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.Not far away, a large chatteringgroup of people gathered for the nightly light and sound show.Jabari tightly gripped my hand, threading his long fingers through mine before turning his backon the crowd and leading me toward the Temple of Augustus.It was darker in this area, and itappeared that the nightly tour would stop at the Temple of Isis before winding south back to theHall of Nectanebo and the boat landing.I gazed around, admiring the way the lights and shadows washed over the high walls.The regalfaces of gods and pharaohs watched as we passed by in silence. They did a good job, Iventured as we neared the temple hidden in darkness. I really can t tell the difference. Before the High Dam was completed, the government had been forced to move the Temple ofPhilae from its original island to Agilkia Island, to the north, or it would have been permanentlysubmerged beneath the deep blue waters of the Nile.They had obviously been careful toreconstruct the temple and the surrounding flora almost exactly as on the original island. Hmmph, Jabari snorted. The island is too small.The temples are too close. Better too close than underwater, I softly said, but instantly regretted it.When had I become socareless with my comments? Valerio.I blamed Valerio.He had been a bad influence, and toomany years at his side made me careless when it came to speaking to other nightwalkers. I msorry, Jabari. No, he snapped, and then stopped.He sighed heavily, running his free hand over his head ashe stared at the Temple of Augustus as it rose up before us. I am the one who is sorry, myyoung one. He pulled me into his arms, releasing my hand so he could wrap both arms aroundme.I flinched at the contact, but relaxed a moment later when he brushed a kiss across mytemple. Last night I overreacted when I saw you standing in the quarry with the human.Egypt wasalways our home until you left, but then you returned& with a hunter of our kind and word of thenaturi.I didn t mean to& His voice drifted off as I let his words soak into my brain, completelystunned.I don t know which part took me more by surprise that he referred to Egypt as ourhome or the quiver in his voice when he spoke of me leaving.There had been no question ofme leaving Egypt centuries ago.I told the Ancient that I wanted to return to Europe, and hemade no move to stop me.I had no idea that he was bothered by my choice to leave.Taking a step back, out of his arms, I reached up and cupped his face with my hands.I brushedmy thumb over his lips, loving the feel of his smooth skin beneath my fingertips again. It wastime for me to leave, I whispered in a choked voice.Jabari took my right hand and laid it on his chest. I know you are right, but my heart did not wishfor you to leave. There were no heartbeats beneath the palm of my hand, but I understood thegesture.Leaning forward, Jabari kissed me.At first it was just a light brush of his lips against mine, softas a baby s breath, as if he were testing my response.I instantly went up on the tips of my toes,pressing closer to him.He deepened the kiss as I wrapped my arms around his neck.The kissquickly became hard and possessive, claiming me back from the hunter, my domain, and thewide expanse of years that had separated us.He tasted me, as if trying to relearn me.I pressed close to him, welcoming him.As he deepened the kiss I also felt him slip into my mindCreate PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) like a finely sharpened blade.For the first time in so long, I could finally sense him.I could feelthe presence of his soul, and some tension I hadn t been aware of eased around my own soul.Jabari was everywhere, everything, for a brief span of time.The world slipped away and theyears rewound.I was home and safe.And then it was over.Jabari slowly pulled away, slipping out of my mind.Yet, my lips tingled andsomething in my chest burned.I felt as if he had branded me, marked me for all the nightwalkersto see.It screamed, Mira belongs to Jabari. Not a Companion, never that, butsomething& different.The Ancient reached up and touched my cheeks, wiping away tears I hadn t realized were falling. What is going on, Jabari? I inquired, unable to completely purge the fear from my voice. The naturi have found a way to weaken the seal. His voice was calm again, the emotion wipedaway as if it never existed.Our world had been put right and we were back to the business sideof our relationship. How? I asked, struggling to hit the same unemotional calm that he possessed. It can t bebecause of Tabor s death.That was more than fifty years ago.Why would they have waited solong to strike? I do not know how they have done it.It is one of the reasons that I go to the Coven.Our Liegemay know something. For some reason, I wasn t sure that Jabari believed it.There were otherthings troubling him, something dark and grim enough to make my beloved mentor shieldhimself even from his own. How do we stop them? We will reform the triad and destroy Rowe. Oh, yeah.Just like making the bed or tying my shoes. How? I countered, frustration rising in myvoice.Damn it, I was starting to sound like a bad fifties cowboy and Indian movie.How? How?How? Tabor is gone. Your task is to protect Sadira and reform the triad while I speak with the Coven and Our Liege.The three were chosen by bloodlines& find someone of Tabor s bloodline and the triad will bereformed. None of this makes any sense, I complained, wandering a short distance away from Jabari,back toward the south.I could see the golden lights shining up at the tall walls that comprised theTemple of Isis.A soft breeze picked up, stirring the trees that ringed the island. It does not have to make sense to you. His voice lashed at me like a whip, halting mycomplaints. Leave now with your people.I will contact you soon in London. This was the other reason why I left Jabari, more than the need to finally take control of my ownlife.No matter how much I loved him, I would never be viewed as an equal in his eyes.Jabariloved me in his own way, but I would always be his subordinate, beneath him even if I earned hisrespect.I couldn t live like that.It would have broken my heart.With the long-lived, there were various hierarchies and layers of discrimination.For some, it wasthe Old World versus the New, or the discrimination of First Blood versus chum, or man versuswoman, or ancient versus fledgling.But with Jabari the only creatures above him were Our Liegeand his gods.And those not by much.Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) As you wish, I said, bowing my head stiffly.I had forgotten myself he was an Ancient and anElder.Regardless of what had occurred between us, I still owed him my respect, and in manyways my life.For now, it didn t matter if I understood what was going on.All I needed to knowwas that I had to keep Sadira alive and find a replacement for Tabor.After that, I was done andheaded home.The Coven and the triad would handle the naturi
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