Sacrificed to the Sea Lord (Lords of Atlantis Book 2)

by Starla Night

  The two warriors threw him down roughly. Although they were angry, they had not otherwise mistreated him. Lotar controlled himself as always. Impulsive Gailen looked older, aged by the fight, and harder than before. Lost illusions hurt.

  But disillusionment was necessary to fight for right. Kadir had also grown from trusting the wrong authority. Gailen had taken one step closer to his final warrior form.

  “Adviser Creo. Rise.”

  The adviser gaped at Kadir. “You are still alive.” He looked beyond him at the Life Tree. “Impossible. I saw it cut down. How can it be regrown?”

  “From the twin seed you conveniently made available.” Elyssa smiled with all her teeth. “You were the one who stole it off the Life Tree when no one was looking, weren’t you? And then you wrapped it in seaweed and tricked Tial into putting it in my samples bag, thinking it was the conch shell. What would that have gained you? My giving away the twin seed to Van Cartier Cosmetics by accident?”

  He sagged.

  Kadir knew his answer. “Loss of faith.”

  She swung to him. “Faith?”

  “Atlantis is not bound by tradition. Nor pointless rules. We are bound by trust. Loyalty. Faith in each other.” He basked in the warm glow of her chest light. “Faith in our brides.”

  She met his kiss.

  Adviser Creo started to shake. “Do not publicly display yourself in front of these desperate, single warriors! This clingy female is the reason you will—”

  Lotar knocked the adviser in the back of the knees. Adviser Creo folded in half. Lotar slammed him into the Life Tree dais.

  Everyone stared at Lotar in surprise. He fought sharks without blinking an eye, but he lost his temper after one insult?

  “She is our queen.” Fury inflected his voice. He raised to a roar. “You will honor Atlantis’s queen!”

  The others roared their agreement.

  Elyssa glowed.

  Kadir stroked her gently. She had worked hard to earn their loyalty. She deserved their recognition.

  Lothar returned to his implacable position. His eyes flashed.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  Lotar merely looked away and nodded.

  The adviser rubbed the back of his leg cautiously. “Er, I see. This was a misunderstanding. I will judge Atlantis fairly and return my answer to the All-Council.”

  Elyssa looked at Kadir. Her skepticism said, Oh, really?

  He squeezed her shoulders. Of course they shared this opinion without needing to speak it.

  “Adviser Creo.” Kadir released Elyssa and set his feet. He crossed his arms over his powerful chest and stared down at the male whose good opinion he had tried to earn, but had had to bite his lips together so many times to seal in the fury he gave himself a blister. “We have a Life Tree. We have a castle. We repelled all threats.”

  He licked his lips. “So far, yes. But—”

  “So far?”

  Adviser Creo’s gaze flicked to the new growth emerging from the freshly scarred stump. “Yes, I will include this in my report, of course.”

  “We have no need of your report. We have no need of the All-Council’s approval. We will tell them so when we return you. We approve ourselves.”

  The shimmer of rightness echoed in his words. The newly regrown Life Tree glowed and swelled with their agreement. They approved of themselves.

  The adviser frowned. “But you do not have enough warriors.”

  “More will come.

  “You will never be safe until you are approved by the All-Council.”

  “We are safe,” Kadir corrected. “Because we possess a most powerful warrior.”

  “Soren is missing and—”

  “Our queen.”

  Her pleased glow warmed his back. Ah, yes. He needed to speak these words frequently. Bright as she was now, she could become brighter and brighter.

  The adviser stuttered. “But I have to remain here to advise you. I have to do this. It is my right.”

  Balim, Adviser Creo’s formerly sympathetic ear, spoke aloud. “I think the other cities would be interested to know how ‘helpful’ the All-Council’s adviser to us has been.”

  The others murmured agreement.

  “It might cause them to think hard about accepting any advice from the All-Council in future.”

  His face blanked as he finally realized the harm of his scheming.

