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With a hiss, she kicked out her leg, knocking his ankles together as he’d done to hers in the forest. At the same time, she pushed his shoulders, propelling him backward and giving him no way to balance or catch himself. When he landed, he landed hard, breathing a thing of the past.
You knew better than to allow yourself to be distracted in the presence of an Amazon warrioress, he berated himself, trying to suck in a mouthful of air. Around any enemy, really, but especially one so volatile.
Delilah hopped on top of him, pinning his shoulders to the sand with her knees. There was now another layer to her already complex scent, he realized. Arousal. The discovery shocked him. Hot, erotic arousal, and his mouth dried, his tongue desperate to lave between her legs, where she would be wet. If he moved, raised his head even a little, he would be able to quench his sudden, desperate thirst.
No. No!
“This is better,” she said, practically humming with satisfaction. And disappointment? Did she want to be weaker than him? Surely not. To her, such a thing could bring only humiliation. “The king of the vampires, mine to command. Now you are going to answer my questions. Tell me why you didn’t try to swim home like the rest of us. You know something. You must.”
Fighting his need for her—just a touch, a taste—he snapped, “I will never be yours to command. Never be yours, period.”
“We shall see.” Baby-fine strands of her hair brushed his cheeks. A purr rumbled in the back of his throat, and he growled to mask it. “I have heard of your conquests, vampire king.”
“Have you?” Slowly he raised his hands to her waist, pretending he wanted to hold her, be closer to her. Hating that it was not as much a pretense as it should have been.
She didn’t protest. “Yes. They’re impressive. You killed the demon queen, sucking her dry. You have slaughtered more dragons than anyone else ever to live. Combined. You torture ruthlessly just to hear your opponent scream.”
“And yet you seem remarkably unfazed by such fearless feats.”
“Have you, perchance, heard of my conquests?” She sounded hopeful.
“No.” He hadn’t, but wished otherwise.
“Liar,” she said, unable to hide her dejection.
“About many things, yes, but not this.” When she opened her mouth, perhaps to list her own feats, he added, “I do not wish to hear about them, either.” Proof that he did, in fact, lie whenever he wanted.
Fire blazed in her eyes as she licked her lips, baring that pink tongue again. “All I want to know is wwhhyy—”
With a flick of his wrists, he tossed her overhead. She landed on her back and rolled, but he expected the motion and rolled backward himself, pinning her to the sand with his body’s weight. Behind them, a gasp sounded. Followed by a laugh, a cheer. No footsteps swished in the sand, however. Perhaps, like him, the others could not breach the shield. Or perhaps they were simply enjoying the show.
Delilah lay there a moment, stunned.
“You were saying?” he asked, one brow arched smugly.
“Release me, Layel. Now.”
Her breasts pushed into his chest, her nipples hard and wanting. He was tempted, so tempted, to palm them. Was shaking with the need, he realized. “What are you doing to me? How are you making me feel this way?”
She blinked up at him, truly confused. “What way?”
He would not admit his desires aloud. They were wrong, unacceptable. Oh, he knew that men and women constantly fell in and out of lust. Knew that many who lost their lover grieved for a time and then found someone else.
He could not, would not do so.
Susan had been killed in the most painful, brutal way imaginable. She had been humiliated, used, spat upon and finally burned. She had felt her baby die inside her, the kicking gradually slowing until it ceased altogether. She had begged and she had pleaded for Layel’s help, but he had not reached her soon enough. He had not saved her.
He did not deserve another chance at love.
He did not deserve another woman.
More than that, Susan did not deserve to have her memory overshadowed by another woman.
“What way?” Delilah insisted, reaching up.
What she meant to do, he might never know. He jolted to his feet with a roar. “Do not touch me. Ever. Just stay away from me, Amazon. Do you understand?”
He didn’t wait for her reply, but stalked away from her. Stalked away before he looked at her, saw hurt in her eyes and apologized. Before he begged her to ignore his words and touch him anyway. Before he threw himself at her, sobbing for a chance at something he was not worthy of.
Sand was flung against his calves and he knew she’d stood. “I only approached you to ask if you knew why we were brought here,” she called. There was no emotion in her tone. Merely a detachment he suddenly loathed nearly as much as he loathed the dragons.
Silent, he continued to stride away from her with a fierce determination he usually reserved for the battlefield. One amorous glance from a woman and a part of you longs to forget Susan. You promised her an eternity, yet you only gave her a few hundred years. Pathetic.
