few inches lower than the feather, much lower than Amon’s had been.
I was about to say something, to protest, to fight for Asten or defend him by telling Ma’at all of the good I’d seen him do, but Ma’at seemed to anticipate my outburst and raised a finger of warning that effectively shut me up. Instead of casting her judgment or asking Asten more questions, she turned to Anubis.
“Why have you kept the knowledge of who he is from us?”
“I did not consider it important.”
“He is mortal.”
“Not anymore.” Anubis shifted and raised his eyes to Asten.
Ma’at tilted her head. “That’s why you chose him, isn’t it?”
Anubis stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“Amon and Ahmose were conceived supernaturally. Asten wasn’t.”
“That is true. It makes no difference, though.”
“Doesn’t it?” Ma’at asked.
“No.”
“You had to know,” Ma’at accused. “As a supernatural death, you must have been called to the baby’s side, the true prince, to escort him to Heliopolis to help him begin his journey. You knew he was gone and yet you insisted that the Sons of Egypt would be able to bear the burdens of the cosmos.”
“And I was right, wasn’t I?”
“So far. You were lucky. If we had known—”
“If you had known, Seth wouldn’t be contained. Only the three who were created by him but nurtured by us have the power to keep him at bay.”
“But we don’t have three, do we? We have two. Asten shouldn’t have the ability to wield the strength of his brothers.” Ma’at narrowed her eyes at the powerful god, but he stood his ground, not giving an inch. “How did you do it?” she asked.
Smiling, Anubis said, “I fashioned a boy from snips and snails and puppy dog tails.”
An exasperated hiss left Ma’at’s lips. “I see you plan on keeping your secrets, then.”
“Just as you keep yours, Ma’at.”
“I have no secrets,” she exclaimed, and yet I saw a tiny hint of alarm cross her eyes.
Ma’at approached the dais. “Tell me, Asten. Have you dreamed your own dreams?”
Asten turned his head and appeared reluctant to speak. Finally, he said, “Do you speak of the Dreams That Could Have Been?”
The goddess sighed impatiently. “You know what I mean,” she said. “I don’t care about your dreams of racing horses or of beautiful girls prancing around you in a meadow.”
Shifting uncomfortably, Asten said, “I have seen more than one future path.”
“And?” She leaned forward expectantly.
Asten shrugged. “Do they matter? Perhaps my dreams don’t even apply to me. You know very well that I only see one future for each soul, one dream of a perfect life, full of happiness. Seeing that there are several potential outcomes for me proves there’s something wrong. I’m wrong. My soul is broken, so what do my dreams matter? I know that all of those possibilities are beyond me anyhow.”
“He could be right,” Nephthys said. “Maybe it doesn’t work with him. If he was the true prince, the power of dreaming would be easier for him to access. You know he struggles with calling forth the dreams sometimes.”
Ma’at considered her words. “That is true. Giving powers such as we did to a mortal should have broken him long ago. It’s surprising that he still functions as well as he does.” She seemed to come to a decision. “Very well, just answer one question.”
“What is it?” Asten asked wearily.
“Do your dreams include her?”
Ma’at pointed to me and I inhaled sharply. Asten lifted his eyes to mine, and there was something in them that seemed both hopeful and horrified.
After a tension-filled moment, he admitted softly, “They do.” My heart stilled. “But that is the dream that must not come to pass,” he said.
“Why?” Ma’at didn’t ask this time. I did.
My skin tingled and I found it difficult to breathe. I felt as if I were trapped in a very tight space and the only thing keeping me focused on not hyperventilating was Asten. There was something tangible between us. Something warm that filled my frame and the space around me. It felt wrong and yet right at the same time.
“Why?” I repeated.
“Because…”
My gaze locked on to his and I found I couldn’t look away,
“…because if that dream is a true one, a real one, then it will mean that I have betrayed my brother,” he said softly. “And that is not something I could live with.”
The two of us were standing several feet apart, but for a brief moment I felt as if we were close enough to touch. I became highly attuned to his body