Atlantis: The King's Return (The Atlanteans Book 1)

by D. K. Combs

  “It sank. I’m okay, but I just…Don’t want to leave here. Ray and I are over.”

  Why didn’t she care? Why wasn’t her heart breaking? She told her mother without a hitch in her voice or a pang in her heart.

  Ray had been her world. They had been together for years, she had planned on marrying him, and they were going to have kids. He had cheated on her, and she…what? Didn’t care? At all? The ache in her chest came back full force, and again, not because of Ray.

  Something was wrong with her. Ray had been brunette and brown-eyed, her dream man. She had loved the darkness in his skin, the way his eyes caught the light with yellow undertones. But when she closed her eyes, all she saw was blue. Blue eyes with flecks of silver and midnight black hair falling in waves down a strong, muscular jaw.

  The hair led to thick shoulders, bigger and stronger than Ray’s. Images of thick, caring arms surrounded her head, giving her not only a flash of warmth, but one of pain. Where was that coming from? Why did she feel that?

  She was jerked out of her thoughts when a rough tongue licked her arm. Mari couldn’t help but laugh as she watched Stumpy flail around in the water that was much too deep for him to touch ground in.

  “Mari!”

  Hayden’s voice brought a sense of relief that she hadn’t felt in days. Mari ran out of the water, picking up her knees as Stumpy followed after her. The golden Labrador was sopping wet when they made it to her brothers.

  Hayden and Joseph could have been twins had they been born at the same time. As it was, though, Hayden was the oldest out of them all. Both of her brothers had bleach blonde hair. It had been a lighter brown when they were younger, but after all the hours they spent outside, it had long ago turned white from all of the exposure. They were both tall, but Joseph was lean where Hayden was buff. Besides the build, their eyes were the only thing left that set them apart. Joseph had Mari’s silvery eyes and Hayden had dark, forest green eyes that were often mistaken as hazel.

  As Hayden wrapped her up in a hug, she was grateful for it. The emptiness in her chest was spreading throughout her body, and her brothers would serve as a good enough distraction from it.

  “How was the flight?” she asked, pulling back only to be dragged into Joseph’s arms. He squeezed her tightly.

  “Forget the flight. Are you alright? We couldn’t get a hold of you through that number you called us from so we had no idea what was going on. All mom gave us was what beach you were at. We searched for you for the last hour,” Joseph grumbled, pulling back.

  “I’m sorry. But yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?” He peered at her face, and Hayden joined in.

  “You don’t look fine.” Hayden ruffled her hair, pulling her out of Josephs hug and then wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

  “Mom and dad called and let us know that they got the condo ready for you. All you have to do is sign the papers and you're ready. Are you sure you want to stay here?”

  Mari nodded, looking back at the ocean. Longing settled in her chest. “I’m sure.”

  She didn’t doubt that her parents had already taken care of the condo. They were well known for all of the charity and rescues they did, and they’d pulled strings like this before. All it took for them was a couple hours.

  “Ray wasn’t there when we went to the apartment,” Joseph said, a low note entering his voice. “What happened? Are you guys over?”

  Mari nodded again.

  “I never liked him,” Hayden grunted. “That bastard was never good enough for you. What did he do? It couldn’t have been something you did. All you ever did was stick up for that piece of shit.”

  She shrugged. “He sent me on a couples cruise alone so he could cheat on me." Blunt. Indifferent. Everything she felt towards the whole thing. "It doesn’t matter. I’m not upset over it, so you shouldn’t be either.”

  The brothers walked in silence with her. She was glad that they took her word for it and didn't press.

  Hayden stopped abruptly. “Mom and Dad…they said the ship sank. How did it…I’m confused. I don’t know what to say.”

  Mari bit her lip as she tried to think back to what happened—and sighed when nothing came up except a pang in her chest. She rubbed at the spot above her heart, shaking her head. “I don’t know what happened. I found out he was cheating, the boat began to sink, and then I ‘flew out of the water’ and crashed a bon-fire.”

