The sun was high above the city. The Egyptian heat always was unbearable to Bailey, though today it seemed as though everyone was suffering from the heat.

Bailey looked to the servants who were running around the palace doing their chores, sweat pouring down their faces as they worked, some looking ready to drop. Pursing her lips she looked over to Bes. "They've been working hard for the past few hours. They need to have some sort of break, Bes."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "They are expendable. They can be replaced. "

"Expendable?" She exclaimed, barely believing the words that Bes had just uttered. However, knowing what the historians said about him, she knew that he really didn't care. Yeah, he wasn't named the merciless Pharaoh for nothing.

Oh, but did she ever want to change his way of thinking. Come to think of it, even his attitude needed a complete overhaul. One way or another Bailey knew that she had to do something.

"They are not expendable, Bes. They are human beings who, as such, deserve to be treated as such." Her eyes narrowed on him, "Either let them take a break or I will."

He rolled his eyes. "You are so commanding—"

"When it comes to the well-being of your subjects someone is going to have to step up and help them as much as possible. And if you're not then I will. Allow them to have a fifteen minute break every few hours and I will time them. " Bailey shook her head, feeling her temper rising slightly. "Trust me when I say that collapsing from heat exhaustion due to working in hot and humid weather without taking a break is of no laughing matter, Bes."

Bes sat up straighter on his throne, studying her for a moment. "Are you speaking from experience, Bailey?"

"Back in my own time, yes. I was fourteen and my parents and I were out helping my grandparents clean up their fields. It just as hot as it was today. I was told to take a break but being that age I felt as though I knew everything, so I ignored my parents' pestering about coming inside." Bailey laughed, shaking her head. "Fuck. Was I ever stupid. Passing out then finding myself in the hospital with cold, wet towels all over my body, fans blowing from every which direction and finding out that I was suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion was not fun. It was the worst experience of my entire life."

The Pharaoh's mind contemplated her words, cursing himself for allowing the woman to worm her way into his heart, for allow her to have some say over how he reigned. He hated the fact that this woman was changing him. No. Correction—had changed him. At the same time, though, he loved every single moment of it.

He sat back and waved at her. "Very well. Every few hours a fifteen minute break as you put it."

She smiled, and felt pride over the small victory she had just made, and just like a little kid she jumped off the steps leading up to the throne and skipped her way over to three of the female servants who were currently on their hands and knees scrubbing the dirt from the golden floors. As soon as they saw her they quickly stood up, almost to attention.

All three of them bowed. "M'lady."

"Uh," Bailey's face flushed, not feeling entirely comfortable with people being so formal, so polite. Even though she should be used to it, considering it had been at least weeks—perhaps months—since she had been transported to ancient times she highly doubted she'd be able to ever get used to it.

She shook her head. "Please just call me Bailey."

"As you wish, Miss Bailey. What is it that you need of us?" The older woman, probably in her mid thirties from what Bailey could guess, asked as she shifted from one foot to the other.

"Could you possibly go around and tell every servant within the palace to go have a break, to make certain they get something to eat and drink. I have a timer that I can start as soon as you leave with the others in here."

"When do you want us to come back, Mi—I mean Bailey?"

Bailey smiled. "I will come and find you...uh...I'm so sorry, but what is your name?"

"Adahlna, Bailey."

"Alright. Off you go, Adahlna. Go and enjoy your break, ladies."

The woman nodded her head, all three of them looking a bit flustered as they turned all three of them placing their baskets by the back of the wall and gathered the rest of the servants who were in the far room working on their own chores. They hastily made their way towards the exit.

Once they were out of ear shot the Pharaoh stepped down from his throne. His dark brown eyes boring into her light coloured ones. She felt frozen in place as he sauntered

over to her, she felt her body heating as she stared at his lips, and consciously licking her own as she turned to look at her future husband.

"You are too good for this Kingdom. For it's people. For me. What is it about you that is so..." He bent down, inhaling the scent of her vanilla and strawberry shampoo. "Enticing?"

