We walked into the throne room and were greeted by what felt like every Atlantean on the islands. They were packed into a very large auditorium facing a dais in the front of the room, where there sat a row of chairs. A hush fell upon the crowd as we walked in, and every head turned in our direction. The people were very normal looking, if luminescent skin covering muscular bodies, with hair and eyes colors only found in the sea could be called normal. For some reason I had been expecting them to look like bug-eyed aliens, or some other mutated creatures that had yet to be identified. The only difference between the Atlanteans and myself was the skin, hair, and eye color. Well, that, and the fact that no one here had an ounce of body fat on them. The women were all thin with compact figures and lean muscles defining what I could see of their bodies. I could tell that they were used to hard labor.

The men were all muscular. No one that I saw had the couch warrior look to him or her. It was a sea of eye candy. I’d never felt like more of an outsider as I looked at the astonished faces of the people looking at me. My plush curves were definitely out of place here. It took me a few uncomfortable seconds to fully realize that they weren’t just staring at me, but at us. Raif was clinging to my hand so tightly I could feel him trembling. I looked into his face and saw a mask of indifference plastered there, such a departure from how his eyes had been lit before we’d entered the room. This was not the same man I was falling for. This man was cold, calculated.

“Raifuku, you have been honored by Poseidon this day. Please bring your human here so that we may begin with the celebrations.” The tenor voice echoed through the hushed building. The people parted, leaving a direct route to the dais, where the seats were filled by those I could only assume were the Council and the king.

The man speaking was the king. Even without a crown, he held an air of importance that could not be ignored. He also looked strikingly like the statue I’d noticed outside. He had the same wide-set eyes and prominent Roman nose of the statue. His hair was ruffled in a much more modern fashion than the statue’s long pulled back mane, but at a glance I could tell that he was a descendant of Poseidon’s. Raif’s hand tightened even further on mine, and I knew if he didn’t lighten up, he’d break it. I gently squeezed his hand and started rubbing my thumb across it. If I weren’t looking for a sign of him relaxing, I would have missed the imperceptible loosening of his hand on mine, and the slight exhalation of breath.

As we moved through the crowd, I could hear whispered murmurs behind me. Raif tensed, but I couldn’t understand why. His expression gave nothing away.

Once we’d drawn up directly in front of the king, Raif crossed his arms and bowed. He had to let go of my hand to bow properly, and I immediately began to shake. I had no idea when or how it happened, but I had become dependent on him for comfort, and I didn’t like that. It took me a few moments to compose myself while he was talking.

“My lord, may I present Poseidon’s gift—Lady Natasha from the Surface. We beg forgiveness for our tardiness, but I felt it inappropriate to introduce such a wonderful blessing from Poseidon in a state unbefitting a lady.” He said all this as he rose from his bow, but didn’t make any move to hold my hand again when he was finished. I was shocked to hear him speak with absolutely no inflection in tone or facial expression. I was starting to wonder who the real Raif was and if I had even a snowflakes chance in Hell to get my heart back if this was his true self. I did my best to curtsy as he finished talking.

“She is not like Poseidon’s other gifts, is she? I wonder what he had in mind by sending her. She does not seem fit to tend fields, climb mountains, or care for our sea creatures. There is an excess to her that does not seem proper for a lady. She is not even properly contained in her dress; the spillage is extensive.” At this, the king swatted the tops of my breasts as if to accent the ’excess’ that he was talking about. I was beet red in anger and he wasn’t even finished.

“She does possess motherly hips, perhaps she was sent here to breed. What say you, Raifuku? She would make an excellent breeder, and we are sorely lacking in new mothers.” At this he grabbed my hips, pantomiming exactly what the process of breeding would entail, from behind me. I was enraged and extremely embarrassed to be treated like a piece of cattle, especially in front of so many people. I schooled myself slightly to hide the shame, but let my anger loose.

“I don’t give a flying rat’s ass what Raifuku has to say about it.” I emphasized the use of his full name. “She has a name, and a mind of her own to choose whether she wants to be a breeder. She can talk for herself, you pompous ass! Who the hell are you to criticize me? I’m a strong woman who has a hell of a lot more to offer than ovaries. If you cared to ask me what I wanted instead of treating me like cattle, you’d know that I don’t even want to be here. I just want to go home!” I spoke quickly, yanking myself out of his embrace and was visibly shaking with anger.