  Joseph stared at her. “Are you for real?”

  She nodded.

  “Jesus… Thank god you’re alive." No one in their family had ever been good at expressing their emotions, so when that's all she got out of him, she was thankful. Still, she wasn't that lucky. "Now, listen. We’re going to take you to the condo, and then we’re going on a jog. It'll help clear your mind."

  "See, I'm fine with going to the condo...but going on a run? I'm not so sure about." Honestly, all she wanted to do was sit by the ocean and enjoy the lull it created.

  “You never were one for running. Mari.” Hayden grabbed her shoulders and made her face him as his expression turned completely serious. “We are like pure bred pit bulls. Strong. Dangerous. Armed. And toned so well that even Egyptian kings would be jealous of how well-bred we are without being inbred. Why must you deny your genes?”

  She groaned. “Hayden—“

  He dropped her shoulders. “Nope. I get it. You're too good for your family now that you've survived a shipwreck. I toooootally get it.”

  Mari stared at him with disbelief. “That's ridiculous—"

  “I'm done!” Then he stalked way from her, Joseph following behind. Stumpy barked at her and shook his dripping coat, splattering her with wet-dog water, and then trotted after her brothers.

  “Well, there's that,” she muttered, dragging her feet in the hot sand as she caught up to them.

  Her parents flew in only hours later, after the rent for the condo had been paid and her brothers had helped her move in all of the things they had brought. Seven large cardboard boxes of clothing, millions of little trinkets she had collected, and all of the pictures of their family. Anything having to do with Ray was left behind—and thank god for that.

  Mari wasn’t expecting anyone, so when a knock on her door echoed throughout the cozy condo, she cast a confused look at her brothers, who only shrugged and continued to bitch at each other about the newest game with the Packers.

  She pulled open the door and then squealed with shock. Her mother, just as tall and as thin as Mari with big green eyes and long blonde hair, flew into the house and attacked her.

  “Mom!” she gasped as the woman’s small arms wrapped around Mari so tightly she lost all the breath in her chest.

  “Oh, Mari—We tried telling you about him, we tried to warn you! Why couldn’t you have listened to us?” she hissed as she patted Mari down through her tears, like she was checking for injuries.

  She backed away from her mom a little, feeling overwhelmed.

  Mari’s father stepped into the house. His looming figure cast a dark, dangerous shadow into the room and Mari almost backed away from him. He was, perhaps, one of the most frightening men she had ever met in her life—but at least he loved her.

  She flinched as a sharp pinch stole her breath. There were much more dangerous creatures out there, much worse than her father…and not the mortal kind.

  The thought made her pale.

  What was going on with her?

  “You say the word, and he’ll never bother you again,” her dad grunted. Savannah, her mother, let her father hug Mari. She leaned into his chest, breathing in the fresh, dark scent that smelled like pinewood, and had since she could remember.

  “I don’t care, really. Why did you come here?” She pulled out of her father’s embrace and looked between her parents. Their faces were tanned because of all the sun and she suspected they were still in the middle of the hurricane recovery project in Hawaii. "I had to come see you. God, I can’t believe we weren't notified sooner...or at lea
st seen something on the news… Honey, how did you make it out alive?”

  “She 'flew out of the water’,” Joseph parroted, sticking his hand in her hair and then ruffling it. Her mom looked at Mari in disbelief.

  “You what?”

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. She led her parents into the living room, which was completely empty. The condo was nice and airy, with all hundred or so windows thrown open. The salty air from the ocean was invading the house, giving it a sense of peace that rattled her.

  This wasn’t right. It was beautiful, exactly what she wanted, but it wasn’t right. Ocean blue eyes flashed in her mind, stealing her breath. Her heart rate quickened.

  “What do you mean, you don’t know? Surely you remember the ship sinking? How you got to shore—on the opposite side of where it crashed?” Her mother choked on emotion and grabbed Mari by the shoulders, dragging her to her chest.

