Once I was out of sight, I leaned back against one of the big stone walls and let out a huge sigh of relief. That hadn't gone the way I'd intended it to, but I was glad to be out of Charaxos' way. He was a bully at the best of times, and I knew it would only get worse if I'd stayed around.
I waited for as long as I dared before venturing out into the garden once more, this time sticking to the shadows. I might look more suspicious if anyone saw me, but I just had to hope that they didn't. It was the best chance I had of getting to the door and into the desert itself.
Slipping through an open doorway, I stumbled and nearly lost one of my shoes. I let out a small yip of surprise, before catching myself. I checked around, hoping no one was nearby to hear me. If someone decided to check on what had happened, then I could end up in another conversation like I had with Charaxos. Unless it was Amun, then he'd probably help me get out of the temple. The more I thought about it, the more his presence here felt strange to me. But I'd never have an explanation, that much was a certainty.
No one came forward, and I breathed a sigh of relief. If I was going to keep sneaking out of the temple, then I was going to have to come up with a better plan than I had in place right now, or I could end up in real trouble.
I didn't let my guard down, even as I approached the door that would lead me out into the sandy desert beyond. Then I just needed to cross it without being spotted and get to the oasis. Then back before dawn. There was no reason to be worried about any of that.
At least, that was what I kept telling myself. I should have planned this out better, but I'd been worried that if I had, I'd have realised the dangers I faced and have chickened out.
Without a backward glance to the temple, I slipped through the door and out of the compound grounds.
The air felt different out here, and it took me a moment to realise that was because this was the first time I'd been outside since I'd been bought. Several thousand years. It was a long time to go without feeling freedom on my face and in my hair.
I dallied longer than I should have done, but I wanted to enjoy the moment. No. I deserved to enjoy the moment.
But Abu was waiting for me, and I didn't want to keep him. Not when I had information that could help Ra avoid whatever disaster Seth was planning.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I KNEW he was there the moment I stepped into the oasis. I didn't know how I knew, just that I did. The cool evening breeze wafted through the trees, giving this place a peaceful quality that Seth's temple didn't have. This was the kind of place where I wanted to spend my time.
He paced by the banks of the pool of water, clearly nervous about our coming meeting. He didn't need to be, but I supposed he had no way of knowing if I'd gotten out of the temple without any problems yet.
I didn't call out. There was no way I wanted to risk it in case someone had followed me. While Seth didn't need guards, I wouldn't have put it past him to have people stationed along the walls anyway. Hidden and out of sight. Or maybe that wasn't chaotic enough for him. I wasn't sure how seriously he took his vocation among the gods.
"Abu," I half-whispered once I was close enough.
He spun around, his eyes lighting up the moment his gaze locked with mine.
"Rhodopis," he returned.
Unlike when Charaxos had said my name, I liked it when Abu said it, even if we'd gotten off to a bad start in the bathhouse. But the way he said it was filled with reverence and all the positive emotions I hadn't realised were missing in my life until he'd shown up.
The moment we were close enough, he pulled me into his arms, crushing his lips to mine and kissing me as if he was dying of thirst.
I melted into him, enjoying the feel of his hand against my back and the way our bodies touched at every possible point. His other hand pushed back the headscarf I'd put on to keep the sand out of my eyes and mouth, letting my hair fall out. He threaded his fingers through it, tugging lightly.
I groaned into his mouth, not in pain, but for the way he made me feel.
Eventually, we pulled apart, both of us breathing heavily. Neither of us said a word. On my part, I didn't want to change the way it felt between the two of us. The connection we shared. But I knew we had to. We needed to talk about the things I'd found, and what had happened when they'd been on their way away from the temple.
"Have they mistreated you?" Abu asked. "You're not flinching when I touch your back."
"I heal quickly." I always have done.
"That's because you're a goddess," he pointed out. I should have known this was going to come up again.
"Or I'm just lucky," I countered. "Or it could be due to the fact I am a demi-goddess." Most of the long-lived slaves were. It was what made us so valuable.
"I don't think that's true." He brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes.
"It's immaterial." I waved away his theory. "But no, they haven't done anything else to me since you left."
"Good. I'd march back in there and give them a piece of my mind if I had to," he vowed.
Despite myself, a giggle escaped. "Is it bad that a small part of me wants to
