Last time I’d been in Atlantis, the walls had been made of mud from the ocean. After Zeus and my fight, Poseidon had rebuilt the palace using gems and the best seashells. His palace never would have looked this good if it hadn’t been for Zeus and me.
I pushed open the door to the restroom and pulled out my phone. Scrolling through the contacts, I got to Wrath, and I sent her a text.
Lucifer: Can you text me the layout of Atlantis?
Wrath: R we finally taking it over?
Lucifer: I need to get Gemma out of the dungeon first.
Wrath: I call dibs on Poseidon’s office.
Lucifer: Map. Now.
Wrath: Get your flames under control.
I watched the three bubbles on my screen. Seconds later, another text came through with a full map of Atlantis.
Wrath: Let me know when we are storming the castle.
Ignoring her last text, I scanned through the map, looking for the fastest way to the dungeon. There was an elevator at the end of the hall that would take me down to the dungeon level. I slipped my phone back in my pocket and walked quickly down the corridor.
When I got to the elevator and pressed the button, nothing happened. I pressed it again. Nothing. Someone walked up behind me and pressed the button, and it lit up.
“It wasn’t working a second ago,” I said.
The servant pointed back down the hall. “You need to go check with security. Maybe something happened to your access.”
Theseus came down the hall with a beer in his hand. “Hey. I thought you would be on your way back to hell by now.”
“I love what your father did to the place.” I waved my hand around. “You mind showing me around the dungeon?”
Theseus leveled a glare at me for a few seconds before pressing his thumb to the elevator. As with the servant, the button lit up, and I followed him into the silver elevator. It was nice, but it would have been better if it were made of gold. It had been centuries since I updated my place, and I couldn’t have Poseidon showing me up. I didn’t plan on going for the girly look like he did, but I might steal his interior designer and have her give me a concept.
Poseidon's son leaned against the elevator wall and took a sip of beer. That was what I was missing—a drink before battle.
“I’m surprised my father let you back into Atlantis.” He took another swig of beer. “I still hear him curse your name for what you did.”
The elevator door opened to show two guards standing at attention. Unlike the previous guards, they weren’t dressed in an elegant uniform with seashells. These guards carried large guns. They were also not from Atlantis. The men and women from Atlantis were tall, blond, and as skinny as models. Most of them had been models during their time in the mortal realm. When they decided to retire, they came back to Atlantis.
But these guards were closer to the size of Hercules. Their black T-shirts stretched across their chests. Both had long dark hair.
“You farm out your security?” I asked. I wouldn’t have minded hiring a couple of those guys to work the pub in hell.
Theseus grunted. “Zeus provides the security for Atlantis. Since he destroyed the place, he felt it was his way of helping.”
“Dumb fucker. It wasn’t our fault your father supplied the rum.” I walked past the guards. They were big, but my magic could overpower them. “Where are all your prisoners?”
Hell had an overcrowding problem. If I’d known there were so many open cells at Atlantis, I would have sent people here years ago.
Poseidon had also decked out the prison area. I wasn’t sure if I liked his choice of seaweed bars. Testing the strength, I sent out a bolt of fire, and it bounced off the seaweed bars and flew against the wall. Magic. This would make breaking Gemma out a little more difficult.
Theseus turned around and glared. Then he went back to walking down the aisle of the prison. I still hadn’t seen Gemma anywhere. According to the map Wrath had sent, this was the only jail area, and the map had been updated less than a year before. Hell had sent people around to map out all the other kingdoms in case one day we wanted to take them over but mostly so if we needed to break someone out of prison, we would know the lay of the land.
“Is this the only dungeon?” I asked.
“You finally going to tell me what you are looking for?” Theseus shot back, downing the last of his beer.
“Your father took away my woman. I want her back.” I didn’t plan on telling him it was Gemma, just in case he had an issue with her powers.
“What did she do?” he asked.
“Nothing. We were sitting in your father’s office, having a conversation about another rogue Titan, and he called the guards in to remove my woman because he didn’t like her story.” And because she had the ability to take his powers.
“Maybe my dad was paying you back.”
“That was one of my first thoughts,” I said. Another thought was that I should blow his palace up again. “I drank a lot and was going through some issues back then.”
Theseus leaned against the bars and watched me for a second. “I remember now—something about a breakup. I can’t remember her name, but you kept saying it while you guys were drinking.”
I winced. I wasn’t able to remember the conversation very well either, but I knew it was about Gemma. The incident had happened the same year I’d gotten the note about her. Zeus and Poseidon thought it would be a good idea to sit around and drink my sorrows away. I insisted I wasn’t upset, but even though I hated the two gods, they knew my behavior was off.
“Hmm.” I tapped my chin. “I don’t remember you being here.” I wasn’t going to admit any fault to the younger god.
“Oh, I was here. And it was all recorded on old fish film. I have to ask the archives to digitalize that fight. It would do well on Fishtube.”
Hell had its own channel called Helltube. I found myself immersed in videos for hours. For a cost, I could get the other gods’ channels, but I refused to pay the money. Instead, I had our tech team steal their videos and place them on Helltube.
