But when Jaydon had stood on that hill, all doubts fell away almost magically. Well, not exactly, but the attraction was so strong, Vyler almost had no choice. After knowing Jaydon, he spent many sleepless nights tossing and turning, his body wanting something new, his mind set against it. So the battle raged violently. Keylar had tried to compensate, but she soon understood it was impossible. As Vyler's friendship with Jaydon grew, so did his desire until one day the beautiful creature had kissed him.

The moment was burned in Vyler's memory. Standing just inside the Sun Temple, Jaydon had turned, his gray eyes boring deep into Vyler's, and pulled him closer. Vyler had just spent another sleepless night, wondering what it would feel to hold Jaydon, touch him...even kiss him. Yet the kiss caught him by surprise. Jaydon's soft lips closed on his, his tongue tracing the contours of Vyler's mouth, gently at first. Then Vyler opened his mouth and time stopped.

Later, he had trouble remembering the exact sequence of events, the sensual experience washing over him and blocking out rationality. Surely Jaydon had managed to undress him, dropping to his knees to savor the dark man intimately, his mouth surprisingly adept to give him pleasure. Vyler's desire had grown to unbearable heights until Jaydon had asked him to make love to him. By then, Vyler was beyond any rational thought, all gender distinctions blurred in his mind. He wanted Jaydon, regardless of his s.e.x. Pushing his way inside, Vyler had no time to think of the difference with a woman, hot desire coursing through his veins.

And that had been only the beginning. Many pa.s.sionate nights followed, apparently unknown to Keylar. In fact, until that night at the Moon Temple, he had not told her about the change in Jaydon's relationship. Yet somehow she had known all along and things between them had gone progressively worse. Love was not an issue for Vyler. He still loved Keylar more than life itself and probably would never be able to leave her, yet he discovered he could love Jaydon too. One love did not necessarily preclude the other.

Jaydon accepted this arrangement. He knew the extent of Vyler's love for Keylar and just how important she was to him. He never asked Vyler to make a choice, nor placed him in a difficult position. Apparently for Jaydon, exclusive love was not an issue.

Keylar was not so open-minded. She felt jealous and betrayed, more so because Jaydon was a man. The negative feelings had started immediately. Since the beginning, she saw the danger for Vyler and tried to take him away from the stranger.

Actually, no one knew where Jaydon came from. He certainly had no relation to Atlantis or its people. Yet Vyler had not cared one bit.

"Tell me if you love him," Keylar repeated, clearly reading his thoughts.

"I do," he admitted at last. "But this love doesn't take anything away from us."

She fell silent. She knew this would happen if they shared physical love.

"Don't be cross, honey," he pleaded when the silence became unbearable.

"But he's a man!" she protested.

"So, you're a woman. The world is made up of both genders, but mostly of people. I love Jaydon as a person, not because he's a man."

"But-"

"Hush, Keylar," he bent down and kissed her softly. "Love and s.e.x really have no gender. It's all pleasurable."

"Is that why lately all you think about is him?"

Vyler stretched, his mind turning the question over. Then he rolled on a side and looked deeply into Keylar's green eyes. "Actually," his hand began a slow journey on her body, "I think more about what he told me-"

"Again, Vyler?" she pushed his hand away. "Please, don't start with that again. I don't want to know."

"But, honey, you're the Moon Priestess. You have to know."

"He's just making up things, that's all. There's no truth in his allegations."

"You should at least listen to him."

"Why? It's all a lie anyway. Besides, we're almost ready to leave."

"What if he was right and there was no need to leave?"

Plans were far ahead, yet Vyler was not convinced the G.o.ds had told them right. In fact, unknown to anyone, the Sun Priest was skeptical of G.o.ds. To be honest, he did not believe in them as most people did. Of course, there had to be something on the other side of life's threshold, but maybe it was not the G.o.ds so imaginatively evoked by everyone. He doubted the sun as a divinity. Though accepting its physical reality, Vyler had trouble placing a soul in it. Now Keylar was convinced the G.o.ds were telling Atlantis people to leave their beautiful city because an immediate danger would destroy it all.

