Seti's Heart (24 page)

When the light faded away, Seti’s color had returned, the strain and age that had shown on his face vanishing along with the heat. He took a deep breath, slowly sitting up. When he turned toward Logan, his lips curled in a warm smile that spoke volumes.

Logan grinned, his eyes burning with feeling. “I didn’t mean it,” he said. “What I said to you back in the apartment. I don’t blame you for Jason’s death. It was Gator-boy’s fault, not yours.”

“Gator-boy?” Osiris laughed. “Oh, I’m going to have to remember that one. That’ll get his breechclout in a twist, for sure. Speaking of whom, you’d better get going. I can’t hold him forever, and he’s going to have a bitch of a headache when he gets loose. You really don’t want to be here for that.”

“Jason,” Logan said, suddenly feeling the pain of his friend’s death return to weigh on his shoulders. He’d nearly forgotten. “Is he…is he here?” he asked Osiris. “He got to Paradise, right?”

“Now, that’s privileged information, kid. But I suppose you deserve something for the trouble my brother caused you.” Osiris smiled. “Yeah, he’s made the “A” list. He’s living it up big time with the party crowd in Paradise.”

Logan felt a painful twinge in his chest, thinking of Jason. But at least now he knew that his friend was happy. It was more than most people got when they lost someone they’d loved.

“But, my Lord…my pledge… “ Seti said, looking up at Osiris. “I traded my servitude for your help. I do not forget my oaths so easily.”

Osiris laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to forget that either. Someday I’ll give you the chance to make good on it. Until then, have a nice life. You’ve earned it.”

The next thing Logan knew, the world was again spinning away.

 
Chapter Twenty One

Logan screwed his eyes shut as his stomach roiled with the sensation of spinning, wind howling in his ears. His arms clung to Seti, aching from fighting the nearly irresistible centrifugal force that pulled at him.

Even after the whirling sensation stopped and the world stilled, his stomach protested the journey. Pressing his forehead to Seti’s, he prayed that it was the last time he’d ever have to experience that particular sensation.

Logan blinked his eyes open and took a moment to take stock of their surroundings.

Plush carpeting cushioned his bruised body. The air was cool, scented lightly with citrus. They were surrounded on three sides by tall, creamy walls accented with deeply burnished mahogany trim. To his right sat a huge, imposing desk fashioned from the same rich wood.

Osiris had been true to his word. They were back, right where they’d started, in Wilder’s office.

“Where did you go?” Wilder’s voice demanded. A quick glance in his direction showed Logan that Wilder hadn’t moved from behind his desk. His bodyguard was still slumped unconscious on the floor.

Wilder’s voice was imperious, demanding an answer. “You’ve been gone for hours! Seti, come here,” he ordered arrogantly.
 

Logan ignored him completely. “Are you okay, Seti? Can you stand?”

Seti nodded, smiling at him. Together they struggled to their feet, testing muscles that had been abused during their confrontation with Setekh. Logan, for one, felt like a walking black-and-blue bruise.

“Answer me!” Wilder screeched, “I demand to know where – and how – you disappeared! Who was that monstrous creature that was here? Was that really the god, Setekh? And you, Seti! It’s because of me that you’ve awoken, and yet you dare use my own dagger to end your newly restored life? Come here, I said!”

“Shut. Up. You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”

Logan turned toward the familiar voice. Osiris stood near the immense windows of the office, backlit by the setting sun, staring pointedly at Wilder. “What?” he asked, glancing at Logan, the picture of innocence. “I couldn’t just plop you back up here to deal with my brother’s mess, now could I?”

“Who are you? I demand some answers before I call the police!” Wilder shrieked. His hand fell on the telephone receiver. “I’ll have you all arrested! I’ll-”

“Please. I’m shivering in my little pharaoh booties,” Osiris said, waving a dismissive hand at Wilder. “I’d really think twice about making that call. Have you forgotten what you’ve done? Let’s see…kidnapping, conspiring to commit murder…oh, yes, and let’s not forget grand theft on an international scale. After all, the sarcophagus you illegally dug up and smuggled out of the desert fifty years ago was really the property of Egypt, pal. Interpol is going to love that.”

Wilder’s face blanched an impossible white as he slumped down into his chair. “You can’t prove any of that,” he said weakly.

“I don’t have to prove anything. I’m Osiris. See-all, know-all god of truth, justice, and balloon artiste extraordinaire.”

“Osiris…” Wilder repeated, looking wild-eyed.

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” Osiris said flippantly. He turned, looking at Logan. “You two should get going. The investigation is over at the apartment. The cops have split. The two men this asshole sent in there after Seti will be blamed for your friend’s death. Their death certificates will read ‘natural causes.’ Case closed. Consider it a fabulous parting gift for playing.”

“Osiris, I don’t know how to thank you,” Logan said, smiling.

“Godiva chocolates. I’m partial to the creamy, truffle ones,” Osiris grinned. “Seriously, don’t thank me yet. I just put you back where you belong. But my brother is going to be seriously pissed off, and, as you know, he’s inclined to hold a grudge.” He turned to Wilder, who looked as though he was going to drop dead from a heart attack at any moment. “You know, I’m inclined to grant you your wish. A little payback for the headaches you’ve caused me.” He waved his crook toward Wilder, who disappeared in a brilliant flash of golden light.

“What did you do to him?” Logan whispered, staring at the empty chair Wilder had so recently occupied.

“He wanted to be immortal. I granted him his wish.”

“But…but he caused all of this!” Logan protested, shaking his head confusedly. “And you reward him by making him immortal? Do you know what kind of grief he’s going to be free to cause now?”

