She spit out a mouthful of water and gasped for breath. Miraculously, she sucked in actual air. Wet hair clung to her face, but she didn't brush it aside. Couldn't. Was she dreaming? Dead? She dropped to her knees in front of Brenna, who lay unconscious. She'd never performed CPR, but she'd seen it done and mimicked the motions.
"Come on," she panted. "Come on."
After a long while of pumping and breathing for her friend, Brenna coughed. Her eyes remained closed, but she, too, sucked in a breath of air. Depleted, Shaye sagged beside her.
"Foolish human," a deep, thunderous voice growled. "Why are you doing this? You nearly died, both of you. And for what?"
Her exhausted gaze circled the bubble. Water churned around it, but she couldn't see a person--inside or out. "Where are you? Who are you?"
"I am Poseidon, God of the Sea."
A god. A freaking god. "Take me to Valerian," she demanded.
He laughed. "A command from a human. Your sense of humor pleases me. Unfortunately, your lover is already dead."
"No." Fierce despair tried to sink sharp claws inside of her. "No. He can't be."
Colorful sparks appeared just in front of her, solidifying into a male form. He was beautiful, more so than even Valerian. White hair framed an utterly masculine face. His eyes were as blue as the ocean, a liquid crystal, utterly hypnotic. They were almost neon, glowing, pulsing with energy and power.
"Valerian disobeyed the laws of Atlantis. He brought humans into the city."
"He doesn't deserve to die for that," she snarled at him, trying to gather the strength to rise. She could only lie there.
Poseidon smiled at her, an amused twitching of his sensual lips. "I had forgotten how fierce you humans can be when someone you love is threatened. It is quite entertaining."
"Take me to Valerian. Right now!"
He quickly lost his smile. "Do you wish to die? With your every word, you are begging me to slay you."
"Please." She nearly curled into a sobbing heap. "I just want Valerian."
Poseidon studied her face for a long while, then studied Brenna's. His expression never softened. "I told you, he is already dead."
"No. I won't believe you until you show him to me. I would know if he was dead. I would feel it."
Silence. Even the water refused to make noise.
Then, "What would you give me if I allowed you to see him? To go to him?"
"Anything. Everything." A huge black-and-white whale swam past her side, its majestic body consuming the area. She watched in amazement as it lowered its head to Poseidon.
"Your own life?" the god asked.
"Yes."
He blinked in surprise.
"Have you never been in love?" she asked. "Have you never craved another person so much you would rather die without them?"
"No," he admitted. "The concept is laughable at best." Slowly he circled her, his hair like a curtain, ribboning in the air. His body was fluid, rippling like waves.
She maintained eye contact.
"I am not an evil god, but to send you back into Atlantis and allow the nymphs to live will make me appear soft. My people will continue to break the law."
Joy thrummed through her because, with his words, he'd confirmed the nymphs were not yet dead, that there was still time. "Or," she said, "they'll think you merciful and sing your praises and be happy to obey your every whim."
His eyes narrowed, but not before she saw sparks of pleasure flickering in their depths. "You think you are clever, don't you?"
"I just want to be with my man."
There was a long pause. "Watching one such as you battle with the nymph king could be amusing," he said absently.
He wanted to be amused, did he? "I'll give him nothing but trouble," she promised. "I'll turn his life upside down. I'll create absolute havoc."
As she spoke, the god's expression became more and more excited. Visions of the coming trouble were rolling through his mind; she could see it in his eyes. "Very well," he said, and there was relish in his tone. "I will allow you to reenter Atlantis."
Her joy tripled, an avalanche of incomparable force. "Thank you, thank you so much. Brenna, too, right?"
"I suppose." He sighed.
"You will not regret this, I promise you."
"However," he continued as if she hadn't spoken, "I will not stop the course I have set. I will allow the Fates to decide what befalls the nymphs. The dragons even now have them at their mercy--a mercy they do not possess."
