Page 26 of Feline Good

Ra waved her concern away. “She'll be fine. Sekhmet will find some way to entertain herself, and besides, it’s not like I stuck her in a shack. She’s in what was supposed to be my safe haven, my place to get away from all the drama. Instead, I had to give it to her. She should be grateful, no one’s going to bother her there.” He sighed, as if mourning his private little getaway, and pulled Bastet close, laying a chaste kiss on her lips.

But she pulled away, asking one last question, “How long do you plan on leaving her there?”

Ra seemed to think for a moment, weighing all his options before he grinned. “As long as it takes her to cool off. I don't know, a few thousand years?”

Bastet rolled her eyes, and she started to protest yet again, but Ra distracted her, yanking her to him and taking her mouth with unbridled passion. A breathy moan left her, and he drank the sound from her lips.

“Now that the crisis is averted, I seem to have extra time on my hands. Shall we use it wisely?”

Poor Sekhmet obviously forgotten, Bast nodded before Ra grabbed her hips and lifted her until she could wrap her legs around his waist. Her gown was slit high on each side, so she had no problem entangling herself with him as he carried them to the bed.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Maya rolled her eyes to the ceiling, twiddling her thumbs and humming loudly to cover the sounds of their makeout session.

She spoke aloud, “Okay, time for a new vision, I don't want to watch God and Goddess porn! Please and thanks!”

It seemed there was more for her to learn from this vision however, as Ra pulled back, leaning up off Bastet to conjure something from thin air.

“Wait, Bast, I have something for you.”

The dark haired beauty beamed, her cheeks flushed from where she lay on the bed. “You got me something?”

He simply nodded as he opened his hand and let a necklace dangle. On a thick golden chain hung a giant amethyst gem, with gold curlicues framing and wrapping around the beautiful, glimmering stone. A gasp left Bastet's lips as she cradled the amulet in one hand, sitting up to get a better look at it.

“Ra... oh my goodness. This is beautiful.” Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears as she beamed up at the God.

“I had to find something worthy of my love.” He delivered another sweet kiss, and Bastet's thumb caressed the face of the stone.

“You're so sweet to me. But I know you. It's not a simple amulet. Tell me, what does it do?”

Ra nodded sheepishly. “You know me well, merwet.” He tapped the face of the stone with his finger. “This I had created as a backup plan should Sekhmet ever escape. I know you're worried, so I made this for you to give you Peace of Heart. Should she ever find a way to release herself before I do, just crush this up, slip it in a beer, and have her drink it.”

Bastet narrowed her eyes. “Why? I will not be responsible for killing her. If that's what this is for, I don't want it.” She shoved the beautiful gem back at him, but he curled her fingers around it and pushed it to her chest gently.

“No, this will simply turn her mortal temporarily, so we can properly detain her. That's all, I promise.”

Bastet still appeared suspicious, but she glanced down and the pretty stone seemed to sway her. Ra interrupted before she could ask another question. “There's something else, too.”

A single, perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted in response, signaling Ra to continue. He grinned as he spoke. “It also controls time. That is its main purpose, however, I added the tweak for Sekhmet as a two for one deal.”

Ah. So that's how this came about. It all started with Sekhmet.

“Ra… I can’t keep something so important around my neck. That’s a blatant dare for someone to steal it. But thank you for the jewel. It’s beautiful.”

Bastet tried to hand it back to Ra, but he once again closed her fingers over it. “No, this is for you. Give it to your High Priest if you must, but it is yours. I can’t think of someone more perfect to hold onto it.”

A soft smile curled her lips as she held the jewel to her breasts.

Maya thought of her three, handsome, sweet, caring men, with the cloud hanging over them. She thought of Amir, so controlled, yet ready for some form of intimacy. Of August, ready to take care of her, yet afraid to cross boundaries. Asher, who, beneath the casual flirting, seemed to need something more.

Maya thought of all of them forced into a cat form, forced to miss out on decades of their own lives. A slow, bubbling fury brewed within her.

It's going to fucking end with Sekhmet, too.

Maya’s eyes jerked wide with new understanding. Boat balanced in her hand, she paused her weaving. She was pleased to look down and see that the tapestry was closer to being finished, as half the cats’ bodies were completed. Gently, she placed the boat down, leaned back, and stretched. Her neck ached, and pinpricks trailed up and down her spine, telling her she’d sat leaning over for far too long, lost in the vision.

Pulling her phone from her pocket, she checked the time and saw that it was prime bar time, 10:30 on a Friday night. It would be busy downstairs, but Maya wanted to share the information she’d learned.

Rushing to the apartment door, she swung it wide to tell the men about her vision. The noise of the bar hit her like a wave, and in her haste, she almost tripped over the chain blocking access to her door. Trampling down the steps, she was careful not to fall in her excitement. Once she got to the middle step, she froze, momentarily stunned. She would almost have rather eaten sand than be welcomed with the sight she witnessed.