My ethereal self was forcibly pushed back into my body and I blinked my eyes open. The fog connecting me, Asten, and Ahmose dissipated, and both men jerked back before righting themselves.
“What was that? What happened?” I demanded.
“He will not allow me to channel your energy.”
“Why?” Tears filled my eyes. I knew I was drained and overemotional once more, but I was too tired to control myself. I hollered, “Why is he being so stubborn? Does he despise me so much that he will risk allowing darkness to fill the world?”
“He does not…despise you, Lily,” Asten said.
“Look,” I said as I angrily wiped my tears away, “you don’t have to defend him. He’s a big-boy-slash-Egyptian-god who makes his own choices.”
I attempted to get to my feet only to find that my legs wouldn’t move.
“You are weakened from the energy transfer,” Ahmose explained.
“But I thought—”
“I was still able to channel some of your energy, but I do not know if that will be enough. In the meantime”—Ahmose stood up and scooped me easily into his arms—“you need to sleep.”
Hurt by Amon’s rejection, I didn’t protest, saying nothing when Ahmose tucked me into the bed in the next room. When he closed the door, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to rest, but sleep found me immediately. I didn’t stir for sixteen hours. When I woke, two things instantly made me alert. First, the light of a nearly full moon spilled over the bed, meaning we had less than twenty-four hours to save the world. Second, there was someone watching me. Seated in a chair in the corner of the room, wearing fresh clothes and a pair of sunglasses, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles, was Amon.
“Amon?” I whispered in the moonlit room. “How are you feeling?”
“Not bad, all things considered,” he replied.
“Your brothers—”
“Are resting. As is Dr. Hassan.”
“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what to say. The trauma of what we’d been through and the thought of what we still needed to overcome was too much, the sting of uncertainty too real for me to feel completely comfortable with him.
Lamely, I asked, “How are your eyes?”
He half smirked, half grimaced. “I wouldn’t know, as they are not with me at present.”
“Sorry,” I murmured. “That was an insensitive question.”
“Do not feel sorry. I am the one who needs to apologize. My brothers have expressed their concern over you.”
“They have?”
“Yes. There seems to be some confusion regarding our bond.”
I wet my lips and felt my heart thudding against my chest. What he said next would either break my heart or heal it. “What did you tell them?”
“The truth. That I have no desire to seal this bond with you and that I will take no more of your life essence. In fact, I would like to express my regret for what has been done to you thus far.”
“I see.”
“My brothers are of the opinion that I will not be able to complete the ceremony without you.”
“Are they right?”
Amon worked the muscles in his jaw before answering. “No. Dr. Hassan has an idea that should keep Sebak at bay long enough for the three of us to complete the ceremony. My brothers have agreed to this plan believing that you will remain at my side until I return to the afterlife.”
“I can do that.”
Amon sat forward, pressing his hands together. “Young Lily.” He sighed. “It is my wish that you go home. Now. Before all of this happens.”
“But your brothers seem to think you’ll need me.”
After a brief dark laugh, Amon said, “Not in the way they think.” He paused and rubbed his hand over his jaw. “I believe I still have sufficient energy to do what I was called to do.”
“And if you don’t?”
“Then so be it.”