Atlantis Series Complete Collection Page 27
“Darius,” she murmured. Her eyes were closed, her face pale.
He laid her gently on the floor and crouched beside her. As if sensing his vulnerable state, the vampire king swept before him, his eyes glowing that eerie blue. His sharp, white teeth were bared, ready to strike. The urge to leap up and attack was there, but Darius resisted. He wouldn’t risk hurting Grace further.
Layel dove for him. Darius hunched over, protecting Grace with his body. He made no other move toward his opponent. The vampire’s teeth sank into his shoulder, but as quickly as Layel attacked, he withdrew.
“Fight, you coward,” Layel growled. “We end this here and now.”
He glared up at him. “You cannot provoke me. The woman’s life is more important, and I will not risk it. Not even to rid our world of your existence.”
Blood dripped from Layel’s mouth, slashes of red against his pale skin. He looked ready to pounce again, but instead offered, panting, “What are you willing to do for me to save your woman?”
“Call off your bloodsuckers, and I will not burn down your home.”
“Burn my home and I will ensure your woman burns with it.”
Grace uttered another whimper. Darius smoothed his hand over her brow, whispering soft words in her ear, though he never removed his gaze from Layel. “My warriors will disengage as soon as the woman is safe.”
“I like having your warriors here. Easier to kill them.” As he watched them, something indistinguishable came over Layel’s expression. Something…almost human. He licked the blood from his mouth. “You love her?”
“Of course.”
“I loved once,” he said as if he couldn’t hold back the words.
Darius studied the taut lines of Layel’s features. “Then you understand.”
The vampire king gave an almost imperceptible nod, then closed his eyes for a long moment, pensive. When he refocused, he said, “To save the woman, I will allow you and your men to leave my castle in peace. But there will not always be a woman to shield you and we will fight again, Darius. That I promise you.”
“I welcome the day.”
Layel unfurled his cape and turned, but he wasn’t about to leave without offering one final blow. “I now possess many dragon medallions. Won’t be long before your home is mine,” he said, grinning over his shoulder.
Before Darius could reply, smoke erupted around him, and the vampire disappeared. Just like that, the rest of the vampires disappeared, as well, and the dragons were left in midbattle stances. Confused, they swung around, their expressions feral as they hunted for their opponents.
“Search the dungeons,” Darius called. He continued to hold and rock and coo at Grace, willing his strength into her body.
Long moments later, Renard dragged a human man by the arm. Teira raced at his side, shouting that he was not to be hurt. Alex, Grace’s brother, Darius realized. The human paled when he saw Grace.
“Grace,” he shouted and fought to free himself. Renard held tight.
“These two were in the dungeon,” Renard said. “This is the man your woman spoke of, is it not?”
“Release him.”
The moment Alex gained his freedom, he sprinted to Grace. “What have you done to her,” he snarled, trying to rip her from Darius’s arms. “Let her go.”
“If you do not remove your hand from my wife, I will remove it for you,” he snapped. “The woman is my mate. Mine. That you are her brother is the only reason you will live. No one touches her but me.”
Wisely Alex dropped his hands to his side. He lost his fury and desperation, both replaced by confusion. “Your mate?” He knelt beside them. “Is she…”
“She lives. She is merely weak from blood loss.”
“She’s pale.”
“Give her time,” Darius said, gazing down at this woman he loved and caressing a fingertip down her nose.
“I’m awake,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry I let them get me. I tried to fight, but…”
Relief shuddered through him, and he couldn’t hold back his next words. “I love you, Grace Carlyle.”
“That’s Grace en Kragin.” Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled slowly. “And I love you, too.”
Darius didn’t know where Javar’s medallion was, how many medallions Layel had or when the vampire would try and use them. Nor did he know where the Book of Ra-Dracus was, but he had Grace, and that’s what mattered.
“I was so afraid…”
He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “Hush. All is well. Your brother is here.”
To verify this, Alex leaned into her line of vision and grinned. “I’m here, sis. I’m here.”
“Oh, thank God.” With a grimace, she sat up and wrapped her arms around him, hugging, her grip fragile. “I missed you. I was so worried about you.”
Darius allowed her a few minutes to reunite with her brother, then reclaimed her in the circle of his arms, exactly where she belonged.
She glanced up at him. “So what do we do from here?”
“I want you to live here with me. We can build a life together and raise our children.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Yes. Yes.”
Chuckling, he smoothed back her hair, then kissed her nose, her lips, her chin. “I think your brother will be staying, as well.”
“Really?” Grace glanced at her brother curiously.
Alex wagged his brows and motioned to the beautiful blonde. “He means,” her brother said, putting his arm around Teira, “that I’ve found love, too. Grace, I’d like to introduce my future wife, Teira.”