  The weirdness of what had happened was lost on her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew what had happened. She could feel the knowledge bubbling inside of her mind. The black haired man she kept seeing in her mind—the gorgeous, mouthwatering man that made her heart pound every time she thought of him. How was he connected, this man that she had never met before in her life, to what she was feeling? This numbness? This lack of caring?

  She pat her mother’s back as her father eyed her warily. “I don’t know,” she mouthed, trying to pull out of her mother’s embrace.

  He nodded shortly and she breathed a sigh of release. At least he wasn’t going to question her.

  “We love you so much, Mari. I’m so ashamed of myself—my darling daughter who almost—who almost—“ Her mom stopped herself and inhaled sharply, obviously trying to keep tears at bay.

  “Mom. I’m fine. I don’t know exactly what happened—but I’m fine. Why didn’t you stay in Hawaii? They need your help more than I do.”

  Her mother pulled back with a gasp. “Never.” She drew Mari in for another hug. “You’re my daughter—you’ll always come first.”

  She nodded awkwardly, looking at her brothers and father for help.

  “We got into town about an hour ago and picked up some groceries," her mom continued.

  Mari nodded gratefully, realizing that she actually was hungry. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in days.

  “We’ll all grab the groceries; you sit down and rest.”

  She breathed out a sigh of relief as they cleared the house and walked to the screen door, pulling it open. She had the most beautiful view of the ocean. The waves ate at the sand greedily, bringing a smile to her face—right until a shadow moved in the corner of her eye.

  Mari reared back.

  “Mari, it’s me! Shh!”

  Her heart stopped in her chest a second before confusion rolled through her. “Ray?”

  Large, tropical leaves rustled as he stepped out of the brush, hands held up defensively. “Be quiet. Listen—“

  “What the hell,” she hissed, storming down the stairs. “What the hell.”

  “I didn’t know what to fucking do,” he said raggedly, taking her by the shoulders. Her skin heated, but not with desire. Disgust rolled through her. Those hands had been on another woman while he was in a relationship with her. “The voicemail—Oh, god. Mari I heard it all—I heard the sinking and the screaming. It was so fucking loud. I never planned on that—“

  “Of course you didn’t,” she snapped. “You planned on getting the fuck of your life while your girlfriend was on a cruise.”

  He paled. “I didn't think you would remember. I know you saw the emails, but it wasn't what it looked like."

  “I’m not stupid, Ray. You should have just stayed with Bailey. How did you even find me here?”

  His face turned a dark shade of purple, and she would have been worried—if she had cared at all. Mari laughed harshly. “Oh, wait. You’re stalking me now?”

  “I saw your brothers outside of our apartment the other day—-so I followed them.”

  “You followed my brothers?” she asked, aghast. “What the hell is wrong with you? Ray, go home. Just go. Go home to Bailey and get out of my life. I’m so done, you don’t even know—“

  Fear flashed in his eyes and Mari backed away. When he was scared, he was unpredictable. “No, Mari. You have to come back—“

  She shook her head. “Go, Ray. I don’t want you here—“

  He lunged at her, slapping a thin hand over her mouth and wrapping an arm around her waist. “Mari, please,” he whispered raggedly. Hot, rank breath brushed over her ear. She jerked, kicking back at him.

  “Let go of me!” she growled, voice muffled by his hand. He pulled her body against his and she could have vomited. How could she have ever wanted him? He smelled like ass, he had the personality of a creep down-pat, and he honestly did have a pencil dick. Ambrose was so much better than Ray in every single—

  Ambrose?

  The weight was suddenly lifted off her back and she exhaled, balling her fist up and ready to—

  “Touch her again, and you die.”

  Ray hadn’t said that. Mari hadn’t said that. Her parents weren’t anywhere near her. So who—

  She whipped around and her heart instantly crashed in her chest. Then fell to her stomach and came right back up her throat. The man…his eyes. His voice. His body. Everything about him struck her as familiar. As hers.