The recurrent nightmares told the whole story, but Vyler did not believe her. Still, he had gone along with the plans because she was the Moon Priestess. He loved Atlantis as well, could not bear to leave it, yet it was what Keylar demanded of him and of everyone else. Now, Jaydon had taken his doubts and given them new life. As a result, Vyler had thought it over carefully, reaching the conclusion that perhaps Keylar was wrong. Of course, he could not tell the Moon Priestess she was mistaken. Instead, he could use Jaydon's disturbing knowledge to stop the insane plan.

"The Moon does not lie," Keylar reminded.

Her voice sounded so final that no further arguments seemed possible. Without another word. Vyler got up, dressed in silence, and left.

"My lady, wake up" the gentle voice called her to consciousness.

Keylar stretched luxuriously, slowly opening her eyes. The sun's rays filtered in, lighting up the room. She had not slept well, thoughts of Vyler keeping her awake. She wondered once more just how far his doubts had gotten to her. Keylar needed his support to get the people moving before it was too late, but he seemed all the more distant lately. Jaydon was the problem, of course, yet she still could not fathom Vyler's betrayal. Impossible as it seemed, he actually chose to believe a complete stranger over her. She was his true love, or so he had claimed for years, but now this love seemed inconsequential, pitted against Jaydon's lies.

"My lady, are you feeling well?"

"I'm tired, Portia," she admitted.

"My pet," the woman came to the bed. "Let me help you," she held her close.

Keylar gave herself up to Portia's tender care.

"What's wrong, pet?" the woman asked at last.

"All this planning," she sighed. "People just don't want to understand...it's frustrating."

"People are scared, darling. The picture you paint is horrible-"

"The Moon paints it for me, Portia. I just obey her orders."

"Yes I know, pet. Still, no one wants to leave their home, if they can help it. Besides, this Jaydon guy has been telling things-"

"He's lying, Portia," Keylar said angrily.

"Are you sure, pet?" Portia pulled back, sitting on the bed and watching her closely. "Or maybe you don't want to listen to him because he's Vyler's lover?"

Keylar's head dropped. The words hurt more than she cared to admit, the truth tearing her heart.

"You know, pet," Portia resumed gently, "your mother would have at least listened to him."

Portia had been Keylar's family servant before she was even born. In fact, the woman had raised the little girl more than her mother who was too busy with the duties as Moon Priestess.

"Maybe you're right," Keylar admitted softly. "So far I didn't want to listen because-"

"It's not important why, my pet." Portia stroked her hair.

Keylar nodded. They both knew why, so there was really no reason to say anything more. After a moment, Keylar got up, dressed and left in search of Jaydon. Outside the Moon Temple, the Priestess stopped a moment before crossing the distance to the building on the opposite hill where Jaydon would probably be.

The day was magnificent. Warm temperature and dazzling sunlight framed the valley and its high surrounding crown. Light reflected from the stone buildings, creating colored effects full of life. She walked slowly down the hill, enjoying the feel of warm sunlight on her skin and soft gra.s.s under her feet. The green expanse opened up in front of her, gently declining to the busy city underneath. On the streets, people were running their usual errands, merchants calling for customers, chariots bringing provisions to the city, children running about in playful moods. Yet, beneath the surface, traces of sadness darkened the joyful atmosphere. People knew they had to leave soon, Keylar had insisted on it, and now finally things were moving along. But not fast enough for her taste.

Many greeted her as she pa.s.sed by and Keylar returned their blessing. Up ahead, the Sun Temple rose magnificently, bathed in bright sunlight, yellow and sparkling all over. She climbed the hill, one step at a time.

"Keylar," Vyler caught her off guard. "Honey..." seeing her there was odd. Because of her high rank, the Priestess never went there, leaving it to the Sun Priest to travel the distance.

"I have been thinking about what you said last night," Keylar said. "And I would like to talk to Jaydon...if it's possible." Vyler smiled, an arresting smile that made her heart stop. She loved him so much it physically hurt to be near him. His black eyes returned her love, flooding her with an ocean of feelings in which she felt herself drowning.

