Warriors of Poseidon 01 - Atlantis Rising

I'll stay here and sit on you," he growled.
     
    She blinked. "Yes, okay. I'm feeling very weak, suddenly. But will you bring Quinn back to me right away?"
     
    "I promise," he said, then opened the car door and helped her back inside. She leaned back against the seat, clearly exhausted, and he felt a wave of concern for what the empathy must cost her.
     
    He bent down to her and pressed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll bring her right back to you."
     
    She looked up at him, eyes huge in her pale face. "Then go. Go now."
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 166 of 351
    As she closed her eyes again, he gently shut the car door, looked around to see that the tourists had moved behind their large camping vehicle, and then he shimmered into mist. He'd get there more quickly—and unseen. And may the gods forgive anyone who had dared to harm Riley's sister.
     
    Because Conlan had no mercy in him.

Chapter 19
    Riley waited a few seconds, then peeked under her lashes in time to catch the sight of one massive Atlantean prince dissolving into a shower of mist.
     
    "What the hell?" She blinked, then rubbed her eyes. "Great. The Atlantis version of Houdini."
     
    But she didn't have time to worry about him and his stupid tricks—Quinn's pain was scorching through her. She shoved the car door open and jumped out, then took off down the path in the direction the Warriors had run just minutes before.
     
    "As if some stupid man could keep me from Quinn when she needs me. Not now, not ever." She started to run, sending up a prayer of thanks for the old running shoes she'd thrown on the night before and still wore.
     
    Another bolt of pain from Quinn shot through her. She doubled over for a moment, then straightened and ran even faster, sending reassurance to Quinn the only way she knew how.
     
    I'm coming, Quinn. I'm coming. Don't you dare die on me—you're all I've got.
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 167 of 351
    Conlan had just passed Ven and the Seven running down the trail when the path widened and turned to the left. As he rounded the corner, body still in the form of translucent mist, he came upon a scene of violent death.
     
    The shock of it destroyed his concentration, and he transformed back into his body with a nauseating jolt. Roughly a dozen bodies, bloody, mutilated, and torn, littered the path.
    He felt the bile rising in his throat as the Warriors thundered up behind him. The peaceful, sunlit forest trees served as a mocking contrast to the grisly sight.
     
    "This is wrong," Ven snarled from beside him. "This is way beyond wrong."
     
    Justice shouldered his way up on Conlan's other side, sword drawn and lips curled back from his teeth. "Do you see Reisen? Is he one of the dead?"
     
    Alexios walked past, then, and he and Conlan started to examine the fallen bodies. The others followed, daggers and guns at the ready, eyes scanning the forest constantly for a hint of returning danger.
     
    "This one is a shapeshifter," Conlan called out, seeing the telltale eyes. A shapeshifter's eyes reverted to animal shape and color in death. The one lying in hacked-up pieces at his feet had been some kind of wolf.
     
    Then he jerked his head up and looked around for the one who should have been there before him. "Alaric, where are you?"
     
    "I am here, and I need your assistance," Alaric replied from behind him. Conlan swung around to see the priest, emerging from behind a fallen tree, and started toward him, then stopped, midstride.
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 168 of 351
    Alaric's face was cast in harsh, feral planes, his eyes wild and fiery green. He spoke again, his voice promising brutal death to the architects of this destruction. "She is beyond my help. She will die."
     
    A frantic pounding of feet interrupted whatever response Conlan might have been able to think of, and he and Alaric both turned to see Riley running full speed around the corner.
     
    She saw the scene and screeched to a halt, shaking, and began to scream. "Quinn!
    Where are you?"
     
    Conlan ran to her, but it was Justice who caught her as she went down. He swept her up in his arms and handed her carefully to Conlan, then made a slight bow. "Your human, my prince."
     
    Conlan ignored the trace of mockery in the warrior and bent his head to Riley. "Shh.
    She's not gone yet. You have time to say good-bye."
     
    She gasped in heaving breaths and started screaming again, pushing and