  The city-destroying scheming of the “impartial” representative would cause a ripple in the other cities. Also, Atlantis possessed a super-weapon of old: a powerful, healing queen. What other city could claim that? And which one might remember old arguments and worry they might be the All-Council’s next target?

  Yes, Adviser Creo had done enough to damage the All-Council’s reputation. The attacks against Atlantis might be over.

  “Adviser Creo. Gailen and Balim will escort you to the safety of the next All-Council recognized city. They will take responsibility for conveying you back to the All-Council.”

  He relaxed and harrumphed. “You will regret this, Kadir.”

  Kadir smiled. The escort formed around him, hardened. He would receive no sympathy this trip.

  “Regret is your own.”

  Elyssa swam forward to see her warriors off. “Thank you for your service. I’m proud and grateful to work with you. Come back soon.”

  Balim frowned. His emotions rippled deeply beneath the surface. “Thank you, my queen.”

  A hint of Gailen’s former carefree smile shone. “Take care of our city, my queen.”

  “You bet.” She hugged them, startling both badly, and waved goodbye.

  Kadir swam lazily behind her. “Where is my hug?”

  She turned and ran her gaze up and down his body like a caress. “You’re healthy for the first time in forever. I hope you’re up for more than a hug.”

  Sudden heat pulsed in his veins. He drew her into his arms. Her mouth formed a sweet “o” of surprise. He hovered over those lips. “Yes.”

  “Sure?”

  “I am yours.” His kiss crushed her doubts. He focused on his heady, gorgeous, undefeatable female. “Lead me.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Elyssa led Kadir to the heart chamber.

  His kicks were powerful and hard. Revitalized, he was tall, broad and thick. Muscle bulged on his arms.

  The castle entrance was closed up tight from the attack. He placed his hand on the entrance and pushed her onto it, melting into her as their bodies melted into the green walls. Reacting to their presence, the castle defenses relaxed and opened up to allow them in.

  Benji leaped from the entrance and raced around them, yapping crazily. She headed for the Life Tree and disappeared inside.

  “Aw, don’t tell me,” Elyssa said.

  “She searches for the seed,” Kadir confirmed. His hands entwined hers. “Do not worry. Another will grow for her to guard soon.”

  “I feel bad.”

  “Do not.” Kadir enticed her into the courtyard. His gaze held heated promises. “Your light is brightest when you play.”

  “Play? Well, there goes my plan of becoming a serious queen.”

  “Atlantis is a city of love. The Life Tree thrives on joy.”

  He finished his declaration at the heart chamber.

  His sweetness made her heart tremble. No wonder he rallied warriors to him. Although he was not the largest or strongest like Soren, or the calmest or wisest or most experienced like Lotar or Balim or Faier, he spoke the words they most needed to hear. He spoke the words of their soul.

  She was worthy. Not a serious, correct queen like the adviser expected. She was a playful queen who forgave mistakes and warmed people’s hearts.

  She stroked Kadir’s hard abs, following the silver tattoos down his long torso. “I feel like I should tease you.”

  He pressed her against the wall of the castle. “Do as you wish.”

  His promise burned in his eyes. He loved her, truly loved her.

  What did she
wish?

  Not just her pleasure. Sex. Wild, passionate, crazy hot. That’s what she wished.

  Elyssa wrapped her arms around the small of his back and pressed his hard length against her soft belly. She slid one thigh up his iron leg and nestled it against his flexed buttocks.

  “We can play later.” She claimed his mouth for her own. “We have five children to start working on.”

  He smiled against her insistent kiss. Pleasure rumbled in his chest. “Yes, my queen.”

  Heat fired in her veins and pulsed to her needy center. She stroked his back. Scarred, hard muscle.

  He nibbled her lips. Yum. His flavor. Smoke and vanilla. This was the flavor of her king.

  Of her husband.

  He trailed tasty kisses down her jaw to her neck. She relaxed as his grip rested there. Controlling her. Commanding her. Her heart thumped. She yielded to him.

  He palmed her breast. Pleasure ached for him. Her skin heated and her nipples pearled. He teased the pearl between his thumb and forefinger while his tongue laved her peak.

