up.”

  She let out a short laugh. “That was your plan all along?”

  “No. I found out about a year before that night. We were just biding our time until it was right. He offered me a handsome sum for you and then promised marriage.”

  She closed her eyes against the world, and Chad grabbed her jaw, forcing her mouth open. “Drink, just trust me.”

  She had all intentions of spitting it back at him, but he clamped his hand over her mouth.

  “He’s healing too slow. He needs more,” Chad whispered in her ear. “And if you want to survive this, then you will swallow that.”

  She swallowed out of fear, and he pulled his hand away.

  “I’ll be back with Nectanebo in a few minutes.” He walked out of the room.

  The tan bricks spun faster, and she laid her head on the floor, trying to use the cold to steady her. Her body was too hot, it itched, it screamed in pain, but all she could do was not dry heave as the world twisted.

  The world waved almost like the ocean, and she felt her body floating. Whatever was in the drink took the pain away and let her just be while Nectanebo sliced her up. At least there was that, but she knew the pain would come when it faded. But she didn’t care. Not now.

  She looked up as she swore she heard a cat meow. Tanya smiled at that thought. Maybe Morgan was prowling around and would get her out of here. Maybe Osiris was waiting for her, wanting to have her back.

  She pulled at the chains, but she had no strength. Her body shook, and the world shifted colors as the drink took hold.

  Nectanebo walked in with a wicked curved blade in his hand, and she looked up at it, tilting her head to the side.

  It wasn’t the normal bronze blade that he’d been using. No, this one looked much more deadly as it gleamed in the light.

  “Push her down.” He snarled, and Chad stepped around him. She hadn’t even noticed that he’d returned as well.

  He shoved her down so her head touched the ground, and her back was arched.

  She realized too late where he was going to slice. The blade bit into her lower back and Nectanebo dragged it up her back, pulling it out at her shoulder blade. Blood poured down, and there was a hint of the pain.

  Nectanebo wiped his hand over her back and stepped away. She shivered as she felt Chad at her back, using something to swipe the blood off her back. They’d been using some spell to keep it fresh longer. She didn’t know the specifics. She didn’t want to know.

  She could feel the slice on her back begin to heal, but the blade came down again.

  And again.

  Each time it healed up, he reopened it.

  Her body shook when they stepped away and she lay on the floor, the world shifting, her stomach churning, and the two psychopaths walking away from her.

  Somewhere beyond the door, she heard another meow.

  CHAPTER 5

  Waiting for Morgan to return was torture.

  Osiris stood in the shadows, waiting for her to come back. He had no idea how long she’d been gone when she came trotting back over to him.

  She shifted and held her hand out for her clothes. He handed them to her, and she dressed quickly.

  “So?” he asked.

  “There’s a lot of blood. I don’t know if it’s Tanya’s or not, but I can smell it. The whole place also feels of dark magic. I can taste it on my tongue.” She shook her head. “The pharaoh and Chad came out of a room in the basement. Chad was carrying a container of blood.”

  Tanya’s blood, he was sure of it. “How hard is that room to get to?”

  “Straight through the back window, down the stairs. Someone was stupid enough to leave the window open.

  Osiris snorted. “Do you think I can just pop in there?”

  “Not with the magic covering the place. You’re going to have to crawl through the window.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Okay, let’s get this over with. Hopefully, I can pop us out, because I doubt Tanya is in any shape to climb through the window.”

  “Yeah, probably not.” She sighed and led him around the back of the building. He felt the moment they stepped through the black magic that would have kept him out if he’d been human.

  No wonder they were confident enough to leave the window open. The spell left a metaphysical slime on him that made him shiver.

  “Yeah, I know, it’s gross.” Morgan nodded as she climbed through the low window, nimble even in her human form.

  Osiris squeezed his broad form through the window and then paused as he heard voices. He cursed and pulled Morgan back before she reached for the door.

  The door swung open, almost hitting them. Nebu walked in and snarled at the open window. “The fucking cat must have gotten in again.” He slammed it down and turned.

