Jewel of Atlantis

just within reach, he stopped, his cool breath caressing her cheek. 'What does she have to do with the human male? Why do you even mention her?'

A single drop of blood trickled from his lips. She leaned forward and captured the droplet with her fingertip. She brought her finger to her lips and licked away the drop with relish.

Perhaps she and Layel could help each other. For the time being.

Yes, she thought, a wave of giddiness destroying her sense of failure. Yes. Together, they would be all- powerful. Together, they could destroy anything. Destroy anyone.

She dropped her cup to the ground, letting it clatter against his. Instead of answering his questions, she asked him one of her own. 'What do you know of a portal that leads from Atlantis to the surface world?'

He laughed, his husky amusement irritating her. She scowled. Marina was not a woman to be mocked.

'The gods would not be so stupid as to place a doorway to their precious surface kingdom,' he said. 'They hate us. They want us to remain here, forgotten.'

'Of course they would erect a doorway to the surface. If there is a way in, there has to be a way out.'

'True, but a doorway would place the human world in danger, and... No, the gods would never do such a thing.' His words dismissed her, as did his tone.

'Then how did Darius bring his human bride here? She was not sent by the gods. My spies claim Darius left Atlantis and brought her here.'

Layel frowned and stroked two fingers over his jaw as he considered her. 'The portal is not for your use, Marina.'

She jerked her chin up. 'So you know it's there? You know it exists, and yet you tried to pretend it does not?'

He gave a negligent shrug. 'I know everything. And yes.'

'You are not the Jewel of Dunamis,' she said, her eyes slitting. 'You cannot possibly know everything.'

'Ah, Dunamis.' He dragged out each syllable as if they were a caress to his senses. 'A thing no longer yours to command,' he said with a smirk.

The razor-sharp points of her teeth gnashed together. Every sovereign in the land had owned the jewel at some time or another, and Marina had possessed it all too shortly. 'I will get it back, I assure you.'

His wide shoulders lifted in another shrug. 'I do not have to be Dunamis to know that the portal brings only death to Atlanteans. If you enter, the gods will kill you.'

'Darius survived. Besides, the gods do not care what we do. They will not harm me, I assure you.' She paused, a heavy silence encompassing her as Layel's warning echoed through her mind. Even the sounds of the demon camp and the idle chatter of her men drained away. She might sound assured, but she did not feel that way.

What if the vampire was right? The gods had ignored them for so long, had made their preference for the mortals so clear...

No. No. She wouldn't let the possibility of their anger affect her decision.

'I do not like that you have known about the portal and never thought to tell me,' she said with deceptive calm, traipsing her finger over the seam of her lips.

'Perhaps it amused me to think of your ignorance.'

'Are you frightened of the gods, Layel?' She smiled slowly. Innocently. Mockingly. 'Do you fear their wrath? You must, you poor, poor baby. Otherwise, you would have used the portal to find yourself another human bride.'

Though his expression remained neutral, impassive, and still revealed not a hint of his emotions, his teeth elongated and sharpened. He must be furious, she thought with a smug inner grin, for the man did not like to be reminded of the woman he had loved and lost.

'Best you watch your tongue, demon,' he said softly. 'Before you lose it.'

Her head canted to the side, her own teeth lengthening. 'Best you recall whom you are threatening.'

The blue of his eyes sparked with flecks of red. 'You do not want a war between our people, and you are very close to beginning one.'

Marina dragged in a frustrated breath. If she wasn't careful, he would leave, and she would be forced to find her slave on her own. Forced to battle Darius and his dragon army alone, because she wanted control of the portal. Badly.

If only she still possessed Dunamis, she would not need Layel or anyone else. She would know exactly what battle plan would work, would know exactly what her enemy planned.

Oh, how she cursed the jewel's loss!

She did not like this feeling of helplessness. She liked even less the necessity of catering to another creature—especially the seductive and enigmatic Layel.

'We both know you hate Darius,' she said, padding a few steps away from him. His closeness unnerved her. She watched as trees swayed against the breeze. 'He killed your lover, and you have never had revenge.'

Layel didn't answer for a long while. When he did, his features were blank, revealing no emotion, but his voice was thick with dry amusement. 'Such subtlety warms my heart. Truly it does.'

'You do not have a heart.'

'True,' he said, his amusement richer. 'Tell me something. Why do you wish to travel to the surface? You are a queen, and you possess everything you could ever wish.'

'Are you truly so foolish you do not know?'

When he made no reply, she added, 'Think of it. On the surface, we will be the gods. Not kings and queens, but gods who are worshipped and revered. Humans will be forced to obey our every command and we will drink from their bodies anytime we desire, no longer reliant on animals to sustain us.'

'You would risk the gods' wrath for dessert?' He tsked under his tongue. 'Silly demon. Can you truly be so foolish?'

As the sound of his renewed amusement echoed from the forest, her irritation with him intensified. Bastard. Could he not see the rightness of her fantasy? 'You know as well as I that there is nothing sweeter than human blood.'

'I have done without for so long, I hardly remember the taste.'

She tried another line of persuasion. 'Have you ever longed to fly until you see nothing but heaven? I have. Here, we never reach anything but crystal and water. I crave freedom, Layel. True freedom.' Never mind she repeated the same words her slave girl always gave her. This was different. This was her desire.

Several moments dragged by in silence. Layel liked doing that, liked making her wait for his response. Patience was not part of her nature, and waiting now, when the matter held such importance, proved impossible. 'On the surface, you can seduce a thousand human women if that is your desire. You can find another human to love,' she added on a whispery catch of breath.

His lips dipped into a wistful frown, giving his features a lethal kind of beauty. In that moment, she knew that she had him. Knew that he would help her in any way necessary.

With a conscious effort, she kept the blaze of triumph from her expression. 'Together, we can control the portal. Together,' she added, 'we can destroy Darius and his army and get inside his palace. That is where the portal resides, isn't it?'

He nodded, one slow decline of his chin.

'Fire kills you. My demons are impervious to it. And your vampires can do things we cannot. Darius will never be able to fight both our armies at the same time.'

Utter silence reigned for several long moments.

Her fists clenched as she awaited his answer.

'Very well,' he said smoothly, as if he hadn't kept her waiting. He nodded again. 'I will help you.'

'You will not regret this decision.' That was the truth, for a dead man could not regret anything. Once Layel no longer proved useful... She grinned. 'From this day forward, let it be known vampires and demons are allies.'

His lips pursed, but he didn't deny her words. 'My spies saw the human male and a female slave headed for Javar's palace.'

She crossed her arms over her chest. 'The former dragon king is dead. His palace is empty. Why go