They crossed the vast ocean floor to Atlantis.

As before, Soren hunted food and ensured Aya remained safe and rested. They avoided a few deadly predators, and encountered nothing so terrifying as a megalodon.

On the long journey, Aya asked a large number of pointed questions about how the warriors of the past defeated megalodons.

“They didn’t,” he finally said shortly, skirting the ridge of a vast, deadly undersea methane lake. “They evacuated the city, and the megalodon eventually flew back to its trench.”

“But you know, you’re no longer in this alone. You have human partners. We have to fight back.”

“You think your human submersible will stand against the megalodon? It would have been swallowed whole in one bite.”

“That was a scientific research vessel. We have nuclear submarines. Bombs. Depth charges.”

“Their weapons would do as much harm to us as they would to the megalodon. In ancient times there were stories of warriors carrying poisoned water for the megalodon to inhale. Many warriors died, and the megalodon was barely affected.”

“We must have something.”

“Humans have nothing.”

“You don’t know.”

“I do know. You forget, Aya. We know what humans put into the water. Which submarine will journey down to us? And what payment will they require to do so?”

She crossed her arms, changing their shape and slowing him. “Van Cartier Cosmetics can pay. And they will pay. At least, for a few more months.”

“Megalodons are fast. The trench to Atlantis is closer than we wish. By the time you crossed the ocean to Miami, Atlantis might already be destroyed.”

That said, he would prefer she be far from the attack. The surface was not a bad place. He had wanted her to join the city when their only foes were mer invaders. The threat of the megalodon changed everything.

She melted against him, creating the aerodynamic shape again, and sighed. “My head is going in circles. Once I see Atlantis, maybe, I’ll have a new perspective.”

Then her perspective would change soon. He flew across the barren rock that marked the edge of the plateau holding the ancient city.

“Thanks for listening to my fruitless brainstorming,” she said quietly. “And not getting mad.”

“Why would I become mad? You are thinking of how to save my city. That is honorable as any warrior.”

She traced the Honored Defender of Dragao Azul tattoos marking his upper pectoral. Thanks to his scars, new lines had formed, transforming it from Honored Defender to Black Demon.

Appropriate.

Elan had complimented Soren on his fervent defense during routine trainings and had recommended him for promotion. Soren will serve justice without fail, he had told the hesitant elders. Your prejudice about his size and background is misplaced. He shelters weaker warriors and places the needs of the city above his own. I want him as my Second.

How wrong Elan had been. As he had discovered, to his fury.

As they all had.

Aya spoke. “Honor is important to warriors.”

“Honor is all we have.”

They crossed the plateau to the border of the ancient city.

She lifted her head with a gasp. “Are we too late?”

“This is ancient Atlantis.”

“Are you sure?”

“Humans build with stone and metal. If our new city was destroyed, only bare ocean would remain.”

The stone wreckage spilled across a vast distance. Broken towers, jutting beams, and crushed habitations looked as though a giant fist had smashed the city into the ocean floor. At this depth, current swept it bare, and it was too far from the sunlight or another source of energy to hold much marine life.

In ancient times, old Atlantis was a meeting place for mer and humans. They lived in harmony. With the flip of a lever, the city could rise to the surface or sink beneath the waves.

A thousand years ago, an unknown catastrophe had wrecked the city and mer-human relations. Humans began hunting the mer. The mer closed in on themselves, hiding their existence. And their queens died out, damning their race. Only a secret covenant formed with brides on sacred islands scattered across the ocean allowed their race to survive.

Until now. Modern times had emptied the islands, and the covenant had started to do more harm than good.

That was the principle Kadir had founded the new Atlantis upon. It was time to reveal their existence to the modern world and join with brides who came to them of their own wish. Brides who wanted to stay on longer than the birth of their young fry. Brides who wished to become queens.

Except Soren had transformed Aya without her wish. She had wanted to join with Kadir, not him. And he had refused her request to go to the surface or to return her to her undersea dive platform.

These were all crimes in Atlantis.

Once more, Soren betrayed those who most trusted in him.

And now, with the risk of a megalodon, he feared the wreckage of the old city foretold the future for the new city, too.

Soren crossed the wreckage cautiously. They were so near to their goal. Distraction now invited disaster to strike.

Aya squinted. “What’s that pinprick of light?”

His chest relaxed. “That is the Life Tree.”

“Oh.” She collapsed against him. “Then it’s okay. Blake didn’t destroy the base when he ripped off the top. The new city is still alive.”

Yes. Even though Soren had abandoned his warriors in the middle of a battle to rescue Aya, his enemies had lost. Kadir and Queen Elyssa had prevailed.

He kicked harder, revitalized by the distant, twinkling light of home.

Directly beneath him, four warriors flew up from the wreck.

Curse it. He had been distracted.

Soren jack-knifed to meet them. His patrols? No. He knew the aquamarine tattoos blazing across the leader’s bitter snarl.

“Elan!” He spit the name of the enemy warlord who had led the battle against Atlantis, distracting Soren while the human submersible attacked their Life Tree and injured Aya. “I gave you mercy and you dare to linger? You break all the rules of honorable combat.”

Elan sneered from beneath him. “The Demon of Dragao Azul dares to lecture me about honor.”