It took every ounce of restraint I had not to beat the crap out of this man, royalty or not. Raif had, at some point, put a restraining hand on my back, and even the warmth of his electric touch hadn’t been able to calm me down. I knew I wasn’t a wisp of a woman; that I had curves and cushion where there could be ribs and a six-pack, but I liked my appearance. Who was he to insinuate that I was unacceptable? Any softening toward this place I was starting to feel because of Raif vanished at this introduction. I desperately wanted to go home and pretend I had never seen Atlantis. The thought of never seeing Raif again was the only pain I felt. While that thought hurt beyond measure, I could never live in a place where I was so thoroughly disrespected because of my packaging.

“Well, she certainly has spirit. Atreyu, what has Poseidon whispered in your ear about this new treasure?” He laughed at me and turned away like I mattered less than a gnat buzzing around his head. If Raif didn’t have one of my hands in his and his other on my back in a comfortable distraction, I swear I’d have hit the king of Atlantis right then and there. No wonder the queen’s chair was still empty.

The man he turned to wore black robes that contrasted with his silver hair. His long locks were held back with a black cord. He had three long silver braids on the left side of his face that were separated out from the rest. He glided over to the king and started examining me like I was a piece of meat to be auctioned off later. His silver eyes swirled as he looked at me and for just an instant I saw an expression of awe, respect, and abject terror. He turned from me and addressed the king.

“My lord, as Poseidon’s high priest I am honored to have had him visit his temple this day. He came to me and instructed me to find the ancient scrolls. He spoke to me again and told me that this day could be a day of much rejoicing or great despair. My king, Poseidon brings to all of Atlantis on this day, the one who will fulfill the prophecy.” He gestured to me as a sudden uproar exploded from the crowd, distracting me from my questions and fury.

There were exclamations of joy, shock, and terror. I couldn’t understand anything they said, but I could feel the undercurrents of emotions and see the expressions on their faces. The Council members continued to wear masks of indifference. Even Raif’s face held no sense that he was concerned in any way that I was some sort of prophecy come true. Only the hand that clenched mine betrayed his emotions. Every muscle was tight with the tension he was holding in check. The king quickly hid his terror from his people, but not so quickly that I didn’t catch the momentary lapse in his schooled features.

“Atreyu, are you certain this creature is whom Poseidon refers to? I cannot see how she would be anyone’s alma xemelga.” The king turned up his nose at me. I suppressed a shiver of awareness at the words. Alma xemelga. The words rang as important and resonated true feelings in me, although I didn’t understand what they meant.

“King Nereus, I have not been Poseidon’s high priest for eleven thousand years by misinterpreting his words, especially when he states them directly to me in his temple. He has not visited his temple since we sank. That alone marks the beginning of the prophecy. She is the key.” He was angry with the king for questioning him. The walls of the palace started to shake, and I gripped Raif’s arm, fearful. I hated earthquakes and this didn’t make any sense. No one else seemed to be concerned, and the trembling only lasted seconds.

“What are we to do then?” King Nereus sighed as he gracefully fell into his seat and looked expectantly at Atreyu. I had thought it was a rhetorical question, but apparently, he needed answers.

“Poseidon also reminds me that, like us, she does have free will. She does not have to fulfill the prophecy at any stated date, if ever. There is also the possibility that if she is quarantined she will never meet her alma xemelga. She has only had physical contact with our immovable Raifuku and his apprentice, Michael. As is apparent by his lack of emotion, she was unable to break through Raifuku’s defenses, and since Michael is tending to temple duties and not pining for her, we can be assured that she has not found her alma xemelga quite yet. You forget that I was around when Poseidon and Cleito walked these shores together and I am intimately aware of the effects of finding one’s alma xemelga.” He paused for a moment. “We do have another option. We need not ever fulfill the prophecy if we destroy this Surface Dweller. Be warned, though, those that went against Poseidon in the past suffered greatly for it. I know the pull of one’s alma xemelga is great, and Poseidon has yearned for the day when he can reunite with Cleito again.” There was an instant hush at his words. Some shed tears at the mention of Poseidon and Cleito; others looked around in fear at the mention of her name.

“My king, if I may.” Raif’s bored tone echoed around the room. “Perhaps we should take some time to discuss the options further. It might be a good idea to open the door to our fellow Atlanteans to bring their desires and concerns to you as this affects us all. Atreyu can continue to consult the scrolls and discuss the matter further with Poseidon. Perhaps there is another way the prophecy can be fulfilled at a later date. Or, when Lady Natasha is fully briefed, she can be part of the decision. Must anything be decided now? This is a time of celebration; Poseidon has gifted us with a female after years of silence. I will take her to my home with me so that she remains under constant guard and will have no further contact with any Atlanteans, thereby eliminating the opportunity for her to create a bond. We shall return the instant the decision is made to hear your ruling. Is this sufficient for the Council?” Silence fell over the room after Raif’s speech.

