Bound by Fate

The world around them seemed to slow, the desert air thick with something unseen yet undeniable.

For the first time since she had arrived in this era, Jade felt as though time itself had bent around her, drawing her toward a moment that had always been meant to happen.

They were so close now, too close. His breath fanned over her lips, warm and steady, his golden eyes darkening with something she couldn't name.

The space between them was barely a breath—their noses brushing, lips almost touching, as if a single movement would shatter the fragile air that held them apart.

The Pharaoh stood before her, towering and impossibly commanding, his golden eyes sharp and piercing beneath the weight of his regal presence.

His only adornment was the Nemes headdress, its royal blue and gold stripes accentuating the sharp angles of his face, making his golden eyes appear even more piercing.

The fabric draped over his shoulders, blending seamlessly with his flowing black hair that whipped in the desert wind, untamed yet regal.

Broad-shouldered and impossibly strong, he wore little—a flowing cape draped over his back and a finely embroidered kilt at his waist, leaving his chiseled chest bare, sun-kissed and sculpted with the strength of a warrior.

The scent of sweat, leather, and something deeply masculine clung to him, grounding him in raw reality despite the dreamlike moment.

His expression was unreadable—part wonder, part intensity, like a man who had spent his life searching for something he never believed he would find.

Jade's breath hitched.

She should have bowed. Should have lowered her gaze. Should have done anything but stand there, staring back at him as if she weren't in the presence of the most powerful man in Egypt.

And yet, she couldn't move.

Neither could he.

For what felt like eternity, the only sound between them was the steady rise and fall of their breaths, the desert wind swirling around them like a silent spectator.

Then, finally, his lips parted, and his voice—deep, rich, commanding—broke the stillness.

"Who... are you?"

Jade swallowed hard, her mind scrambling for an answer that wouldn't get her killed.

Her face burned with unexpected warmth, her cheeks flushing as she took in the details of the man before her.

He was breathtakingly handsome—thick eyebrows framing his intense golden eyes, a tall, defined Egyptian nose that complemented his striking features, and a shadow of stubble lining his chiseled jaw.

The sheer masculinity of him was overwhelming, making it impossible to look away.

Before she could speak, someone behind them dismounted, the sudden movement shattering whatever invisible thread had been pulling them together.

"My Pharaoh," General Horus spoke, his voice level but carrying the weight of the moment. "This is the woman we spoke of. The one found wandering near our camp."

The Pharaoh did not acknowledge him, his gaze still locked on Jade as if she would disappear if he looked away.

His fingers twitched slightly at his side, the same arm that had gripped her earlier when he stormed toward her, steadying her as if claiming her balance was his responsibility.

His jaw clenched hard, a sharp inhale betraying the restraint he forced upon himself.

For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though he might reach for her again—but then, with deliberate control, he reluctantly stepped back, creating a careful distance between them.

He would not create a scene before his soldiers. Not yet.

Jade exhaled sharply, grounding herself. She had to say something. Anything.

She had already learned that silence in this world could be just as dangerous as words.

"I..." Her voice came out weaker than she intended, but she steadied it quickly. "I was lost in the desert. I mean no harm."

A flicker of something—doubt, curiosity—passed through his features.

"Lost?" His head tilted slightly. "You do not look like someone who belongs to the desert."

Jade forced a nervous laugh. "Yeah, well, it wasn't exactly my plan."

A tense silence followed, his piercing gaze searching her face for something—an answer, a lie, a truth she didn't yet understand herself.

She wasn't sure if he found what he was looking for, but after a long pause, he finally turned to Horus.

"Prepare the men. We leave for Memphis at once."

Hassan let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a smirk.

"With the way you're rushing for this little lady, my Pharaoh, one might think you'd be arriving in Memphis with a golden chariot, musicians, and flower petals just to impress her."

He placed a hand over his heart and gave an exaggerated bow, barely hiding his amusement. "Shall I arrange the procession now, or will you be keeping this a surprise?"

The Pharaoh shot him a withering glare, the kind that could silence a court of advisors with a single glance.

He didn't dignify Hassan's remark with a response, simply exhaling sharply, as if entertaining a buzzing gnat before deciding it wasn't worth the effort to swat.

Jade's stomach dropped.

She had expected this outcome, but hearing it spoken with such finality, especially after Hassan's teasing, made it feel far more real.

There was no delaying it now—she was being swept into the orbit of a man whose mere presence changed the air around him.

And as much as she wanted answers, she wasn't sure she was ready for the ones he sought from her.

The Pharaoh turned back to her, his expression unreadable once more. "You will ride with me."

Jade blinked. "Excuse me?"

The corner of his mouth twitched, just barely. "You will ride with me," he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Jade's heart pounded as she glanced at Hassan, who looked just as stunned as she felt.

She had no choice but to obey. But as she hesitantly moved toward his waiting horse.

Her hesitation didn't go unnoticed. Before she could attempt to mount the horse on her own, the Pharaoh reached for her, his strong hands easily grasping her waist.

A sharp breath escaped her lips as he lifted her effortlessly, placing her atop the massive beast as if she weighed nothing at all.

His touch was brief—firm yet careful—but it left her pulse racing.

Jade barely had a moment to adjust before he swung himself onto the horse behind her, his presence a solid wall of heat pressing against her back.

Her breath hitched as she became acutely aware of how effortlessly his broad, muscular form wrapped around her, his bare chest—warm, firm, undeniably strong—molding against her through the thin layers of fabric that separated them.

The scent of sweat, leather, and something deeply masculine surrounded her, making it impossible to ignore just how close he was.

His veined arm brushed her waist, the muscles beneath his sun-kissed skin flexing as he steadied her with a grip both possessive and controlled.

His other hand, just as strong, took the reins effortlessly, fingers curling around them with an air of absolute command.

The contrast was overwhelming—his sheer size, the way his body enveloped hers so easily, the solid warmth of his bare chest pressed against her back.

It should have made her uncomfortable, yet somehow, it felt... secure. Too good.

"Try not to fall," he murmured near her ear, his voice laced with amusement. "I'd hate to have to catch you."