  Her feminine center throbbed. Hot, slick, and ready.

  She wrapped her leg around him. His long, hard shaft stroked her entrance.

  “Come in.”

  He groaned. His palms lifted her butt. He bent and captured her nipples in his hot mouth.

  Pleasure pulsed.

  She tangled her fingers in his hair. “Kadir.”

  He lifted her thighs on his shoulders and bared her feminine pink to his mouth.

  She tensed.

  He nuzzled her, warm and soft. “You taste good.”

  She could never deny him. She relaxed into his expert mastery.

  He stroked her with long laps of his tongue. It bathed her in shining golden rainbows. She floated against the ceiling. Or was it the floor? Everything was Kadir. He caressed her to the far edge of desire. She gripped his hair again. Even though the orgasm would be incredible, like the other times, she wanted more. Deeper.

  To lose control.

  “Come inside me.”

  He looked up at her. His smile slowly deepened. He kissed her mons and up her trembling belly. The fire of his desire spread over her body, teasing and marking her as his.

  He moved her legs around his waist. His engorged head pressed like a hard promise against her throbbing bud. She moaned and shifted to take him. He gripped her buttocks, holding her in place with his bulging biceps. His cock teased her entrance.

  “Kadir,” she urged.

  He slid deep into her slick channel.

  Yes. Finally. They connected. Hot the way she wanted. Sweet and delicious.

  She arched her back.

  He pushed into her. Slippery pleasure throbbed in her center. He thrust. She clawed him. “Kadir!”

  He pounded her pleasure zone. Unstoppable and beautiful. His masculine virility slammed into her. The tingles grew unstoppable. She clung onto his anchor. He slammed her over the edge, into the eye of the storm. Golden rainbows shattered across her body. The orgasm shimmered sparkles through her veins.

  He roared and released his passion. His warmth filled her with a second wave of sweet pleasure.

  She rested in his arms. He kissed her cheek softly. Were they floating right side up or upside down? Nothing mattered but being entwined together.

  If she was ever going to become pregnant, this was a great start.

  “Come to the surface with me.” His dark eyes gleamed with silver flecks. “I want to show you the beach where my mother used to sunbathe and read. Will you?”

  “I want to.” She stroked his hair. “It won’t hurt to remember?”

  He gripped her shoulders. “No, Elyssa. Fear was my mistake. It almost cost me this. We must turn to each other for healing.”

  He was talking about way more than flesh wounds. She would make mistakes, and they might be serious, but if everyone banded together like today, they would win.

  “I totally want to help,” she said. “Let’s go up together.”

  “Good. And we will visit your parents. I promised they would not be frightened.”

  “And then we’ll come back,” she said cautiously.

  “Yes. We need you. Here, growing our city, and at the ruin, raising it so we can meet brides without any more intervention.”

  They needed her. He needed her. Atlantis was her future.

  She was a playful queen.

  The light in the heart room changed subtly.

  “What was that?” she asked.

  “Someone new has come.” He disentangled and tended to her, kissing her roughened skin. “We must greet them.”

  She stretched her trembling muscles. Yum.

  “I hope Aya and Soren come back soon.” She bounced on her human feet. “I hope they escaped Blake and can each find love. I hope Faier finds love too. I hope every one of your warriors finds the woman of his dreams. I want everyone who comes to Atlantis to find the missing parts of their souls and make themselves whole.”

  “They will.” Kadir’s steady gaze filled her with confidence. “We will provide this place of dreams.”

  “Then let’s do this.” She could welcome strangers and treat them with kindness. Easy peasy. “I want to get started right now!”

  “Of course.” He held out his hand. “Come, my queen.”

  She took his hand. Her fins unfurled behind her. Together, they flew to the courtyard where she truly ruled.

  Dear reader,

  Thanks so much for reading. If you enjoyed this story, please leave a review on Amazon. Nothing helps an author more, and your fellow readers appreciate your honesty.

