Anaïs woke up slowly, a smile forming as she recognized Anubis’s protective arm wrapped around her waist. She could feel his warm breath on the nape of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. His breathing was slow—a sign that he was still asleep. They had gone to bed relatively late, around two in the morning, and she had to admit that she wasn’t at her best after only a few hours of sleep. But she wouldn’t trade their passionate night for anything in the world.

The couple—at this point, she felt she could define them as such—had spent the evening roaming in their jackal forms until nightfall, before watching the breathtaking sunset from the cliff’s summit in their human forms. Enchanted by the romantic setting, Anaïs hadn’t been able to resist. Her body, burning with desire, had instinctively drawn closer to the god. He had kissed her with the same fervor, and they had decided to return to the villa to enjoy the rest of the night in each other’s arms.

"Already awake?" Anubis murmured, tightening his grip around her waist.

"My muscles are a bit sore," she teased, stretching.

"I have just what you need," he replied playfully, placing his hands on her shoulders to massage them.

"A massage that might escalate? That’s a little counterproductive…"

"You’re right, I should hold back," he said mischievously, kissing her shoulder blade.

"No, no, actually, you’re right. My muscles do need to relax…" she encouraged, pressing her back against his chest.

Unsurprisingly, it only took fifteen minutes for the massage to take a turn. Fortunately for the two lovers, they had time that morning, as they weren’t expected at the collector’s until noon to confirm whether he had secured a meeting with the bandits. For now, while they awaited instructions, the atmosphere remained relaxed—but tension would no doubt rise as soon as they learned when they could finally meet the criminals. There was no guarantee that the bandits would give up the relics easily, even with Anubis offering them a hefty sum of gold. Trusting outlaws was always risky—after all, their very profession relied on betraying others and stealing their possessions to survive.

Three hours later, Anaïs was dressed in luxurious clothing and adorned with lavish jewelry to maintain the image they had initially presented. Even though Emsaf knew their divine identities, they had decided to continue playing the role of wealthy patrons in case the meeting with the bandits happened that day. It was crucial to show that they had the means to negotiate. Anubis had no qualms about spending a fortune to acquire the relics—what mattered most was recovering them. The jackal god wore a traditional kilt with a loose tunic that revealed his muscular chest, much to Anaïs’s delight. It was a sight she never tired of.

"Let’s go. We mustn’t be late," Isis announced as she joined them.

They crossed the Necropolis desert while listening to the goddess discuss the progress of the cenotaph constructions. Nephthys was overseeing the work with an iron grip, ensuring through her servants that the laborers made swift progress so the monuments could be completed as soon as possible. Isis herself had visited several construction sites the previous day to check on the progress, as Nephthys couldn’t leave the Duat without risking her husband discovering her whereabouts—something that could jeopardize their entire mission.

Less than an hour later, the trio found themselves once again standing before the collector’s lavish home, knocking on his door. This time, the butler did not answer immediately, leaving them lingering at the entrance, exchanging anxious glances. A minute passed, and still, no one came to greet them.

Maybe he tricked us… Anaïs dared not voice her thought aloud, fearing she might jinx their luck.

Anubis stood tall, his expression unreadable, while Isis tapped her foot impatiently against the stone floor. Anaïs wasn’t sure if impatience or anxiety dominated the goddess’s mood, but it was clear she was displeased by the delay.

Two minutes later, the door suddenly swung open with a loud crash, revealing the familiar face of Emsaf, who quickly ushered them inside. He was sweating, his breathing heavy, as if he had run to open the door for them.

"My deepest apologies," he said formally, trying to catch his breath. "I wanted to greet you personally!"

"It’s nothing," Isis reassured him, regaining her composure.

A shared sense of relief passed through the trio. This didn’t necessarily mean Emsaf had good news for them, but at least he hadn’t deceived them.

"Please, come in," he invited, leading them into a side room off the grand hall. "Lunch is ready; we were just waiting for you."

Ah, right… It is noon already. Good thing I only had breakfast.

The room was a spacious dining hall with a table large enough to accommodate at least eight people. Like the rest of the house, it was adorned with paintings, sculptures, and magical artifacts—further proof of Emsaf’s vast collection. No room was spared from his displays of wealth and passion for rare objects.

As they stepped into the dining hall, they were greeted by Inefer’s warm and innocent smile. She waved at them gracefully, her delicate hand moving with a refined yet affectionate gesture. She looked radiant—her once-pale complexion now bore a healthy rosy hue. The sickly look that had once defined her features was gone.

"How are you feeling?" Isis asked as she took a seat across from the girl.

"I feel more tired than usual, just as you predicted," Inefer answered in a soft, slow voice, "but I am no longer in pain. Soon, I’ll be able to live a normal life…"

Her eyes sparkled with joy, and her smile never wavered. Gratitude shone in her gaze, along with an unbreakable will to live. She was a brave child who deserved the chance to experience life like any other child her age.

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Could I learn to heal people too, with my new powers? Anaïs wondered as she watched the girl, touched by her determination. I don’t know if it’s right to have such an influence over human lives, but… it makes me want to help.

"Did you destroy the sphinx?" the goddess inquired, turning her attention back to Emsaf.

Before he could answer, Khephren and four other servants entered, placing various dishes on the table. They poured wine for the guests and grape juice for Inefer before stepping aside.

"We entrusted it to Ouseret," Emsaf finally responded as he began serving himself.

"Good," Isis approved. "What about the bandits?"

"The meeting is set for tonight at dusk. I planned to explain everything in detail after the meal, but I assume you’d rather eat with a clear mind. I’m afraid you won’t be able to accompany us, Goddess Isis. I needed a solid excuse for them to accept my presence accompanied. I told them my daughter and her husband would be with me."