She and Grace shared a secret smile, then Grace turned to Darius. “We can’t leave my mom and aunt Sophie on the surface without us.”
“I’m sure Layel has room for them.”
“No!”
He smiled at her, a true, genuine smile. “I was teasing, Grace.”
She stilled. Blinked. Darius? Teasing? How…shocking.
“You do find teasing acceptable, do you not, sweet Grace?”
“Of course. I just didn’t expect it from you.”
A tender light consumed his golden eyes. “You thought I lacked humor?”
“Well, yeah,” she admitted. She drew in the masculinity of his scent, closed her eyes and savored. “But I love you anyway. You’ll adore having my mom and aunt with us.”
His lips twitched. “I’m not sure my men are prepared,” he said with an undercurrent of humor. “But for you, anything.”
“I love you,” she said again. “Have I told you the one about the dragon who couldn’t say no?”
* * * * *
ISBN-13: 9781488026744
Heart of the Dragon
Copyright © 2005 by Gena Showalter
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www.Harlequin.com
Rediscover this mythical world of immortals, magic and dark seduction that came before The Lords of the Underworld—Atlantis…
All Atlanti
s seeks the Jewel of Dunamis, which legend claims can overcome any enemy. Grayson James, human agent of the ultrasecret Otherworld Bureau of Investigation, has orders to keep it from the wrong hands—or destroy it. What he doesn’t know is that Jewel is a woman, not a stone! But once he meets this precious gem, destroying her is the last thing on his mind….
Jewel, part goddess, part prophet, needs Gray’s help to win her freedom. Gray needs her wisdom to navigate monster-ridden Atlantis. But need blossoms into passionate love as they battle demons, dragons and vampires—and fight for a future that seems impossible….
Look for the rest of Gena Showalter’s Atlantis series: The Amazon’s Curse, Heart of the Dragon, The Nymph King and The Vampire’s Bride, available now.
Originally published in 2006
JEWEL OF ATLANTIS
GENA SHOWALTER
CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
PROLOGUE
THE GODS NEVER meant to create them.
For centuries the Titans and Greeks paced throughout the heavens, wailing with their overpowering need for companionship, longing for their kingdom to overflow with loyal, grateful, obedient subjects.
And so the idea of Man was born.
The sovereign king was sacrificed, his blood melded with land, air, sea and fire. Living creatures were born. But the elements were unstable, the portions flawed and the outcome atrocious. The beings were…wrong. They were not loyal or grateful, least of all obedient. These dragons, minotaurs, vampires, nymphs, formorians—and too many others to name—were powerful rivals, potential usurpers to the royal immortal throne.
Fear erupted in the heavens.
In a panic, the gods cursed each ghastly creation to a life hidden under the sea, to live forever bound in a city known as Atlantis. The only reminder of their presence was The Book of Ra Dracas, detailing the creation and weaknesses of each race. But that, too, was hidden.
Centuries passed.
Time, as it always does, distorted the memory of the gods. They forgot their mistake and focused only on their ever-growing need for fellowship. Once again, they attempted to create Man—and succeeded.
Soon after, the age of disharmony began: the gods meddled in human lives whenever they wished, and Man grew to resent the interference.
The gods remembered their monsters. Would the Atlanteans be so unappreciative?
They could not allow themselves to find out. Only one unspoken rule existed. The two vastly different creations, humans and Atlanteans, were never to meet, never to interact, never to fall in love. Too many dangers…
Someone should have told Grayson James.
CHAPTER ONE
IT WAS SUPPOSED to be an easy mission. An in-and-out job. A one-day extraction.
His boss had fed him that line of bullshit, and Grayson James had foolishly believed him. Upon first entering this lushly green, sea-kissed land known as Atlantis, however, Gray realized he would have had better luck trying to sell a Frigidaire to an Eskimo. At a jacked-up price.
Atlantis.
Not a myth. Damn it. He’d hoped otherwise.
He scowled. In one hand, he held a beeping, miniature GPS system programmed from coordinates found on a map. An actual map of Atlantis his boss had discovered in a missing millionaire’s stash. Right now, the GPS signal bounced off the earth’s magnetic core, helping him navigate his way through this Atlantean jungle. In the other hand, he gripped a machete. The sharp silver blade hacked at the thick foliage blocking his path.
No, Atlantis was not a myth. It happened to be home to the most loathsome creatures he’d ever encountered. And as an employee of OBI, the Otherworld Bureau of Investigations, he’d encountered plenty.
Made him wonder why he’d even joined the agency.
He knew the answer, though, and it wasn’t because he’d (secretly) watched Star Trek for most of his teen years and knew how to speak Klingon. “Heghlu’ meH QaQ jajvam,” he sighed. Today is a good day to die.
