The Pharaoh's Kiss (Reincarnation Romance Chronicles Book 3) by Dana Michelle Burnett

dead.”
    I flinched, wishing nothing more than to have born a child to him and now have some part of him to cradle in my arms...Some part of the two of us that would be joined forever.
    Ay smiled at me sinisterly, “I tried to warn you.”
    There was a crash as one arm of Tutankhamun’s statue fell to the ground and shattered.
    “I forbid this,” I said with a shake of my head. “You cannot erase history.”
    “History will be what I make it,” Ay said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Your husband is buried in my tomb, the tomb of a common man, and in time no one will even remember the name of Tutankhamun.”
    “I will not allow this,” I hissed.
    “Your wishes mean nothing,” he said.
    “I am still queen.”
    Ay motioned for the workers to continue, “But you are merely a woman.”
    I rose myself taller, remembering that I was the wife to the great Pharaoh Tutankhamun, ruler of upper and lower Egypt. It was my duty to my husband to be the protector of his history.
    “I could have you put to death,” I warned him.
    “Hardly,” he said. “You are a queen without an heir, merely decoration. But tonight I will lay with you as your husband, and I will be Pharaoh.”
    I staggered backward, the breath leaving my body. My stomach churned at the thought of him touching me.
    This was your plan all along...To sit on the throne of Egypt...
    “And if I refuse?” I asked, holding my head high even though I could feel myself shaking,
    He stared down at me, “It would be a pity for another tragedy to befall Egypt.”
    The weight of his threat pushed me back. I lifted my chin and turned away, forcing myself to walk slowly back to my chambers. Only once the door was securely shut behind me did I lean back against it and allow my legs to give way.
    “My queen?” My maid cried out as she rushed to my side.
    I held up my hand to stop her. I pressed my lips tightly together to keep from screaming and waited for my panic to pass. Once I was sure that I could speak, I turned to her.
    “I need you to bring me wine,” I said simply, taking a deep breath each time I felt my voice falter. “Bring me wine and a vial of nightshade.”
    “No, my queen—”
    I held up my hand again, “Speak to no one, let no one see you.”
    She bowed before me, “Yes, my queen.”
    I stood slowly, forcing myself upright so that she could pass. I closed the door again behind her and waited. I watched the sun setting and knew that I would never see tomorrow.
    I could still hear the chiseling of the workers, but I closed my eyes, imagining myself with Tutankhamun soon.
    (Flashback)
    Suddenly, my chamber door was thrown open, the force sending me to the floor. I looked up just as Ay stepped into my doorway holding my maid by the arm.
    “I have failed you my queen,” she whimpered.
    “Yes,” Ay hissed as he drew his sword with his free hand. “You have.”
    He stabbed the blade into her middle. I watched helplessly as she fell to the floor, her blood spilling out onto the stones.
    Ay stepped past her and stood over me, “You would rather die than rule Egypt as my queen?”
    I gathered my courage and glared up at him, “I would rather be with the Pharaoh Tutankhamun in eternity than to dishonor him with you.”
    Ay smiled down at me as he wiped the blood from his blade, “As you wish.”
    He motioned to the guards outside my chamber. Two of them came in and lifted me to my feet. Ay stepped forward and reached out to stroke my face gently before striking me so hard I tasted blood.
    “You shall join Tutankhamun,” he said. “And you too shall will be forgotten.”
    Ay hurried the guards out of my chamber and through the darkened halls of the palace. I did not resist, even as I was pulled onto a chariot and driven outside the palace gates. I looked up at the dark sky, taking in my last views of this life and thinking of Tutankhamun.
    Soon my love...Soon...
    It was only when the horses stopped that I realized we were standing outside