Warriors of Poseidon 05 - Atlantis Redeemed

clasped arms, and Lucas pounded him on the back, and then the shifter bounded over to the institute and disappeared inside.
    “Where is Daniel? Oh, wait,” Tiernan said, looking up again. “Sunshine.”
    Atlantis Redeemed – Warriors of Poseidon 05
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    “He will stay and help in the tunnels,” Alaric said from behind them, making Tiernan jump.
    “I hate when you do that,” she muttered.
    He smiled a little. “I know. In any event, Daniel will stay and help. His exact words were ‘the third time is a charm.’ His undercover days are over, since he is too well-known now. He was also voted Primator, or so he claims, and I choose not to look into that claim too closely.”
    Alaric’s eyes glowed hotter, and Brennan turned to follow his gaze. Quinn was coming out of the front door of the institute, and her face was white and strained. She crossed to where they were standing.
    “Daniel said good-bye,” she said. “He’s going to work openly with us and with you from here on out.”
    Suddenly Tiernan made a small, startled noise and slipped out of Brennan’s grasp, falling to the ground. She looked up from where she was sprawled in a clumsy sitting pose, her face comically surprised.
    “I think all that energy you gave me when you brought me back to life just vanished with a thud,” she said. “My legs turned to rubber.”
    “Brought her back to life?” Quinn said, her eyes widening. “What?”
    “Long story. I’ll tell you later, when you finally come to Atlantis to meet your nephew,” Brennan told her, bending and scooping Tiernan up off the ground. “Alaric?”
    “Already done,” Alaric said, pointing to the shimmering portal forming in the air. “Rest well, both of you. Job very well-done.”
    Tiernan smiled. “You, too. Nice rescue,” she mumbled, her eyelids drooping.
    “I’m taking my woman home,” Brennan said, feeling the power of it fill him with peace. As he stepped through the portal, Tiernan whispered into his ear.
    “Yes, take me home, please.”
    Brennan was never sure, later, that it had actually happened, but at the moment he stepped into the portal with his sleepy mate in his arms, he could have sworn he heard the portal speak to him.
    It said: “About time.”
    Brennan pushed the damp hair back from Tiernan’s face, inhaling her clean, sweet scent. She’d insisted on a very long, hot shower when they’d reached his rooms, after the brief but very painful task of telling Conlan about Deirdre. The prince had promised to give Erin the news Atlantis Redeemed – Warriors of Poseidon 05
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    when she and Ven returned.
    Brennan had needed to hold Tiernan up in the shower; she was too exhausted to stand. Not that he was complaining. But even though his body had responded to her as usual, he’d ignored his straining cock and simply helped her wash the stain and stench of the days of captivity from her lovely body. He, too, had scrubbed frantically, not stopping until she spoke his name and looked up at him, understanding in her dark eyes.
    “It won’t work. We can never wash away the memories,” she said.
    “I would give much if I could remove the memories of that horror from your mind,” he said, lifting her into his arms and holding her close.
    She put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “No. I need to keep those memories, for always. Especially Susannah. That one moment pays for all the rest.”
    He kissed her, deeply, showing her without words how much she meant to him. “And this moment?”
    “And especially this moment.” She suddenly yawned hugely, her eyes drooping shut, and put her head down on his shoulder. “Can we sleep now?”
    “We can.” He lifted her out of the shower and carefully dried her hair and body while she stood, slumped with exhaustion. He quickly dried himself and then carried her to his bed. She burrowed under the covers, but he stood there for a moment, looking down at her, thanking all the gods—yes, even Poseidon—that she was finally home where she belonged.
    Safe.
    And his.
    She patted the bed next to her and he climbed in, pulling her close, wrapping his arms around her, sinking into the peace and joy of knowing she was with him.
    She stirred suddenly, twisting her head to stare into his eyes. “Brennan, you can’t fall asleep.
    Remember what happened before? Wait—how did you remember me after they took me away?”
    He realized he hadn’t told her any of it. Turning onto his side so