Captured by the Dark Commander

CAPTURED BY THE DARK COMMANDER ELLIE POND Copyright © 2023 by Ellie Pond All rights reserved. Cover design by Natasha Designs Developmental Editing: The Word Faery Line edits by Lori Diederich Beta Reading: Sarah Urquhart Proofreading by SB Edits No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. To Andrea C. Thank you. “Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.” – Leo Tolstoy CONTENTS Trigger Warnings Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Also by Ellie Pond Also by Ellie Pond About the Author Acknowledgments BOOK DESCRIPTION Four hearts, one destiny. As a merman commander, my responsibilities are clear: protect my people and follow the council's orders. Despite my rank, I’ve never been good at following orders. When we discover Annabelle Portsmouth has the gene we’re looking for, I know we need her. It’s a rare trait that gives her the potential to become a mermaid. But after one look at her, I’d want her even without it. And I’m willing to take down my own men who touch her without permission. I do what I have to do - I take her from her apartment and bring her under the sea to the domed Veiled City. A world of magic and secrets, where the females have the freedom to choose as many mates as they wish. I understood my actions would have consequences. My government, like me, doesn’t give second chances. I did it for my nation, and for Annabelle, to let her become her true self. But now she’s mine. And I’ll do anything to keep this human. Anything. And I’m keeping this human. TRIGGER WARNINGS Captured by the Dark Commander is the first of a four books about Annabelle and her guys. It contains darker themes then some of Ellie Pond's other books. Kidnapping Mentions of past abuse Dominating alpha male And there’s some thing used for things they shouldn’t be used for. 1 Annabelle I drop my backpack next to my desk and stomp the dirty snow off my boots. I spent the morning in the lab, working on my dissertation. I’d still be there now, but the lab manager arranged for the floors to be waxed, since who would be in the lab the day before New Year’s Eve? Me. I would. Or rather, I want to be. I tried to tell him that New Year’s Eve wasn’t a holiday and the day before certainly wasn’t, but he didn’t care. My plan is fluffy socks and watching Christmas movies on my ancient tablet. I slide the chain from my necklace over my lips. It’s a habit I’ve tried to break, but it helps me think. I pull the rest of my clothes off, looking forward to a long shower. One that would have enough hot water with most of the other students gone for the holiday. The flimsy wood of my dorm door vibrates with a firm knock. Being in the grad student facility means old-world character, large rooms, and flimsy doors. I glare at it, quieting myself like my father used to do to me when a salesperson came to the door of the farmhouse. They pound louder. “Hold on.” I could put on a robe, but that feels like too much work. Instead, I grab a large towel and wrap it around my chest. The thudding sounds like Taylor. He’s probably asking if I’ve cleaned Harrison’s room. Just my luck, the only other person in the dorm is the guy I’ve tried to stay clear of for the last five years. All we have in common is Harrison, his best friend and someone I’ve come to think of as a big brother. Another bang. “I said hold on.” I yank it open. It’s not Taylor filling the doorframe. It not even Harrison, my friend who said he was coming back to the States early from Iceland. No, it’s three huge guys. They have to be shifters; they’re all too good-looking. The two in front are twins, maybe? They have the same shape face, both of them four or five inches taller than me. And I’m five ten. Their glowing blue eyes are something out of one of the ShifterChat app filters, but their light brown hair is styled differently. One has a buzz cut, and the other one’s hair touches his ears. If they’re not twins, they must be brothers. The man behind them is dressed all in black, his wool coat collar standing up around his neck. He’s even taller than the other two, and his amber-green eyes glare right through me. Like I’m doing something wrong. His dark hair is ruffled like he runs his hand through it too often. But when his cheek twitches, my lungs squeeze tight. Fear shoots through me, and I squeal and slam the door shut. But the front twin-brother sticks his foot in the way, and the wood bounces. I grab my robe from the hook on the wall and put it on while fishing my phone out of my backpack. There’s nowhere to run. I’m not jumping out of a third-story window. “We’re sorry to be a bother. We’re looking for Harrison Taggart’s room.” I’m not going to answer this thug, even if I could get enough air out of my lungs to make a noise. “Do you know him?” Buzz Cut