“Hey—” I was cut off by a painful grip on both my hand and hip as Raif swept me behind him. Apparently Raif sensed that I was going to ask to just be sent home. I held my tongue. I trusted Raif enough to get me out of here without them opting to kill me.

“Raifuku speaks with the sort of knowledge and foresight that should have been delivered to King Atlas before we joined the last war. We will open court tomorrow for all who wish to voice their concerns either for or against the destruction of this woman. She will remain Raifuku’s prisoner and all are forbidden to associate with her. When the sun rests in three days, the Council shall convene again to either fulfill the prophecy or eliminate the cause for concern. It is so decreed. May Poseidon bless you with clear skies and strong winds at your back.” With Nereus’ words, Raif took hold of me. He turned me to face him.

“Natasha, I apologize for this, but I need you to close your eyes and allow me to carry you. I will explain everything when we get home,” he whispered, so softly I barely heard him. Though his whispered words carried concern, his face, which was visible to every Atlantean in the crowd, only showed boredom.

He quickly scooped me up and threw me over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry so I could stare at his backside. My protests died as soon as they started. He had a very nice butt. I held on tight, but there was no way I was closing my eyes from this view. He turned and hurried out of the building with determined strides.

I couldn’t help but picture his face with a firm expression on it, daring anyone to approach him. I watched as feet turned away from us, until they completely disappeared from my viewpoint. We cleared the building and Raif swept me from his shoulder to his arms, holding me like I was cherished. He ran to his home. We were there within minutes with his stride and speed. He was barely out of breath.

“Okay, Raif, you can put me down now and tell me what is going on.” He set me down in his living room and started pacing. I didn’t know whether I should go to him, or let him come to me. In my mind those were the only two options. I was also trying to maintain my indignant anger at how I’d been treated. My blood boiled just thinking about the hundreds of strangers convening to decide my fate as if I were an inconvenience. “Raif, please talk to me. I have to know what’s going on.”

I tried to intercept him during one of his passes, but he evaded me. As he passed I could hear him mumbling in another language. Suddenly he stopped and let out an inhuman roar. It reminded me of the lions I’d seen on television, claiming their prey. I backed away slowly, not knowing which Raif to expect from moment to moment, fearful for the first time in his presence.

“Raif. Please calm down, or tell me what I can do to help you. Please, I need you right now. What the hell just happened? Why is my life hanging in the balance?” Tears slid down my face and for once I didn’t care. I was terrified. In no way was I ready to die. I wanted to choose life, even if it meant staying prisoner here. I would miss my family terribly, but I would live with that sorrow if it meant I could live.

“Poseidon! Why her? Why bring her to me if you are just going to take her away? How have I offended you to be punished in this manner? Why must I endure this suffering and pain? Answer me, Poseidon! I know you are there.” He fell to the ground, his shoulders shaking. His hair hid his face from me, but the words that left him were angry, bitter, and tight with suppressed tears. “Oh, what a cruel game the fates play. Natasha, I cannot even wish that you had never been brought here, for I cherish every second I have had in your presence. I don’t know why we were chosen to start setting the wheels of change in motion. I wondered at the feelings and had hoped to inquire of Atreyu the extent of them as well as continue to explore them with you. I have never felt this way about another living being in my eleven thousand years of life, and now know I never will again. Three marvelous days is all I will have to hold onto in my memories when we could have had an eternity of happiness together. This is a true injustice being placed on us.” His voice cracked and shook. He wouldn’t make eye contact with me.

“Raif, please, just tell me what’s going on.” My heart was breaking at the sight of him hunched on the carpet, shoulders shaking and alone. I started inching closer to comfort him but remained wary of his ever-changing emotions.

“We are left with only one option, as I am not capable of allowing them to destroy you. I must take you to Cleito and hope she has devised a way to transport you back to the surface. Offering a false option to the people has satisfied them for now, but I will not allow them the choice to take your life. Having an alma xemelga is truly the most wonderful and terrible thing in the world.” He started mumbling to himself and I desperately tried to follow his one-sided conversation. “There is still a small chance that they will let you live. We could keep our feelings secret and you could remain my willing prisoner for the rest of eternity. Perhaps they will see reason in this matter where they had not before.” He looked up at me with such hope and terror mixed in his expression that my heart broke all the remaining restraint I had. I smoothed back his black hair and wiped the tear-streaks from his cheeks with trembling fingers.