“Nah. I made him immortal, sure…but I don’t think he’s going to cause anybody any more problems. Let’s just say that when the museum finally returns Seti’s sarcophagus to Egypt, it won’t be empty,” Osiris grinned mischievously. “Now, I’ve got to get going. Got an Underworld to run, you know. Have a nice life, you two. See you…eventually.”

He winked out, leaving Logan and Seti alone in the office.

Groaning, Logan twisted his head from side to side, trying to work out the kinks in his neck. “I am going to seriously need a massage. I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.”

Seti smiled at him. “You will heal. You are strong, Logan. Stronger than I ever thought you would be. You stood against Setekh for me. I will never forget that. Although you should be thrashed for running away and leaving me behind when you came here after Wilder.”

“Me? You fucking killed yourself to follow me!” Logan replied, giving Seti a slight push. “What were you thinking? Don’t ever do that again, okay?”

“I would have walked through fire to get to you,” Seti said earnestly. “But that is as it should be. You belong to me.”

“That’s something we need to work on,” Logan said, folding his arms across his chest. The movement hurt too much and he let them fall back to his sides. “This whole ownership thing has got to go.”

“You do not wish to be mine?” Seti asked. His smile crumpled into a heartbreaking hound dog expression that made something hot flare deep inside Logan’s chest.

“I think that I want to be with you, Seti. Just not owned by you. There’s a difference, you know?” Logan said, cupping Seti’s cheek. “I’m not sure what I feel about you. Other than wanting to jump your bones as soon as the thought of moving doesn’t make me cringe,” he chuckled. “Maybe we can take it one step at a time, okay?”

“I cannot help feeling this way, Logan. When I look at you I see a beauty in your eyes that I am lacking in myself. A gentleness. A sweetness. Your ka burns brighter than the sun, and I ache to bury myself in its warmth. It is why I claimed you as mine,” Seti said softly. Seti’s arms wrapped around Logan, pulling him in close.

As sore as he was, being held in Seti’s arms felt good to Logan. Better than good. It felt right. He slid his arms around Seti’s neck, reaching for a gentle kiss. “Let’s go home, Seti. We’ll stop at Jason’s apartment first,” he said, feeling the now familiar pang at the mention of Jason’s name, “and then go over to my place. I think I need to sleep for a week.”

Seti kissed him again, warm, lush lips pressing against his own. Seti’s tongue swept over Logan’s lips, tempting him to open. He did, and this time when the world spun away it was because Logan had lost himself in the taste of Seti, in the feel of those hands skimming soothingly over Logan’s his back, in the hard muscles that pressed against him, and in the evidence of Seti’s desire that ground into his hip.
     

“Not here, Seti,” Logan whispered against Seti’s lips. He leaned his forehead against Seti’s, struggling for control. “I hate this office as much as I hate the man who owned it. I want to go home, to my own bed. It’s not much, but it’s big enough for two,” he smiled.

 
   
“Then, we fly,” Seti said, scooping Logan up into his arms. Logan protested, but secretly he admitted to himself that he sort of liked it when Seti went Tarzan on him. Made him feel wanted. Desired. Cared for. He wrapped his arms tightly around Seti’s neck and squeezed his eyes shut.

As much as he trusted Seti, he didn’t want to see what happened when Seti stepped out of the broken window on the 72nd floor of the Wilder Executive Tower and into thin air.

The wind bore them up, carrying them along cupped in its invisible palm, over the tops of the skyscrapers of Manhattan, affording them a spectacular view of the city. Or it would have, had Logan cracked his eyes open long enough to appreciate it.

Maybe someday he would, after he was more accustomed to riding the Seti Wind Express. For now, he was content to bury his face in Seti’s neck and hold on for the ride.

They arrived at the apartment building in a much more sedentary fashion – through the back door. Seti had set them down in the alley behind the building. Taking a deep breath, Logan led Seti into the elevator for the long, creaking ride up to the fifth floor, and Jason’s apartment.

What used to be Jason’s apartment, Logan reminded himself, feeling a lump form in his throat again. Damn, going back in there is going to be hard.

Seti seemed to read Logan’s thoughts, because he slipped his hand into Logan’s, threading their fingers together reassuringly. Logan smiled up at him, grateful that he understood.

Chris and Leo were lost without their third wheel. They sat together on the coach, staring at the spot where Jason had died, their eyes red-rimmed. They looked almost surprised to see Logan and Seti when they walked in the door.

“Logan! Oh, thank God!” Chris cried, as they both jumped to their feet and threw themselves at Logan. “We thought you were dead, too!”

For the first time since Logan had known him, Leo was utterly silent. He pressed his face against Logan’s neck, shaking and holding on for dear life.

“It’s okay,” Logan said, although at the moment it felt like anything but okay. “Everything will be all right. Look, you probably won’t believe me, but I have it on excellent authority that Jason is happy. He’s…well, he’s a lot better off than any of us.”

“Authority? Whose authority? He’s dead, remember?” Chris snapped. Logan felt him tense, but just as quickly he slumped, as if someone had let the air out of him. “Oh, never mind. I’m sorry. I’m just…it’s just so fucking hard, you know?”

“Yeah, I know, bud. I know,” Logan said, although his heart ached anew.

Chris cleared his throat, backing away and swiping at his eyes with his sleeve. “What happened with Wilder? You did go to his office, right? Oh, my God, Logan…you’re black and blue all over!” Chris cried, reaching for Logan’s arm. He gingerly touched the red and blue bruises on Logan’s forearm and throat that were starting to deepen into dark purple.