Surrender to the Sea (Lords of the Abyss Book 4) by Michelle M. Pillow

destroy their home? With no Atlantes, they will be as lost as we. ’
    ‘ We have cults like that. Those who commit mass suicide in the name of a cause. Led by some charismatic nut job. ’ She began bouncing her shoulder against the squid.
    ‘ Queen Maia is their leader. I do not know what a nut job is, but we do question her sanity. ’
    ‘ Ah! Dammit. It doesn’t appear to be moving. ’ She stopped pushing. ‘ This thing feels like slimy gelatin. How did you become trapped? ’
    ‘Vitus and I were struck by this one as it charged the dome.’ Brutus closed his eyes. ‘ You shouldn’t be out here. ’
    ‘Where are the others? Where is your brother? ’
    At her inquiry, Brutus directed his attention along the squid’s side. She followed his gaze to where Vitus’s hand stuck out from under the carcass. ‘ Demon and Brennus are searching the other side of the dome. I’m waiting for them to come this way. ’
    ‘ Vitus? ’ Laurel went to where Vitus lay suffocated beneath the squid. The hand did not move.
    ‘ I couldn’t get to him in time. He was like that when I regained consciousness. ’ Brutus had to look away. He’d been staring at the hand for hours, possibly days. The pain of losing an old friend caused an ache to settle inside him. ‘ I don’t think he survived being crushed against the dome. It doesn’t look as if he tried to get out from under the squid. We should never have allowed a palace guard into the water without more training. ’
    ‘ It’s not your fault. I know in my heart that’s true. ’ Laurel caressed his face. ‘ We’ll handle one problem at a time. So, first things first, how do I get you out of here? ’

Chapter 17
    B rutus’s idea was to have her swim home to safety and let him wait for Demon to find him. However, since he wasn’t in a position to force her back to the palace, Laurel refused to leave him. She didn’t drown, wake up as a fish and jump into the ocean for a crash course in underwater maneuvering, only to give up now. Instead, she swam full tilt at the squid body, twisting around so her side slammed into the creature in an attempt to dislodge it.
    As her back struck the animal, she gasped in pain but felt the carcass move by small degrees. ‘ Did that—? ’ A floating object in the corner of her vision cut off her words. The hit had dislodged Vitus’s arm. The lone limb floated along the bottom of the ocean floor before settling several feet away. Seeing Brutus struggling to be free, she reached to assist him.
    ‘ Try that again. I think it’s working, ’ he said. His dark hair drifted around his face, covering his mouth and nose from view.
    Laurel nodded and again moved back to gain momentum. She made a beeline for the squid and again turned at the last possible second to slam into it.
    ‘ Oof, you did it. Help me ,’ Brutus said, reaching out his arm.
    Laurel braced her tail and pulled his wrist. Brutus’s body slipped free, and they both tumbled back, somersaulting in the water. Almost immediately, Brutus righted himself and caught her against his chest. He held her tight.
    ‘ You shouldn’t be down here, ’ he said through the mind link. The whole talking with your brainwaves was something she was still getting used to. ‘ But thank you for saving me. ’
    ‘ You saved me first .’
    The ocean water was freezing, but it didn’t bother her skin like she’d thought it would. It was also dark, but her vision cut through the darkness like a flashlight in the night. Light from inside the dome helped illuminated the immediate area. Albino lobsters with misshapen arms scavenged the corpse of an ugly fish with a massive under bite and sharp teeth.
    Brutus kissed her briefly before letting her go. He swam to where Vitus’s arm had been. ‘ I should take him home. ’
    Laurel’s gaze swept over the seafloor. She found the dismembered forearm and pinched at the fin to hold it as she swam to where Brutus was reaching beneath the squid.
    ‘