Page 1 of Seduced By the Mermen
Chapter 1
Blair
It’s the tightest hug I’ve ever given in my life. If I hug any tighter, I’ll cut my not-so-little niece in half. When did she get so tall? I pull back. My hands are on her shoulders, hers on mine. Annabelle’s blue eyes shine brightly; her skin has a glow about it, something I’ve never seen. Not even in late August after a summer in the sun. She looks so much healthier than the last time I saw her. Which was too long ago. Years—we left during her senior year in high school. It’s the only reason I didn’t force her to come with me.
“Auntie. Oh, you’re here. You’re finally here.” She pulls me in for a second quick hug.
“I am. This is the most amazing adventure. I’m just... I can’t even begin to elaborate on all the things we’ve seen.” I glance around. There’s too much to take in. The room we’re in is beyond massive, and there’s a line of men—males—at the end of the ramp. “Now, where is Marlee?” I turn back, facing the gangplank I’ve just walked down. Commander Broderick explained that normally there would be a formal ceremony. But that was canceled by the king for our privacy.
“I’m here,” my daughter says. She’s paused in the sub’s hatch. Annabelle sprints to Marlee. And I’m alone. Alone with a good twenty men staring at me.
“Blair?” Commander Broderick calls me over, and I tear my eyes away from the two girls—young women behind me. My hands are shaking. We’ve been through some scary things over the last few years, but this? This has me worked up. I clasp my fingers together. I’ve had enough time to prepare for this. We thought we were going to be here weeks ago, but then the sub headed north. And then we were locked down for days on end. We weren’t in a battle, but we weren’t not in a battle either. That was as much as I ever got from anyone.
Weirdly, on the sub, I kept expecting Sean Connery from Hunt from Red Octoberto come flying around the corner at any moment. But this place is massive, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Not in a movie, not anywhere back in the States.
Broderick inclines his head. I saw what the official docking ceremonies were like in thedoctro centusia. The cozy little study pods are like something out of a futuristic cartoon from my childhood. The Dorian could learn a thing or two from Hollywood. But there are no movies in thedoctro centusia. Instead, I watched educational videos on the Veiled City. I think I’ve got all ten dome names memorized. Just don’t ask me how to spell them.
Another few steps, and I’m standing next to Commander Broderick.
“This is Blair Strickland.” He interlocks his arm in a sort of handshake with a massive male. I doubt he’d fit on the sub we just left.
My stomach lurches, and my eyes widen. “Portsmouth.” Marlee and I have been using aliases for a while. Anything to keep my ex, her father, away from us. I’ve been Samantha Bradshaw, Carrie York, and Charlotte Jones in the last few years.Yes, I like Sex in the City, and I just mixed and matched the lead characters’ first and last names. But Strickland was my married name. Portsmouth is my maiden name, and if there’s one thing I never want to hear again, it’s anything to do with my ex.
“Blair Portsmouth, His Majesty Atlas Zennon.” Broderick bows his head at the male.
The king smiles at me, but his eyes are focused on Annabelle and Marlee on the gangplank. “Ma’am, it is an honor to meet you. I trust Commander Laughlin of the Omicronand Broderick here of the Centauritreated you well.”
“Yes, very well. Thank you. But I’m glad to be less cramped up. I love thedoctro centusiaon board, and overall the Centauriis comfortable, which isn’t what I would have expected of a military submarine.”
“Yes, thedoctro centusiawere my favorite part of the ship I was on.”
“You can fit in one?” It slips out.
King Atlas’s laugh is deep, and I’m acutely aware that I’ve put my foot in my mouth.
He smiles, and his green eyes light up. “I assure you I do. I’m glad the trip to the North didn’t put you in jeopardy. Other than being bored.”
“Bored?” I glance back at the sub. “I’ve never been less bored in my life. But honestly, thank you for rescuing us.” I smile and give him as much charm as my southern mother taught me. I’d like to say that being ripped from that warehouse in Boston was the most terrifying thing that’s ever happened to me, but it would be a lie. And after a few minutes of Laughlin explaining that they were taking me to Annabelle, that the gang in Boston had been planning on trafficking my daughter? It really was a welcome rescue.
“I’m glad.” He bows his head, and Broderick moves to the next person in line. I know they said we wouldn’t have a formalarrival, but there are at least ten more men—males—in a straight line, and it feels pretty darn formal to me.
The next male is dressed in a slate gray Western suit; it’s tailored perfectly to his body.
Something makes Broderick smile wide enough that a little dimple pops into his cheek. “This is Blair Portsmouth.” He turns to a broad-shouldered man—male—a little older than me. His dark hair has a smattering of gray at the temple, but his blue eyes soften as they settle on me. He holds out his hand for me to shake, which isn’t something the Dorian do. Not from any of the videos I’ve watched.
I put my hand in his to shake it, but he clasps his other one over the top of mine. His eyes lock with mine. My lips open, and over the mechanical noises of the sub behind me, I can hear the whooshing of my blood pounding against my eardrums. He’s one of the most handsome men I’ve ever seen in my life. He’s tall, like little-children-would-stare-at-him-in-public-tall.
“This is Forrest Mason, governor of the Stele dome,” Broderick says and then chuckles.
My eyes flick to Broderick. Why did he chuckle? I shake my head. I’m so relieved. We’re here. Annabelle is here, and Marlee is safe. “Oh goodness, I’m crying. Look at me, I’m a mess. I can’t believe I’m here. That we’re all here. Broderick did such a good job with the whole Viking thing.” Governor Mason has to be his boss, right? I want him to know we were treated well. With complete respect, actually.
Forrest is still lightly holding my hand. He has to feel my pulse shattering through my skin. And I need to deflect—I can’t look at the governor. He’s too handsome.Run, my brain says. This man is too good-looking to focus on for too long.
“I’d like to introduce you to my mates.” Forrest releases my hand, and I don’t know what to do with it. I drop it to the sideand then place it on my hip, then change my mind and grasp my hands together in front of me.
I’m not cool. I’ve never been cool. Twenty-four years of being afraid to look at another man will do that to you.
My stomach crashes as the word he said settles in my brain. Of course he has mates.
