Surrender to the Sea (Lords of the Abyss Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

me and make me a mermaid.” Laurel stiffened at the reminder and tried to pull her arm from the woman’s light hold.
    Bridget let her go. “Oh, no. Tell me he didn’t say it like that.”
    “He very much did,” Laurel said. “I think I’m in shock. I should be having a panic attack right now. I should be trying to run away. I shouldn’t be talking to you.”
    “They call it euphoria. It’s an adjustment period when coming to live here. It’s not intentional, but a byproduct of the dive down. All I’ve had to go off of are accounts by those who have gone through it and my own experience, but no real evidence as data is very limited. I have a working theory that it is related to generalized barotrauma and that the atmosphere of Atlantes keeps it from being fatal. Everyone is affected differently and for different time periods. This whole dome acts as a decompression chamber.”
    Laurel eyed the woman. She was as crazy as Brutus. But then, she just witnessed merboys, so maybe she was as delusional as the rest of them.
    “Generalized barotrauma. Decompression sickness,” Bridget clarified. “Also called the bends?”
    “That thing divers get when they come up to the surface too fast?” Laurel frowned. Out of everything she’d heard and seen that day, it made her feel better to have a medical explanation. “Did I go that deep underwater that I’m affected by the bends? I thought that was only something that happened if you dived really far down.”
    “We are pretty deep under the surface.” Bridget sighed. “Brutus didn’t explain that to you, did he? What do you remember about your accident?”
    “Being in the water. Being tossed into the air. Falling.” She looked around the pristine hallway. “Waking up here. Sleeping like I was in a coma and then being told I was to be drowned. And apparently mermaids are real.”
    “We prefer Merr. Yes, in order to change you have to drown. It’s not as horrible as it sounds. Well, I mean, drowning isn’t fun, but it’s over quickly. At any rate, Brutus should not have led with that information, and he should have mentioned that it is your choice.”
    “Then I choose not to drown,” Laurel said. “And I want to go home.”
    “Perhaps we should see Aidan first.” The woman again led her down the hall by her arm. They passed two men standing guard over a rock slab leaning against the wall.
    “My lady,” the darker complexioned one said. He left his post to join them. Both guards had on short, white togas and a green cloak draped over one shoulder that was held in place by a sun brooch.
    The blond guard hesitated but soon followed. “Lady Laurel, it is good to see you again.”
    They had kind smiles and expressions that appeared a little too hopeful.
    “Ignore Brennus,” the dark-haired guard said, “my lady, you would not remember our meeting as you were not awake at the time.”
    Laurel stiffened. Why were men being brought in to see her sleep?
    “What Vitus means,” Brennus put forth, “is that you were not conscious at the time.”
    “I think they both mean you were fresh from the sea,” Bridget explained. “They guard what is called the surfacing area. It’s where you came into the palace. You would have been unconscious.”
    “I don’t know if Lord Brutus mentioned it, but I am Vitus. I have asked to be able to court you.”
    “As have I,” Brennus said, elbowing Vitus back. “When you are ready for suitors, of course, my lady.”
    “Of course,” Vitus quickly added with a return nudge as he attempted to take Laurel’s full attention. “You look well. May I call on you tonight?”
    Laurel didn’t know what to say. She looked at Bridget for help. Were the mermen fighting over her?
    “I don’t think the lady is taking suitors.” Bridget shooed them away, and they obeyed reluctantly.
    “You will think about it?” Vitus called after the ladies.
    “She is even more beautiful awake,” Brennus told his fellow guard though his