They motored out to the unnamed atoll where Lucy had found him.

Torun considered his problems.

Lucy did not trust in him. She was keeping a secret. Every time he brought up her future as queen mother of his young fry beneath the sea, she froze.

Could she be afraid of the water? She said no. But perhaps the Council had been right.

Humans cannot become queens. They cannot give up the air. They are weak and fear the ocean.

Curse it, she had chosen his Sea Opal. She said she would like to join him as his queen. When they touched, her soul brightened. When she spoke of diving freely beneath the waves, her soul brightened. When she planned to stand up to his Council, her soul brightened. She was born to be his queen.

And yet she froze and said she could not.

He had thought this mission would be simple. He would come to the surface, claim a bride, and prove her worth to the Council at the Life Tree. He had not imagined it would take him so long to find his Lucy, that she would resist, or that days would pass on the surface.

He would melt her resistance with desire. Melt her resistance to liquid and teach her to drown in the pleasure of their connection. Her light should shine like the sun. He would have nothing more to fear.

They reached the old atoll as the sun disappeared and the sky turned pale. Lucy set the anchor and called an expedition meeting to plan out exploratory dives.

“Tomorrow, Gracie and I will start searching.” She pointed at their current location on the sea map. “We’ll do three dives depending on what we discover and how everyone feels.”

“There is no need to search,” Torun said, yet again. “I will show you where to go.”

Lucy patted his hand. “I know, but I’m trying to be systematic so we don’t miss anything.”

“You will not miss anything. Once you drink the elixir, you will feel the Sea Opal’s presence. They will resonate in your soul.”

The interns stirred uncomfortably.

She did not answer.

Impatience gnawed at him, like waiting at the mouth of a trench knowing a tasty sea bream floated on the other side. The goal was almost in sight.

What if this delay caused Lucy to change her mind again and refuse to try the elixir? What if Jolan and Malem traced him to this atoll, to this very ship? What if the Council convinced the king to destroy Torun’s castle in his absence?

Only action could resolve these questions. His muscles tensed in readiness. Lucy would dive to the cave with him tonight.

Meanwhile, others argued with Lucy’s plan.

Cash grimaced. “Are you sure this is where your husband found the Sea Opal?”

“I found it,” Lucy snapped. “And Blake is my ex-husband. Why, do you have a problem?”

“From the surveying equipment we’ve been dragging behind us, there’s nothing to separate this hunk of ocean floor from the rest.”

“You must have missed something. Gracie and I will collect rock samples in the morning. Right, Gracie?”

Gracie stared at the map. Her earbuds buzzed with music.

Lucy turned to Torun. “At least we must be close to your city.”

“We are far from Sireno,” he said.

She threw up her hands. “Forget everything. I’m done. Expedition canceled.”

“Ugh. Wake me when we hit Cozumel.” Cash walked to the railing. His white knuckles gripped the metal and he stared at the bobbing horizon.

Gracie stood and went to the railing beside him.

Lucy’s light flickered dangerously. She stared at the maps.

Time passed. Torun’s muscles twitched. He reached across the table and clasped Lucy’s hand. “Dive with me tonight.”

“Forget it.” She coughed. “Didn’t you hear? The expedition’s canceled.”

“You do not give up so easily.”

“That proves you don’t really know me.”

“Lucy.”

She pulled her hand away and rubbed her face. “I thought your city must be close because we’ve found two Sea Opals here.”

“This was once a sacred island. Nothing above the water remains.”

Lucy stared at the electric maps Cash had made. “So anchoring here is a waste of time.”

“No, it is a fine place to anchor.” He pointed at the atoll framed by the brilliant gold sunset. “Beneath the sea, by that outcropping, is an entrance to a cave. Inside, you will drink the diluted elixir. Then, we can go to Sireno.”

“Which is hundreds of miles from here.”

“I can traverse it in a few days.” He could not predict her speed until her body changed and adapted to the ocean. The historic brides had not adapted well. “Perhaps longer.”

“You know where else is hundreds of miles from here?” Cash asked from the railing. “The Keys.”

Lucy’s light flared. She turned to the intern. “If you wanted to go to Florida so badly, you should’ve applied to Blake’s expedition.”

Cash’s light darkened to black.

“It’s not too late,” Lucy said. “Van Cartier Cosmetics has great benefits. They even give you a company house.”

Gracie put a hand on Cash’s arm. His shine returned to its dim level.

“I just meant Blake has higher grade equipment,” Cash said, behind a clenched jaw. “If you want to show him up, you have to actually find a Sea Opal. Don’t hire a ripped native dude with empty promises.”

Lucy erupted to her feet. “Torun isn’t making empty promises.”

Cash stared at her. “Yeah?”

Torun rose more slowly. “They are very full promises.”

The young man swallowed hard, pulled a bottle from his shorts pocket, and tapped out a small pill. “Uh huh. Have you ever even seen a Sea Opal?”

“Yes, I have seen many such, although we do not call them by that name. We have trenches full.”

“Trenches?” Cash swallowed the pill, grimaced, and eyed him. “I think you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lucy crossed her arms. “Of course he knows.”

“Got any proof?”

She studied Cash for a long time. “Are you going to stick with my expedition or turn tail and head home?”

He reddened. “I’m sticking. As much as I hate to say it.”

“Are you committed?”

“I just told you—”

“Then here.” Lucy took out her Sea Opal and shoved it at Cash. “See for yourself.”

