Warriors of Poseidon 01 - Atlantis Rising

lust-induced insanity, right?"
     
    A shard of pain lodged somewhere deep in her chest twinged a protest at the thought, but she crushed it.
     
    Ruthlessly.
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 243 of 351
     
    Just like he'd been. Ruthless. Crushing her stupid fantasies of finally finding someone who would understand who she really was—and love her. Not abandon her.
     
    "Riley?"
     
    Great. Now she was even imagining his voice. She squeezed her eyes closed more tightly and ignored the wetness that pooled on her lashes.
     
    A finger stroked her cheek, and her eyes flew open. She hadn't conjured him. He was here.
     
    He knelt in front of her, took her hands in spite of her attempt to avoid his grasp. The room was suddenly empty, too. No warriors, no weapons. Just the two of them.
     
    And the pain.
     
    "Riley, you can't let a second of doubt destroy what we found between us," he said.
    "Alaric and his doomsaying can rot in the nine hells, for all I care. I need you."
     
    Even with her shields clamped shut on her emotions and blocking his, she could see the anguish in his face. The lines bracketing his mouth seemed to have deepened a decade's worth in the space of the past half hour.
     
    She probably didn't look so hot herself.
     
    Not that she cared. She closed her eyes again, determined to shut him out.
     
    Weakening when she felt his breath on her face—felt his kiss on her forehead.
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 244 of 351
    "I've only survived for five hundred years by never trusting anyone, Riley. Never believing in anyone. Never loving anyone."
     
    She opened her eyes, needing to see his face.
     
    Then she opened her shields, needing to feel his heart.
     
    Both told her the same thing. Conlan—this proud warrior—was humbling himself before her. Desperate for her forgiveness.
     
    The pain in his eyes rivaled anything she'd felt in his memories from the time of Anubisa's torture. And suddenly she couldn't bear it.
     
    Couldn't bear to be the one who caused him pain.
     
    "Conlan, I—"
     
    The sound of boots striding down the hallway interrupted her. It was Ven, and he had his battle face on.
     
    "Alaric says we go now. The Trident is screaming inside his head, and there's a new level of power to it." He stared down at Conlan and Riley, clearly not happy with what he saw, but didn't say another word. Just turned on his heel and stalked off.
     
    "I have to go now, mi amara aknasha."
     
    "I know. Be safe."
     
    "You will be here when I return?" Conlan's voice was fierce, desperation making it hoarse. "We can work this out then. Promise me."
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 245 of 351
    "Yes. I promise. Now go. The quicker you go, the quicker you'll come back."
     
    He crushed her to him in a fierce hug, then claimed her lips with a searing kiss. "I'll leave Denal and Brennan to stand guard with you. Stay safe for me, Riley. I need you to be safe."
     
    Moments later, he was gone, the front door slamming behind him. She sank down on the couch, wondering if he would survive the confrontation with his enemy.
     
    Wondering how she could survive if he did not.
     
    Reisen stared with no little satisfaction at the blue-robed, kneeling forms of the twenty members of the Platoist Society who had come to offer their service and their worship to a prince of Atlantis.
     
    Not yet high prince, but that would come.
     
    The main floor of the warehouse made a perfect impromptu meeting place. He stood on a wooden pallet, the table before him bare but for one cloth-wrapped bundle. Candles lit the table, though floodlights were on in the building.
     
    Soon the Trident would light up the night.
     
    He put one hand in his jacket pocket, fondled the gem contained there. Now was the time for a little display of power.
     
    "Rise and watch the fulfillment of the prophecy," he shouted. "Watch the first step in the Warriors of Poseidon taking their rightful place among the society of earth again."
     
    Atlantis Rising – Warriors of Poseidon 01
    Page 246 of 351
    He gently pushed the folds of fabric away from the object they'd all come to see, and lifted the gleaming golden Trident high above his head. "The Trident of Poseidon!
    Instrument of power for the ruler of Atlantis for untold millennia!"
     
    Roaring cheers shook the walls and stamping feet thundered through the echoing cavern of the room. "Atlantis! Atlantis! Atlantis!"
     
    Reisen pulled the