He asked Aya to be his bride and she said okay.

“Okay?” Soren repeated stupidly.

She met his gaze with clear, blue eyes. “Okay.”

“Right now?”

She nodded. “Right now.”

Her hand was on his mating jewel, the one he had smuggled from Dragao Azul when he left. The jewel for bestowing upon his beloved. She touched it. Her thumb brushed his. She resonated with power.

She would marry him and join with him. Right now.

The bride he loved, respected, and craved agreed to become his. She had refused for so long. How could she easily agree? She believed he was a good male. She believed he was honorable. She’d heard the worst about him. Now he had her agreement, the acceptance he had always wanted, how could he hesitate?

He hesitated.

She waited.

“Then…”

“Warriors of Atlantis.” Kadir got everyone’s attention. “Queen Lucy and Torun are going to renew their vows in the Life Tree sanctuary.”

Relief coursed through Soren.

“Although it is usual to conduct these ceremonies with everyone present, now it is impossible. Those who are due on patrols, exchange positions with the existing patrols. Balim will lead the next excavation work group to the ruins. Those of us who can will attend the renewal ceremony.”

Aya held the mating jewel in her palm while Soren fled. He assisted everyone put away the festival foods.

Queen Elyssa stopped in front of Aya. “Are you coming?”

“Yes.” Aya frowned. “Ah…if Soren wants…”

Soren returned and pulled Aya to him. “We will watch.”

The other warriors moved toward the tunnel, Queen Elyssa and Kadir in the lead, Queen Lucy and Torun next.

Soren kicked hard for the tunnel.

Aya’s soul light dimmed.

It knifed into his chest. He tightened on her. “What is wrong?”

Her voice was faint. “You don’t want to marry me.”

Ah.

She sensed it.

“I do,” he insisted.

“Then why are you relieved by the delay?”

“I am not.”

He couldn’t believe Aya wanted to unite with him. She knew he was dark, deadly, and dangerous. Loving him would damage her. Joining with him…

They burst free of the tunnel and entered the main city. The Life Tree shone holy radiance on them. The males who’d claimed their brides were fierce and strong, and their brides glowed as brightly as the holy tree.

Aya was noticeably dimmed. “The timing is bad.”

It was bad. “We will marry after Queen Lucy and Torun.”

“Oh. Really?”

His heart thumped. Fear. “Yes. Of course.”

“Okay…” She twitched and spoke all in a rush. “I push people away. It’s notable, right? I have a cold aura. If you say you want me and then I believe you and you change your mind, I’ll… I don’t know. Die inside.”

His hesitation hurt her. It hurt both of them.

He kicked free of the line, darting away from the Life Tree.

She looked up in surprise. “Where are you going?”

“I do want to marry you. I will prove it.”

He flew into her castle. He would prove it to her and to himself. He would join with her as a husband to wife, binding her. Then, she would believe.

Maybe, he also would believe.

Before he could reach their castle, another warrior stopped him.

“First Lieutenant Soren.” Lotar, who had been on his hunt, kicked hard to meet them. His cheeks were hollow with hunger and his eyes were black with exhaustion. But he did not waver. Ensnared in a net was another warrior. “I have captured Elan.”

Aya stiffened.

Soren pulled up. “Good work. Bring him to Kadir’s castle.”

Lotar nodded and flew beyond them to the main castle. Soren signaled for Kadir and several other warriors to stop whatever they had been doing to join them.

Everything hinged on what Elan revealed. Their entire defensive strategy for fighting the megalodons of Dragao Azul and surviving.

Soren turned to drop Aya at the vow renewal ceremony.

She clung on. “Wait. I want to speak with Elan.”

“He frightens you.”

“You’ll be there.” She tightened her grip. “I have questions only he can answer.”

Despite his misgivings, he wheeled and flew with his bride back into Kadir’s castle. He left Aya at a safe distance, collected his trident, and joined Kadir close to the dishonorable General.

Lotar undid the bolas silencing his prisoner while the other warriors ranged around in an intimidating circle.

Elan flexed his still-bound wrists and ankles and glared at the warriors. “Have you come to beg for mercy? Or are you prepared to die like the honorless, scavenging, suckerfish you are?”

Soren growled.

Kadir placed a hand on Soren’s bicep. “Fighting with megalodons is a violation of the Seven Cities Treaty.”

“Atlantis is anathema. There is no violation.”

“We could receive All-Council recognition any time.”

“Never! You will be wiped from the ocean floor.” Elan’s lips curled. His hatred for Soren burned so hot it felt like they were the only two in the castle. “Everything you love will be severed in the megalodon’s teeth and an army will sift through the splinters to crush any seeds.”

“Just like your honor as a warrior,” Soren snarled.

Elan flung back. “So says the Demon of Dragao Azul. You will die by my hands today.”

His blood boiled. Soren clenched his trident to near trembling. “I will make you beg.”

Elan lifted his chin. “End me then. Show your true self. Faithless betrayer of cities. Exile of exiles!”

The warriors twitched. Soren fought his instincts to wipe the arrogance from the male with his blood.

Aya cleared her throat. “Can I ask a question?”

Soren caught Kadir’s eye. Kadir nodded. The warriors shifted back to give her a direct line of sight to Elan.

He glared at his hobbled fins. “Why should I talk to a monster?”

Soren moved between them in warning.

“You don’t have to.” Aya’s voice was light. Unconcerned. “But you might be interested to tell everyone else the answer. Exactly how many megalodons are you raising?”

He huffed a mirthless laugh. “Three.”

Soren’s heart sank.

Around him the other warriors floated uneasily. One megalodon was disastrous. Two was, as Aya stated, overkill. Three was apocalyptic.

“I see.” Aya didn’t seem affected either way. “And how many cities would you say are involved in raising these megalodons?”

“All!” Elan’s teeth flashed, a furious smile directed at Kadir. “Yes, all of the cities are gathered to witness — no, to ensure—your destruction. You think we are disorganized raiders? A vast army is gathering. I am a scout! You have made a mistake in taking me. The army will close around this city like a net. You have only hastened your own destruction.”

Lotar narrowed his eyes. If true, and an army really was gathered to move on command, he had made a serious mistake in observation.

They all had.

“Lies,” Soren snarled. “You say that to make us release you. But the only release you will receive is death.”

Elan threw back his shoulders, baring his chest. “Release me.”

Lotar jiggled Elan’s bindings, a visible sign of his suppressed anger. Elan dropped his shoulders for balance. His lips curved in a true bitter smile.

Kadir muttered to Soren. “The cities would not dare send an army. How could they hide it from the All-Council?”

Yes. The All-Council, after expressing disgruntlement that Soren had broken into the prison to release Kadir, had gone so far as to send a representative to advise them on how to become a recognized city. Although their representative had soured on Kadir’s insistence to give Queen Elyssa freedom and power to rule within the city as an equal, and had finally betrayed them, the All-Council itself was still a neutral party.

Curse that they were not already recognized. Then, these enemies truly would be breaking the Seven Cities Treaty. Atlantis would be able to appeal to the All-Council and receive reinforcements and supplies while the violators received terrible punishments.

That was how the neutral All-Council ensured peace.

Aya cleared her throat. “Another question, if you don’t mind. Exactly how long has the All-Council been organizing this attack?”