Free Jewel of Atlantis by Gena Showalter

reason.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
    “No, you’ll do it.” His voice whipped out like a king instructing a servant. “I want to know you’re with me every second we’re down there.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    He shook his head at her impudence. Without another word, she dragged in a breath and dove underwater.
    She kicked her way to the bottom. Marina often used this secret doorway to sneak into the city undetected, commit her crimes, feast off unsuspecting creatures, then return. The queen thought she herself was the only one who knew. She should have realized long ago that with Jewel, there were no secrets.
    Once they reached the bottom, Jewel grabbed for herdagger. When her hand encountered only wet cloth, she nearly panicked before she recalled Gray had taken it.
    She jerked on his pants to gain his attention. A few bubbles slipped from his mouth as he faced her, and he nodded as she slipped the weapon from his belt. Gliding away from him she inserted the tip into a tiny crevice. Marina used a key, a key Jewel did not possess. She pried at the opening, making it widen slowly.
    The water stung her eyes, and lack of air soon caused her lungs to burn. Her dark hair floated into her line of vision like curling ribbons. Gray worked feverishly beside her, his strong hands pushing the slab of rock farther and farther apart.
    Both she and Gray had to go up for air before the opening was wide enough for them to slip through. Jewel wanted to swim to the surface one last time and steal another gasp of precious oxygen, but when she pushed up, she saw a horde of demons had entered the room. They spotted her and cried gleefully.
    Ice filled her veins, and she sliced her way back to the bottom and pointed up. Gray saw them and tried to wrench her through the opening, but she violently shook her head. I have to keep them from following us.
    He stilled. Had he heard her, or was the block still in place? Gray, deciding to trust her, released her and held his palms up. Do your thing, baby.
    Thank the gods, no block. She closed her eyes, her thoughts directed at the creatures above. No one is in the water, her inner voice suggested to them. You do not see the human; you do not see the girl.
    She’d never attempted to direct so many at once,never tried so valiantly to keep a being from knowing she’d entered its thoughts.
    The shouting demons pressed their lips together, going silent. They stared down at the water, shaking their heads, their eyes glazing as they accepted her plea, but they didn’t leave the room. They looked around, confusion flittering over their expressions.
    Why wouldn’t they leave?
    Jewel’s strength was quickly depleting, and her hold on them began to lessen. Gray must have sensed her need for him because he yanked her through the opening and worked swiftly to close the hatch.
    Whether the demons had seen them there at the end or not, Jewel didn’t know, and she no longer had the strength to find out.
    She held a firm grip on Gray’s pants. Her lungs burned, and she desperately needed air, and even though her strength was nearly depleted, she kicked her legs and lowered her free arm, trying to increase their speed. A thick fog soon wove its way through her mind.
    I can’t…need…to breathe…
    Gray wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him. His eyes met hers and the connection managed to strengthen her. Calm her. She’d been thrashing, she realized, but settled as his hand snaked around her neck.
    Slowly he drew her face to his and their lips met.
    Open, he commanded. His voice filled her head, bringing with it a wealth of hope and confidence she eagerly embraced.
    She did so without question, parting her lips wide.
    He blew air into her mouth, precious air her lungs accepted with relief. The warmth of his breath curled through the rest of her as her black tresses floated around them, a dark cloak that wrapped them in a private haven. Time seemed to slow. She savored his sweet essence.
    All too