Jewel of Atlantis

'That they do,' he said, trying not to allow himself another smile. 'They must have fought the dragons and taken possession. Do you think they heard about the portals and want them for themselves?'

She gasped. 'That's exactly why they're here. I'd stake my life on it.' He'd stake her life on it, too. Happily.

'How dare they?' she screeched. 'The portals are mine. Mine!'

'Keep your voice down.' Not that he cared, but he had to act the part of concerned friend. 'You know how sensitive their hearing is. And don't you mean ours?'

'What if they now have my slave, as well as control of the portal?' Panic crested her voice to a high, deafening pitch. 'You said she would come here, that the human would need the portal to return home.'

'They do not have the girl. Otherwise, a thousand warriors would have been waiting for us here.'

'You're right' She loosed her viselike hold on me reins, an air of superiority forming around her. 'I don't care who is inside that palace. We ride. If they try to keep the portal for themselves, I'll kill them. And their children.'

Before he could utter another word, she leapt into action, and Layel was forced to follow. 'Forward,' he called, and their armies sprang into a ran. His vampires could move faster than the blink of an eye, but they kept a steady pace beside the demons. They knew him well and would not fly into full attack without his express permission.

Both demons and vampires sprinted through the open field, headed toward the towering double doors. This was foolish, he knew it was, but if nothing else, it would prove entertaining. Marina would never get inside, and he would enjoy watching the nymphs shove her from her exalted pedestal.

An arrow suddenly rent the sky and landed at their feet.

Marina's horse reared up, tumbling her backward before she could right herself with her wings. She hissed as she hit the ground, thumping and rolling. Layel laughed heartily with genuine amusement Something he hadn't done in years. Ah, yes, this would definitely be a day to relish.

Marina jolted to her feet, scowling at him and everyone around who dared laugh. 'That animal is—is—' 'A true hero of war?' Layel asked.

'Stay where you are,' a nymph called. 'You are not welcome here.'

Layel recognized that voice. Valerian, King of the nymphs. He gave the king his full attention, Marina forgotten at his side. His eyes searched until found the king on the highest ledge of the palace. Golden hair framed a wickedly mesmerizing face. Perfectly tanned skin, perfectly chiseled features. Lush, pink lips and long, fringed lashes. Eyes so blue-green they were as deep and fathomless as the ocean above them.

Valerian's features should have made him appear feminine. For some reason, his physical perfection made him all the more masculine, all the more harsh. All the more desired by women.

'Is that how you welcome an old friend? With arrows?'

'You know you are welcome to enter, Layel. The demon, however, must remain outside the walls.'

'Alas,' Layel called. 'Where she is, there must I be, as well. Why do you not join us? We both wish to speak with you.'

'Trust a demon enough to enter its midst? I think not.' His laugh echoed across the distance, rich and husky, a caress even Layel felt. That was the way of the nymphs. With their voices, with their bodies, with their every glance, they radiated sensuality. 'Why have you joined with one such as her?'

He couldn't announce his true reason, and he wouldn't lie to the only man he'd considered friend over the years. Though he knew Valerian would refuse and was glad for it—Layel didn't want him involved any more than necessary—he ignored the question and said, 'We wish only to speak with you. You have my word you will leave exactly as you enter.'

'I wish to fight you, coward.' Marina bandied a claw through the air. She climbed back on her horse. 'Bring your army down if you dare.'

'Are you sure you can control her?' Valerian said, grinning. 'She seems quite determined to place me on her dinner menu.'

'Are you afraid?' she spat. 'You must be. I plan to cut out your tongue and eat it in front of you.' Layel rolled his eyes. When would the woman learn such words and actions would get her killed?

His ears suddenly perked as he picked up the sound of Marina's soldiers readying their weapons for attack. Eyes slitting, he flicked his second-in-command a glance, motioning to the demons with a tilt of his chin. No words were necessary; his man understood what he wanted. If a demon made a single move toward the palace, it would be killed.

'Cut out her tongue if you must, Layel,' Valerian said, 'but shut her up. I'm tempted to come down if only to humble her. As if a female would ever be able to attack me.' He chuckled. 'The idea of such an occurrence is ridiculous.'

'If you want my tongue, come down here and get it.' Valerian's golden brows arched.

'Not another word from you,' Layel bit out, hand shooting up and latching onto Marina's thigh. If he hadn't needed her so much, if there had been any other way to defeat Darius, he would have killed her here and now.

Later, he comforted himself.

'His every breath insults me,' she whispered fiercely. She squirmed against his hold. 'He's taunting us.'

'Obviously you've never been in the presence of a nymph before. If you go to him or if he comes to you, you will gladly become his slave. You will beg to remain at his side; you will want nothing else in your life but to please him. The nymphs cannot help it. Their very presence causes women to become enslaved to them.'

Horror darkened her expression, and her gaze whipped to him. 'If you knew that, why the hell did you invite him down here in the first place?'

'I knew he would refuse the invitation. I also knew it would open our lines of communication.'

'Why are you here?' Valeran said on a sigh, cutting into their conversation. 'See,' Layel muttered. 'Now we are communicating.'

Marina opened her mouth to reply, but Layel silenced her by strengthening his hold on her thigh. Painfully. Her lips pursed.

'We thought to take the palace, but as you arrived first we will leave it to you. However, now that we are here, I wish to inquire about a human man.' As he spoke, hundreds of nymphs lined up beside their king, showing their great numbers. They were all tall and strong with a beauty that surpassed that of any other creature or object. Such exquisite magnificence hurt his eyes, nearly forcing him to shield them.

'Did you also come hoping to find the Jewel of Dunamis?'

Layel shrugged. Valerian knew him very well.

'It's mine,' Marina screeched. 'Do not think you can keep it for yourself.'

'I think I'll do whatever I wish,' Valerian said, his sensual timbre laced with amusement.

Marina's hands tightened on her horse's reins, and her green scales drained of color. 'Let's destroy him,' she whispered. 'Let's send these creatures to Hades.'

Stupid woman. 'We do not have the time nor the resources to war with both the nymphs and the dragons. You may take comfort in the fact that once Darius is defeated, we can do what we will with the nymphs.' Not that he'd allow her to attack Valerian, or even mat she'd still be alive at that point.

'I do not want to wait.'

'But you will.' He cast a glance at the armies behind him. His vampires stood completely still, halving their attention between the demons and him, not paying heed to the spectacle above. They awaited his signal.

The demons, however, continued to shift restlessly on their feet, licking their lips in hungry anticipation. That was the difference between trained warriors and slovenly idiots.

'You know the dragons will attack you for taking this palace,' Layel told his friend.

'Of course. We look forward to their visit. If you've disposed of the demon by that time, you may come and aid us.' Valerian spoke as calmly as if they were discussing the weather, not a prophecy of war and death. 'Now, if you have nothing more to say—'

'Have you seen the human and the girl?' Layel called for Marina's benefit. 'They have not passed through this land today or any day we have been here.'

'You're lying,' Marina hissed, and Layel saw her claws elongate, preparing to attack. 'We'll fight our way inside, if we must, and see for ourselves.'