Heart Of Atlantis

respond well to your control here in Atlantis. You might help, or you might make everything far worse.”
    The Wilding faded, and Erin nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry; it was an instinctive reaction. I wish I could be of more help, but I’m afraid you’re probably right. We heard reports yesterday that magic has been misbehaving all over the world, and it started right around the time your gem was found in Turkey. I’m wondering if all of this is related.”
    Myrken flashed a reproachful glance at Alaric, took a deep breath, and bowed to Conlan. “Your Highness. You are welcome in the temple, as always.”
    Alaric groaned as he dug deeper for enough power to reinforce the containment field. “I think we can dispense with the courtly manners this once.”
    Myrken gasped. “My lord, it’s the
high prince
.”
    “Whose ass will be drowning right along with the rest of us if we don’t contain the Trident,” Alaric snapped.
    Conlan nodded. “Thank you, Myrken, but Alaric is right.”
    Alaric knew in a brief flash of regret that Myrken had been embarrassed by the conversation, and then he realized that it wasn’t his regret. He was feeling Quinn’s emotion.
    “Myrken, I want to apologize for my comments before,” Quinn said, her cheeks flushing a dull red. “I was very concerned for Alaric.”
    Myrken bowed deeply, but not before Alaric saw a kind of wonder in his eyes. “It is an honor to take commands from one who so obviously cares so deeply for my lord.”
    “Well, let’s not get carried away,” Quinn muttered.
    Alaric didn’t know what to say or think or even feel, as the realization hit him that, yet again, Quinn had been trying to protect him. He didn’t even mind the grin Conlan aimed at him, but apparently Quinn did.
    “What is this, junior high? Don’t we have better things to do than stand around smiling at each other like idiots?” she snapped.
    Myrken gasped, and the other acolytes in the room nearly fainted. The
human
had just spoken disrespectfully to the high prince
and
the high priest. Alaric had to fight to keep from laughing out loud, in spite of the dire situation. That was his woman. Defiant to the bitter end.
    Conlan’s smile vanished, though, and he nodded sharply. “Yes, we do, and I need answers, now. What in the nine hells is going on and how much damage to Atlantean infrastructure will this cause? And where is Poseidon?”
    Alaric frowned, having wondered the same thing. Poseidon was perfectly content to show up whenever he wasn’t wanted, so why didn’t he show up when he was desperately needed? Only he could truly contain the Trident’s power.
    “Poseidon, I petition you for your assistance,” he called out, in a thunderous voice supported by magic. “Please come to our aid and to the aid of Atlantis.”
    They all waited, almost holding their breath, for several long moments, but silence was the only response. Poseidon either wasn’t listening or didn’t care. They were on their own.
    “Huh,” Quinn said. “I don’t suppose he has an iPhone? BlackBerry? Skype?”
    Myrken glared at her, but Alaric just shook his head.
    “No, although it would be easier, wouldn’t it? If he’d ever answer his phone, that is.”
    “Yeah, he seems more like the ‘press 1 for godly intervention, press 2 for unwanted interference with your love life’ kind of guy,” Erin said.
    Ven snorted, but then looked nervously around. “Let’s not mock the god in his own temple, okay, Erin?”
    “What can we do?” Conlan asked, directing the question at Alaric. “Is there enough power here among your people to sustain this? We need for you to go after Poseidon’s Pride, and even you can’t be in two places at once.”
    “It should hold,” Alaric said, gingerly testing the perimeter of the containment field with his magic.
    “It
will
hold,” Myrken said firmly. “I will make sure of it.”
    A commotion at the door heralded the arrival of Justice, who strode quickly into the room, his long blue hair flying unbraided around his shoulders.
    “We’re in big trouble,” he gasped out, winded. “Huge. Whatever was going on here has damaged more than just the walls in the temple. Lights are out, power is fluctuating, and worse. Much worse.”
    He paused to suck in a deep breath. “I ran all the way to and from the dome. We’re in big trouble, everyone. The blast somehow damaged the dome itself. Tiny cracks, no bigger than a hair, have formed all over the