Warriors of Poseidon 02 - Atlantis Awakening

Atlantean anything, yet, well, engaged to the prince, but… anyway, that's not important." She bit her lip. "I'm what the Atlanteans callaknasha, and it means emotional empath. When I touch someone and there are such strong emotions buried Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
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    right under the surface, they sort of smash out at me. Plus, I didn't shield before I touched you. Anyway, I'm really, really sorry."
     
    As had been true with Conlan, there was so much sincerity in her voice that it was hard for Erin to stay angry. Especially since she was so exhausted she was wondering how much longer she'd be able to stand upright.
     
    "No, it's okay, I guess. I shouldn't have snapped at you, it's probably bad for the baby to hear loud voices," she said, offering a weak smile.
     
    Ven laughed and put his arms around her, so she felt the rumble of his laughter against her back. "If that's true, we're going to need to get him some earplugs in order to put up with several more months of being around this crew," he said.
     
    Denal had moved to stand near Riley, and he spoke up, grinning. "Not to mention those awful old movies you and Riley watch, Ven. If the baby comes out looking like Bela Lugosi or Vincent Price, we'll know who to blame."
     
    Riley shuddered, but she was smiling. "My baby is definitely not going to look like the star of an old horror movie. She is going to look just like her daddy."
     
    Conlan put an arm around Riley's waist, and the glance they exchanged was filled with so much love and hope that it caused a pang somewhere in Erin's chest. A longing that someone, sometime, would look at her like that.
     
    The memory of Ven's face when she woke up flashed into her mind, but she quashed it.
    There was no time to think about longing or looks or anything else that began with L-O.
    Suddenly the weakness from her exhaustion viciously beat at her and the room swirled in a crazy kaleidoscope of light and color. She leaned back against Ven for support. He instantly caught her up in his arms and stood holding her as if she were a child.
     
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    Or someone he cared for.
     
    Either way, she was too worn out to argue about it.
     
    "Erin needs to rest. Tomorrow morning will be soon enough to discuss what we need to do next," Ven said to his brother.
     
    Conlan nodded. "Riley must rest, as well. To the palace, then, and we will convene in the morning."
     
    Erin yawned a little, then smiled at Riley. "Are they always like this? Beating on their chests?"
     
    Riley laughed as her husband swept her into his own arms. "No, trust me. Sometimes it's worse. Wait till we get to the tree swinging."
     
    Erin laughed out loud as Ven made a little growling noise at her and strode out of the Temple. Behind her, she heard Denal's puzzled voice. "What did she mean, tree swinging?"
     
    Erin grinned up at Ven, and a hint of a smile crossed his grim face. Then he did the shimmer thing and carried her off to the palace, and she put all thoughts of missions and vampires and gem singing out of her mind, just for those few precious minutes, and flew through the air like a fairy princess from a child's story, loving every minute of it.

Chapter 12
    The palace, Atlantis
     
    Ven sat next to Erin's bed, in the chair he'd dragged across the room, and watched her sleep. The light of the Atlantean moon feathered brushstrokes of silver across her Atlantis Awakening – Warriors of Poseidon 02
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    delicate features. He'd been there for hours, after nearly ripping Conlan's head off for suggesting he leave her long enough to get some rest.
     
    His fingertips ached to reach out and stroke her hair, but he didn't want to take the chance of waking her. The metallic taste of anguish rose in his throat like bile at the memory of her collapse. All of his instincts were shouting at him to put his hands on every inch of her body, to prove she was still alive. Although, who was he kidding, he'd been wanting to put his hands on every inch of her body since the minute he met her.
     
    He closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair, trying to relax, trying to remember any of the deep meditation techniques he'd learned in his long years of warrior training.
    Anything to keep him from tearing his clothes off and leaping on her would be good.
    Would be great, even.
     
    The adrenaline rush from her collapse, combined with the immense relief he'd felt when