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I’d heard stories from those who worked or lived by the sea about mermaids kidnapping humans and using them as slaves in their coral kingdom beneath the sea. It was certainly a plausible explanation for where so many people had disappeared to over the years with no bodies turning up.

Assuming such a kingdom did exist and Torvo had miraculously survived long enough to be taken, how the hell was I supposed to get the big guy out? The way the two creatures were looking at me, I would be lucky to make it out myself.

I drew my sword and pointed it, stopping their advance, at least for a moment. I needed air. And I needed to get back to the ship and work with the others to figure out how to retrieve Torvo. Perhaps the princess’s power⁠—

Hands grabbed me from behind, and I spun in the water, trying to wrench myself free. Narrowly avoiding sharp teeth, I bucked and twisted, freeing myself. But even as I tossed one creature off, two more took its place. Dozens seemed to pour from a shadowed opening near the sea floor. One wrestled my sword from my grip and carried it along beside us. At least five others, of astounding strength, crowded me, holding my arms down and spiriting me toward the dark mouth below.

My lungs cramped as I fought to free myself, knowing I had limited time. They seemed to know too because one of them looked at me pityingly, then grabbed my face in her hands. She pinched my nose and wrenched my mouth open, covering it with hers.

I panicked, struggling and certain I was about to take a lungful of water. But when she retreated, I found only air filling my chest. It was enough to stop my struggling as I tried to piece together what had happened. Whatever magic was in her kiss had somehow allowed me the blessing of air beneath the ocean.

Eyes wide, I looked to the mermaid who’d done it. She smiled, her slit-like nostrils flaring with the movement. Around her, her hair flowed out in an arc of shadow. She opened her mouth again and a voice echoed in my head.

“You are a gift from the god of the sea. Second to join us today. Darvol has answered our prayers.”

I blinked, unsure whether I could speak. I had to try.

“I’ve come looking for my friend,” I said, and though I heard nothing, she nodded in acknowledgement.

“You will spend many years together serving the queen,” she answered in my mind as I was dragged through the opening.

My struggles stopped at the sight of the kingdom spread out before me. Coral twisted above and around in a delicate dome with smaller coral forming buildings inside of it. The landscape spread out further than the eye could see in all directions. Pathways of braided seaweed wound around the structures like roads. Where on land we would have trees and flowerbeds, crystalline clusters protruded from the seabed in varying sizes, hues, and shapes. Around them, more mermaids hovered, engaged in conversation or mundane tasks.

A harsh tug yanked me forward again. I garnered as many stares as I gave while my captors dragged me through the narrow corridors between buildings. Curious eyes followed me, some of those around us pointing. Whispers coalesced in my head, a concert of a thousand voices echoing surprise and interest as I was led toward the largest of the structures. The coral twisted upward into a pair of turrets, mimicking a castle made of stone. Instead of steps, a smooth hill made of what looked to be multicolored shells led the way to the arched entrance, beyond which sat a roughhewn throne carved from crystal. On top of the throne reclined a mermaid, tail curled to the side. A circlet of seaweed and pearls adorned her head, while necklaces made of shells floated around her throat.

My captors dragged me up the hill and pushed me to the mountain of shells before the queen, sending a small cascade of them bouncing away. One handed her my sword to inspect.

“Such barbarity.” Her voice carried shades of disappointment. “Bring the new slave to meet his brother.”

They forced my head down in a bow when I tried to look around. But I was aware of someone being forced to kneel beside me. I didn’t have to see him to know it was the man I sought. At least I’d found him alive. Now we just had to figure a way out of here.

“You’re not dead,” I said.

Torvo’s deep voice answered, “And you are here.” But even in my mind, the way he punched out his words told me something was wrong beyond having been captured.

“Tell me,” the queen said, leaning forward from her throne. “Are there more men on the surface that may prove as beautiful a specimen as the two of you?”

She lifted my chin, and the hands holding my head down released me. Her eyes were large, framed by dark green lashes. She searched my face.

“There is no one like us,” I answered.

“I can smell lies,” she replied, releasing me. “But I sense you tell the truth. Very well. Two strong humans will serve us well for years.”

“And if we refuse to comply?” I challenged.

“You have no choice. Besides, you will enjoy what we have planned.”

Giggles bounced around my mind, making me dizzy, and the females holding my arms pressed themselves against my sides as another set a hand on my thigh. I jerked back, and the queen smiled down at me.

“We collect the seed of human males to fertilize our eggs.”

I’d faced many dangers in my time, but I would be damned if my fate was to become breeding material for a kingdom of mermaids. After all I’d been through, I vowed this would not be my end. A familiar burn flared behind my eyes, but I tamped it down quickly. Fire would not serve me beneath the ocean, and rage would not help when I wasn’t in the midst of battle. No, this situation had to be handled differently.

“As lovely as you are, my queen, we are on a mission for the gods,” I said, thinking fast. If I could avoid a massacre, I would. There were people here that had nothing to do with this, and even I couldn’t take on an entire kingdom. I couldn’t count on Torvo either. Something was off with him, and I didn’t have time to investigate. I straightened my spine, looking the queen in the eye. “If you detain us or disrupt the mission, Darvol will be displeased.”

Murmurs of apprehension replaced the laughter as she narrowed her gaze.

“I smell lies, human.”