  Osiris held still, hoping the opened door hid them enough.

  “Chad, find that damn cat and kill it. It’s setting off the magic.”

  Osiris could feel Morgan’s pulse quicken as she leaned against him. She must not have been aware they’d spotted her.

  Nebo walked out, pausing only for a moment before shutting the door.

  Osiris’ heart pounded in his chest. “Okay, now that I’m here,” he whispered, “we’re poofing to the basement.”

  Morgan nodded, and he took her to the basement. In the middle, wrists and ankles shackled to the floor, lay Tanya.

  Osiris’ heart stopped as he let Morgan go and ran to Tanya. He kneeled in front of her. “Tanya?”

  She glanced up at him, her eyes hooded like she was drunk or drugged. Her lips parted in a soft smile, and she tried to reach up and touch his face. “I’ve must have finally died,” she muttered.

  “No,” he said firmly. “I’m taking you home,” he promised and waved his hand over the chains. They all fell at his command. “Can you stand?”

  She shook her head. “No, the world is all a swirl of colors,” she whispered. “Too weak… so much blood.”

  Her face pinched as if something had changed in her vision. “So. Much. Blood.”

  “She’s in shock,” Morgan muttered and kneeled next to him. “We need to get her out now.”

  He tried to use his powers to do such, but the magic kept them in. “Fuck. Back to that room then.”

  Morgan nodded, and he picked up Tanya. “Close your eyes,” he whispered. “You’re safe now.”

  Tanya curled herself against him, tucking her head down as far as she could.

  Morgan put a hand on Osiris’ arm, and he took them back to the room they’d snuck in through, hoping that it was still empty.

  When they reappeared, Chad was standing by the window, looking out of it.

  Morgan pulled a knife from her belt and snarled at him. “Hello, Chad.”

  The man turned around and looked at Osiris, then at Tanya.

  “You can’t take her,” he protested. “He’s almost done. One more dose will heal him.”

  Morgan stepped between them. “You’re going to let us go out that window, or I’m going to slice your throat.”

  Chad opened his mouth to scream, and Morgan stepped up, slicing his throat before he had the chance.

  “He’ll notice soon. Let’s go.” She wiped the blade off on her pants before sheathing it.

  Tanya looked up. “Oh god, he’s dead.”

  “It’s okay,” Osiris promised. Morgan crawled out of the window first, and Osiris put Tanya down on her feet.

  “Try to get through to Morgan.”

  She gave a shaky nod, and Morgan held her arms out, encouraging her to go out the window.

  Osiris helped her the best he could, while keeping an eye over his shoulder for Nebo.

  Howls sounded, and Osiris urged her to move faster. Tanya stumbled into Morgan’s arm and Morgan held her.

  “Jackals. Come on.”

  Osiris nodded and crawled out. As soon as they pushed back through the barrier, he took them all to his home. He wouldn’t risk staying in the human world with jackals.

  “Call her mother and tell her Tanya is safe,” he demanded and pulled Tanya to him. “I’m getting her a bath.”

  Ammet came waddling out of the hallway and held her mouth open. Osiris looked down at the croc. “You didn’t eat Scottie, did you?”

  Ammet made a hissing noise before wandering off.

  Tanya gave a short laugh. “You have a pet crocodile?”

  “Well, she’s not really a pet. She’s a goddess, but she lost her ability to have a human form. She feasts on souls… so.” Osiris shrugged. “Someone has to take care of her.”

  She watched Ammet waddle off. “Hey…”

  “Yes?” he asked, meeting her gaze. Her pupils were dilated, her breathing too quick.

  “I’m going to pass out,” she muttered a moment before she went limp.

  Osiris caught her and cradled her against his chest. He looked at Morgan. “I guess I’ll be putting her to bed instead. She’s going to need some water and something to eat when she wakes.”

  Morgan pressed her lips together, her eyes on Tanya.

  “Morgan?” Osiris asked. “A penny for your thoughts?”

