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“ H ow do you keep all of this hidden from the land dwellers?”

Kai stared in awe at the numerous spires reaching into the dark blue of the ocean. All around, light glowed like neon signs surrounding each building of the city. The lights reminded him of the creatures of the deep who used bioluminescence to attract other animals and to communicate.

“We have a stealth system that keeps us well out of sight.”

“How do submarines not plow through your buildings?”

Poseidon laughed. “The technology of the land dwellers just sees this area as a large, underwater mountain range. They go around us.”

They swam into the city, pausing every few feet as Poseidon greeted the people and listened to their concerns.

He seemed to genuinely want to help them, and this surprised Kai.

He would have expected a god to see all the problems of the Atlanteans to be beneath him.

Instead, the minute they arrived at the palace, he began giving orders to see to the needs of the people with whom he’d spoken.

He didn’t seem like the manipulative person that Kai had suspected him of being earlier.

It just continued to add to the mystery.

“Come, Kai! It’s time you meet your older brother, Triton.”

Kai followed Poseidon through several chambers until they exited back into the water, only this time they were surrounded by an extensive wall, and Kai realized they were in some sort of courtyard.

As they approached a group of men standing in a circle, shouting loudly, and cheering, Kai heard the sounds of metal striking metal.

Poseidon pushed his way through the circle, and Kai walked behind him. Once they stood on the inner part of the gathering, Kai was in awe once more. Before him, two men, one the size of Poseidon and the other even bigger, crashed large, three-pronged tridents into the other’s again and again.

They were practically a blur as they fought each other without pausing, never appearing to hold back from any of their strikes. Yet, with one swipe of his trident, the smaller man had the larger one on his back, the trident at his throat.

Poseidon clapped loudly and laughed uproariously. “Polyphemus, I thought you almost had him that time. Well done, Triton!”

Moving forward, Poseidon slapped his hand on the one still standing’s shoulder.

The man looked at Poseidon and, unsmiling, nodded at him once.

He, then, tossed his weapon to the ground and reached a hand out.

The man on the ground took the offered hand and rose back to his feet.

He left his own trident lying behind him.

“I have a surprise for you two.” He gestured a hand back toward where Kai stood on the inner rim of the circle. “I want you to meet your long, lost brother, Kai.”

As the two turned toward him, Kai stepped forward but stumbled when he noticed the bigger of the two only had one eye. He recovered quickly and stuck out his hand. Neither man took the offered sign of greeting. Instead, they crossed their arms in unison and stared.

“Brother? I don’t see the resemblance. Are you sure this pipsqueak is a Son of Poseidon?

” The one with two eyes spoke first. He had long, blonde hair that flowed out behind him.

His face was clean-shaven, but his features were so similar to Poseidon’s that if you put a white mustache and beard on him, they would have been twins.

Kai lifted to his full height and pulled his offered hand back, crossing his own arms and bracing his feet apart. “Who you calling pipsqueak?”

Poseidon laughed again, a booming sound that seemed to send waves of water flowing in all directions. “Yes, Triton. He is your brother. There is no doubt.”

Suddenly, the one Kai assumed was Polyphemus lurched forward, wrapped his beefy arms around Kai and lifted him off the ground. “Me love brother!” He hugged Kai until he had trouble breathing.

Just as he was about to take drastic action, Polyphemus put him down and released him. Kai sucked in a breath and gasped as he said, “Nice to meet you, too.”

“Well, I’m not so easy to win over like Poly here. He might want another brother, but I’m all good on siblings, thank you very much.”

“Oh, stop being such a baby, son. Kai is one of us, and we need to teach him how to be an Atlantean.”

Kai couldn’t disguise his surprise as he whipped his gaze toward Poseidon. Kai was under the impression he was just here to tour Atlantis and meet his siblings. Now, he suddenly was going to be an Atlantean? That sounded like a long-term plan if there ever was one.

Poseidon leaned in. “I want you to show him all the benefits of living here as a Demi-god, if you know what I mean.” His eyebrows lifted a few times, clearly signaling an innuendo. Kai wanted to slap his hand over his face. Was he serious?

“Um…that’s okay. I really don’t need anything other than a short tour.

As soon as Hollyn returns, we’ll head back to the surface.

” Not to mention, he had to help save Willow.

The poor girl was probably going out of her mind after being kidnapped once more, this time by Grigori.

Kai felt a driving need to find the teenager before Hollyn’s father figured out how to use the Fate that she was to his benefit.

Triton looked back and forth between his father and Kai, clearly trying to logic out what exactly was going on between them. Did he know his father well enough to suspect there were more unspoken reasons why Kai had been brought to Atlantis?

“Nonsense! Your brothers know all the best spots, and they won’t rest until you’ve seen each one of them in full, illicit detail. Why don’t you all start at the Lotus Club. You two are regulars there, aren’t you?”

Triton’s eyes widened briefly before narrowing in understanding. What he understood, Kai didn’t know, but he had a feeling he would find out soon enough.

“Sure. We can start there.” He turned toward Kai and a wolfish grin slid across his mouth. “Let’s go, brother. I can’t wait to show you all of Atlantis.”

Kai was certain Triton was full of shit in his enthusiasm, but once again, he didn’t question.

Until he fully understood their plan, he would continue to go along like he didn’t suspect a thing.

Yet, his wariness grew as they swam toward one of the brightest buildings in the city.

One that had scantily clad women standing outside, beckoning men to come inside.

“Actually, could we start somewhere a little less…brightly lit?” Kai asked.

Triton looked irritated for a moment before he asked, “Who’s leading this tour? Poseidon said to start here, so we’ll start here. Come on, pussy! Let’s go.”

Kai sighed heavily and followed his two brothers inside.