  He had Ray pressed against the wall with his hand wrapped around his throat, and she could have sworn he was snarling like a rabid animal. Cool fingers of desire danced down her back, their touch leaving a fiery trail. He had on dark jeans that fit his hips perfectly, but that was it. No shirt and no shoes. Black hair with a lone blue streak fell around his face so sexily it made her drool, and those eyes…they weren’t even looking at her, yet they seared her.

  “Who the hell are you?” Ray demanded, kicking his feet out. Even though he was held a foot off the ground and his eyes were beginning to bug, he didn’t give up.

  “Her lover. And you?” The lips that smiled were full and perfect, revealing sharp white teeth. Instead of running the other direction in fear, Mari took a step forward, completely entranced. Ray was pushed to the back of her mind and she forgot about everything except the man in front of her.

  She knew him—but from where?

  “Her boyfriend," he choked out. Mari barely heard a word he said because she was too focused on…on Ambrose.

  This was Ambrose.

  She frowned, struggling as her mind failed to come up with where she knew him from. He loved her, her mind whispered distantly. Atlantis.

  Ambrose turned his gaze towards her, and the look in his eyes made her heart fall to the bottom of her feet. She knew him—

  In a rush, everything came back.

  Waking up in the cave. Finding Ambrose. Being turned into a mermaid. F-Inn. The Octopians. Everything up until Ceto leering at her as Mari’s world went black, Ambrose’s pained screams dying off in her ear.

  Tears instantly flooded her eyes.

  “Oh, my god,” she choked out, throwing herself at him. “I don’t—I don't know how this happened—Ambrose, I missed you,” she breathed, pressing her face against his shoulder, breathing in his mesmerizing scent, taking comfort in the heat that wafted off of him in waves.

  “Mari,” he said softly. “Do you want this son of a bitch dead?”

  She shook her head against him, wrapping her arms around his waist as tight as she could. God, what would have happened if she never remembered him? She couldn’t even think about it. It was too painful.

  “No? He hurt you; he dared to lay a hand on you…Mari, do not lie to me. Do you want him to die?”

  She hated Ray with a passion, but she didn’t want a dead man on her hands. There was something different between bitch-goddesses and humans that made her feel pity for the weaker ones. Plus, her dad had raised her better than to kill a person. Fish, on the other hand…

  “I just want you to hold me,” she whispered. In
an instant, Ambrose had dropped Ray to the ground and wrapped his arms around her. At first she thought he wasn’t as affected as she was, but then she felt the tremor running through his arms.

  “How did you find me? What happened to Ceto? Did you kill that red thing? Oh my god, is Deimos okay?”

  “Mari,” Ambrose murmured, pressing his face into her hair and holding her even tighter, as if he never wanted to let go of her again. “Be quiet for two seconds…I need to know you’re okay—Gods, the past week has been torture. My love…”

  She almost sobbed at the tone in his voice. It was so reverent, so grateful. He thread a hand into her hair and pulled her head back. Mari stared into his eyes as his head lowered.

  She met him half-way, not caring a single bit that Ray was at their feet, gasping for breath.

  Their lips crashed in a collision full of devotion, love, dying fear, and passion. She threw her arms around his neck and clung to him, barely able to breath. “I love you,” she breathed around their kiss, clutching him.

  He pulled back, gazing into her eyes. The oceanic depths swirled with emotion so intense it would have brought her to her knees had he not been holding onto her.

  “I love you, Mari.” Her heart stopped at the words, at the way he said them. “Forever. Come back to Atlantis with me and rule—“

  "But I don’t have a tail anymore...”

  “The fuck,” Ray grunted, staring up at them from the floor. "You're a bunch of freaks."

  Ambrose growled, clenching his fist. “I might skin him alive.”

  Mari couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out of her throat.

  “Mari, I thought I told you to—“ Before the words were even out of her mom’s mouth, Mari’s face turned bright red. So bright, in fact, that Ambrose took notice of her ears and gently touched them, smiling.

  “She better be getting ready for that run! We’re leaving in—“ Stephen and Hayden stopped dead behind her mother, who was staring between Ambrose and Mari as if they had grown two heads.