Warriors of Poseidon 04 - Atlantis Unmasked

himself with. So, like an idiot, he‟d decided on the one person who was least likely to understand this soul-deep, gut-wrenching, balls-to-the-wall need for one very special woman. If Alaric would ever show up.
     
    He‟d been right the night before. He was going crazy.
     
    One moment he was sitting all alone, save for the occasional overly bold seagull making an incursion to see if he had food, and the next moment Alaric sat on the wall only a few paces away.
     
    Alexios was fairly proud of himself for keeping most of his startled reaction off his face.
    “I wish you‟d teach me how to do that,” he said. “I wouldn‟t mind learning a few of your other party tricks, either. That energy sphere toss, for example.”
     
    Alaric raised one dark eyebrow in that arrogant manner of his. No emotion flickered in his harsh, bleak expression. Of course, if he really was the most powerful high priest in the history of Atlantis, as the elders claimed, Alaric had a right to a little arrogance.
     
    “Is that why you summoned me? For party tricks? If so, then perhaps we need to discuss the duties of Poseidon‟s high priest.” Alaric never looked at him though. Just stared out to sea, his obsidian gaze giving away nothing of his thoughts or mood.
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    “After all these years, I‟m well aware of your duties,” Alexios replied. “In fact, that‟s what I wanted to talk to you about. Nice of you to finally make an appearance.”
     
    “Is it the woman then? Grace?”
     
    Alexios should have known. Ven never could keep his mouth shut, unless it was about a mission. Ever since he‟d met Erin, he‟d been even worse. Alexios muttered a few choice words under his breath.
     
    “I have my doubts that the King‟s Vengeance will sing „Feelings‟ at our next formal dinner, as you so colorfully expressed, but your underlying point is well taken,” Alaric said dryly.
     
    “Ven did come to me, but not out of some need for gossip. He was concerned for you, true. However, it is the mission that is of paramount importance, not your . . . emotions.”
    Alaric spat the word out as if it tasted like sea-slug slime. “You know the value of the Vampire‟s Bane. If your feelings for this human were to get in the way—”
     
    “They‟re not feelings,” Alexios said, but then he reconsidered. “Well, maybe they‟re feelings. By Poseidon‟s balls, I don‟t know what they are.” Alexios was nearly shouting by the end of the sentence. He took a deep breath and continued in a quieter tone. “It doesn‟t matter, anyway. What‟s important is another issue entirely. As you know from the message I sent through the portal days ago, High House, Seelie Court, tracked Grace down to get to us. First Lucas, and now Grace. They want to give Prince Aidan a birth gift, and they want to talk to us about an alliance.”
     
    A muscle in Alaric‟s jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
     
    “Did you hear me? I said—”
     
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    Alaric held up a single hand, and Alexios desisted, then spent the next few minutes in silence, scowling at an especially persistent seagull. It, like Grace, wasn‟t intimidated in the least. He must be losing his touch.
     
    “I heard you,” the priest finally replied, just when Alexios had been considering the merits of roasted gull. “We have been in council, considering what to do with the information. A Fae birth gift is an enormous honor and must be given in person to its recipient. This holds the weight of millennia of tradition. To deny Rhys na Garanwyn this request would be tantamount to a declaration of war at worst and a slap in the face at best. Even I, who channel the power of Poseidon, would prefer not to slap High House, Seelie Court, in the face.”
     
    “We can‟t let him enter Atlantis,” Alexios protested.
     
    Alaric inclined his head. “On that, we are in accord.”
     
    “And Conlan‟s not about to bring the baby to him,” Alexios continued.
     
    “Perhaps you could stop offering me your opinions as to what we cannot do and instead listen to my advice.”
     
    A seagull flying overhead sounded a harsh caw, as if in agreement. Alexios eyed it suspiciously, not really putting it past Alaric to manipulate even waterfowl to his purpose.
     
    “As I told Conlan, I do not care for this, especially the ultimatum feel of it.” Alaric cast a troubled glance at