de

agged rocks. My breath hitched in my chest at the si

the sight before me justice. This land held thousands of years of history unde

reminded me this was my passion. In this moment, I knew the work

t year was believed to have been built sometime soon after Tu

space and jumped without hesitation. Stretching my legs after the forty-minute drive felt gl

d as the one who had to lean forw

severe yet, still had the power to pierce my corneas. I

y of footwear were the ballet flats I had worn on the plane, since my hiking boots, and sadly missed sunglasses, were somewhere i

anced over to see Felipe taking in the surroundings through aviator

at seemed too narrow for a human to enter. The appearance was sloppily constructed, something passersby would overlook if they saw it through their windshield. For a temple f

s work. Two figures stood huddled close in conversation in front of the team. One was short and stocky with a rounded middle section that filled ou

jeans hung low on his hips. He was younger than the other man, maybe somewhere in his late thirties or early forties, just based on his full head of hair. Though sungl

ef before pocketing it and plopping on a wide-brimmed straw hat. His feet crunched on small rocks as he appro

pitched and speech hurried. "I am Mohammed Tasvir, the

eemed as baffled as I was, but they all remained unaffected, l

next to Mo, who was now staring at us t

Da

ave a lot to accomplish today. Now, I will pass the floor to your mentor for the

azuli that decorated the ancient death masks of the pharaohs. Sandy-blond h

maybe. Who could think straight wi

were rules about the limit of attractiveness for professors, since nearly all the

m his Mummy days hadn't just waltzed into our lives. The only other person who seemed somewhat affected was Angela, who was f

t the corners, waded through our group, taking in

l," he began, his thick voice laden with

into the blind like some "feel the vibe" hippie. If I'd only listened to my mother, I wou

from a long list of o

ightened an inch taller a

morous." His stern tone commanded the attention of anyone within earshot. Even Mo was hanging on his every word. "This isn't a vacation, so if y

ovement. None of us escaped his scrutinizing gaze as he slowly paced in front of us. "I expect pr

where one side of her mouth rose higher than the other. I had seen many a grown man fall

twitched, nor did the rise and fall of his broad chest fa

will have Fridays and Saturdays off, "

swallowed nervously under the w

le, especially since I have been so ni

elp me-I w

and toes tingled as I waited for my t

beyed." His severe gaze held mine. "So don't tempt me," he added, enunciating the word "tempt" excruciatingly slowl

sight to avoid. I must have been violating all sorts of interns

e hypnotizing, like staring

nsity any longer. But he remained in place. I could feel the heat o

years, he moved onto Sean.

r hand. Of course, she

in front of her. "Introdu

aw coupled with his full lips made him a difficult sight to avoid. I must have been violat

e hypnotizing, like staring

nsity any longer. But he remained in place. I could feel the heat o

years, he moved onto Sean.

r hand. Of course, she

in front of her. "Introdu

ching his military-like tone. While the rest of us seemed to be scare

your question

research projects of our own in addition to th

y one and she's asking for more work?! Unbelievable. I roll

question?" Dr. Campbell barked at me, ca

rtled. His expression remained hard. "Um

will not be necessary. I anticipate that you'll find yourselves to be too oc

directed at me. "W

ut as a stutter. "I...um...m

thick, white eyebrows pinched as he examined the contents. "There is

first name, Sanura?" I had used

. "You're Egyptian?" His vo

my father's side," I said, opting for the short-and-sweet answer. I didn't want to divulge my entire diary's worth of history

" Dr. Campbell's voice hung

..a pet name,"

e for the kitt

nfusion, heart hammering.

ten,' does it not?" Hi

hought he was referring to something

ment longer before stalking back toward the tent, leavin

Isabella suddenly jutted forward, nearly breaking out into a run to c

. The rest of the group fished out their notebooks from their backpacks and started scribbling notes fur

We deduced this from radio-carbon dating analysis performed on bones we belie

ked as she jotted words furiously into h

" he answe

the ancient Egyptians, so it was certain

name for t

he memory of his words. Shaking them off as quickly as

in honor of Tutank

ked

Campbell continued. A cartouche was an oval design with the name of a royal in hierogl

special about this one?" Angela asked. Strangers might have mistaken her

especially his mortuary temple that would have been used to

abella turned her nose up in the air as if she were "th

ke any offense at her to

any temples recorded to have been constructe

l said. "None exist in this area

haraoh to be so humble and out in the middle o

tracks, causing his tail of stud

e. His eyes scanned my chest.

man was intimidating, and I wasn't used to being this meek in the presen

ything?" he quipped impatiently. Every

y research material and note

k ballet flats, a slightly amused smil

ssengers if they weren't strapped to the seats." The laugh that came out of my

ulder to remind him to stay in check. And all Dr. Campbell did was grumble somet

"He hates me. Five minutes into this internship

just got off to a bad start," she said, sq

to God she