  Would you like more mer shifter goodness? Join my newsletter and receive super secret bonus epilogues full of yummy mer warriors + the women who tame them. It’s like the happy ending to the happy ending. What happens when Elyssa decides to host a very merman Thanksgiving? Find out in “Thanksgiving at Elyssa’s House,” exclusive for newsletter subscribers!

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  See you next time!

  Sincerely,

  Starla

  Awesome Epilogue for Newsletter Subscribers Only! “Thanksgiving at Elyssa’s House”

  Elyssa parked her step mom’s car in the garage and hit the door button. The familiar burr closed out the hot Florida gated community. The air-conditioned sedan filled with the small light of the garage. She rested her hands on the steering wheel, equal parts nervous and excited.

  Unlike the other hundred thousand times she’d borrowed one of her parents’ cars to drive home, this was the first time she was doing it as a queen of Atlantis.

  And it was the first time she’d had a huge, silver-tattooed mer warrior folded into the passenger’s side.

  His large hand rested on the seatbelt release. His eyes, dark irises flecked with silver, studied her profile. “Are you waiting for a signal, my queen?”

  Yes. She was waiting for the head trauma to wear off, a psychiatrist to peel back one eyelid and shine a light in her pupils, and for him to say, Uh-oh, looks like this one is deep in dreamland. It was essentially what had happened years and years ago, the last time she had discovered something really important, and then the people she loved most had turned it against her.

  She grabbed Kadir’s hands in both of hers. “No. I got lost in my own thoughts. Sorry.”

  He smiled slowly with the gorgeous heady intensity that made the flecks shine. “Do not apologize.”

  She released him and bounced from the sedan. “I know! I’m just excited. Sorry.”

  His laugh rumbled in his chest as he unfolded from the vehicle and followed her up the garage steps and into her parent’s kitchen. “Stop.”

  “Sorry. I will. Sorry.”

  “Elyssa…”

  She stopped suddenly and smacked her hand over her mouth so her voice came out muffled. “I’ll stop right now. Sorry.”

  He folded her into his long arms and pressed her against his broad chest. His deep voice sedu
ced her tinging ear. “Do not silence yourself. I will find a more pleasurable way to cover your mouth and you will no longer want to say the word Sorry.”

  … Read the rest when you subscribe! http://smarturl.it/StarlaNewsletter

  Also by Starla Night

  Lords of Atlantis

  Seduced by the Sea Lord

  Sacrificed to the Sea Lord

  Enslaved by the Sea Lord (August 2017)

  7 Virgin Brides for 7 Weredragon Billionaires

  Dragon VIP: Malachite (September 2017)

  Dragon VIP: Pyrochlore (October 2017)

  Dragon VIP: Kyanite (2017)

  Dragon VIP: Amber (2018)

  Dragon VIP: Jasper (2018)

  Dragon VIP: Alexandrite (2018)

  Dragon VIP: Flint (2018?)

  — Short Story —

  Dragon VIP: Syenite (newsletter exclusive)

  Enslaved by the Sea Lord

  The adventure continues…

  Buy at Amazon.

  Hardened mer warrior Soren is no great catch. Disgraced, battle-scarred, and with a temper as black as the tattoos slashing his skin, the first lieutenant of rebel city Atlantis prefers to protect the other warriors’ tradition-smashing modern brides rather than seek his own to repopulate their dwindling race.

  But he can’t control his cravings for Aya.

  Her elegant gaze lights his soul on fire. Her hidden passion tempts him like no other. But her pure soul means she’s destined for a worthier warrior. Claiming her for his own would damn her to a terrible fate.

  Aya is the smart, sophisticated vice president who never has time for a relationship. She will save her great-grandmother’s company, even though trading with the recently discovered mermen means working in close proximity to the dark, powerful lieutenant who always gets under her skin. When her masterful plans end in disaster, Soren is the one who’s there to save her life—by reluctantly binding her as his mermaid queen. Now she can’t get away from the massive, hard-bodied warrior. And the more time she spends in his bulging arms, the less she wants to try…