Page 16 of Sea of Love

Michael came up behind her, and encircled her waist. “I would do anything for you, my lady.” He rubbed his palm over her belly as he buried his nose in her hair. “You smell so good today.”

“She always does,” Bowers said, his blue eyes darkening as he stared at her breasts.

“Shelton, come here,” Elettra said, her voice dreamy. “I want to show you a surprise.”

The dark warlock shook off the sea water and sent it back to the bay.

“The bird collects air from the water and supplies it to the swimmer,” he said.

Summer saw Shelton clamp his hands on Elettra’s bottom and lifted her off her feet. He plastered her against his chest. She was glad the Templar had finally shaken off his silly vow of celibacy. She wouldn’t mind getting closer to him herself. Michael and Troy had to sleep some time.

“With one of these in your mouth,” Troy said, “you can stay underwater for as long as you like.” He admired the device for another moment, and then looked around at them. “What are you doing?”

Summer gasped as Michael bit the lobe of her ear, and Bowers reached out to fondle her breast.

“Troy, come here––no. Don’t.” She struggled against the insidious enchantment, which had invaded her limbs and turned them to jelly. “We have to get out of this room. Oh, yes, Paladin, kiss me there. The room––it’s saturated with…” She let her head fall back against Michael’s shoulder and forced out the last two words. “Sex magic.”

Chapter 9

TROY DRAGGED SUMMER away from Michael and Bowers, tossed her over his shoulder, and carried her outside. One by one he pulled them out of the brothel. Whether it was the sea water or just being encapsulated in anything that had kept the sex magic from him, he didn’t know. But once everyone was outside, he summoned a huge wave of sea water and doused them with it.

“Everyone have clear heads now?” he demanded.

“Yes, thank you,” Bowers said. He knuckled the salt water from his eyes and turned to Summer. “Ms. Lautner, I assure you, I would never–”

“I know,” she said. “It was the room. When we entered it, we triggered a powerful desire spell. It was probably something the madam did to make sure prospective clients stayed to enjoy themselves.” She turned to Shelton and Elettra, who had turned their backs on each other. “Nothing we did in there was by choice.”

“The dead woman,” Elettra said, as she stared stonily at the brothel. “I believe she was Kember’s halfling. He must have lain with a mortal when he came here. His daughter was born with his magic in her veins. That is why the bird breathes, and that room seduces. Kember was one of the most powerful Fae who ever walked the mortal realm.”

“I remember Devalan telling us that,” Summer said, conscious of the Templars listening. “But Kember must not have known about her. If he had, I’m sure he would have come back for her.”

“Not for a halfling,” Elettra said, but stopped when Summer gave her a pointed look. “No matter why, it is obvious he did not.” The Fae woman glanced at the burned out brothel. “And she used his magic for whoring.” Elettra kicked a pebble in Shelton’s direction. “Perhaps that is all men really want.”

She stalked off to where she had tethered their horses.

Troy made one more trip inside the brothel, returning with six of the breathing birds, which he handed out to them.

“We can use these to go into the water, get the prostitutes and find RainLance.”

“We should remove the mortals first,” Michael said. “Then, when they are safe, we should––run.”

He scooped Summer off her feet and ran for the road.

“What is it?” Summer gasped.

She looked over his shoulder and saw the sea rising into a colossal tidal wave. The wave crashed over the sands and rushed at them, swelling again as it took on the form of an enormous octopus.

Troy stood in its path, his arms emitting huge bolts of blue light as he channeled his power at the water creature. A tentacle shot from it and wrapped around his legs. It knocked him off his feet and dragged him into the sea. Summer watched the same thing happen to the Templars and Elettra just before the surge reached her and Michael and seized them.

Salt water filled Summer’s mouth and burned her eyes as she was plunged into the bay. The current was so strong it began tearing her gown apart. Michael held onto her and forced her hand up to her face. Only when the clay surface of the breather bird touched her lips did Summer understand why. Unless she used it, she would drown.

Grimly she clenched her teeth and mouth around the bird’s tail. As the turbulent water buffeted them, the last thing her body wanted to do was inhale. But her lungs already burned and the undertow had not stopped. She forced down the urge to hold her breath and, to her amazement, dragged in a mouthful of air.

As the current surged into deeper waters, Summer thought it would never stop—until suddenly it vanished. She and Michael floated, suspended. He pointed up at the surface, but she shook her head and spun around. Below them some movement caught her eye. Troy was helping Elettra and the Templars with their bird breathers. But below them a faint blue light glimmered. The scene it illuminated made Summer go still.

The temple of Neptune stood on the floor of the bay, its roof and columns covered with coral, plants and barnacles. Through gaps in the sea life Summer glimpsed its dark marble inlaid with thousands of tiny white shells. She couldn’t see what was inside, but the blue glow was coming from the murky interior.

Do you see that? she thought to Michael through their link.