His insult cut deep. Soren had betrayed Elan in the worst way on the night he lost his honor. Elan was right to be angry.

Confronted with his rightful enemy, the heart cords in Soren’s chest squeezed.

He roared to attack.

Aya squeaked.

Soren kicked his fins, pulling back. He couldn’t attack with Aya in his arms.

Elan’s raiders surrounded them. Their long tridents shone with deadly precision. Daggers gleamed at the straps on their biceps and thighs.

Elan bared his teeth. “I have long fantasized about what I would do to you on the battlefield. You escaped me last time. You will not do so now.”

Soren growled. “Do not threaten a warrior and his bride.”

The other raiders shifted uncomfortably. They were warriors Soren didn’t know. But it was a huge breach to threaten a bride. A bride could be carrying a young fry. Brides and young fry were always to be treasured, no matter their origin.

Elan’s eyes widened. His teeth glinted. “Ah! This is your bride? Excuse me for speaking so roughly. Shall I take her to the surface for you once you are dead?”

His heart throbbed again. But his muscles clenched on Aya protectively. “Do not touch her.”

“No, no, no. I would never touch another male’s bride.” Elan lowered his trident at Soren. “I will only touch you.”

He charged.

Soren dove backward, kicking hard and twisting to keep Aya protected. The trident slashed his back. Fire seared him. He groaned.

Aya stiffened with fear.

Soren kicked to face Elan again. His lower back throbbed.

“General Elan.” One of the raiders grimaced. “You should not attack a bride.”

“I am not attacking the bride.” The male laughed without mirth. His eyes were flat with fury. “Soren is using her as a shield. All he must do is toss her to you. She will be returned to the surface where she belongs. Right, Second Lieutenant Soren?”

Curse Elan.

His former First Lieutenant, now promoted to General of the invading army, kicked to Soren with deadly intent.

Soren dove sideways, again twirling Aya. The trident pierced his side and ripped. New fire splashed up to his armpit and down to his thigh. He trembled, struggling to hold Aya, and panted.

Aya made a noise. She touched his bloodied side. “You’re hurt.”

“I am fine.” He gathered himself to face the enemy. He had to unnerve Elan and get his trident away — with Aya still in his arms.

Distraction…

Soren snarled. “Do you teach your son this dishonor?”

Elan’s face blanked.

The taunt hit the mark.

Blind fury poured into Elan’s body, shaking him beyond reason. He raised his trident. “Die screaming, betrayer!” He kicked.

“General Elan!” the other raiders cried and flew to stop him.

But they were too late.

Soren braced.

The attack went wild. The trident wobbled crazily. Which way to dodge? Elan was so out of control he no longer seemed conscious that Soren held Aya.

No choice. No time.

Soren darted to the right —into the path of Elan’s trident.

Elan’s mouth twisted in furious triumph.

The trident centered to pierce Soren’s chest.

Aya screamed and held out her hands. “No!”

White light erupted from her fingers.

The trident flew backward. Elan’s jaw dropped in shock. Then, the light zoomed outward in a circle, radiating like a shockwave. It caught Elan in the chest and smashed him back. It thumped the other raiders, knocking them sideways and off their fins.

It flew a little farther, then dissipated.

Elan’s trident fell out of his hands and dropped for the city.

The raiders laid still.

Aya lowered her shoulders. She checked Soren’s chest. The trident hadn’t pierced. She rubbed little scratches. “Are you okay?”

He also released his fears. “Better now.”

Aya was a powerful queen. She had the ancient abilities written about in legend, just like Queen Elyssa. He had been right all along.

She had to feel her power and believe.

Elan coughed and struggled to suck in water. His chest moved but his gills on his lower back fluttered as though he couldn’t draw in water. The other raiders moaned and righted themselves. They regarded Soren with new anger and fear.

“Leave us,” Soren growled at them. “I show you mercy. If you have any respect for my bride or for the rules of combat, do not return.”

“Respect?” Elan coughed again and stared at them. “That is no bride to respect. That is a monster.”

Aya stiffened.

Soren roared. “She is a powerful warrior! That is why we will beat you, Elan. All of you. Even if you destroy your honor by attacking us. Even if you dare to lure out a megalodon!”

In the distance, more warriors emerged from the surrounding sea. The bright lights of their souls glowed with the resonance of the Atlantis Life Tree. His warriors, hearing their battle, came now to their assistance.

Elan saw the newcomers as well. He snarled.

“We will return. I will have my vengeance!”

He dove for his trident, capturing it before it lodged in the wreckage, and flew after his other raiders, disappearing into the open sea.

“Am I a monster?” Aya asked softly.

“No. You are magnificent.”

She held him tightly. “I was so scared.”

“I know.”

He turned to his warriors and kicked. The Life Tree twinkled like a promise. Trust in Aya. His side and back burned, but the fire in his heart brightened.

He was unworthy. His dishonor could not be forgiven. He had hurt too many to be absolved.

But dwelling on it was like poking a scar until it bled.

Soren would stop poking that scar. He laid his honor to rest and buried it. The stitched over wound would glow with his bride’s light.

Yes. His bride.

He would convince her to accept him. He would convince her to join with him. He would convince her to marry him.

Aya had power.

She would protect the city. He would protect her.

There was hope.