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No, no, no, she thought again. There had to be another explanation. And yet... she could think of nothing else. She d entered
the sea, fallen into a dark tunnel, and now stood in a cave. A cave found below the water, not above it.
Atlantis whispered across her mind. She gulped, tightening her hold on disbelief, unwilling to relinquish it even for a moment.
To do so meant accepting the craziness of Valerian s claim the claim of a deranged kidnapper.
So I drowned, and I m in hell. Eyes slitted, she tilted her chin stubbornly. Obviously, you re the devil.
We shall see. Men, Valerian called, a harsh growl. His penetrating stare never left her face. Take the women and gather
the rest of my army in the dining hall. The choosing will soon begin.
With an air of eager anticipation, the warriors leapt into action. One of them tried to grab her arm, but Valerian stopped him
with a feral, I will bring this one, even as she slapped at the offender s hand.
As you wish, my king.
King? King! They pounded up a coarse, wooden staircase, the women close on their heels. Most of the men were grinning
and clapping each other on the back. Who will you choose? she heard one of them say. Another responded with a hearty, I
want the redhead. Her breasts are... Their chatter faded away.
A single man remained behind. Or perhaps he d been waiting here in the cave. He wasn t wet like everyone else. He wore a
white shirt with a deep V-neck that almost reached his navel and tight black pants.
Valerian finally released her from his stare and turned to the remaining warrior. How are the prisoners? he asked.
Prisoners? Shaye s eyes widened, and she clutched at her throat. Dear God.
The man gave a brusque answer in that odd language she d heard Valerian use earlier, but Valerian shook his head. Speak
in the human tongue.
Alive, the man said with a frown.
Wait. Human tongue? What did that make Valerian s dialect? Inhuman?
Have they given you any trouble? Valerian asked.
None at all, my king.
Very good. Continue to see to their needs. He waved in dismissal, scowled, then called the man back. Has there been
any word about our females?
None.
Very well, he said, his disappointment clear. On with you.
The man nodded and clomped off, his boots beating into the rocky ground.
What prisoners? Shaye found herself asking on a trembling breath.
Beasts. Killers. He turned toward her and she was once again hit by the full majesty of him. Icy air at her back, pure heat
in front. Do not fear, for they will not be allowed near you. Some are to be a present to my friend, Layel, and some are to be used
to bargain.
How ominous both plans sounded. What did the man have planned for her, then? Was she to be a present for one of his
friends? Was she to be used as a bargaining tool?
He watched her with a frighteningly possessive intensity. The water in his hair was already drying, lightening the locks to a
rich, honey gold. Several of those amber strands fell over his forehead and trickled tiny, lingering droplets onto his cheeks.
I see the disbelief in your beautiful eyes, he said, leaning one shoulder against the jagged silver wall, and I will do my best
to prove my claim that this is Atlantis. The faster you accept the truth, the faster you will accept me.
Before she could respond, he reached out and applied pressure to the boulder behind her. His hand brushed her bare skin,
shooting those electric shocks through her blood. She twisted, seeing one of the huge rocks embedded in the wall slide backward
and sink deeply. As it descended, a secret doorway revealed itself. Rocks creaked and grumbled as they parted. Inch by inch,
smooth, glassy crystal was exposed.
Her mouth fell open in an imitation of the doorway. Unbidden, her feet walked her to the edge. Water swirled behind the
enclosure, and sand swayed at the sea s bottom. Pink coral and multicolored fish danced a lazy waltz. Emerald plants rose proudly.
That s the bottom of the ocean, she said, awed and shocked. That s the freaking bottom of the ocean.
I know. I discovered this wall only a few days ago and have spent many hours down here. Breathtaking, isn t it?
A gentle hum echoed in her ears when she flattened her palm against the crystal. The coolness and vibrations of the water
assured her this was no hallucination. My God. Atlantis. As she peered out, trying to come to grips with what she was seeing, a
gorgeous, dark-haired woman swam up to the crystal. No, not a woman. Shaye s brow furrowed in shock. A mermaid. A bare-
chested, tail-wagging mermaid.
Curiosity gleamed in its her green eyes. She stretched out a dainty arm and placed her hand exactly where Shaye s
rested. Gasping, Shaye jerked away. Shock pounded through her, and her hand fell to her side. Her mouth dried. Her knees
shook. The creature frowned... until her gaze latched on Valerian. She smiled, pleasure gleaming in her eyes, and waved.
You know her? Shaye managed.
He nodded, but didn t elaborate.
The woman... mermaid... whatever, had the face of an angel, innocent and more lovely than a long-awaited sunrise. Long
black hair curled around her delicate shoulders and lush breasts. Her tail shone like spun glass, an irradiance of violets, yellows,
greens and pinks, each scale a kaleidoscope of colors. Naked desire adorned her features as she stared at Valerian.
Do you believe me now? he asked.
Yes. The admission left Shaye on a ragged breath. Part of her wanted to sink to the twig-laden floor, curl into a ball and
cry. I ve been abducted by an Atlantean and carted to a city under the sea. The other part of her wanted to she didn t know
what.
Another mermaid joined the brunette, a symphony of curves and colors, pressing herself against the crystal and smiling
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