True love. Which was more than she could say about any other male she’d met in her lifetime. . . .

Off went his boots. “All your life, you’ve pursued and endured,” the Nereids murmured, “while she enjoyed other males. You longed for the freedom to choose who you desired. Now you can, but only here, where there’s no such thing as matehood.”

How could he resist that reasoning? He’d felt “cuckolded.” He’d tried to stray. And now in this realm, he was finally free to.

No longer was Lanthe his bitter necessity.

Just days ago, he’d told her she was lacking, that he would never desire someone like her.

But things had changed between them. He’d told her he wanted everything from her. Maybe if she’d given him any kind of encouragement, any definitive signal that her own feelings had changed, he would’ve stayed faithful.

When one of the Nereids began undoing Thronos’s pants—with her teeth—Lanthe was staggered by the tears spilling from her eyes. “Let me go to him and stop this. Please, Nereus!”

His mien darkened, growing more piscine. She heard doors shutting and locking to prevent her escape.

Even after the nymphs had stripped Thronos naked, he gave one last struggle, so they deepened their spells to knock him out completely.

One nymph told another, “He’ll wake in my mouth.”

Then it was as good as done. No male alive could wake to a nymph blow-job and deny the female.

Crying, sick, Lanthe turned her back on the scene. I should’ve locked Thronos down. I should’ve fought for him when I had the chance.

Now she would have to face his murderous wrath when she tried to steal him back from the nymphs.

If she somehow could, would Thronos even want her after she bedded Nereus?

“My dear sorceress, if it’s any consolation”—Nereus patted the “bed” by his side—“he resisted them longer than any other male I’ve seen.”

She was too heartbroken to react much to her own predicament. The overly endowed god wasn’t known to be a gentle lover.

She wanted to blame Thronos for her situation, but of course she couldn’t. She was responsible for her fate. If she’d given him any sign . . .

With leaden feet, she crossed to Nereus—

A bellow sounded.

She whirled toward the waterfall screen, saw Thronos shoving away Nereids, sending them flying across the room. “Where’s my mate?” he yelled, wings flaring, his naked body magnificent. “Begone from me, you foul witches!”

She smiled through new tears, cheering him as he yanked his pants on. Snatching up his clothes, he stormed away—from a carnal paradise.

For me.

She beamed with pride. By denying those nymphs, he’d gone against his instincts—and his ego.

Nereus released a stunned breath. “Amazing. Go to your Vrekener with my blessing.” In the distance, doors began to clang, unlocking for her. “I’m sure you can sense the location of Sargasoe’s portal.” Giving her a salacious grin, he added, “But you have no idea what you’re missing.”

“Uh, thank you. We’ll be off.”

“And by the way”—out of thin air, he produced a lock of shining black hair, scenting it—“tell Nïx that she asks much. Quelling a tsunami is no mean task.”

Whatever. “Will do, Nereus, will do,” she assured him, sprinting for the door.

FORTY-FOUR

What did I do with them?

Thronos recalled little of what had happened in that room, just knew he’d woken with no clothes on and naked Nereids kissing his body—while more had been layered beneath him.

“Melanthe!” he bellowed as he strode down the corridor, hastily dressing as he went.

Those nymphs had whispered that there was no matehood in Nereus’s realm. Thronos would be free to partake—as he’d wanted to for ages.

But that had been before.

I was unfaithful.

He’d gotten drunk on demon brew, then betrayed his lovely, brave, intelligent mate. All of his laws, all of his righteousness, all of the grief he’d given her about her behavior—and he was the one who fell.

How could he tell her?

If he’d been seduced by nymphs, then what in the hell was happening to her? Was Nereus ravishing her? If the god touches her . . . “Melanthe!” His fear for her, his blind panic, burned away much of his inebriation. “Answer me!”

He heard, “I’m here!” just before he saw her speeding around a corner.

She ran for him, face ecstatic. My incomparable mate. So bloody beautiful.

“We’re free, Thronos! We can leave now.”

He gave a curt nod, looping his arm over her shoulder. “I want to get far away from this wretched place.”

“The portal’s near.” She led him down a shadowy passageway.

As they hastened along it, sweat beaded on his lip. What did I do? “Where were you?” he asked.

“Uh, looking for you.”

“Nereus didn’t hurt you?”

“No, he kept his hands to himself.”

You’re going to have to tell her. The only thing worse than his infidelity would be hiding it. How would she react?

At the end of the corridor was the portal. Living coral framed the rippling surface.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked. “I can all but hear you grinding your molars to dust. We’re here, we’re finally here.”