“I think we’re getting off track. Are you going to take me to where your dad has Ge—my woman?”
It didn’t matter how badly I wanted to wipe the smug look off Theseus’s face. I needed his help. He was the only one who could get me into wherever Gemma was being held.
Theseus turned and walked back down the hall. I followed, taking notes on the dungeon. There were a few things I planned to implement in hell when I returned—like the diamond cuffs on the wall. But they wouldn’t be for the damned souls. Those cuffs would look good on Gemma as she was tied to the wall and I could do whatever I wanted with her.
Theseus pressed his hand to another lock, and the door came open. This dungeon was even nicer than the one in the previous room. What was disturbing was that there were no prisoners. Why waste a perfect cell if you aren’t going to lock anyone away? It made no sense.
In the distance, I heard Gemma speaking to another person. I took off running down the hall until I saw her slumped down with her back against the bars. Someone was in the cell next to hers.
“Gemma.”
She quickly stood and spun. Her hands were cuffed together as she stared up at me. “You came.”
“Of course I came. You doubted it?”
“Well…”
The cell door next to Gemma’s opened, and out walked Hera. Gemma’s eyes turned from me to Poseidon’s daughter. “You could get out of here?” she asked Hera.
“You really think my father would lock his favorite child up in a dungeon?”
Theseus cleared his throat. “Second favorite.”
“Why?” Gemma said, ignoring him.
Hera pushed me out of the way, waved her hand over the cell lock, and uncuffed Gemma. I pulled her into my arms, and she rested against my chest.
“You had doubts, and Father wanted me to talk with you and give this one”—Hera pointed at me—“a little pay back.”
“So he do
esn’t hate me?” Gemma asked.
“No.” Poseidon's voice boomed through the dungeon area. “I wanted Lucifer to pay for what he did. I also knew that back in the day, you questioned whether Lucifer really cared. But he came for you.”
“He didn’t last time. Nobody did,” Gemma said.
Poseidon let out a long sigh. “You’re right—we didn’t come. Honestly, I didn’t lie earlier. I remember a meeting, and Lucifer was there. I’m not sure why I didn’t piece it together when he was pining over you leaving.”
“Because of magic,” Gemma pointed out.
But it had to be strong magic for the person wielding it to be able to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Prometheus wouldn’t have been strong enough to pull this off. And he wasn’t supposed to have powers to start with. I wasn’t so sure Erato didn’t work for someone else and some mastermind wasn’t pulling the strings.
I tilted my head and pressed my mouth to Gemma’s. Her sweet cherry lips pushed back as she melted into my body. As I wrapped an arm around her, she pressed her tongue along the seam of my mouth, and we were lost in each other.
Then someone cleared his throat. “You guys were away from each other for thirty minutes, and neither of you was tortured.”
I turned and sent a bolt across the dungeon, setting part of the palace on fire. Poseidon let out a grunt.
“You could’ve talked to us instead of playing a stupid game,” I said.
Poseidon rolled his eyes and banged his trident against the ground. The flames disappeared, and everything went back to normal. “But what fun would that have been?”
“So you believe me when I say Prometheus is coming for you and Zeus? We need to let Zeus know he’s in danger.”
“While you were lying here relaxing in the dungeon, I made a few calls, and Zeus is on his way. But if my palace gets destroyed again, I’m going to blow up hell.”
There was no way I could promise that Atlantis wouldn’t have a few holes if Zeus was coming. He was my gasoline when it came to blowing things up.
“Is he going to be here soon?” I asked.
Poseidon stroked his beard. “By morning. You can stay in the west side of the palace. And in the morning, we will figure out the next step.” The god of the sea stepped forward and grabbed Gemma’s hand. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. I never doubted your allegiance to the gods. And when we get this straightened out, we will make everyone responsible pay.” He turned around and left without saying another word.
Hera stepped forward. “I’m sorry I played a trick on you. But remember, everything I said is true.”
Gemma nodded, and we followed Hera and Theseus out of the dungeon.
10
Gemma
The express elevator to the west side of the palace was a quick trip. Theseus broke off before we headed to our room. Hera showed us where we were going to stay. She also told us that breakfast would be in the throne room the next day.
Lucifer had complained that Poseidon was a show-off and said he should make the guests find their own breakfast. He went on to explain that when people showed up in hell, they were expecting the same hospitality they received in Atlantis, and that was insane.
I walked through the door to the suite. A gasp escaped my mouth. The room was a dome shape, and fish swam around the outer edge. It was breathtaking. The water was crystal blue, and I could see for miles.
“Well, this is creepy,” Lucifer blurted, ruining the mood.
“I think it’s breathtaking.”
Lucifer huffed, walked over to the bar and poured two drinks into crystal-blue glasses. “It’s nice, but I don’t want an audience when I’m inside you.”
I hadn’t thought about it that way. It would kind of be creepy stripping down when anyone could see in. “I’m sure there have to be some sort of blinds.”
“Or Poseidon is a voyeur and plans to watch.”
There was no answer to that statement. I turned to check out the rest of the suite. The bathroom was as large as the main living area. Unlike the central area, it had a ceiling made of pearls that sparkled in the light. Above a large tub was a crystal chandelier. The tub was large enough for more than one person, and I planned to soak in it for a few hours. I hoped it would help with some of the aches in my body.
