Warriors of Poseidon 01 - Atlantis Rising

Sorrow.
     
    Aching, biting pain.
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
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    She lifted a hand to her head, expecting the barrage of emotions from the others to thunder through her head any minute, but, thankfully, the emotions of everyone else seemed to be muted, subdued. Her mind was packed with cotton wool, shut down. In self-defense?
     
    Why couldn't she remember what had happened? She'd seen Conlan through the window, and then… "Where am I? Why has my head gone all fuzzy? Why are you—oh, heck, will you turn around for just a moment?"
     
    He raised one of those elegant, dark eyebrows, then nodded once and complied.
     
    "You are in a safe place. Your head is no doubt recovering from the barrage of emotions thrust into it earlier," Conlan answered. "I asked my warriors to shield their emotions from you. I should have realized it would be painful for you to be subjected to so many of us at once. I'm sorry for that."
     
    She fought her way out of the quilt and stood up. "You don't have to keep apologizing, Conlan. Just maybe tell me what the hell is going on."
     
    Much less embarrassing to face him eye to eye, rather than looking up all six and a half feet of him.
     
    "Okay, Conlan, you can turn around now. And I'd really like some answers. First, are you—"
     
    Midsentence, the gauze over her mind lifted and her memory returned in full. The battle.
    The sword. Conlan falling—lying so still.
     
    Her eyes widened, and she started walking, then running, around the bed toward him.
    "Oh, holy crap! You—you were dead! Or almost dead! Why are you standing up? You should be in a hospital!"
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
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    She reached him and grabbed the edges of his shirt, yanking them back to look for the hideous sword wound that must be…
     
    Had to be…
     
    Wasn't there.
     
    "It's not there," she said slowly. "How is that possible?"
     
    Almost dazed, she placed her palm over his heart, waiting. Then she felt it. The thump of his heartbeat. The muscles of his chest tightened under her hand, and she looked up at his clenched jaw, then jerked her hand back.
     
    "You're not a vampire, because you've got a heartbeat," she said. "Are you a shapeshifter? What kind of furry are you going to get?"
     
    Backing away, she looked for windows, another door, maybe a zookeeper.
     
    Any kind of help.
     
    He laughed again. "I'm not going to turn furry, brave one. I am nothing you know."
     
    "You can say that again," she muttered.
     
    Suddenly, shockingly, he knelt in front of her. Even kneeling, his head came to her chest, reminding her again of his size and strength.
     
    Not exactly the kind of stranger you wanted to be alone in a room with.
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
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    Except—except she'd been inside of his mind. And there was nothing but integrity in what she'd felt of his emotions. She didn't know how she knew that, but she did.
     
    He looked up at her, his black eyes intent. He was the most beautiful man she'd ever seen—more handsome than she'd ever imagined a man could be. Maybe she was dreaming.
     
    The tiny flame of blue-green she'd thought she'd imagined before flickered in the center of his pupils. "I am sworn to be a protector of all humankind, and—but for one brief lapse of time—have fulfilled this role for centuries. Yet tonight, in one moment, you showed more courage and bravery than I have ever known."
     
    She started to speak, but he stopped her by taking her hands in his own. "You have my gratitude, and you will be under my protection for now and until the waves no longer touch the shore."
     
    It had the feeling of a promise—the feeling of a vow.
     
    Suddenly, Riley was having a hard time remembering any reason why she shouldn't want to hear promises or vows from this man. Except… except… something he'd said—
    "Humankind? Well, it was pretty clear out there that you weren't human, what with the balls of vamp-incinerating energy. So just what the hell are you?" she said, breaking out of the trance his words had put her in and backing away.
     
    Conlan smiled and rose gracefully to his feet. "I'm not of any of the nine hells," he said.
    "I am Conlan of Atlantis."
     
    Riley burst out laughing. "Oh. Right. Of course you are. And I'm Alice of Wonderland."
     
    She shook her head. Old Alice had it right. Curiouser and curiouser.
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