Yongye wrapped his arms around Atlanna's waist from behind and leaned close to her ear. "Your Majesty, isn't this more comfortable than any of your thrones?"
Atlanna bit her lower lip and forced a muffled curse through her teeth. "...Bastard. You really know how to have fun."
Yet her body betrayed her. She leaned back, pressing her mature curves deeper into Yongye's embrace.
Dinosaur kept running, its roar fading into the depths of the glowing forest.
On the third morning, Atlanna sat beside the vegetable patch outside the stone house, her feet soaking in the stream. She gazed at the distant dome lit by the forest's glow, looking far more relaxed than when they had first met.
Yongye came out of the stone house, the Water God Halberd gleaming dark blue in the morning light. He stopped beside her and looked down. "Had enough fun? Time to get down to business."
Atlanna turned her head, a flicker in her eyes. "What business?"
"Subduing Karathen."
The moment she heard that, she jolted as if shocked. She yanked her feet from the stream, sending water splashing.
"Are you insane? Karathen is the oldest being in these waters. Even the first king of Atlantis didn't dare provoke it head-on! It's bigger than this entire underground city. It could swallow a whole fleet in one bite!"
Yongye bent down and patted her head gently, as though soothing a bristling cat. "Relax. I have the Water God Halberd. You've seen what it can do to the Trench. It'll work on Karathen too. Besides..."
He paused, that teasing smile returning. "Don't you want to see the monster you've feared all your life kneel before me and wag its tail?"
Atlanna pressed her lips together and studied his face for a long moment. Finally, she stood, crossed