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He pulled Dakota closer, looking up at his smiling brothers. He didn’t care that they could see the tears on his cheeks.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Dakota felt like she’d been to hell and back. Her chest hurt, her stomach ached, her head pounded.

“Just take it easy,” Dare said.

She finally found the strength to lift her head, and when she looked at his face, her heart constricted.

He looked how she felt. His wet hair was plastered against his skull, and his eyes had a hard, haunted look in them.

She cupped his cheek. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “No. If I ever have to relive anything like this again…” He pulled her close, hugging her tightly to his chest.

Beneath her ear, she heard the rapid beat of his heart.

“How you doing there, Dakota?”

She blinked at Rynan. She saw him and Justyn standing above her. When had they arrived? She realized it was the softest she’d ever heard Rynan’s voice. Damn, she must have really rattled them all.

“I won’t lie, I’ve felt better. But I’m alive.” She coughed. “We’re all alive and not floating around out there.” She stabbed a finger on the other side of the dome.

“True.” Rynan knelt down beside her. “Here. My med kit is a little better equipped than the standard fare.” He held up a pressure injector.

“What is it?” she asked.

“A mild stim. It won’t make you crash like that one Dare took on Sulla, but you’ll feel like you’ve mainlined some real caffeine. It’ll get you on your feet and dull any pain.”

Her lips quirked. “Get that sucker into me, then.”

She felt Dare’s chest move as he laughed, and the sound of it made her feel better. Rynan injected her, and she felt the sweet sting of pain as the stimulant entered her bloodstream. She blinked up at the golden dome. She could see now that it was made of large panels all joined together.

It didn’t take long before she could feel the energy racing through her. “Oh, that stuff is good.”

The corner of Rynan’s mouth moved. It softened his hard features, and made him look almost handsome. “Glad you’re feeling better.”

Dare helped her up and she stood there for a second, getting her balance. Then she raised her head and gasped.

“Holy stars.”

Ahead of them was the temple. Tall, twisted columns rose up to sharp spikes, pointing up toward the peak of the dome. It was all made of a golden rock that seemed to glow with an inner light. A set of steps led up into the arched entrance of the building.

“It’s something, isn’t it?” Justyn said, his hands on his hips.

“I want to see inside it,” she said.

Dare shook his head. “Of course, you do.”

Together, the four of them walked up the temple steps. Dare kept his hand closed on hers, as they walked through the arch.

Inside, the golden rock glowed, lighting the inside of the temple. She stopped there for a second, her chest tight, marveling at what she saw.

The Atocha Treasure was lovingly laid out on shelves and altars. The golden glow of the walls twinkled off the gold and silver artifacts—there were baskets filled with coins, jewelry, statues, silver bars, and piles of emeralds.

This wasn’t just a temple; it was a shrine. To Dakota, it was simply amazing that this had been here, beneath the waves, hidden for so long.

Then she felt a sharp sting under her ribs. The entire people of the planet of Maro had protected this treasure. Revered it.