Excerpt #1

This is from my latest story, The Man from H.A.T.H.O.R. now available from Phaze.

New York City, NY, Present Day

"Rise great Akhet-en. You are called forth to fulfill your duty."

Aki slapped at his alarm. It was too fucking early on a Saturday for it to be going off.

His bed shook.

Okay, not his alarm.

"Akhet-en, get your ass out of bed. Now."

Knowing pulling his pillow over his head would only enrage the goddess even more, he slid out from between the sheets.

"While I am enjoying the view, throw some clothes on. I've got a job for you."

He blinked at the gorgeous woman who graced his bedroom, dressed in nothing more than a transparent linen sheath, her breasts bared to the world. If it weren't for the fact she was one of the scariest women in his world, the sight of her might actually arouse him. "Remind me why you choose to speak like a New York City cabbie again."

She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. A fresh suit of grey gabardine appeared on his body. Yep, no snooze alarm for him.

He walked past her, out of his bedroom and into his kitchen. The morning light glistening off the Chrysler building tempted his gaze, but he didn't have time to leisurely watch the sunrise. If she wanted him coherent, he needed a coffee infusion now. Flipping on the automatic hot water faucet, he stuck his pre-measured cup underneath the flow.

She slinked in behind him and draped herself over a barstool. "Why won't you come live with us? You wouldn't have to make yourself coffee. It would be delivered to you in the finest gold."

Aki ignored her. The bitter brew of instant coffee coated his tongue and burned its way down his throat. The jolt woke him enough that he could turn the coffee maker on.

"And I don't know why you don't have one of those delicious little automatic espresso makers. You know that's what I love to drink."

A twitch started in the corner of his eye as it always did when she visited. Were it not for his blood oath to serve her, he'd have left for Osiris' kingdom an eternity ago.

"What do you want, Hathor? Besides espresso."

She sauntered over and trailed her fingers along his jaw. "Darling, can't I just visit you?"

"If you were just visiting, you wouldn't have done your 'I'm all powerful' show."

Hooking her arms around his neck, she pouted. "That hurts. But, you happen to be right in this case. I have this itsy-bitsy problem I need you to take care of."

He fought the temptation to roll his eyes. The last time she'd said that, the Hyksos were invading.

"What is it, Hathor?"

Silken skin slid against his neck as she turned away from him. "Well, remember how the cache of papyri was found at Deir el-Bahri?"

The recent archaeological find had made world headlines. Egyptology was the rage again, especially with the recent tour of Tut's funerary treasures.

Osiris save him from dilettantes. It's not like he could actually tell them what a little brat Tut was. Zahi Hawass might listen to him, but then Aki would have to erase his memory five minutes after he'd left the room, making the effort completely useless. Aki was not one for useless efforts.

"What about the papyri, Hathor?"

She grimaced a little. "One of the papyri just happens to be from Set's temple."

Aki felt one of his rare headaches brewing. "Just get to the point, Hathor."

"It's a copy of the Book of Sekhmet."

The headache exploded. "You promised me they had all been destroyed."

"I thought they were! How was I supposed to know Set had a copy?"

"Oh, maybe the fact you're all supposed to be omnipotent?"

Her eyes blazed and he knew he treaded a fine line. Few remembered that another aspect of the goddess of love was war. Hathor was the reason the phrase, "a thin line between love and hate," existed.

Energy pulsed around her, giving the illusion she'd doubled in size. Always a bad sign as to her temper. "Watch it Akhet-en."

He nodded, wanting to cradle his head. "Forgive me, goddess. The shock of your revelation loosened my tongue."

The air seemed to smooth around her and he felt the piercing pain behind his eyes receding. "You are forgiven. Unfortunately, this particular copy includes an additional spell from Set. If it is triggered, you will be bound to the woman for three days."

"What woman?"

"The beauty of the spell is it can be triggered by any woman. However, the papyri are with the leading archivist of Egyptian papyri, who also happens to be an expert translator. Her name is Doctor Eloisa Brown."

"Where is she?"

"Here in New York. She has her own lab upstate along the Hudson."

His brows rose at that. The woman came from money then. "How can she afford to outfit a lab along the Hudson? I'm surprised zoning allowances haven't shut her down."

"It's out of her home and her family sees it as an indulgence. They managed to ride the waves of all the major market crashes of the last three centuries and held on to their money. Lakshmi favors them, though they have no clue."

Aki took a sip of his coffee. The caffeine slammed through his system. "They rarely do. How much time do I have to contact her?"

"No more than a day or two. She's had the papyri for a month now."

"And you didn't tell me before this. Why?"

Her smile was weak. Very weak. Damn it.

"Well, you know Isis. She doesn't always share with me."

Aki shook his head. "Fine. I have some appointments that I need to rearrange and then I can go to this Doctor Brown."

"Oh, just a few more things, Aki."

He closed his eyes. He really, really did not want to hear this. "What?" Even he could hear the strained temper in his voice.

"If she triggers the spell, like I said, you'll be bound to her for three days only. In that time period you must grant the greatest pleasure her heart desires. However, if you don't, your soul will be cursed to wander without a home and never welcome in Osiris' hall. Were you to grant her desire she will have the option to bind you to her. Believe me, you want the latter option."

"What can be worse than not being welcome in Osiris' hall?" Aki felt sick at the thought. He'd always expected to find his way there when his service to Hathor ended. His friends, compatriots all waited, or would be, for him there.

Failure was not an option.