The bubble burst in the next instant, and water suddenly barraged her. She reached for Brenna but couldn't find her. Water shot inside her nostrils, her mouth, her lungs. A dark void closed around her, spinning her in every direction. Stars winked in and out. Then the water was sucked away, leaving only a tunnel.
She coughed and sputtered as she fell, tumbling headlong into an abyss. She wasn't frightened, though. She knew Valerian awaited her on the other end. Valerian. Her love, her life.
Suddenly her feet hit a solid foundation, jarring her all the way to her bones. She swayed, righted herself. Cracked open her eyes. Never had she seen a more welcome sight. The stark walls of the cave closed around her, crimson-stained, decorated with those beautiful murals. Cool air slithered from every corner.
Home. She was home.
She heard a female moan and glanced down. Brenna was sprawled out and just opening her eyes. "We did it," Shaye told her. She couldn't stop grinning. "We did it."
Eyes lighting, Brenna eased to her feet.
The sound of angry, familiar male voices bombarded her ears, and she whipped around. The nymphs must have been placed in the cells. She motioned to Brenna to be quiet, and her friend nodded.
Just in case dragons were guarding the area, she sneaked along the walls. Brenna tiptoed behind her. They remained in the shadows. Leaning forward, she peeked at the cell. It was overcrowded, positively bursting with nymphs. She looked for Valerian, but didn't see him. Still, she didn't allow herself to become upset. He was here and he was alive. She knew it.
There was a single dragon guard, probably because the fewer men outside the cell, the fewer who could open it. She picked up the largest rock she could find and mouthed for Brenna to run for the cell and free the men. Eagerness danced through her as she silently held up her fingers. One. Two. Three. They burst inside. Shaye surprised the guard and smashed his temple with her rock.
He roared, but didn't fall. At the same time, Brenna touched the bars. They misted and the nymphs spilled out, toppling the guard.
"Brenna!" a male voice shouted.
Brenna squealed happily and rushed forward. Joachim wrapped his big arms around her. Shaye searched for Valerian. He's here, he's here, he's here. The crowd of nymphs was parting, but she didn't see him. "Valerian? Valerian!"
Where was he?
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
"VALERIAN!"
He heard his name being called, and his stomach clenched. Shaye's voice. His head shot up; his mouth fell open. "Shaye? Where are you?" Before the last word left him, he spotted her in front of the cell. He stood and their gazes locked.
A grin split her entire face, jubilant. Radiant.
"You came back." He pushed forward, past his men. He felt tears burn his eyes--not that he'd ever admit such a thing aloud. He thought perhaps Broderick went to free the nymphs from the other cell, but he wasn't sure. He cared only about reaching Shaye.
She met him halfway.
He grabbed her, kissing her and nipping at her face. "I thought you were lost to me," he said, and his voice shook.
His arms banded around her, lifting her feet off the ground. She wound her legs around his waist, kissing him with the same welcoming, relieved intensity he'd bestowed on her.
"I promised to stay, didn't I?" she said.
Valerian breathed deeply of her scent, letting it fill him, strengthen him. "I'd planned to come for you. I was going to help my men retake the palace then go to you. Live with you up there. One day with yo
u is better than a lifetime without."
"I love you so much."
"Thank the gods." His arms tightened around her. "I love you so much, my sweet moonbeam. I can't believe you came back to me."
"Always."
"What of the others?" Broderick asked her. He stood just off to the side. "Did they return, as well?"
"No. Only Brenna and me," Shaye told him, apologetic. "I'm sorry."
Broderick shrugged. "Oh, well. Their presence would have been nice since we are about to go to battle."
Valerian turned to his men, but didn't release Shaye. He wasn't ready to let her go, couldn't stop touching her.
"It's time we reclaimed the palace," Shaye said before he could speak. Several of the warriors smiled at her.
Valerian flicked her a grin of his own. "That's right. The dragons have the female nymphs, so you will not go without a woman for long, Broderick." He placed a kiss on Shaye's soft lips, lingered far longer than he should have, savoring her taste, then sighed.
"You're going to kick dragon ass, right?" she asked.