His gaze settled on Anubis and Anaïs as if the implication wasn’t already obvious. Hearing someone refer to the jackal god as her husband was an unusual experience, especially given the recent turn of events and the evolution of their relationship. Yet, the term didn’t entirely displease her. Of course, there was no need to rush things, but there was a certain satisfaction in having their bond acknowledged— even if it was merely a disguise.

"That won’t be a problem," Anubis interjected after Isis gave a nod of approval to the plan. "What matters is that they agree to sell us the pieces."

The group finished their meal in peace, sticking to light topics of conversation, just as the collector had intended. He wanted to enjoy his meal without added stress. What truly mattered was that the meeting was secured for that very evening and that they had a cover story allowing them to approach the bandits. The details could wait another half hour—just enough time for their stomachs to be satisfied.

Besides, Emsaf had prepared a veritable feast, with over ten different dishes, some of which Anaïs recognized while others were entirely foreign to her. Many ingredients and spices were unavailable in the Duat, likely imported through his international trade connections. There was no doubt that the meal had cost him a small fortune, but judging by the pleased smile never leaving his face, he was proud of it. It was clear that the collector was deeply honored to have gods as his guests—just as any human would be.

"The meeting will take place near Iounyt. It will take us about two and a half to three hours by carriage to get there. I didn’t want the bandits to have any chance of tracing the location of my home or anything close to it. You never know with those kinds of people."

"It’s best to be cautious," Anaïs commented in agreement.

Whenever their quest took them outside the Duat, she often felt like a mere spectator. Negotiation wasn’t her skill, nor was fighting or healing. The only reason she was here was in case they needed the power of the amulet.

But it’s still better than doing nothing—or going back to my old life, where I had no purpose or will to live… she consoled herself. And besides… I’m with Anubis. That’s all that matters.

It was decided that they would depart as soon as the servants finished preparing the carriage. Anubis and Anaïs needed to appear as harmless as possible since they were supposed to be mere civilians accompanying Emsaf for business. This also meant the journey would be as comfortable as possible—something Anaïs greatly appreciated, given that her muscles were still sore.

"Inform me of the slightest issue," Isis instructed them as she prepared to return to the Duat since her presence wasn’t necessary. "And bring me the pieces as soon as you have them."

Once settled comfortably under the canvas roof of the carriage, with a few cushions softening the hard wooden seats, Anaïs felt the tension start to build within her. They still had a long journey ahead before reaching the meeting point, and then several hours of waiting for nightfall. But their departure marked the beginning of the mission.

Her fingers twisted anxiously in her lap in a nervous, compulsive motion. Anubis, noticing this, eventually reached over and took one of her hands in his.

"Why do I feel like I’m the only one who’s anxious?" she couldn’t help but ask after an hour, noting how unaffected the two men seemed.

"I’m used to these kinds of exchanges," the collector said with a shrug.

"They’re just humans—what could they possibly do to us?" Anubis added without concern.

She sighed, leaning back against the carriage seat. Judging by their attitude, the risk level seemed no greater than a routine friendly meeting. But Anaïs wasn’t used to thrilling adventures like this. After all, she had been nothing more than a simple servant in her past life.

When they finally arrived in the city of Iounyt, Anaïs leaped out of the vehicle to stretch her muscles, stiff from inactivity. They had approximately three hours before they had to reach the meeting point, time they spent wandering through the city. It was less populated than Ouaset, but there was still a small souk and even a grand square where street performers entertained the crowd.

Emsaf took the opportunity to browse the merchants' goods in case a rare artifact caught his eye, while Anaïs and Anubis enjoyed a cold beer on a terrace, watching a group of musicians and acrobats perform near the tavern. The distraction helped ease the young woman’s nerves—at least until it was time to head to the meeting place again. When the sky turned a beautiful shade of pink as the sun slowly disappeared, the couple left the square to rejoin Emsaf.

"Don’t worry," Anubis reassured her before they met up with the collector. "Stay close to me, I won’t let them harm you if they turn hostile. And if you’re truly in danger, run away in your animal form."

"If I even manage to transform…" she muttered with a grimace.

"You will."

The confidence he had in her eventually rubbed off. If he believed she could do it, then she must be capable. She didn’t have full faith in her abilities, but she completely trusted Anubis.

An hour later, the trio arrived at their destination. The meeting place was hidden between two cliffs, far from prying eyes. At nightfall, human eyes could hardly navigate the terrain without the help of a torch. The location was particularly well-suited for an ambush, as archers could easily take a position above them to block the path. Anaïs’ wild imagination couldn’t help but conjure the worst scenarios.

"They’re the ones who chose this spot, aren’t they?" she asked suspiciously.

"Yes," Emsaf confirmed.

"I don’t know if they’re just being cautious or if they’re planning to attack us, but I don’t like this place."

"Neither do I," admitted Anubis, stepping closer to the young woman to shield her if necessary.

The trio had left the carriage a few meters back since the narrow terrain didn’t allow them to advance any further by vehicle. Emsaf led the way toward the exact meeting spot. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the rock walls, and the only sound was that of their footsteps. Anaïs instinctively clung to the jackal-headed god’s arm, nervous.

A little further ahead, a man was waiting for them, seated on a rock with a torch in hand. His face and hair were hidden by a black veil, leaving only his eyes visible, and a sharp, short saber hung at his waist. He was alone, and there was no sign of any merchandise. The three missing pieces couldn’t be small, as they had already recovered the eyes and hands—it wasn’t something he could simply carry in a small bag. Anaïs’ mind raced as she took in these details. Her instincts screamed that this was more of a trap than a trade.

"I have a bad feeling about this," she whispered into Anubis’ ear.

"Stay alert and be ready to run if necessary."

A shared sense of apprehension settled over them.