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siren. His first thought had been to take her to his chambers, but he decided against it. When she regained consciousness, she would feel more comfortable in her own familiar surroundings. He still remembered what a hellion she was the night he met her. If she knew she was in his private room, she would wake up fighting.
    He gathered her in his arms and hastily carried her back to her bedchamber. His loud, booming voice echoed throughout the palace as he called for Latmay, his personal physician. Kama’s body was light as a feather, and he effortlessly carried her to her room and delicately placed her on the soft bed.
    As he gently released her from his hold, his palm grazed the soft slope of her buttocks. He felt himself stiffen and then flushed with shame. She was vulnerable, sick perhaps, and he should not take advantage. Still, his breath caught and fingers itched to touch her again.
    Amonmose knelt beside the bed and put his ear to Kama’s mouth, making sure she was still breathing. He felt a faint whisper of warm air escape from her lips and sighed in relief.   He pulled back, gazing at her, his eyes following the fine lines of her high cheekbones to her sensuous, full lips. On impulse, he reached out and allowed his finger to take the same path. Her flesh was as soft and smooth as a lotus flower. Just looking at her was enough to test the willpower of any man.
    Abruptly, Latmay burst through the door. “A thousand pardons, Sire. I came as quickly as I could.” His jaw dropped when he saw the Pharaoh kneeling on the floor beside the woman’s bed. “What fate has befallen her?” he asked.
    Amonmose scowled over his shoulder at the physician. “I approached her, and she collapsed.”
    Latmay rushed forward and immediately took Kama’s limp wrist in his hand. He pressed the pad of his thumb to her delicate skin, nodding after a few seconds of quiet thought. “I believe she fainted.”
    Amonmose let out the breath he had been holding. “Thank the gods. I thought it might be something more serious.”
    “I’ll know for certain, once I examine her.   Let us give her some space,” Latmay advised. “I will revive her, but she will be disoriented when she comes to.” He cautiously chose his words. “It might be better if…”
    Amonmose understood and got up, giving Latmay a look that said they would forget who had been kneeling in whose presence. “I’ll be right outside, awaiting your full report.”
    “Yes, Sire.”
     
    As soon as Amonmose left the room, Latmay waved a bitter smelling salt under Kama’s nose. She jerked back to consciousness, and he was startled by the intense pair of dark eyes that fixed on him. “I am Latmay, the Pharaoh’s physician,” he said. “You fainted in the great room.”
    “Latmay?” she repeated. “You were the one who tended to my burns.”
    “Yes.”
    Kama gave him a somber look. “You should have left me to die.”
    Latmay stared, shocked, at the woman he had saved. He cleared his throat, and she looked away. “In my opinion, it is better to live in any condition than to give up and die. In any case, I am a man dedicated to saving lives. And someone as lovely as you certainly has a lot to live for.” When she did not answer, he pressed on. “I am told you have not been eating and you do not sleep either. You must eat, or you will never regain your strength.”
    Kama looked over at him with a hostile glare.
    Latmay gazed back calmly. “I believe the gods are watching over you, Kama. You are strong and resilient. You did not escape fire and tragedy only to starve yourself to death.” He pulled a small vial from his bag. “This will help you sleep,” he said. “Drink it all. I will return later to check on you.”
    She took the vial, pulled out the cork and swallowed the contents in one gulp.
    “And remember,” he said, “your fasting does you no good. You must eat and learn to adjust to life here.”
    Even as he spoke, he could see that Kama had already