He breached their distance, embracing her, his mouth searching for hers, hungrily taking possession of the warm opening. "You have no idea how much I love you, honey," he said when he managed to pull away. "Come."

Vyler led her inside the Temple's cool interior. The elegant building was almost a replica of the Moon Temple, only bigger in size. Large columns surrounded the sacred area and at the back gave way to the Priest's dwelling. The closed quarters were s.p.a.cious, using stonemasons' best workmanship to insure comfortable surrounding. Maybe too comfortable, Keylar thought, catching a glimpse of Jaydon. He was deep in thought, staring blindly into empty s.p.a.ce. "Precious, look who wants to talk to you," Vyler called him.

Jaydon got up and walked to them. Keylar shivered. The blond beauty in front of her was really disturbing. On Atlantis, the predominant skin color was black. White people, like Jaydon, had no place in the beautiful city. Dark skin adapted far better to the sun's unmerciful rays. So everyone in Atlantis was black, with the sole exception of Keylar and Vyler. Their families had mixed with foreigners somewhere along the line, giving them a lighter shade, similar to chocolate, with eyes brightly colored, quite unlike the widespread.

Jaydon, instead, was completely different. Tall, blond hair, and intense gray eyes, his skin was an uncommon pink shade. Keylar had never seen anyone like him and this just added to her suspicions. He seemed to have dropped directly from the moon above. And yet she could not deny his beauty. He was beautiful, disturbingly so. For the sake of honesty, she also had to admit that a part of her was attracted to him, though she did not trust him at all.

"Why don't you like me?" Jaydon asked, getting closer.

"I don't think it really matters," she said, challenging him to prove her wrong.

"Of course it does," he replied softly, now very close to both of them.

Keylar turned to Vyler for protection, almost wishing to melt inside his body. The dark man placed a hand on her back, pulling her closer.

"No it isn't," she said defiantly, taking strength from Vyler's embrace. "I came here to listen to your tale."

"If you don't like me, you're not going to believe a single word I say," Jaydon argued reasonably.

"Try me," Keylar challenged again. But the mood was shifting already in a quite unexpected direction. The blond creature, so close to them, reached out and his hand lightly brushed Keylar's arm. She shivered again.

"Fear or pleasure?" Jaydon asked huskily.

She swallowed hard, unable to speak.

"You know," he continued softly, his hand still on her arm, "I would like to know you better." His hand changed direction, going up her shoulder then slowly dropping down. "I like you, Keylar, but so far you haven't given me the chance to prove it."

Again she shivered as he brushed her breast.

"Lover," Jaydon turned to Vyler. "Do you think she's ready?"

"Ready for what?" she wondered out loud.

"For love, honey."

She had no time to answer. Vyler's hand, so far resting on her back, slipped down, first closing on her a.s.s, then asking admission between her legs. Jaydon had taken firmer possession of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, his thumb rhythmically stroking the soft cloth, feeling the nipple harden. But she was not the only object of attraction. Jaydon's free hand grabbed Vyler's neck and pulled him close to him, their mouths hungrily looking for each other.

Fascinated, Keylar watched their kiss. She had always believed two men kissing would disgust her, but she was wrong. Maybe it was the context or just Vyler, whichever the case, the situation only added to her growing desire. Somehow, she wanted to see more, feel more from both men and almost unconsciously her body opened to their exploration.

Sensing the change, Jaydon tried his luck. He shifted from Vyler down to Keylar, his mouth closing on hers, tongue pushing inside, asking for complete surrender. Surprised, Keylar did not challenge him, savoring the new taste, deeply inhaling his smell, feeling him getting harder by the second. Not that he was the only one. Vyler's bulge, pressing on her b.u.t.tocks, gave clear indication about his desires as well. She reached in front of her, caressing Jaydon, feeling his long length, wanting to...

"Please, do," he said huskily, as if reading her mind.