Cringing, he covered his ears with his hands. Dark, treacherous emotions were welling inside him, close to bubbling over. If they succeeded, Layel knew he would be lost to them forever. There would be no returning, no reclaiming his sanity. Vengeance would be forgotten, his own pain all he would be able to see.
“Do you know? Does anyone know?” Delilah shouted.
“I do,” a booming voice answered, relish in every syllable. “I know.”
Chapter Four
DELILAH FROZE. That voice…that power…In all her years, she’d never heard such a sound or felt such a presence. And yet, the shock of both failed to compare to the shock of having been face-to-face—body to body—with Layel, king of the vampires.
She had heard stories of the man’s prowess, of course, of his dark nature, his unquenchable thirst for blood and power. Delicious qualities, indeed, and she couldn’t help but desire all of his strength, all of his fervor, at her fingertips again. He was a warrior to the core and would not care what her sisters thought of him. He would fight for what he wanted, damn the consequences.
He was the kind of man she’d secretly wanted for years, the need solidifying every time she saw a couple, no matter their race, cooing over each other. The kind of man she’d once thought she’d had, only to lose because he hadn’t desired more than a night. But unlike the other, Vorik, who, at the height of passion, had claimed he would crave her forever, Layel said he wanted nothing to do with her. Should she believe him? His heated glances suggested otherwise.
She almost wished she’d spent more time with the male species. But with the exception of her ill-fated assignation, her tribe only consorted with them twice a year—mating season—when men were stolen from their homes, reduced to slaves, their bodies used repeatedly. When the Amazons finished with them, they were sent on their way. Because Vorik had not been one of those slaves, Delilah had foolishly hoped that, after all his tender promises and heated caresses, her man would fight to stay with her. Or, at the very least, fight to take her with him.
Not even a backward glance, she mused darkly.
So many times since then she’d wondered why none of the men—not just hers—had ever asked for more. After all, not one slave had even put up a fight when he’d first realized his destination and purpose. In fact, they’d seemed overjoyed. Willing and eager. And even though they were slaves, they were treated well, sex available anytime they wanted it.
But apparently, though Amazons were fun for a time, they just weren’t worthy of forever. Not that any other Amazon but her wanted forever. What’s wrong with me? Though her virginity was long gone, thanks to Vorik, she couldn’t even use the slaves casually, as the sexual vessels they were meant to be.
Since taking her lover, Delilah had never experienced the urge to give herself to another, only to toss him aside later—or be tossed aside herself, his old life more important than the new one he could build with her. But Layel…she desired him, she realized. Desired his tongue in her mouth, hot and insistent. Desired their sweat-soaked skin slipping and sliding together. Desired his body arching and straining over hers.
Foolish girl. She could desire such things, but she could never allow them. Already she wanted Layel too fiercely. How much more would she want him if she learned the reality of his touch? The true bliss? She would give herself to him, wholly and fully, yet he would walk away afterward. Once again, she would be forgotten. This time, though, she suspected she would not get over the loss. She’d been given a glimpse of the man behind the legend and she’d liked what she’d seen.
Someone stepped on her foot, drawing her from her troubling musings back to the equally troubling present. What in Hades was going on? Everyone was inching toward the beach.
“Reveal yourself,” the dragon with the braids was saying to the invisible being, his arms splayed wide as he turned in a circle in front of her. “If you have the courage.”
Someone gasped. Someone pointed.
Wonderful. Another surprise. Delilah followed the direction of that finger, and her eyes widened. There, above the water, the air had begun to crystallize and thicken. A force of good? Or evil? She settled one foot behind her, ready to leap and attack at a moment’s notice. The other creatures did the same, she noticed, each of them preparing for battle.
Unfortunately, the only weapons to be had were their own bodies.
Even Layel had stopped to face the swirling being. His expression was intent, though untamed, feral and savage, and somehow banked with undeniable sensuality.
“Oh, I have the courage. But do you, dragon? Do any of you? Only time will tell.” Wind billowed and wet droplets sprayed. “Citizens of Atlantis, welcome to Paradise, created for the gods yet happily relinquished to you, our faithful servants.”
Paradise? Servants?
The voice came from the water, but the air never coagulated completely. Just remained thick and dappled in the shape of a human—large, probably male. Three mermaids—a blonde, a brunette and a redhead—swam around the misty form, cooing their admiration of his power and glory.
