You were relieved when I was called away by Quinn. If Eve hadn’t phoned me today, I would still have been here with you anyway. I would have tracked you down. I wasn’t about to let you walk away.”
“It seemed to be a good time to do it.” She moistened her lips. “We have our own lives to lead, and they would interfere with each other. We both know that what we had was purely sex, sparked by the adrenaline from what we were going through.”
“Do we?” He jerked her into his arms and kissed her. “I don’t know anything of the sort. I don’t know what’s happening with us, but I’m not afraid to stay around to find out. But it’s clear that you are afraid.” His hands closed on her shoulders. “Not that I blame you. You haven’t had the most stable life since your father tossed you out into the world. But it still makes me mad as hell.”
“I can tell.” She tried to shrug away from him. “I’m not afraid. I’m just being reasonable.”
“And keeping your own personal story close to you, private and untouched. I know you don’t want to let anyone come in and add anything to your life. But I’m not going to let you get away with that.” His eyes were boring into hers. “Because I’m too selfish, and I won’t let you go. And I won’t let you lie to yourself and cheat us both. Remember the night you were so afraid Varak was going to cheat us? It’s the same thing, Jill.” His grasp tightened. “You’re smart, recognize it. You don’t have to commit. Just admit to yourself what you’re doing.”
She couldn’t look away from him. Was it true? She wouldn’t be questioning herself if there wasn’t an element of truth in his words. And she’d thought she knew herself so well. She smiled with an effort. “And admit you’re right?”
He went still. “That would also help a hell of a lot.”
“I won’t do it.” She paused. “But I might admit that I was running away, and that’s neither honest nor intelligent. That would also mean I thought there was a reason to be afraid of you. But you’ve never done anything to make me afraid. You never will.” She suddenly kissed him. “So that means this is my problem, and I refuse to be afraid of it. I’ll have to examine why it exists and face it.”
His arms tightened around her. “Yes.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Not that easy, Novak. I told Gideon the truth about being ready for something new and fresh. I’m still going to leave Maldara. You’re going to be busy here for a long time straightening out Varak’s identity and preventing those bureaucrats in Botzan and Kiyani from starting another civil war. After you finish, if you still think there’s something besides sex between us, come and see me. And who knows, maybe the sex will be enough.”
“I don’t believe that will be true.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “And just where am I supposed to find you?”
“I’ll let you know. My first stop is Cairo to do more research.” She found herself drawing closer to him. She wanted to touch him. The excitement was growing. Why be afraid to take a chance? Why not have it all? Novak was the most exhilarating man she had ever met. Share the sex. Share that wonderful mind. There was time enough to see what else might be waiting for them. “After that, I could let you know where I’ll go from there.”
“Research?” He tilted his head. “Just what are you doing, Jill?”
“I’ve been thinking about Kiya. I thought I’d try to find out her story. Or at least where she was buried.”
“In Egypt?” He shook his head. “She died in Maldara according to the journal.”
Jill shook her head. “No, not Cleopatra’s daughter. We already know a good deal about her. The first Kiya. Akhenaten’s Great Beloved Wife from the Eighteenth Dynasty. She had such a powerful influence, yet no one knows that much about her. Her life is surrounded by mystery, and we’re not even certain where her remains can be found.”
“You’ve found yourself a deeper mystery to dig into?” He shook his head ruefully. “And you can’t resist the story.”
“No, why should I?” It was all clear to her now, all hesitation gone. “The world is filled with millions of incredible, wonderful stories. And each one is an adventure to explore. But I’m inviting you along on this one, Novak. Do you know why?” Her brilliant smile lit her face as she went back into his arms. “Because I’m beginning to believe that if we’re lucky, if we don’t screw this up, in the end, you might be my very favorite story of all time.”
Author’s Note
Kiya, daughter of Cleopatra VII, never existed except in my imagination. However, Queen Kiya, the Great Beloved Wife of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, was real and one of the most mysterious and intriguing figures in Egyptian history. No one is sure where she came from before arriving at his court, though some scholars believe she might have been a Mitanni princess. But once she was established in Cairo, Kiya was evidently a source of boundless controversy and excitement. From the richness of her monuments, there was no doubt she had an exalted status, and, at one time, Egyptologists thought she might have even been the mother of Tutankhamun. This proved to be unlikely, but her title of Great Beloved Wife certainly must have made her position at court very competitive with Akhenaten’s beautiful chief wife, Nefertiti.
But Kiya disappeared from history during the last third of Akhenaten’s reign. Her name and images were erased from monuments and replaced by those of Akhenaten’s daughters. Why?
Exile? Death? Disgrace?
Or did Kiya just become bored with the court and go away on her own Great Journey to a far land?