Warriors of Poseidon 01 - Atlantis Rising

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    "You, of all people, would deny him a distraction from his nightmares? From the torment that no doubt haunts him, day and night?"
    Alaric wondered whether Alexios was talking about Conlan's torment or his own.
    Wondered if Alexios knew, himself.
     
    Then dismissed the question as irrelevant.
     
    "I would deny him nothing, especially not the vehicle of his ascension. However, every hour that Reisen holds the Trident, Conlan is one hour closer to losing the throne of Atlantis."
     
    Slamming his game piece down on the table, Bastien clenched his hands into fists, enormous arm muscles bunching. "I will reach down into Reisen's throat and rip his kidneys out. I will slice his balls off and use them for earrings. I will personally turn every warrior in the House of Mycenae into a eunuch."
     
    Ven pulled one of his daggers out of its sheath and examined the blade. "Oh, I'm sure you'll have a little help with that, my friend. And, speaking of vamps, what the hell was that about? We've encountered enough of them on our patrols, but we try never to leave witnesses. Why are we suddenly getting attacked by a group of bloodsuckers?"
     
    He stopped, the blood draining out of his face, the lines bracketing his mouth whitening.
    "Anubisa. She's finally broken the curse that kept her from telling the vamps about us, hasn't she?"
     
    Ven slammed his dagger back into its sheath. "We're fucking doomed."
     
    Brennan, unruffled as ever, stood utterly still. "But were the vampires after us, or is the female the target? That was Terminus leading the pack. He is one of Barrabas's most Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
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    trusted generals. What use would Barrabas have for Riley? Does he recognize her empathic powers?"
     
    He put his hands together in front of him, steepling his fingers. "We have hunted Barrabas for more than two thousand years, with no success, and the humans elect him to their government. Senator Barnes. You must admit, the irony is delicious."
     
    Justice smashed his fist into the back of the couch. "You've got a fucked-up sense of delicious, warrior. All that means to me is that he's more visible these days. The better for me to find him, catch him, and cut his ugly head from his ugly damned body."
     
    Brennan moved his head a fraction of an inch and pinned Alaric with his gaze, ignoring Justice entirely. "Further, the question remains, Alaric. Do you yet lack the energy to scry for the Trident?"
     
    Closing his eyes, Alaric sent his senses reaching out into the night. But the energy required to remove the poison from Conlan's bloodstream had drained his resources.
    He felt nothing—not even the slightest resonance from the Trident.
     
    And the loss of it was like a gaping wound in his soul.
     
    My duty. Mine as high priest to safeguard the sea god's Trident.
     
    My failure.
     
    He opened his eyes, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze upon him. "I must rest. I can feel nothing of the Trident's power. Reisen and his warriors are certainly shielding themselves from me, but I should be able to sense the location of the Trident when I have recovered from the healing."
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
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    Further considering, Alaric finally shook his head. "I have no idea what to think about this attack. But know this: if Reisen has somehow allied himself with the undead, Poseidon's vengeance will be vicious beyond the meaning of the word."
     
    From the couch, where he huddled on one side, Denal laughed bitterly, then pounded his fist against his leg. "Vamps, Reisen. A human who shows more courage than I. I'm utterly useless. First, I failed to protect my prince, and then I allow our priest to waste his energy healing my worthless head."
     
    Justice leaned forward and smacked Denal in the side of his now-healed head. "Yeah.
    Good job on your first mission, Junior."
     
    Denal leapt off the couch at Justice, but Alaric had endured enough of them both.
    Almost negligently, he waved one hand, causing Denal to hang mid-leap, frozen in the air.
     
    Justice whistled, but stepped back from Denal. "Nice trick, man. Can you teach me how to do that?"
     
    Alaric's view of the room shimmered to emerald green, and he knew the limits of his self-control had finally been breached.
     
    Brennan stepped forward. "The sea god's power is shining fiercely from your eyes in warning, high priest. Perhaps I may intervene and escort you to your