“Be not afraid,” the being continued. “You have been chosen to participate in a monumental event. All we ask in return is that you show us your valor, strength and cunning, qualities you have amply displayed on the battlefields of your home.” He paused, probably awaiting nods and murmurs of encouragement.
He got neither. The others were no doubt as perplexed as Delilah.
A rumble of irritation sounded from the water.
“Why did you bring us here?” she demanded before the being could speak again. So far, he had offered no answers, only more confusion.
“There’s going to be trouble,” one of the mermaids sang happily.
“You will not speak to me in that tone,” the booming voice announced, the jelly-air rippling violently.
“And you can’t just—” Delilah began.
“Silence!”
A stream of water slammed into her, hitting with so much force she dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. Her mouth filled, and she gurgled and choked. Even if you are dying, show no fear. The second commandment. She might have broken most of the commandments this day, but she wouldn’t break that one.
Her gaze automatically sought Layel, the man who made her feel both protected and hated. His beautiful azure eyes were narrowed on her, his soft lips thinned. In displeasure? She hadn’t seen him move, but he seemed closer to her than before. She forced her expression to remain neutral.
“Next time, Amazon, you will be buried in water,” the being warned.
She didn’t respond, even when the water spray ceased and she managed to suck air back into her lungs. As a warrioress, she had been trained in combat since the age of five. Every time she had failed at a lesson, she had been punished severely. A whipping most often, until her flesh was torn to ribbons. Sometimes a stoning. Sometimes a parade through camp, her faults shouted for all to hear.
She understood the need for such training, and didn’t regret it. Her ancestors had been slaves to males of all races—just like the slaves they now took into their own camp those two months out of every year. Only their captivity had been eternal. Or had been meant for eternity. One day they’d risen up, attacked and escaped, determined never to suffer such a fate again. Determined no Amazon would. And so the commandments had been born.
Delilah bore both her internal and external scars proudly, for she had learned never to fail twice at the same thing. This god would not receive a second opportunity to best her.
“Impertinence will not be tolerated. We are Supreme Beings, your leaders, your creators. You will treat us with the respect we deserve, or you will suffer our wrath.”
We. There was only one being here, yet he spoke of others. Were they all here, simply invisible? The thought didn’t scare her; no, it infuriated her. An unseen, unknown enemy would be harder to defeat.
“Listen, all. You are our creations, meant for our amusement and protection, yet we have never made use of you. For too long, you were forgotten, our attention turned to the humans. But no longer must you endure our neglect. You have been remembered and now you shall know our favor.”
The voice paused again, as if everyone should exclaim with joy that they’d been remembered. When no one did, there was another irritated grumble.
“Our greatest wish is to learn all about you. For weeks we have been watching you, studying, wondering who among you is the strongest. Those touched by Apollo’s flame? Those gifted with Aphrodite’s beauty? Those with Ares’s thirst for war? And that is how you came to be here on this island, for after careful consideration, we plucked the most courageous, the most feared from the masses.” Once more the wind blustered. “Faithful servants, it is time you put an end to our wondering, once and for all.”
Delilah almost groaned. She could guess what the god—for what else could the force be but a god?—would say next. They were going to force the creatures here to fight one another. While she didn’t mind fighting, she didn’t like being jerked from her home, from Lily to—
Lily.
Damn this! What had happened to the girl after Delilah had disappeared? Had she made it home safely? Had she been captured again? Hurt? Delilah’s hands curled into fists, itching to pound something. Someone. The tenth and most important commandment was to always protect the queen and her family. Had she left Lily at the mercy of the dragons?
“This will not be an easy undertaking, nor will it be swift. Not for you, and not for us. Time is required to sift through sand and find the gold. That is why you will remain on this island,” the being continued, “where you will be divided into two teams. Every few days you will be tested, challenged, our way of dusting the sand from the gold. It will be up to you to prove your mettle and show us we were right to return to Atlantis.”
“Every few days” would translate into weeks, if not months. Her nails dug crescents into her palm. What did I do to deserve this? Courage should be rewarded, not punished.
“Before you proclaim your joy at this great honor we have bestowed upon you, you should know that we conferred many days before bringing you here, one truth very clear to us all—the weak should feel the sting of our disappointment.” There was another pause, laden with tension. “That is why the losing team will counsel with us. And why one member will be chosen…for execution.”
