Page 91 of Hex You

“She will listen and come at your call. I feel it deep in my bones,” said Xena.

“Then I shall go forth and invoke Hathor with confidence, as I have the word of a such a magnificent familiar.” Khenti smiled at Xena.

The cat person’s round cheeks flushed pink. “Oh, kitten! Thank you for the lovely compliment.” Xena went to Khenti and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “I have loved getting to know you, Khenti kitten. You have made my life brighter. I shall never forget you.”

Khenti held Xena close. “You are the most incredible feline I have ever known. But if you ever speak to Bast, please do not share that with her.”

Xena stepped out of his embrace, laughing softly as she wiped tears from her eyes and licked them from her fingers. “It shall be our secret.” Then she rose up onto tiptoes and licked him on his cheek.

Jax came to him next. At first he offered his hand to shake, and then Jax said, “Ah, hell. A handshake won’t do it.” He and Khenti embraced. “If you ever need help back there in your Underworld, just give me a call—or however you’d do it. I’d be happy to fight beside you. Anytime.”

“Thank you, Jax. You are a good friend. I trust you shall look after Hunter and Xena and Emily?” Khenti asked.

“Always,” said Jax.

Crying softly, Emily pushed past Jax and hugged Khenti. “I really don’t want you to go.”

“Emily, you are also a good friend. Perhaps I shall see you, and the family of your heart, again.”

Emily wiped her eyes as she stepped out of Khenti’s hug. “I hope so.”

Khenti turned to Hunter. “I find it very difficult to say good-bye to you, Cosmic Witch. Thank you for using your power to bring me here. Thank you for welcoming me into your home. Thank you for making my time away from my world incredibly pleasant—andthank youfor introducing me to Buffy Summers. I wish I could have binged all of the seasons with you.”

Hunter grinned through her tears. “Well, come back! We’ll have aBuffy-a-thon!”

Khenti pulled her into his embrace. “If I can, I will. On that I give you my word.”

Finally, Khenti looked down at Mercy, who stood unsteadily beside him. “Have you changed your mind?” he asked her.

Mercy nodded. “No. It is okay with you?”

Khenti kissed her gently and smiled. “Yes. Of course.”

“Then go ahead. I’ll follow you in a sec,” said Mercy. She could feel Hunter’s shocked gaze on her, but she walked, relying heavily on Khenti’s strength, to the cluster of trees with him. Mercy stopped there and leaned against the coarse bark of the centermost doum palm.

Khenti turned to face Hunter, Jax, Emily, and Xena. “You have made my visit to your world a joyful experience. Please know that there is a demi-god in the Egyptian Underworld who will eternally care for you.” He paused and met Mercy’s gaze. “And please know that I shall always,alwaysbe Mercy’s faithful friend.”

Then Khenti lifted his hands so that his palms faced the Egyptian trees. “I am Khenti Amenti, son of Upuant, servant of Hathor, and I command this gate to open for me!”

The center of the doum palms began to glow and a large opalescent oval materialized. “Khopesh! To me!” Khenti commanded, and the sickle-shaped blade appeared in his hand instantly. He straightened his shoulders and strode through the glistening disc.

The disc didn’t disappear. Beyond its surface Khenti was still visible. He halted just a few yards from the gate and took a defensive stance, weapon raised. Within moments huge warriors materialized, their jackal heads fierce with glowing scarlet eyes. Each was armed with a wicked-looking spear, and held a shield with Upuant’s symbol—the outline of a jackal—etched in ebony.

“In the name of my mother, Meryt, beloved of our goddess, I invoke blessed Hathor!” Khenti’s voice echoed from his world through the gate. “In my name, Khenti Amenti, I invoke faithful Hathor! And I shall not move from this place until the goddess to whom I have sworn service appears and hears my petition!”

Hunter and Xena moved to Mercy, each on either side of her. Jax and Emily followed. Everyone except Hunter stared breathlessly through the portal to Khenti’s world—waiting for his goddess to appear.

Hunter touched Mercy’s shoulder so that she turned and faced her sister. “What did you mean—that you would follow him in a sec?”

It was getting more and more difficult for Mercy to catch her breath. She wasn’t in pain, but the numbness in her body was pulling her under. It would have been so easy to just slide down the side of the tree and let it claim her. She could close her eyes and give in to it. She could finally rest.

But Mercy couldn’t rest. Not yet. Maybe not forever. Or at least for however long it took for her to clean up the mess she’d made in the Egyptian Underworld.

How was she going to explain it all to Hunter? She couldn’t tell her about the hex and about the choice Freya had given her. Hunter would never let her go. She’d take the curse on herself—of that Mercy had no doubt at all.

I can’t let her. Oh, Freya, give me the strength I need to last for just a little longer.

Of course, daughter.Freya’s musical voice lifted from her soul, her heart, her veins to echo through her body.You have made the honorable decision, and I shall bless you for your bravery.