  “I’m glad I killed that fucker, and I hope you tear the pharaoh to pieces.” She spun on her heels and walked away from him.

  He was planning on it. Piece by piece and scattering him in the wind for what he did to Tanya.

  He brushed a kiss across Tanya’s forehead. “Not really how I imagined getting you into my bed,” he muttered with a soft laugh. “But I’m glad you’re safe now.”

  Tanya opened her eyes and groaned at the soreness in her body, but at least she wasn’t pressed against the cold floor anymore.

  That was an improvement.

  A dark arm wrapped around her middle, and she froze, her breath caught in her throat.

  The moment her breathing changed, the arm moved, and the hand turned her chin so she looked over her shoulder to stare into Osiris’ dark eyes.

  “How?” Her voice shook as she searched his face. “How did you get me out of there?”

  He frowned and pressed his lips against her head. “You don’t remember?”

  She shook her head. “No. I was… I was on the ground, Chad holding me down and…” her stomach churned again. “Nec—”

  Osiris pressed a finger to her lips. “Do not say his name. Names give people more power. We don’t want that.”

  She nodded slightly. “He was collecting my blood. It was healing him from his mummification… I…”

  The memory flashed in her head of the first time she’d seen the pharaoh. He’d been at the museum. She was young… the explosion echoed, shrapnel had hit her, blood everywhere…

  “I raised him.”

  “And it’s taken him this long to figure out how to get to you.” Osiris nodded. “Your mother told us about the explosion.”

  “I didn’t remember it until now. I had shadows of it in my mind, but nothing concrete. Like a bad dream that I had as a kid.” She frowned. “My mom never mentioned it. Nor my dad.”

  He nodded. “Your blood healed the other kids in the explosion as well. No one really knew what was going on. Until now.” He pressed another kiss to her head, and she looked up at the extra attention.

  A dark blush deepened the color of his cheeks. “I was afraid you were going to die. And I realized I want you by my side. I don’t care that you’re human… mostly human. Or that you’re new to my world. I want you here.”

  Her heart leaped, and she touched his cheek and then pressed her lips to his.

  He let out a small moan at the taste of her, but then pulled away. “First, let’s get you a bath. I’m sure you’re sore, and you’re still covered in dry blood.”

  She looked down at herself and cringed. “And then?”

  “Food and water. You were heavily drugged when we brought you home.”

  That explained why everything was super foggy. “Good plan. And then?” She gave a smirk, and he laughed.

  “Then maybe we’ll continue what you started. If you’re a good girl.”

  She hit him playfully on the chest and then stood. The world tilted for a moment, and she took a sharp breath. “Bath, food,” she confirmed.

  As Osiris guided her to the on-suite bathroom, her body shook, and aches climbed through her with each step. She was so grateful to see the steam already rising from the soaker tub.

  “Oh, to have the power of a god,” she muttered and stripped off what was left of her clothing.

  She stumbled a little and took a deep breath. “Guess I’m a little weak.”

  “Food will help with that,” he promised and took her hand to help her into the bath.

  She slid down into the steaming water and let out a long sigh. “That feels amazing. I might never leave.”

  Tanya cupped water and rubbed it over her arm, pausing as she noticed a fresh scar there. “Quick healing, but no scar prevention, huh?” She sighed and leaned back in the water.

  Osiris kissed her head again, tenderly, almost like he was trying to convince himself that she was still there. “I wish I could have prevented this.”

  Guilt filled her, and she closed her eyes. “If I’d listened to you in the first place, then maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation.”

  “I should have come at it from a different angle. Barging into your life and demanding that you let me protect you doesn’t work.”

  She let out a small laugh. “No, it doesn’t.”

  “I’ll let you bathe. I want to make sure that we get some food in your system, and I want to talk to Morgan and Scottie.”

  She ran her fingers over the face of the water, making it ripple. “Okay. I’ll be out, eventually.” Her heart felt heavy as her mind tried to dredge up the last twenty-four hours in details.