A gentle push on her shoulders and she dropped on her knees. Keylar could not believe she felt hungry for the stranger, but had no time to think. Her mouth closed on Jaydon, then switched to Vyler before returning to the blond. Her tongue lapped alternatively on one and the other, Keylar could not decide which she liked more. But they did not give her time to make up her mind.

Vyler picked Keylar up and brought her to the double carpet he used as a bed. Jaydon helped him and their hands removed pieces of clothing, torturing the soft flesh, every touch causing a shiver of pleasure. But Jaydon wanted more. His mouth pressed down on her skin, and left a fiery trail on its way, stopping at her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to suck the nipples, then resumed its journey. Keylar was on fire. Her muscles tensed spasmodically, almost hurting in the process, her mouth was dry, desire screaming from every pore.

"Relax, honey," Vyler whispered seductively in her ear. He bent down and kissed her deeply. Jaydon traveled back up.

"Lover," he said softly.

Vyler broke off from Keylar and they kissed. But their hands never stopped roaming over Keylar, bringing her desire to a fever pitch. Her mouth had not been kept idle in the meantime, though she only felt the deep throbbing between her legs.

"Let me, lover," Jaydon begged.

Vyler nodded and the blond creature's mouth traveled back down the fiery route.

This time he did not stop at her stomach, but dipped down, into the wet valley. She could not scream when his tongue hit her throbbing swell, grown hard with desire, but her whole body shook violently with pleasure. But once more, they gave her no time to properly enjoy it. As if they had a prior arrangement, Jaydon picked her up, while Vyler lay down.

"Ready, lover?" Jaydon asked as he slowly brought Keylar down on him.

Vyler grabbed her hips, and pulled her down the rest of the way. When she settled on him, he whispered, "Now are you ready, honey?"

She had a vague idea of what would happen to her. Jaydon was playing with her a.s.s, his fingers gently pushing in and out, feeling her willingness to have him.

"You haven't done much exploring here, have you, lover?"

"Actually no, precious," Vyler grinned. "Knowing how much you enjoy it, I thought I'd leave it to you."

"How thoughtful."

Before Keylar could protest, Jaydon pushed his way inside. As he had justly noted, she was not very used to this way of loving, yet oddly it hurt her less than she thought, maybe because Jaydon did not push so hard or all at once. His slow entrance gave her body time to adjust to its changing reality and Vyler's stroking also helped. When both men were firmly inside, they moved slowly, rhythmically, adapting to her needs.

At first it seemed so strange, to feel both inside, filling her every s.p.a.ce. After a while they were almost not enough, so she increased the pace, moving faster on Vyler and pushing back on Jaydon, matching every thrust in an uncontrollable race until everything blurred in her mind and body. She screamed, pleasure waves shooting up her back, down her legs, reaching from her hair all the way to her toes. The men could not resist any longer either and they came a second after her. Soon after, too exhausted to move, Keylar and Jaydon collapsed on Vyler, laying still for a long time. The blond creature was the first to move, rolling off her.

"Now I understand why you love her so much," Jaydon exclaimed, his hand trailing down Keylar's back.

"Yes, precious, she's incredible."

"It's too bad you're throwing all this away," Jaydon observed.

"We're not throwing anything away," Keylar objected.

"All your plans of moving away from Atlantis will be your undoing," Jaydon retorted.

Keylar turned to look at the dazzling gray eyes. "The Moon has clearly told me that a catastrophe is about to occur and if our people do not get away from here, we will all die. That's why we are planning the exodus to a safer place."

"Your Moon G.o.ddess could be wrong, Keylar."

"How would you know?" she asked aggressively.

Jaydon sighed. He turned to Vyler, a look of intense love crossing his face. "What I'm about to tell you must remain a secret," he began slowly. "I am an envoy from another time-"

"Another time?" Vyler interrupted. "What do you mean?"

"I was born centuries after your time. I still belong to Earth, but my world is light years ahead of yours." He looked at them, realizing they had no idea what a light year was. "Well, hundreds of years after your time."