Touch of the Fire God [Scions of the Ankh 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Toni L. Meilleur Page A

Franklin’s.” Rene wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought for a second that a smile was about to cross that serious face of his before it was quickly squelched.
    “Your name means rebirth ,” he stated, looking at her as if searching for something in her face. He withheld his thoughts about her last name, however. “Are you staying with Jonathan Thoth?”
    “Yes, do you know him well?” She was surprised at the accuracy of his question. And what was with the fascination with the meaning of her name?
    “Yes, very well. I’ve been out of town, as I frequently am, and it seems I’ve stayed much too long this time.” This he seemed to murmur to himself.
    “Yes, well how is it that a morgue owner knows Jonathan Thoth, Mr. Nubis?”
    “Please call me Torian. This isn’t exactly a morgue, Dr. Selkis. It’s the last place, if you will indulge the phrasing, for patients who reside in my hospice.”
    “Hospice? This isn’t the city morgue?” Rene asked in confusion. Why would Jonathan send her to this place? Perhaps he was mistaken in where the body was being housed. “I was told this is the place where Franklin’s body was being kept. Have I been running around here for days trying to locate a body that isn’t even here?” Rene was exasperated. “No wonder that woman had no idea who I was talking about!”
    Rene leaned back in the chair and covered her eyes with her hands, trying to center her nerves. Something was wrong here.
    “Dr. Selkis, there has been some miscommunication. The city morgue is about ten miles from here. I could see to your transportation if you like.”
    Torian’s shrewd eyes appraised her; he had no idea why Thoth was still deceiving the woman, but he was not going to be the one to tell this angry female she’d been lied to repeatedly.
    “A number so I can call would suffice.”
    “As you wish, I’ll have Gale locate that for you. Meanwhile, is there anything I can do for you?”
    “Some water, please,” Rene replied huskily, her throat suddenly going dry. She sensed him. She felt a very angry presence coming for her. It was ridiculous, but the feeling was there.
    Torian suddenly stood as if he, too, felt something. He glanced around, looking dangerous and ready to strike. But when she caught his gaze, he smiled, barely, and tried to appear relaxed.
    “Is there something wrong, Torian? You look worried.”
    “Does Jonathan know you’re here alone?” Torian asked, going to the window and peering carefully out. His voice took on the same caveman tone as Ralabos’.
    “He’s not my keeper. But no, I had to sort of sneak out.”
    With that his head whipped around, and his look pinned her mid-sentence. Immediately, she went on the defensive, “His brother Ralabos was being less than charming and ...”
    “Ralabos is awake?” He seemed intensely interested in her answer.
    Awake? What an odd phrasing. “He just came back, at least according to Jonathan’s wife, Anaise. It seems he’d been gone a while, but that’s neither here nor there.” Rene stopped her babbling, wondering why she was telling this man so much. She had just met him, and she was blabbering worse than the old crazy woman who came into her clinic looking for free handouts of Valium.
    “You shouldn’t be out alone. It is too dangerous,” Nubis, reprimanded her. Did all the males in this part of the world simply order the women about and dictate their comings and goings?
    “Mr. Nubis, I’ve already went these rounds with Ralabos, and I refuse to do it again. If you would just call me a cab and give me the number to the morgue, I can get on with my day.”
    But he just stood next to the window, his black eyes darting about, scanning for God knew what. There were several moments of painful silence before he spoke again, and Rene began to wonder if perhaps Mr. Torian A. Nubis was slightly off his rocker.
    “I’ll see that you get home safely.”
    “That’s really not necessary.”
    “I