“There was fear in Nereus’ eyes. No. He will not let you live.” He bowed his head. “Even if everyone else votes to keep you, I don’t think he will honor their wishes.” He whispered and I placed my hand on top of his head and ran my fingers down his silky tresses. Gently, I lifted his face to mine. His anguished expression tore at every part of my heart. My soul wept with his. “Natasha.” My name was a plea, filled with love and agony.

I lowered my head to his and kissed him. It was only meant to be a chaste kiss to ease his worried heart, but as he clutched my body to his, it grew. I slid to my knees to give him better access to my mouth. His hands slid up my back until they were fisted in my hair. He tipped my head back to hungrily feast at my mouth. Everything ceased to exist. We were the only two people in a world of nothingness. He was strong, demanding, needy, and yet so gentle.

I opened my mouth, accepting everything he had to offer. There wasn’t a better place in the universe than in his arms. My hands explored every part of his neck and torso, memorizing every ripple, ridge, and dimple. Distantly, I heard myself whimper. He responded with an answering growl that vibrated his entire body. I shivered with excitement.

He pulled back and hesitated for a moment, but before he could say anything I started undoing his shirt. His words dried in his throat before they could even be uttered. Apparently I wasn’t moving quickly enough for him, because he yanked the hated clothing from his body in one swoop. When his face appeared again, no longer hidden by his shirt, his expression was one of someone committing a sin. He schooled his features and looked at the ground.

“Forgive me! I was not—” I put my trembling fingers on his lips, halting his apology.

“Please. I need you.” I kissed him again. This time I didn’t even try to keep it chaste. I kissed him as if he was water and I was trapped in the desert. He removed my dress and we were finally skin to skin. I’d craved this moment from the first time I opened my eyes and saw him staring back at me. I shuddered in his arms, feeling the electric currents running through every pore of my body, into his, and back again. He lifted me into his arms and without breaking our kiss for even a moment he carried me, naked, to his bed. He placed me gently on the sheets and stepped back to stare at me longingly for a moment. I felt my necklace slide around to my back leaving a thin silver line around my neck as my only covering. He moved toward the bed and I held out a hand.

“Wait.” I was breathless in my need for him.

“I did not mean to presume that we would be intimate. Forgive me.” He bowed his head and moved to leave.

“No. I only wanted you to wait so you would take your pants off. No need to get off the bed twice. Remove them and come here.” I held onto one arm so that he wouldn’t disappear on me.

He smiled as if I’d just answered all his prayers and removed his pants. He stood there for an eternity just staring at me lying on his bed like a feast. My mouth dropped open as I gazed at his perfect body. I started to shiver slightly in fear as well as anticipation as he was huge. There was no way we were doing this without it hurting a little.

I pulled him to me and took his mouth with mine again. His hands explored my body, gently sliding up my arm and down my side. He stopped at the underside of my breast and smiled when I whimpered. He took my breasts in his large hands and swept his thumbs across my nipples. I was putty. He released my mouth to nurse at one breast and I came right then.

His right hand continued to play on the one breast as he licked and suckled the other. His left went exploring for my moist, heated center. He found the nub and I came again. No man had ever been able to play my body so well. I writhed and moaned on his bed, helplessly crying out for more. I needed him at that moment, more than I needed to take my next breath. I tried to reach down between us to touch him, but he moved. He placed his finger inside me and felt the effect he had on me.

He moaned and thrust his finger faster, adding a second. I was close again, begging him to join me. I desperately wanted to hold him if he wasn’t going to enter me, just so he could feel the same release I was going to feel in a moment. My helpless whimpers caused him to smile with my nipple still sheathed in his mouth. He bit down as he continued to thrust with his fingers.

I could feel his member against my thigh as I met every thrust of his hand. Just as I started my climax, he pulled his fingers out and sheathed himself into me. I barely registered his size entering me as I screamed in ecstasy. He stayed still, letting me come down and breathe for a second before he started moving. My body was still reeling from the aftershocks and every slow thrust brought another small wave of excitement through me.

He looked intensely into my brown eyes with his teal ones and I knew he wasn’t going to last long. He was so large that he rubbed every spot I didn’t know I had. His slow thrusts were taking me higher than I’d ever thought possible. He kissed me and that seemed to be the conclusion to our joining. I exploded from the inside out. I felt every part of my body release to the universe in sheer bliss.

I saw images of my lonely life of responsibility intermingled with his. We shared more than the intimacy of making love. Our souls left our bodies to join each other and return as a fractured whole. They soared in ecstasy, in the knowledge that we’d finally come together. When my soul soared back into my body, I realized that Raif had passed out on top of me. The last thought I had before I blacked out was that he was a very heavy man.