She was not worried about Shedd being not being immortal. For the first time in her long life she'd found someone that she loved enough to pledge herself to. She planned to enjoy every year that they had.
She donned her robe and stepped into the main room. Desma was helping Adelphia into a silvery, flowing robe. The younger woman's blond hair hung around her shoulders, and she worried her lip, as if frightened about what was about to take place.
When Iaha came inside, the turned to her and winked. Iaha returned the affection, then plastered her own, mournful look on her face. It would not due for Iaha to let Desma know that she was happy about the day's events, after she'd put up such a fuss about Shedd being her man.
When Desma pronounced that Adelphia was ready, the three of them stepped out of the house and moved toward the temple that Iaha now knew housed the statue of her father.
Shedd would be waiting there, with the aquamarine stone in his hand, ready to place it in the statue, or so Anstice and Desma thought.
They stepped inside and Iaha took in the crowd. It seemed that all of Yumani had appeared to watch the stone being replaced, to watch what they thought was the restoration of Poseidon's protection and approval of them.
Shedd stood at the front, with Gyles standing not far behind him. Anstice stood next to the statue, a huge smile on his face.
Desma ushered Adelphia up the aisle and Iaha laughed when she thought how much this looked like an actual wedding ceremony. She knew from what Gyles had told them last night that the mating ceremony would not take place in front of everyone.
Instead, after the stone was placed in the statue, Anstice would join Shedd and Adelphia's hands and they would be ushered into an antechamber that contained the ritual bed where Shedd was to take Adelphia's virginity.
Iaha smiled. Adelphia had remained true to that part of her heritage. She was a virgin, waiting for her lover. But the lover would be Gyles, and not Shedd, a fact for which all four of them were very, very happy.
As Adelphia mounted the steps, Iaha sat down in the front row, next to Desma. Adelphia stepped next to Shedd, and Anstice started toward them. When he was only twenty feet in front of them, the temple shook.
The congregation made nervous noises, breaking into screams as the temple shook harder.
Iaha stood, but before she could move toward Shedd, there was a blinding flash of light. When the light cleared, the crowd gasped. Standing at the top of the stairs, his face angry, a trident in his fist, was mighty Zeus.
"Uncle. Stop! I...” She started toward him.
"You stop, Iaha. This whole thing will stop. On my orders! I..."
A second flashing light appeared and Iaha jumped as her father appeared next to her. She'd never seen Poseidon look so angry. His eyes flashed in rage. His own trident was drawn, pointed at his brother.
"If you have something to say, Zeus, say it to me. I will allow you to hurt these people, my people, no longer."
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Chapter Twelve
"You will not allow me? You think that you have the authority to..."
"I have dominion over the seas, not you."
"And I have dominion over you! What gave you the right to create this place? To hide it from me?"
"Is that what bothers you? That I hid it? I wished not to share with you. Have you not a place of your own such as this?"
Zeus's eyes narrowed, and Iaha knew that her father was right. Zeus had his own colony somewhere, hidden from everyone where he kept concubines and their offspring. His hatred of Yumani was simply because his brother had created it, and not him.
Her father's laugh sent chills up her spine.
"You are so arrogant. You could not live with the fact that there was a place that you didn't own, could you? I gave the people here my protection, and you had to hire someone to steal it. Now, it's back, and there's nothing you can do about it. Yumani is mine once more."
"Do you think, brother?” Zeus whirled, his trident pointed at Shedd.
"No!” Iaha screamed and ran toward him, her heart racing as a firebolt shot from the end of Zeus’ weapon.
Shedd took the stone from his pocket and threw it at Gyles, who ran to the statue and placed it above the stone heart of Poseidon. The room lit up just as Zeus's thunderbolt sailed across the room toward Shedd. A second bolt flew from her father's weapon, hitting Zeus's seconds before they both hit Shedd's chest.
Iaha watched him fall, her screams becoming louder and louder as she raced toward him.
"My power here is restored,” Poseidon yelled. “Be gone with you."
Zeus disappeared, his cry of anger filling the temple.
Iaha knelt next to Shedd, who had fallen to the floor.
"Shedd! Shedd!"
Darling. Can you hear me?
...love you. I...
"NO! Father, help him."
Her father stepped toward her, his trident at his side.
"He is merely stunned. The bolt that intercepted Zeus's deflected much of his power. Give him a moment, daughter. He will recover, and you will be together."
Poseidon lifted his head and screamed his brother's name.
"Never interfere here again. If you do, I can promise you that I will find one of your civilizations and punish their people, as you've punished mine!"
Anstice stepped forward and bowed to Poseidon.
"Great Master, we bid you welcome. But, the prophecy says this man,” he pointed to Shedd, “this man must mate with your descendent and restore power here."
Poseidon held up his hand. “The prophecy says that the man who replaces the stone shall wed Adelphia. Shedd did not replace the stone, he merely brought it here. Gyles replaced the stone. And Shedd will mate with my descendent, Iaha."
