Warriors of Poseidon 04 - Atlantis Unmasked

bait.
     
    “And here is my brother,” Rhys continued smoothly, gesturing to the beach behind them. Grace knew better than to fall for that trick, so she just grinned at him.
     
    But then Alexios glanced over his shoulder and his body tensed. She slowly turned and found herself facing a mirror image of Rhys; dark where he was fair, cold and haughty where Rhys at least attempted the impression of seductive warmth.
     
    “She is hardly worth the effort,” the newcomer said, flicking a contemptuous glance up and down Grace‟s body. “These humans are dreadfully ugly, aren‟t they?”
     
    Grace shrugged. She had no argument with the comment; compared to any of the Fae, she probably looked like a squat toad. Their ethereal beauty was far beyond any human ability to achieve.
     
    “This is my brother, Kal‟andel,” Rhys said, and Kal‟andel stalked forward, his black hair swinging out behind him. Together they were an art exhibit, the two Fae. Light and its photonegative, almost. But both had the cruel, calculating gaze of Fae royalty. That, at least, she had no trouble spotting.
     
    Alaric subtly backed away until he and Alexios were flanking Grace, who didn‟t appreciate the implication that she was not tough enough to handle them, but she wasn‟t about to rock that particular boat.
     
    “We‟re here. What do you want?” Alaric was so blunt as to be rude, and she had a feeling he‟d done it on purpose.
    Atlantis Unmasked - Warriors of Poseidon 04
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    “We would like to offer a birth gift to the newborn Atlantean prince,” Rhys said.
     
    His brother made a hissing sound. “No, we would not. This one is entirely on you, brother. I have no interest in pandering to these water dwellers or their kind.”
     
    “A view that is shortsighted at the very least, Kal‟andel,” Rhys said, his voice tightening just a fraction.
     
    Evidently this was not a new argument for the brothers, but Grace really didn‟t want to get caught in the middle of Fae sibling rivalry. “Maybe we could get to the alliance part,”
    she suggested.
     
    Kal‟andel leaned forward and, raising his head, actually sniffed the air. Grace had to resist the urge to check her deodorant.
     
    “She doesn‟t smell human,” he said, a faint look of surprise on his perfect, glowing features. “And she dares to interrupt her betters.”
     
    “She‟s human,” Alexios replied. “She doesn‟t have any betters. And quit sniffing her.
    Can we get to the point already?”
     
    Kal‟andel snarled at Alexios, baring teeth that looked kind of sharp. Rhys smoothly took up the conversational thread, preempting whatever his brother had been about to do or say. “We would offer alliance, Atlanteans. Whatever ill-conceived plan the vampires are up to, it bodes ill for the rest of us. None but you have the strength to be anything like allies to us. We offer knowledge, battle skills, and strategy, in return for the secure knowledge of your alliance and commensurate efforts.”
     
    Alaric looked, for one brief, terrible moment, as if he would throw their offer in their face.
    Grace even had time to wonder how bad she would smell as a frog. But of course Alaric Atlantis Unmasked - Warriors of Poseidon 04
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    time didn‟t equal human time anyway. Almost before she could register the emotions flashing across his face, he was bowing to Rhys na Garanwyn and his brother, albeit somewhat sardonically. “I will return to Atlantis to discuss your request with Prince Conlan and his brother, the King‟s Vengeance.”
     
    Rhys bowed in return, although it was more of a nod, and then suddenly Grace and Alexios were alone on the beach with Rhys. Alaric and the dark Fae had both disappeared, seemingly into thin air.
     
    “Should we worry about him?”
     
    Alexios understood her immediately. “No, he‟s fine. He sent me a message on the Atlantean mental pathway that he‟s returning to Atlantis immediately to meet with the high prince and Ven.”
     
    “But you‟re still here,” Grace said to Rhys. “Which means you must want something else.”
     
    “Actually, I have something to offer you. I understand there is a gem you desire, a yellow diamond known as the Vampire‟s Bane,” he said.
     
    “How did you know about that?” Alexios demanded.
     
    “We will waste much time if you persist on trying to discover the source of all of my knowledge. Suffice it to say that I know.”
     
    Alexios started to say