When he’d learned (to his horrified shock) that there actually were other colonized worlds in the vast expanse of the galaxies, he’d left his job as a detective with the Dallas PD and began searching for a Men in Black–type operation. When OBI finally contacted him he’d signed on immediately. He believed fiercely in the need to learn about these otherworlders and protect his own planet from them.
How could he have known that the most fearsome creatures of all resided here, on his own planet? Simply buried beneath the ocean, protected by some kind of crystal dome?
As he dodged a stray limb, he ground his teeth together. “Atlantis,” he muttered. “Code name, Hell.”
After entering a swirling, gelatinous portal OBI had discovered underwater in Florida, he’d found himself inside an enormous crystal palace guarded by huge, sword-wielding men. Luck had been on his side as he stealthily maneuvered his way past them, unnoticed, and entered this jungle.
That’s when he kissed that fickle bitch Lady Luck goodbye.
For the past two nights, a bloodsucking vampire, a fire-breathing dragon, and a hungry, salivating winged demon, aka the Welcoming Committee, had chased him, each sharpening mental forks and knives.
The memories made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
He knew the routine now. In less than one hour, night would fall and those…things would emerge again. They would hunt him. They would attempt to eat him. And not in a good way.
His blood ran cold at the thought and not even the hot, humid air could warm him. For fifty-eight hours he’d been stuck in this seemingly never-ending maze, and for fourteen of those hours, he’d followed the exact same pattern: creatures track, Gray evade.
The first night, he’d tried to shoot them with his Beretta. He managed to nail the dragon between the eyes, but his other pursuers dodged the bullets, quickly and effortlessly gliding out of range.
The second night, when the two remaining creatures appeared, Gray utilized his combat skills and slit the vampire’s throat. A pleasure, he had to admit, but he hadn’t emerged unscathed. Five deep, raw scratch and bite wounds adorned his neck and thigh, throbbing constantly. Not festering, but never quite healing.
How he’d escaped the demon after that, he didn’t know. Injured and weak as he’d been, he would have been easy to overpower. Hell, his bleeding body would have made a delicious dinner buffet. Many times he’d wondered if the demon had purposefully let him go, enjoying the thrill of the hunt a little too much.
Well, the demon wasn’t the only one who was going to enjoy himself tonight. An anticipatory smile lifted Gray’s lips. Smarter now, he wouldn’t be caught off guard. Plus, he’d already worked up a plan affectionately dubbed Operation Kill the Bastard. If KTB unfolded successfully, the demon would soon join his bloodsucking friends in hell. If it didn’t, well, Gray would resort to Plan B: Operation Oh Shit. He’d sprint like a madman and hide until light glowed once more from the seemingly alive dome above.
His gaze flicked to said dome. There was no sky here, only mile after mile of iridescent crystal. Waves constantly washed over the outer side, and multiple-sized and
colored fish swam in every direction. He like the naked mermaids best.
A twig slapped his cheek, snagging his attention, slicing skin and adding one more item to his growing shit list. He lost all remnants of his good humor. At least the insects had stopped swarming him. A real silver lining, he thought bitterly. He never should have taken this job.
He veered left just as his wristwatch vibrated. He stopped abruptly. “Just what I need,” he muttered. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another, and now it was time to check in with home base.
He dropped his backpack, dug inside, and withdrew a small black transmitter, switching it to On. If he failed to check in at least once a day, the cavalry would sweep in and finish his job. He’d never failed a mission, and he wouldn’t fail this one.
“Santa to Mother,” he said, cringing when he spoke his code name. His unit had thought it was funny as hell, saying he swooped into other worlds and left little presents (like bombs and dead bodies), so the name had stuck. “Do you copy?”
A few seconds of static, before he heard, “Go ahead, Santa.” He recognized the voice of his boss, Jude Quinlin.
“I’m still without the package, but all is well.”
“Copy that.”
“Over.” He ended the transmission and stuffed the receiver into his backpack, then kicked into gear again. All was well, his ass. To survive Operation KTB himself, he needed to find a small clearing with ample room to sprint, dodge, and dive for cover. So far, no luck. And he was running out of time, his hour ticking away unmercifully.
When a wall of trees blocked his path, he pivoted right, but the GPS erupted in a series of erratic, high-pitched beeps, a sign he’d taken a wrong turn. Growling low in his throat, Gray spun around and backtracked until the miniature device calmed. Sweat trickled from his temple and dripped onto his military fatigues.
He’d been due a vacation, damn it, a chance to see the brothers and sister he hadn’t visited in over two years. He called them regularly, of course, but that wasn’t the same as hugging them, laughing with them. Being with them. He wanted to play with Katie’s children, wanted to make sure her husband Jorlan was treating her like the prize she was.