Adelphia let out a squeal of delight, then launched herself up the stairs and into Gyles's arms.
Shedd stirred under her hands, and Iaha bent over and kissed him gently.
"Bloody hell, that hurt."
She laughed. “How are you feeling?"
"Don't worry, my love. You won't get rid of me that quickly. I love you too much."
"And I love you."
She kissed him again, and then they lifted their heads to watch Anstice lead Adelphia and Gyles to the room where the mating ritual would take place.
The multitudes yelled in approval and mighty Poseidon laughed. He turned to the crowd and surveyed it.
"Father?"
"Go with your man, daughter,” he said, raising his eyebrows at several of the ladies. “I have been gone from here a long time, and have work to do."
He started into the crowd and Shedd relaxed into the ground with a sigh.
"Your father's an old horn dog."
"Yes, he is. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"
"I told you, yes. I'm a little woozy, however.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “It's a good thing it's your turn to be on top."
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Chapter Thirteen
Iaha lay with her head on Shedd's chest. He slept peacefully, his chest rising and falling in a relaxed, and comforting, rhythm.
The scene where Zeus's thunderbolt shot toward him played through her mind. She didn't know what she would have done if her father hadn't been there to deflect the power. Shedd would have died, and her heart would have died with him.
It brought home to her the simple fact that Shedd was mortal, and would die as was the way of man. And she, a daughter of Poseidon, would never die.
How would her heart take it what had happened today had caused his death? She wasn't sure that she would be able to survive without him. She loved him too much, needed him too much.
And you're thinking too much.
She jumped as Shedd's voice entered her mind.
I don't want to be without you.
You're not. I'm here. Awake and holding the woman that I love. Life is good.
She nuzzled into him more.
What happens, though, whe
n it's for real?
Then we'll deal with it, as all people do.
I...
"No more. I want to make love.” His voice boomed out in the room and Iaha laughed.
"You almost sound like my father, or my uncle, with your deep commanding voice."
Shedd laughed loudly. “Perhaps that lightening bolt did more than just stun me."
He caressed her shoulder, then leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"Madam. I believe it's your turn to be in charge."
Iaha laughed, sliding up into a sitting position and running her fingers along her chest.
"Hmm. What to do, what to do. I suppose I could take your wonderful cock in my mouth, run my tongue around it and suck it down my throat."
She looked down and grinned as his cock hardened and lifted. “Goodness. Looks like someone likes that idea. Or I could massage you, make sure my hands found your balls, squeeze them gently, feel you grow harder in my hands."
His cock hardened more and he hissed.
"You like that, too? Well, how about if I just mounted you and rode you until neither of us could stand the pleasure?"
"Iaha. Stop. Tormenting. Me."
"Why? I rather like it.” She giggled when he grabbed her and pulled her on top of him.
"I'll take a generous helping of all three, please."
He lifted up and captured her lower lip between his, sucking it in until they were both hissing around each other's lips. She pushed him back and licked her lips.
Her hands traced his shoulders and his arms, moving at a slow rate. The friction made her nipples tingle and she moved her fingers to his own, sliding them between her hands and massaging gently.
"Oh, baby."
"Yes?” She bent over and flicked her tongue around one nipple, and then the other, sucking them in gently, putting just enough pressure on them with her teeth until he groaned.
When she released them, she trailed her tongue down his stomach to the patch of hair above his cock. She ran her fingers through it, and then gently thumbed his hard erection.
Before he could protest, or order her to hurry up, she wrapped her fingers around him and took him deep inside her mouth, sucking him in and out, loving the feel of him throbbing inside of her.
Her fingers moved down to his balls as she continued to suck, gently tracing lines back and forth over the hardening sac.
"You'll be the one to kill me, not the lightening bolt."
She released his cock and it fell back onto his stomach. “Do you think? Can you stand years and years of me tormenting you with my lips, my hands, and my pussy?"
She lifted his cock again and centered herself above him, pushing down and taking him deep inside her.
This time she was the one who hissed as he grabbed her hips and urged her further down, moving her back and forth and up and down.
"Shedd! Oh, Shedd!"
He released one hand and used his thumb to find her clit, which he rubbed and pushed as Iaha tossed her head back and forth, her gentle rocking turning into a hard pounding as she rode him.
"Shedd, please!"
"There, or there? Or there?” His thumb pushed just above her clit and Iaha came, screaming out so loud that she was sure every person in the colony heard her.
He continued to torment her clit and she came again.
"Please, Shedd, please, no more. I ... I.... oh, Shedd.” She melted down onto his chest, her own heaving as he moved his hands up to her back and rolled them over.
When he was on top of her, he pushed her thighs apart, grabbing each of her ankles as he began to pound into her harder and harder.
Iaha felt as if the world were spinning. She'd never felt the closeness to a man that she felt to Shedd at this very moment. Their gazes locked and she knew that he felt the same.
Stay inside me forever.
With pleasure, my love. With pleasure.
