Varek and Gable have everything. Everything but their freedom. In the Orion Pride, only free were-panther men can claim a male warrior-mate and commit their lives to each other. At least, that’s the way it’s always been. But now the high council has condoned the pride’s very first three-way mating, and Varek and Gable see a possible chance to gain that precious freedom. They only need a free man to claim them both, and they have just the man in mind.

Kylar has never believed in love, not until he meets two slave men who show him that love—and sex—can be more intense than anything he’s ever imagined. But when Kylar discovers that Varek and Gable planned his seduction, will he believe that real love can grow from deception, or will he see himself as nothing but a necessary decision?

Mercy Howe knows what she wants. Caleb. In her bed, in her life. She’s loved the wereleopard warrior since he rescued her from the fire that killed her family. The fact that Caleb is warrior-mated to Kerrick, a male former Unfree slave, doesn’t matter. Mercy wants Kerrick too, and wants to carry on the traditions of her pride, where females can have several mates.

However, the Orion pride is different. The women are allowed one mate and must remain celibate until their twenty-second birthday. Mercy is determined to change that, and a weekend in the city gives her the opportunity she needs. Now all she has to do is convince Caleb and Kerrick to let her into their hearts and their happy marriage. She sees her actions as a very necessary seduction.

But someone else is watching Mercy…determined to kill her before she taints the Orion pride.

Having just led his men to victory over the Persians, Greek sea commander Carpus knows the victory does not belong just to him, but also to the aquamarine he wears around his neck. The stone, originally a gift from Poseidon the sea god to Carpus' grandfather, is the most valuable item Carpus owns. But the sea god has always regretted giving away the stone, and when a storm rises from the ocean depths, Carpus knows who's behind it. Poseidon, come to steal back what he freely gave decades before.

But Carpus is wrong. It's not Poseidon who carries him from the sea and gives him more intense pleasure than he's ever felt. It's Hesiod, Poseidon's son, a merman sworn to seduce the stone away from Carpus. Or die trying.