A shiver ran up her spine as she wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing her half naked body to melt into his own. A low groan escaped his mouth and she couldn't help but smile, enjoying the reaction she drew from him.

"I don't know." Bailey said in a low whisper. "Why is it I can never hate or be angry with you for very long. When we first met I swear I could kill you with my bare hands...now that's not the case."

It was true. When she first arrived Bailey would've done anything to go back home, to get away from Pharaoh Bes. Everything about him when she first met him screamed intimidation and fear. Everything that she had heard about him in history class was practically true.

If he didn't get what he wanted he basically went into a bitch fit.

She supposed that was also something she was going to have to tame a bit.

Her heart fluttered when she heard him chuckle. The sound that only a select few had heard always sent her heart soaring. She loved that sound and Bes knew it.

Bes pushed her back ever so slightly and placed a gentle, yet hungry kiss against her lips. They both savoured the feeling of their lips moulding into one another, the both of them wanting to be the one that came on top, but at the same time wanting to happily surrender to the other.

Bailey reluctantly pulled back, leaning her head against his chest and closing her eyes, revelling in the comforting sound his heartbeat gave her. His arms wrapped around her, she felt his chin fall gently on top of her head. They stayed like that for a few moments before Bes spoke.

"Has there been any news regarding Amun?"

Bailey sighed. "No. Nothing as of yet. Unfortunately I have not yet seen him since that night we saw him in the city. Do you think he's given up?"

He shook his head. "No. Amun is not the type to stop until he's gotten what he wants. That is, of course, unless this is someone else's doing."

She looked up. "Could it be?"

"I don't know," Bes whispered. Bailey felt her heart constrict within the confines of her chest. She felt bad for him, as someone who knew what it felt like to have friends turn their backs on her, she couldn't really think of what her reaction would be if any one of her 'friends' were willing to murder her to benefit themselves. She wished for nothing more than to take away his pain but she knew that this was something that he had to face himself. So she did the only thing she could think of, hold him and show that if he needed to confide in someone that she was there for him to do so.

Yes. Her mind whispered. But look at where confiding in someone had led him. His most trusted friend planning his death as well as planning to give his bride to a sick bastard.

That may have been true. Bailey, however, hoped that he could confide in her, because no matter what she would always be there for him.

Their moment was interrupted by her watch beginning to beep, indicating that the servant's break was over. She sighed smiling up at him as she caressed his cheek. She inclined her head and departed from the room.

Bes stared off into the direction in which Bailey had taken off and had this insatiable desire to chase after her. A foreboding feeling befalling him suddenly once she had stepped out of the room. He took a couple of deep breaths, trying to regain control over his raging heartbeat.

Sitting down on his throne he closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as the stress over the past few weeks slowly began creeping up and taking their toll on the Pharaoh.

He didn't realize that he had fallen asleep until the doors to the throne room were thrown open. He jostled upright, looking to lock up anyone who had dared to step foot into the room without properly introducing themselves. He stopped when he realized it was two of his guards, appearing to be more than troubled. They appeared almost terrified.

"My King!" One of them gasped out.

He stood up. "What do you want?"

"My King, Lady Bailey has been kidnapped. We tried to follow the sounds of her screams but lost her before we could pinpoint where she had gone."

The other guard held up a piece of papyrus. "This was left in the corridor she had vanished from."

Bes' heart was beating hard against his ribcage as he snatched up the note and began reading it.

"My most favourable King," It read. "If you ever want to see your precious Queen then come down to the Nile. Alone. If you do not then you have sentenced her to death. You have until the full-moon tonight. Sleep well, my Pharaoh."

The Pharaoh growled. How dare someone take Bailey! And in his own palace no less. His heart dropped as realization hit. Was this what Amun was speaking about? Was this his plan all along?

He knew that this was a trap. But he did not care. He had to go and get Bailey.

No matter the cost.