Honored Vow

breath.
    “Mikhail,” he said softly, “come with me to Sobek.”
    And I watched Mikhail Gorgerin smile slowly before he bowed. “It
    would be my privilege, semel-aten.”
    Domin’s eyes then flicked to Yuri, who was barely standing still.
    And every part of me screamed, No, not like that, not to be sheseru .
    “Taj,” Domin said, looking away, “come and be the sheseru of the
    tribe of Rahotep. I need someone I trust completely to carry out my orders
    until I become fluent in the language and customs of my new tribe.”
    Taj was touched by the depth of Domin’s faith, and it was there on
    display for everyone to see. He nodded and bowed low. “Yes, my semel, it
    would be my honor.”
    I didn’t want either of them to go, but I didn’t want Domin to leave
    either; I wanted my family and my tribe together forever.
    “This is maat ,” Domin said as Mikhail took his duffle bag and
    walked over to Domin to stand at his side. Taj did the same, and so he was
    flanked on either side by his sylvan and sheseru.
    When Mikhail’s eyes met Logan’s, there was the slightest nod of
    understanding. They each knew what they meant to one another, and it

    Honored Vow

    271

    was up to Logan to take care of Mikhail’s family, parents, siblings, as well
    as his business there in Nevada. He would make the transition seamless
    for Mikhail, making sure that everything he needed would be shipped to
    Egypt, and if any member of Logan’s tribe wanted to follow him, they too
    would be allowed to go. Only semels released tribe members, and Logan
    always did what was best.
    He would do the same for Taj, although for him, returning to Sobek
    was more homecoming than leaving.
    “As for the maahes of the tribe of Rahotep….” Domin took a breath
    and looked at me. “It’s time, isn’t it?”
    Logan put an arm around me and tucked me against his side.
    “I need my circle to be impenetrable against corruption. I cannot
    ever, for a moment, not trust my sylvan, my sheseru, or my maahes.”
    And I knew what he wanted, but I also knew that unless I nodded,
    gave him my blessing, that he would not take what was mine. Only I could
    release Crane Adams; only I could release my beset and promise at the
    same time.
    I nodded because it was the right and best thing to do for my friend.
    “As Crane Adams remains forever the beset of a reah, he is able,
    under that aegis, to defend my honor in the pit should there ever come a
    time. So I choose for the maahes of the tribe of Rahotep the beset of the
    reah of the tribe of Mafdet.”
    “Thank you, semel-aten.” Crane bowed low.
    I sucked in my breath as my best friend threw away all propriety and
    bolted toward me. He filled my arms and hugged me tight.
    “I love you,” I told him, whispering urgently.
    “Me too.” He nodded, squeezed me tighter, and kissed my cheek and
    then the side of my neck.
    He let go first, and when I let my arms fall away, Mikhail was
    suddenly there, and Taj. There was a time to honor tradition and a time to
    let it fall to the wayside. I hugged the other two men and then watched
    Logan embrace them all as well.
    “You will all always have a place in my tribe,” he told them. “And
    you, Crane, will remain beset of my reah from this day forward. You will
    never be replaced.”

    272

    Mary Calmes

    He couldn’t speak. No one could, and as Domin joined us, the two
    semels shook hands.
    “I’m not done taking from you.” He smiled at my mate.
    “I know, but I approve.”
    “Which means more than you know,” Domin said, gripping Logan’s
    bicep tight before he released him and turned around to face Yuri,
    standing still and alone.
    He moved quickly, stopping in front of my sheseru, staring into his
    eyes. “Come with me. Artem will care for your company; I talked to him
    last night.”
    Yuri just stared at him.
    “Your reah has his mate to protect and care for him, don’t worry
    about your duty.”
    Yuri’s eyes flicked to mine, and I smiled and nodded. Go, don’t
    hesitate.
    “If you come,” Domin said, sucking in his breath, “you will be the
    mate of the semel-aten.”
    Mate.
    “I want you at my side forever.”
    I held my breath and watched Yuri’s jaw clench even as he looked at
    Logan. He had to honor his semel even as what he wanted more than life
    itself was offered to him.
    Logan nodded, just as I had.
    Go.
    “I love you,” Domin said, in front of everyone, loud and clear. “You
    know I do.”
    With that, Yuri lunged at