"Absolutely." He grinned. Despite his humor, grim determination churned inside him.
"Where are the vampires? They could help us."
"I sent them into the city. By the time they returned, the dragons had already regained control and barred them from entering." His stare became hard, penetrating. "I want to leave you down here."
"No," she said.
"Shaye."
"Valerian."
"She is queen," Broderick said, clearly entertained. "You will not be able to command her."
Valerian sighed. "Promise me you will duck and hide when the fighting begins."
"Promise," she said.
His hand closed around hers. Gods, he loved the feel of her. "Men, we go in hard and we go in fast."
"Like Broderick does with his women," someone joked.
Male chuckles abounded.
"Where is Shivawn?" Brenna asked.
"No one has seen him," Joachim replied, hugging Brenna close. "He probably left the palace before the dragons arrived and is sleeping off the night's excess."
"Lucky bastard," Broderick muttered, but he was smiling. Everyone was happy to be out of the cells.
"Try not to kill the dragons," Shaye said. "They could have killed us--and you--but they placed us on the surface unharmed and only locked you away. You owe them the same consideration."
"My mate is very wise," Valerian said. "Listen to her." After confining them inside the cells, Darius had looked him in the eyes and said, "I have been ordered by the gods to execute every nymph ever created. Perhaps I bring the gods' wrath upon my own head, but I do not think your race deserves annihilation. You will remain here until I decide what to do with you."
An honorable man such as that did not deserve to die.
As quietly as possible, he crept up the stairs, Shaye behind him, the army behind her. They were without weapons, yet they were determined. This was their home, and they weren't giving it up.
"Split," Valerian uttered softly when they reached the top.
The men branched in every direction. Joachim had kept Brenna with him, as well, Valerian noticed. Surprise was their biggest advantage right now. Their footsteps sounded lightly, barely echoing from the walls. Torches glowed, heating the air, lighting their path.
"This way." Valerian led his contingent into the dining hall. A group of dragons came into view. They stood at the table, discussing their best course of action.
"Kill them and be done with it," one of them growled. "I do not wish Poseidon's wrath upon my family."
"If we let Poseidon's threats affect us, we give him complete control of our lives," Darius said. "What if he wishes us to kill our own women tomorrow?"
"If we disobey him, we may not live long enough to know."
"There is a reason the gods have never slain us, a reason why they sent us back into this palace instead of destroying the nymphs themselves." Darius again.
"What reason?"
"I do not know, yet knowing there is a reason gives us a bit of power. All I am saying is that if we do this, we become servants and we put our own race in danger. If the gods destroy one, what is to keep them destroying another?"
"Nothing," Valerian answered. His signal.
Weaponless, the nymphs swarmed forward. Valerian wished to the gods he held The Skull, but he could not postpone this fight. Streams of fire spewed from the dragons the moment they realized they were under attack. Valerian shoved Shaye behind a small side table and leapt forward. He and Darius met midair. That the dragon king retained his human form meant he was not enraged. Yet.
They grappled to the ground. Valerian landed a hard punch into his opponent's face. Blood trickled from Darius's mouth, yet the cut healed quickly. Dragons possessed accelerated healing, which made them difficult to slow. He gave another punch and rolled, then kicked out his leg, hitting Darius's stomach.
Darius was flung backward, but immediately righted himself. He spun. His tail had sprouted and that tail slashed at Valerian's face, cutting deep. He felt the sting of it, but didn't let it affect him.
All around him nymphs and dragons warred. Their grunts permeated the air.
"I agree with what you said about the gods." Valerian lunged, punched. Contact.
"Then you are not as foolish as I thought." Darius kicked again, and his foot slammed into Valerian's side.
Spinning continuously, he lashed out at Darius. He landed four successive blows. "I will not give up this palace. It belongs to us. You already have a home."
"For the safety of Atlantis, the portal must be guarded. How can I trust you to do this? To not use it for your own gain?"
Valerian paused.
Darius did the same.