He slowed his pace, his gaze dropping to where they were joined. In response, she tightened herself around him, clenching and releasing until he lifted his head and groaned.
I repeat. You'll be the death of me.
He rocked in and out of her gently, releasing her ankles and lowering himself so he could take her nipples into his mouth, moving back and forth between them as she moaned under him.
Finally, he held still, lowering his lips to hers and caressing them gently. She squeezed him gently, then harder, and harder still.
He rocked slowly according to her movements and seconds later he came, pouring himself into her as they whispered I love yous back and forth in their minds.
Will our children be mortal?
I don't know. It's something I have to ask my father.
You will have my child, right?
I'll have a dozen of them, as long as they all look, and act, like their father.
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Chapter Fourteen
Iaha was settled securely in Shedd's arms when her father's voice resounded in her mind. She pushed away from Shedd gently and he did not stir, his chest rising and falling in deep slumber.
She stood, donned a shell bra, gathered a robe around her and followed her father's command, meeting him at the pool. He sat at the edge, his beautiful green tail moving in and out of the water as several beautiful mermaids played with a ball in front of him.
"Shedd says you're a horn dog."
Poseidon laughed. “And he's right. It is a quality that I've possessed all of my life. One that I would not trade for anything."
He looked up at her and smiled. “You are happy, daughter?"
"Very. I'm also frightened, father.
"Whatever for? You fought, and defeated, your uncle. And you've found the man of yours dreams. What is there to be frightened of?"
She dropped the robe and dove into the pool, then hooked her arms over the side, laying her head on her forearms.
"He is mortal. I love him so much, when he dies, I won't want to live. And he asked about our children. If they will be mortal."
"Your children will have the same powers as you have. As for your future husband, when he absorbed Zeus's thunderbolt, he absorbed great power. It would take more than a mortal man to withstand that."
"Father, what are you saying?"
"That you don't have to worry about losing him. And your children? Well, let's just say they will probably be able to give their grandfather a run for his money."
Iaha's face lit up with joy.
"Father!"
"I didn't mean for it to happen this way. I knew from the day that Shedd was born that the two of you were meant to be together. But I did not want to push you, because I feared that you would reject him, as is the right of any person, even with those they are meant to be with."
"I would never reject him."
Poseidon laughed. “Just a few days ago you swore you would have nothing to do with him, because I was interfering with your life."
She blushed and turned her head.
"Will you marry us?"
"I would be honored. And when you have a wedding on land, I will attend and give my daughter away. I'll even wear clothing."
She laughed. “I think Shedd would appreciate that. But then again, so would I."
Her father gently stroked her hair.
"I am concerned about something, though."
"What is that, daughter?"
"I can't reach Aella, or Adara. Is something wrong with them?"
His face fell, and then lifted again.
"Your sisters are fighting their own battles."
"Then I must help them."
"You must stay here, with your husband. I can marry you tonight, if you like."
"I think that's a perfect idea.” Shedd dove into the pool, then came up behind Iaha and kissed her neck.
"The sooner, the better. And tell me, um, sir, how long does it take to get a hold over this?"
Shedd held out his hand and a thunderbolt flew toward a stand of seaweed. The strand burst into flam
es, then smoldered as it hit the water.
Poseidon laughed as Iaha gasped.
"You'll learn, my son. You'll learn."
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Chapter Fifteen
The temple had been decorated with flowers, beautiful colorful blossoms that gave off perfect color and sweet smell.
Iaha had wound a crown of red blooms in her hair, to match her tail. The robe the smiling Adelphia had brought to her was a brighter red than Iaha had ever seen. It swirled around her and left a long, flowing train.
"You look so beautiful,” Adelphia said, kissing Iaha's cheek. “I don't know how to thank you. Because of you and Shedd, Gyles and I can be together, and stay at home."
"We're glad that you're so happy together. We wish you many, many children to repopulate Yumani and make it strong again."
They started to walk toward the temple. When they neared it, Iaha slowed her pace. She saw Shedd, talking with Anstice, her father, and a man she didn't recognize, but who clearly was related.
As realization dawned, her eyes widened.
She hurried over to them and grabbed Shedd's arm. He leaned over and kissed her. She could see dried tears on his cheek.
"Iaha. This is my father, Olanda."
"Olanda. I'm honored.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
The older man laughed. “Some may not share you welcome, but I was very surprised, and pleased, to find Anstice on my doorstep this morning. And I'm overwhelmed to meet the son I knew I had, but had given up on ever finding."
"We'll wait for you inside,” Poseidon boomed out. He pushed the other men in, then Iaha turned to Shedd.
"Are you ready for this?"
"Yes. It's been a strange day. I loved my parents, both of them. My mother made me very angry, but I still loved her. The man who raised me knew that I wasn't his, but he always told me that he loved me, that he cared for me."
"Olanda won't replace him,” Iaha said. “And our children will know the names of both men."
Shedd kissed her gently, and then held out his arm. “Well, now when you're introduced to people you can say, for real, that you have a last name, Mrs. Collins."
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