“What do you think you're doing?” Raiden asks, putting a hand on my shoulder as I lean over the ship railing, staring at the massive whirlpool swirling madly before us.
“Aren't we going in?” I gesture to the glittering deathtrap.
“You are not. I've seen how you fare in the ocean. You'll be staying on the ship.” He can't be serious.
The skin on my face pulls tight. “Yeah. I'm not really a 'stay on the ship' kind of girl.” He's already on my shit list for keeping me in the dark for so long about so many things.
“Let her come with! We aren't in the water long enough for her to drown. Plus, she's a healer. She could prove useful down there.” Lavinia smirks at me, and I like her even more.
I grin at my clear victory. He can't argue with that.
“He's not letting me do a damn thing,” I say, fighting the urge to stick my tongue out at him. I may be out of my mind with this stupid mating bond, but I am not going to sit on the sidelines. And miss a chance to meet a god? It’s not in my nature.
He squeezes the sides of his eyes with one hand. “Fine. Fine. But if anything happens to her, I'm holding you responsible,” Raiden tells Lavinia, pointing one long, large finger in her face.
The whirlpool is intimidating, I'll admit, but it's the idea of the sea god and whoever else is waiting on the other side that really scares me.
“See you down there!” Lavinia smacks my ass before she jumps off the ship railing with a squeal and disappears, eaten up by the swirling water.
I swallow hard.
“Now's your chance. If you're too scared to jump, just say the word and you can stay here,” Raiden whispers behind me.
That's all the encouragement it takes. I fling myself over the railing, holding my breath and bracing for an impact that never comes. My stomach does flips, and the cool air on my skin makes goosebumps sprout along my arms.
I go from plunging into the whirlpool of certain death to landing gently in a different world. Everything shines with a pearly iridescence. The whirlpool swirls above a castle made of a substance that glitters with hundreds of different, soft, beautiful colors when the sun hits the water and reflects off it.
The ocean water is kept out of the hidden city by something resembling a bubble that encapsulates the entire thing. All around are males and females with pastel hair of every shade that matches the rainbow of colors of the castle.
The females wear lavish gowns that are more stunning than anything Queen Daphne or her dignitaries have ever donned.
“Beautiful, isn't it?” Lavinia asks me, grabbing my hand and pulling me along the street that's just as breathtaking as the rest of the city. We pass a carriage being pulled by horses made of water. I can see through them, and when they walk, there is no trace of water in their wake.
"It's unbelievable," I whisper.
Lavinia nods, but her eyes are on something behind me, and she promptly releases my arm.
I start to turn, following the path of her gaze, but Raiden's hands are on my arms, and he whispers softly, “Yes. You are.” My face heats, and the moment I register the warmth I want to reach up and touch my hands to my cheeks to cool them.
“Don't. I like being able to see the effect I have on you.” The confession melts me, but the male has released me, and I have to put effort into staying upright as he takes off down the path leading to the castle.
“The gods play by their own rules. They are tricky fucks. Don't make any deals without consulting me first. Don't drink thewine. And don't say a fucking word about any of them that you wouldn't say to their faces,” Raiden warns.
“Wait.” I stop in my tracks. “Did you say 'gods'? As in, more than one?”
He shrugs. “You never know who might come for dinner.”
WE MAKE IT to the gates of the sea god's castle. Raiden tells the green-haired guard his name and requests an audience. From there, we are escorted up to the palace doors, and into a large room with one long table stretched across its length.
I cannot help but gape at the enormous being occupying the head of the table. He is easily eight feet tall. His hair flows dark blue like the depths of the sea. The white robe he wears is accented in gold that matches his gleaming eyes.
Many of the seats are already occupied, except for the three vacant chairs nearest the giant ethereal male.
“Welcome, my son!” His voice is a booming echo. “Please, take a seat and introduce us to your beautiful friends.”
Raiden pulls out the seat furthest from the god and ushers Lavinia into it. He scoots the middle out for me, and when my eyes meet his in thanks, it's the first time I've seen true fear swimming in those golden pools of his.
“Their names are unimportant,” Raiden says, and the sea god's look of disappointment and irritation isn't just for show. He scrunches his brows together.