Lucifer walked up behind me and wrapped one arm around my waist. He placed a glass in my hand. “This room is better.”
“I can’t wait to soak in that tub.”
He placed a kiss behind my ear before pulling away. The little gesture sent a shiver down my spine. My knight in Armani had come for me. The words to bind us together were on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it yet.
Lucifer walked over to the counter, grabbed a bottle of bubble bath, and returned to the tub. He turned on the water, and it came out sparkling as he added bubbles to it. I walked back into the living room and grabbed the bottle of wine and Lucifer’s glass then went back into the bathroom and set the items on the tray next to the bathtub.
Lucifer grabbed his glass. “So, are you going to tell me what you and Hera talked about?”
That wasn’t the conversation I wanted to have. I grabbed the bottom of my tank top and pulled it over my head. “I’m sorry, what did you ask?”
Lucifer huffed. “You’re trying to distract me with your sexy body.”
I reached behind my back and unclasped my white lace bra. I let it fall off my arms. “Did you want me to stop?”
Lucifer’s eyes blazed red as he took a sip of wine. When the water reached the perfect height, he reached down and turned it off. I worked the leather pants down my leg, making sure I turned that so he could have a full view. When I heard him take a breath, I knew I was getting to him.
I walked across the bathroom and stood in front of him, dragging my fingers down his dress shirt. I took my time undoing each button until I reached the last one. I slid the shirt over his shoulders. That was when I noticed the tattoos over his heart.
Tears formed in my eyes as I ran my finger over the dark lines. He had a picture of me tattooed over his heart. “When did you do this?”
Lucifer looked down, his eyes blazing a deeper red. “When I didn’t think you would ever come back. But you’ve always had my heart, Gemma.”
I placed a kiss over the tattoo as I worked his belt and pants off. We both stood in the middle of the bathroom, naked. Lucifer swept me into his arms and stepped into the bathtub then slowly lowered us both in. Lucifer positioned me so my back was against him. I could feel his hard member against the middle of my lower back, just above my ass.
“It sucks we lost so much time.” He grabbed a rag from the tray and ran it over my shoulders and down my front. “It won’t ever happen again.”
“You don’t know that.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I might’ve messed up once, but I’m never going to take someone else’s word again. You’re going to have to pry me off you.”
I poked one of the bubbles floating in the air. “What happens if I die, Lucifer?”
“Well, we both know what will fix that. All you have to do is say yes.”
He was right. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t say the word. Over the past couple of days, he’d proved himself, but things kept coming to mind that held me back—mostly how he’d fallen into the arms of other women. I knew we would fight in the future. He might fall into their arms again.
“Let’s get through this, and if we live… I will bind myself to you,” I said.
He slid his arms around me and pulled me tighter to his body. “I really wish you would let us do it now. You know the fight ahead of us is not going to be easy. And if we were bound, you would get some of my powers.”
“That’s right, but that is not a reason to bind our souls. I don’t want something like this hanging over us when we make the decision. I want you to just want to be with me.”
Lucifer rested his chin on top of my head. I relaxed back into his arms. Being next to
him again made me feel like life was starting to fall into place. He was the fire that burned inside of me.
Going to Lucifer first after waking hadn’t been her choice, but I was glad it was what Prometheus wanted. Even if, for some reason, the bind didn’t work to keep me alive, I had this week with the man who held my heart. No matter how things ended, I would always cherish these little moments with him.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he whispered. His voice held need. “When you’re ready, so am I.”
“Can we still be together without binding?”
A minute passed before he murmured, “Yes, and I will wait as long as you need.”
Lucifer stood from the bath and picked me up with him. I squealed as he walked through the room. On his way to the bed, he flipped a switch, and the outer glass turned black.
“I’m all wet, Lucifer,” I said, licking my lips. “Can you grab a towel so we can dry off?”
“I like you wet.” His eyes flashed red. He gently laid me down on the bed.
“But I’m going to get the bed all wet, and you’re dripping water all over the place too.”
“Mmm,” he murmured, running his tongue along the inside of my leg. “I have a much better idea of how to get the water off your body.”
I moaned. “That does feel really good.”
His beautiful lips turned up. “Anything for you.”
He stretched out along the bed. “Beautiful,” he mumbled between kisses on my collarbone. His eyes flashed red and brown when he looked up. As I squirmed under him, he glanced at me with a cocky smile.
Down, down—Lucifer continued his journey, licking each drop off my body. I gasped as he took my nipple in his mouth. He rolled the other one in his fingers. “I love the sound you make when I touch your body.”
“Please, Lucifer, I need you.”
He continued to lay butterfly kisses on my stomach as he worked his way down my body. Lucifer had been the only man I’d ever been with, and it was as good as I remembered. His skillful tongue set my body ablaze as he worked his way down. I’d never been insecure when it came to being with Lucifer. Now I felt even more open to him. He was my destiny and the man I wanted to be with.
Fated Mates of the Underworld, Books 1-3 Page 34