Cash’s eyes widened. Gracie dropped his arm. The two crew members breathed on the jewel. Gracie’s light shone in her chest, resonating, while Cash’s remained dim and untouched.

“Is that really one?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He reached out. “Let me scan it.”

“No need.” Lucy whipped it away and returned it to her pouch. “This is why Torun is my location consultant. When it gets light, we’re going wherever he says. Any doubters are welcome to find themselves a new job. I’ll even write a letter of reference.”

Cash and Gracie looked at each other.

The sky around them darkened to indigo. The small boat lights twinkled.

“See you in the daylight,” Cash said and headed for the hatch.

Gracie trailed behind him, disappearing into the interior of the boat. Her headphones remained in her ears and her low music buzzed.

Lucy stroked her pouch. Then, seemingly conscious of her abruptness, she went to the rail and curled shaking hands around the metal.

He followed. “They are not needed. You should fire them.”

The two interns could return the boat, and he could take Lucy to Sireno in peace.

“I was joking. It’s too late to fire anyone. They’re both desperate and we’re already here.” She sucked in a breath and gripped the railing hard. “They’re not the only desperate ones.”

Her need drew him. Deep pain etched in her short breaths. She needed to be stroked beneath her clothing. Wet and slippery, with him in the sea, she would be polished and shining and happy once again.

He touched her silken hair.

She leaned back. “Why are you here?”

“Because you are here.” He stepped forward into her, hemming her against the railing.

“That’s no answer.”

“It is the only answer that matters.”

Her shoulder blades made divots on his chest. Her biceps sloped down. He followed their sweet lines to her sensitive elbows and traced his curious fingers further, to her delicate wrists. This was the form of his bride, and he wanted to memorize her with his hands, with his mouth, with his tongue.

But now, she needed comfort. Spreading his thick hands across her delicate knuckles, he slid his fingers between hers. She let out of a deep sigh and relaxed against him. Her soft buttocks pressed against his awakening arousal.

In the air, they couldn’t commune deeply. Yet, across the heating surface of her skin, some communication passed to him. Her heart quickened, sweetly inviting him closer. He pressed his lips to the hollow behind her determined jaw and licked.

She shuddered.

He nuzzled into her soft, warm neck.

She tipped her head to give him better access. “We shouldn’t do this.”

“We both enjoy it.”

“But it can’t go anywhere.”

Her words seemed at odds with her feelings. In the uncertain air, he couldn’t ignore them. “Do you want to stop?”

Her hand reached back. She caressed his taut thigh, urging him to continue.

He reveled in her sweet, salty taste. Soft, human skin. Swelling desire.

He needed her closer to his hard, pounding erection. He eased his arms around her soft middle.

She ground her ass into him and moaned. Her hot invitation wrapped around his cock like a wet hand and squeezed.

He kissed down her neck. Her large breasts rubbed his forearms. The nipples were erect through the thin white cotton of her top. They cried out for his touch.

He worked his hand under her clothing and palmed the heated flesh.

She glowed. “Torun.”

Turning in his arms, she lifted her hot mouth to his. He plunged his tongue into her sweet offering. His hands massaged her full breasts. Her nipples pearled beneath his fingers. She made an inarticulate noise and caressed his hard cock.

He needed to strip her naked and plunge into her right now. Take her in the darkness, standing up, braced against the railing as her back arched and her pleasure-filled cries echoed across the water. Until she reached her fulfillment. Until he spread his seed within her, entwining their souls for all of time.

She tugged the cord loosening his shorts. The cloth fell to reveal his long, hard readiness to please her. She stroked the masculine length. Her hand was hot. He pulsed with pleasure.

“Lucy.” He touched his forehead to hers.

She licked her lips and stroked him again.

The pleasure rose. “You are so beautiful.”

Her light flared brighter. Her lips curled. Naughty. “You’re magnificent.”

“As are you.”

She licked her fingers and tightened around him. Two hands worked his pulsing cock. Blossoming heat communicated across her skin. He cupped her feminine mound.

She leaned into him. “More.”

He slid aside her bikini bottoms, explored her soft folds, and stroked her wetness.

Her moans came in short gasps. “Torun. So good.”

He growled. “You are strong and determined.”

Her soul glowed brighter. The light pierced him with need.

She buried her face against his pectorals.

Yes.

Her hands moved faster. His pleasure rose to an unstoppable point. “You. Are mine. Forever.”

She stiffened. Her emotions changed as loud as if she had cried in pain. He froze.

Lucy tried to keep giving him pleasure. He released her feminine heat and curled his hands around her wrist, slowing her movement.

Panic charged her features. “What’s wrong?”

What was wrong? He cupped her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “You are in pain.”

“What?” She blinked.

Didn’t she realize her own pain?

“I thought … weren’t you almost there?”

“I will go nowhere without you.”

She pushed him back and stepped away. “Yes, you will.”

He stood at the distance she had pushed him.

“We don’t have forever. There’s something I didn’t tell you. But you have to know. Whether you’re a merman or delusional or whatever. You just … you’re so serious about me. I can’t keep pretending.” She scrubbed her cheeks. Her eyes reddened and her darkened soul showed her true agony. “I’ll never be your queen. I’m sorry.”

“You are mine.” He rubbed one arm, and when she only looked away, he closed the distance and drew her shivering form into his embrace. Rubbing the bumpy skin, he sought to give her the warmth she claimed to need. “I am yours.”

“No.”

“Believe, Lucy.”

“No!” She faced him with absolute agony. “I can’t give you children. I can’t give myself children. You have to choose another bride.”