Page 4 of Taken By the Leviathan King

The mere suggestion makes my tail lash beneath the water, but I force my voice to remain steady. “Then you remain under my protection until the conflict resolves.” The words scrape against my throat like coral, every instinct rebelling against the thought of letting her go. “I am many things, little warrior, but I am not a monster who would force an unwilling mate.”

Something shifts in her scent—a softening of that delicious defiance. “No, just one who kidnaps them and changes their biology without permission.”

I rumble low in my chest, pleased by her continued fire even as she sways slightly with exhaustion. “To save your life,” I remind her, fighting the urge to trace the new, silvery patterns emerging along her throat. “The changes are…permanent, but they will not harm you. They allow you to survive here, to become what you were meant to be.”

Her hand rises to her throat, fingers brushing the delicate gills. The simple gesture makes my claws itch to touch her there, to feel her pulse beneath my hands. “Like breathing underwater?”

“Among other things.” Unable to resist any longer, I capture her small hand—so fragile, yet capable of such strength—and press it against my chest where my hearts thunder their claiming rhythm. “You will be stronger, faster, more resilient. Your senses will sharpen.” I lean closer, inhaling her changing scent. “And you will feel the bond between us, though you fight it now.”

She doesn’t immediately pull away, and my inner beast purrs with satisfaction. But her next words remind me of her stubborn nature. “I need to see Samantha. Make sure she’s really safe.”

“Of course.” Though every instinct screams to keep her close, I force myself to step back. The space between us feels like physical pain, a chasm carved out of my very essence. I found myself adopting her stance when she crossed her arms, my own massive arms mimicking her defiant posture without conscious thought. She must be mine, and soon.

“But first, you should rest. The transformation takes its toll, and there are things you must learn about surviving in the Abyss.”

A yawn breaks through her warrior’s facade, and I resist the urge to gather her against me. “Fine. But tomorrow you start explaining exactly what’s happening to my friends.”

“Agreed.” I guide her toward my private chambers, where living coral bathes the space in a soft, pulsing glow. The sight of her in my domain sends a primal thrill through my blood. “Sleep, little warrior. Dream of the depths that are now your domain.”

She arches an eyebrow, exhaustion unable to dim her spirit. “You always this dramatic?”

“Only for you,” I purr, savoring the way her heart rate spikes at my words. “Rest. I will keep watch.” For at this moment, thereis no monster, no king, only a warrior desperate to keep safe that which has become more important than anything in all the oceans of the Abyss. Her beauty shines upon me, and for the first time in millennia, I am not sure that I am worthy of her. I will spend eternity in her service if that’s what it takes.

As she settles onto the bed of sea-silk and living moss, her eyes already growing heavy, I position myself between her and the entrance. My little warrior may not yet accept her place as my queen, but she will. I have waited centuries for her—I can be patient a while longer.

I watch her breathing even out, memorizing the way the bioluminescence plays across her features. After all, the hunt is half the pleasure, and she is proving to be the most intriguing prey I’ve ever pursued. Soon enough, she’ll realize she’s not just surviving in my world—she’s meant to rule it.

Chapter three

IMOGEN

Iwakewithastart, my body instinctively tensing for combat before I even open my eyes. The air feels…wrong—too thick, too heavy. My lungs strain against it for a moment before muscle memory kicks in, and I feel the gentle flutter of gills at my neck. Right. Underwater. Kidnapped. Alien king with boundary issues. It all comes rushing back, and I have to fight the urge to panic.

Slowly, I force my eyes open, blinking against the soft, pulsing glow that bathes the chamber. Living coral, I realize, its bioluminescence casting everything in an ethereal blue light. It’s beautiful in a way that makes my chest ache—a reminder of how alien this world truly is, how alien I’m becoming.

I sit up cautiously, taking stock of my surroundings. The bed beneath me is softer than anything I’ve ever felt, a mix of what feels like impossibly fine silk and some kind of living moss. It molds to my body, supportive yet yielding, and I have to resist the urge to sink back into its embrace. Now is not the time for comfort.

My gaze sweeps the room, cataloging potential weapons and escape routes with the efficiency drilled into me through years of training. The chamber is vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings that seem to move in the shifting light. Elaborate tapestries of woven seaweed and precious stones depict scenes of epic battles and ocean depths I can barely comprehend. It’s a king’s chamber, without question, which only heightens my unease. What the hell am I doing here?

As if in answer, my body chooses that moment to remind me of its new modifications. A wave of fury washes over me as I flex my hands, noting the slight webbing between my fingers. My skin shimmers faintly in the coral’s glow, a pattern of barely-there scales catching the light. I run a hand along my neck, feeling the delicate flutter of gills. Gills. He gave me gills. Rage bubbles up inside me, hot and fierce. How dare he? How dare Krak’zol alter my body without my consent?

I clench my fists, nails biting into my palms. This isn’t me. It’s a theft. He stole my body, my choices, my humanity. But as I push the water around me with growing ease, I can’t help but wonder how long I can stay mad at him for saving me. I can’t let myself be distracted by any perceived benefits. I have a mission, a team to protect. Samantha is still out there, probably terrified and possibly undergoing similar changes against her will. I need to focus on getting us out of here.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand, channeling my anger into determination. The world tilts for a moment, my body still adjusting to the pressure changes, but I forcemyself to stay upright. I take a tentative step, then another, grimly noting how easily I move through the water. It’s like the currents themselves bend to accommodate me, guiding rather than hindering my movements—another reminder of how fundamentally I’ve been changed without my permission.

I make my way to what looks like an exit, a grand archway carved with swirling patterns that seem to move in the corner of my eye. Just as I reach for it, a low growl reverberates through the chamber, sending a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with fear.

“And where do you think you’re going, little warrior?”

Krak’zol’s voice washes over me like a physical caress, and I hate how my body responds to it. I whirl around, fury burning through my veins.

“Away from you,” I snarl, fists clenched at my sides. “Or did you think I’d just roll over and accept being kidnapped and turning me into some kind of fish-human hybrid without my consent?”

He stands in the center of the chamber, every inch the predator king. His massive frame blocks out the coral’s glow, casting him in shadow save for the gleam of those molten silver eyes. They track my every movement with an intensity that makes my skin prickle with awareness.

“I saved your life,” he rumbles, a hint of steel entering his tone.

“By taking away my choice!” I shoot back, advancing on him despite the way my instincts scream at the recklessness of challenging something so much larger and deadlier than myself. “You had no right—”

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