Shocked gasps circled the beach. Delilah’s jaw almost hit the ground. Executed? For losing a silly challenge? She could understand a beating—what Amazon wouldn’t—but death? Does it matter? You will win by whatever means necessary.
“We have no doubt that all of you will try your best. But in the end, there can be only one winner.”
“My lord,” Brand said, stepping forward. “We—”
“For now,” the god interjected, cutting the dragon off, “take this day for yourselves. You will find the elements no longer pain you.” That seemed to be addressed directly to Layel and the other vampire. Had they been hurt? “Restore your vigor, build what weapons you think you need to aid you in your path to victory. I prevented you from killing each other when you first awoke, but I won’t intervene any longer. Just know that to destroy another creature could very well be to destroy your own team—and so could bring you one step closer to facing execution. Welcome to Paradise, Atlanteans. Let the games begin.”
The thickened air began to break apart, thinning to raindrops…then mist. But that soon dissipated, as well, curling toward the brightening blue overhead. A blue as clear and fathomless as Layel’s eyes.
All three mermaids disappeared below the water’s surface. A second later, their iridescent tails lifted and wiggled. Then those, too, vanished. Still, no one on the beach spoke.
Perhaps, like Delilah, they were shaken to the core, throats unworkable.
Nola was the first to move. She crossed the distance, grabbed Delilah’s arm without slowing and tugged her into the surrounding palms. When they were far enough away that the others would not hear them, the warrioress stopped and whirled. “What are we going to do? Who was that?”
“I don’t know.” She massaged the back of her neck, hating the situation more with every second that passed. “I just don’t know. Poseidon most likely, for he is the water god.” She’d never interacted with a god before and hadn’t ever thought to do so. As the being had said, the heavenly sovereigns had not bothered the citizens of Atlantis for thousands of years—and that had been just fine.
“The voice kept saying we,” Delilah continued. “Others are involved.”
“Did he? I didn’t notice. All I could think about was the fact that I was looking at a creature comprised solely of water who wanted me to prove myself or die.” Nola shook her head, dark hair flying in every direction. “We have never been friends, Delilah, but you are the only person I trust in this so-called Paradise. What if we are separated? Placed on opposing teams? Our first commandment is to always aid a sister in need. How can I aid you if we are suddenly enemies?”
“Nola, I’m just as confused as you are.” Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. Most days were the same. Wake up, train for war, eat, train for war, sleep. Repeat. The only difference was usually going to war, something they did at least twice a year, whether provoked or not, to prove their continued strength. “Let me think for a moment.”
Back and forth she paced, the trees blurring. Of the two of them, Nola was younger, less experienced. That meant the responsibility of keeping the girl alive fell on Delilah’s shoulders. “We cannot leave, that much we know. And if we cannot leave, that means we must compete in the god’s silly games or be killed.” If they were forced to compete against each other, Delilah knew she would not be able to hurt Nola. Even if it meant dying herself.
She had been raised to protect her sisters, no matter what. That was her purpose, her privilege. A game was not going to change that.
Win by whatever means necessary, she’d thought only a few moments ago. Now she snorted. “We may not be separated, so let’s not worry about that just yet. Right now we’re going to gather all the sticks we can carry, as well as every sharp rock that we see. I want us prepared for battle by nightfall. Just in case.”
Nola gave a stiff nod, but she didn’t move off immediately. “Tell me we’ll return home soon. Tell me, and I’ll believe it.” The vulnerability glowing from her expression was surprising.
“We’ll return home,” she replied without hesitation. Defeat was not something Delilah allowed. Ever. What about Layel? He shoved you down, could have hurt you and you wouldn’t have been able to stop him. “You have my word,” she forced past the sudden lump in her throat, her blood churning into liquid lightning. Damn that man, and damn the heavens! “Go. Before everyone else decides to make weapons, as well, and there’s nothing left for us.”
ENVELOPED BY SHADE, Layel had watched as each pair of creatures disappeared into the trees. To talk, he was sure. To plan. To arm themselves. At the moment, he was too furious to move. He’d been taken from his people and his war for the amusement of the gods. Intolerable!
“I will not stand for this,” Zane snapped at his side.
“Nor I.”
Zane blinked at him in surprise, as if he had expected Layel to chastise him rather than agree. “What can we do?”