They stared each other down, both panting. "When we win the nymph females back from you, we will have no more need of the surface world."
Around them, the battle still raged. Valerian ducked as a stream of fire propelled toward him. The heat of it burned, singed, even though none of the flames touched him.
Darius said, "Poseidon said that according to the laws, only Guardians were to use the portals to travel to the surface, that any other deserved punishment. If you were a Guardian..."
"I would do my duty." Valerian studied Darius's face. That scar slashed from eyebrow to chin. His eyes were swirling blue, determined to kill if he must, but hoping to find another way.
"The portal I guard leads to a jungle on the surface. The portal here leads to an ocean on the surface, as I'm sure you know. If you stay here," Darius said, "human travelers will come through. Most often they simply swim too deeply, are innocent, but they will be yours to destroy. The Outer City will be yours to guard. I am ready to relinquish this duty as it was never meant to be mine. I have enough handling the Inner City."
"I will protect it with my life," Valerian vowed. "This is the only home we have ever known."
"Then kneel."
Valerian knelt without hesitation. He stared up at Darius, who sliced a thin cut down the center of his chest, and offered a blood oath to always guard the portal, to keep the city safe.
Around them, the men finally stopped fighting to listen and watch. Shaye approached Valerian's side, and he stood. He linked their fingers. He should have scolded her for leaving the safety of the table, but he liked her where she was too much.
Darius's gaze flicked to her and widened with surprise.
"I told you I wouldn't leave him," she said with a proud tilt of her chin.
His lips twitched. "My Grace would have done the same."
"Shall we trust each other, dragon?" Valerian waited impatiently for the answer. Everything he'd ever wanted hovered within his grasp.
Darius's gaze became piercing. "Yes," he finally said. "We shall trust each other. And battle the gods together if we must."
Valerian held out his hand. Darius eyed it for several seconds before clasping it with his own. The truce was sealed, and Valerian did
not know how he would explain this to Layel. "Let us hope we live long enough to regret this." He turned to Shaye and gathered her in his arms, where she belonged. Where he planned to keep her for all of eternity.
"This is the most unhappy I've ever been," she said, grinning. "I just hate you so much."
Softly he kissed her lips. "Not nearly as much as I hate you."
Oh, but they were going to have a long, happy life together.
EPILOGUE
"HOW MUCH IS THIS ONE?"
"That one will cost you a kiss. A big wet one. Probably a ten-second Frencher."
Valerian pushed away the basket of oranges he always kept in his room and studied the card Shaye had made. "Without you, I'm nothing," it read. With each day that passed, her cards became more and more poetic. Which was a good thing, since his men needed the cards to lure the female nymphs from their pique. Seemed they weren't too happy about being left with the dragons for so long.
But the sweet cards also meant that Shaye herself was being lured from her past hurts. She was adapting to life here admirably, amusing herself by making and selling cards to him and his men and the residents of the Outer City, where she'd set up shop. Always guarded from demons and other forces, of course. Even the dragons bought them when they came to visit--Darius had needed one for his pregnant wife. The vampires, too, bought them, though they did not visit often. Layel was upset by the alliance between nymphs and dragons. Valerian was determined to unite the two races.
So far Poseidon and the other gods had not returned. Or rather, had not made themselves known. Maybe they would soon, maybe they wouldn't. Valerian had Shaye, and that was all that mattered. He could handle everything else that happened. He'd even promised Shaye he would find a way to take her to see her mother. And he would. What Shaye wanted, Shaye would receive.
Life, at the moment, was all that he'd ever dreamed. Joachim was mated to Brenna and the little woman had become the army's best healer. She patched the men after every training session and battle, and she did it with a smile, followed by a lecture about "acting like babies" when the fearless warriors whimpered at the sight of a needle.
Shivawn was his only reason for upset. The man's mood grew blacker and blacker, and he was spending more and more time in the vampire camp, most likely sleeping with Alyssa (even though he had many nymph females to choose from) and not liking that he was driven to do so. Oh, well. The warrior would find his way. Of that Valerian was sure.
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