'No. Never.'

 She would be the first, then, and the knowledge filled her with possessive pride. 'I've never done this for a man, but it's my honor to do it for you.' Without another word, she sucked him. Loving the moans and groans he made, reveling in the gyrations of his hips, the feel of his hands fisted in her hair.

 Up and down she worked, taking him so far down her throat she couldn't breathe. But she loved it. Couldn't stop. Rode his erection with her mouth until he collapsed, spent.

 Smiling, she curled beside him. Gods, she loved this man. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, she knew that now. Battle her sisters—yes. Walk through raging fires—of course. Kill Vorik—she had only to name when and where.

 'You were saying something about a riddle,' she prompted.

 He chuckled.

 'I'm not sure why the gods would give us a riddle rather than test our battle skills. Didn't they mention they wanted the strongest warrior to win? If so, why not give us another, more straightforward challenge?'

 'Strongest warrior, yes, but also the best warrior. They've already tested our might, our endurance, our memory. Perhaps intelligence is the only thing left.' He sighed, loud and long. 'We'll figure this out. And if necessary, we'll destroy the creature, whatever it is, as well as that blackguard Tagart. Broderick, I would like to save, if only there were a way. As for you, you've managed to distract me again. I believe I owe you a very special kiss. And while I'm tasting you, I want you to remind me of everything you've promised me. If you stop talking, I stop kissing.'

 And with that naughty threat, he bent and made good on his word.

SHIVAWN HAD ALYSSA behind him on the centaur as they pranced toward the edge of the cliff. The Amazon camp was nearby. Thanks to nymph senses, they could sniff females out anywhere, anytime. Her hands were on his waist, holding tight. He had never felt stronger, more alive.

Valerian rode beside him, the nymph army lined in their wake.

'Brenna will not be happy if we slaughter the female warriors,' Joachim said in his deep, gruff voice. He was a strong soldier, one of the best, and he was mated to the human Shivawn had once owned.

They were friends now only because Shivawn had relinquished all claim to the girl. That was a good thing, too. As he was learning, all things happened for a reason. If he'd kept Brenna, he would not have been free to mate with Alyssa, and he would rather die than be without his Alyssa.

'Clearly, they are hiding in wait. But they have not attacked us yet,' Valerian pointed out, 'so our charms must be working.'

The lure of the nymphs, he thought, something he'd always been proud of but cursed today. He didn't want Alyssa upset for any reason.

There was a whoop, a war cry, and then the Amazons were flooding the edge of the cliff above their camp. 'Halt,' a female voice shouted angrily. 'State your business, nymphs.'

'Perhaps we aren't as charming as we assumed,' Valerian muttered. He raised his arm, and the army obeyed. 'We came to speak with the prisoners.'

One woman stepped forward. She was fair-haired, tall and muscled, yet as pretty as an angel. 'No,' she said, and Shivawn recognized the voice that had commanded them to stop. She must be the tribe's queen, Kreja. 'You may now turn around, Valerian, and return to your palace. We won't kill you. This time.'

Shivawn had heard of her bloodthirsty nature, her un-bending determination and the iron fist with which she ruled her people. What he had not heard was whether she'd ever spent time with Valerian. That familiarity…had they once been lovers? If so, Valerian would have cast her aside—females never left the nymphs. Correction: females rarely left the nymphs—and would not wish to help the nymphs in any way if they had.

'Tell us what you know of them,' Valerian demanded. 'Please.'

Kreja smiled, smug. 'A please from your lips…irresistible. They were given to us by the gods,' she said. 'Therefore, they belong to us.'

A young girl pushed her way through the masses. Kreja grabbed for her, saying, 'Lily, no!' but the child squirmed for freedom and rather than hurt her, the queen let her go.

She approached, spear in hand, eyes wide. 'Pretty,' she breathed, gaze locked on Dorian, an irreverent dark-haired warrior who preferred variety over quality.

'As are you.' He winked at her indulgently. 'Perhaps we'll meet again in a few years.'

The queen watched the exchange, looking both proud that the girl was brave enough to approach the warriors and worried for her safety. As if the nymphs would ever harm a child.

'I'm old enough to have a slave,' the girl called Lily said, chin lifting. 'His name is Brand the dragon. I made him wash my clothes and fetch my breakfast this morning. I could talk to my mother about keeping you instead.'

His lips twitched. Even Shivawn smiled at that. 'No, thanks,' Dorian said. 'Perhaps another time.'

'Lily!' Kreja shouted, and the little girl jumped.

'Until then,' she said, turning and running back to the females. Instantly they absorbed her into their midst, leaving no sign of her presence.

A muscle ticked below Valerian's eyes. 'Where are you harboring the men? They have information we need,' he said, returning everyone to the business at hand.

'Information I now have. Information I will share only because I have every intention of demanding payment for it one day. You worry for your missing soldiers, I presume. They were taken to an island, far from us,' she said. 'They told me of sun, moon and sand, where mers swam and the gods could freely exercise their power. Something they did often, testing the warriors mercilessly. Both nymphs were alive when the vampire, Zane, and the dragon, Brand, were brought to me.'

Valerian glanced at Shivawn with dread before refocusing on the queen. 'What island?'

'They did not know.'

'You realize the dragon and vampire armies will come after you if you keep those men, yes?'

'Yes.' She grinned with relish. 'Let them come. Amazons enjoy combat, if you hadn't heard.'

'I am ally to both. Should they ask me, I will fight at their side and do all in my power to bring you down.'

Rather than frighten her, the boast merely intensified her giddiness. She sent an eager gaze over the army. 'Out of fond remembrance of our week together all those years ago, I will warn you not to try.'

So they had been lovers. Curious, Shivawn thought. Before settling into their current residence, the nymphs had wandered Atlantis from palace to palace, race to race, taking their pleasure wherever they found it but never remaining in one place for long. The Amazons, however, they had always avoided. They didn't desire companions; they desired slaves. For a time. It wasn't in a nymph's nature to submit. Well, not outside the bedroom.

'One youthful mistake,' Valerian said on a sigh. 'I will do what I must, Kreja, memories or no.'

She smiled. 'You always do. Do it, then. Fight us. Mating season soon approaches.' A horn sounded in the distance, and all of the Amazons stiffened. Frowning, the queen glanced behind her as the horn echoed once more. 'Until we meet again…' What that, she and her followers stepped backward in unison and simply disappeared.

'Alyssa,' Shivawn said.

Realizing what he wanted, she gripped him all the tighter and flew him to the top of the cliff. Down, down he looked. The women had stepped off the cliff and into a churning lake. They made a splash when they hit, then surfaced and swam to shore, waving coyly up at him.

'First they challenge you, and then they run,' she muttered. 'What odd creatures.'

They floated back down, and Valerian sighed. 'Where could this island of sun and moon and mers—' He pressed his lips together, head tilting to the side. 'Wait. I know where it might be. Come with me.'

As quickly as their centaurs would allow, they traveled to the nymph palace. Valerian's queen was waiting for him when they arrived. The nymph king dismounted and ran to his pale moonbeam, swinging her around while she kissed his face.

Alyssa bit Shivawn's shoulder, an action of possession, for Brenna waited atop the front steps, wringing her hands together, black curls billowing around her lovely face as she searched the sea of soldiers for Joachim. The warrior was pushing through the masses. When he reached the little female, he jerked her into his arms and she sighed with relief.

Shivawn turned until he was facing Alyssa. 'I love you,' he told her. 'Only, always, you.'

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