Warriors of Poseidon 05 - Atlantis Redeemed

get to it before we’re any later to this midnight reception thing than we already are.”
    “We’re staff,” Alexios said. “Lucas and I are extra security, and Grace is going in as a backup bartender.”
    “Seems the regular bartender called in sick,” Grace added, her fingers moving restlessly on her bow. “Imagine that.”
    “She’s a member of my Pack, currently taking her children on a holiday away from the park until this situation is resolved,” Lucas said grimly. “As Honey should do, if she would only listen to reason.”
    “Tiernan and Grace should leave, as well,” Alexios said, scowling at Grace to forestall the inevitable protest.
    “And I will, if things change,” Grace said, surprising Brennan, who had not expected the warrior woman to agree to abandon the fight. “You know I will.” She touched Alexios’s scarred cheek briefly and smiled up at him. “But now I need to hide my weapons in my coat, get to the bar, set up to pour drinks for science geeks, and hope they’re anxious to spill their evil secrets to a friendly ear.”
    “Your ear had better be all that’s friendly,” Alexios growled.
    Grace laughed as she headed for the door. “Right. You want to try that again, naked-woman Atlantis Redeemed – Warriors of Poseidon 05
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    toucher?”
    Then she was gone, the door shutting behind her before Alexios could respond.
    “We should be going, too. We’re signed on for the midnight to six A.M. shift,” Lucas said, glancing at his watch.
    “You go. I’ll be right there,” Alexios said.
    After Lucas left the room, Alexios wasted no time getting to the point. “You,” he said, pointing at Brennan. “What in the nine hells is going on?”
    He turned to Tiernan. “What or who was biting you?” Before Brennan could react to the fury that seared through his veins at the reminder that someone had hurt his woman—no, not his woman, only in his dreams would she ever be his woman—had hurt Tiernan, she again seemed to recognize what he needed and took his hand.
    “It wasn’t as bad as you’re making it sound. In fact, I think we have an ally. The problem is that I’m not sure who he was, although I have my suspicions,” she began. She quickly told them of her encounter with the cryptic vampire.
    “You think it could be this Devon?” Brennan asked, still holding tightly to her hand. Her touch calmed the monstrous rage that threatened to consume him at the thought of her in danger.
    “I don’t know. Either Devon, or someone who works with or for him. And I have to admit, the car is a slim lead. Maybe it was his chauffeur or maybe the vamp had nothing at all to do with the car. He did fly over that hedge pretty easily. After all, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense that the vampire slated to be the big dog over this entire region would suddenly decide to sabotage his own evil plans.”
    Alexios shrugged, then shot a pointed look at their joined hands. “We can only speculate until we have more evidence. On a more practical note, can you two work together? Clearly your emotions are back, in a big way, Brennan. I very nearly didn’t even recognize your call on the mental pathway, it was so tangled up with rage and”—he glanced at Tiernan, then shrugged again, ducking his head—“other things.”
    “It would be safer for Tiernan if she were to leave this place,” Brennan said slowly, although each word burned him like salt water poured over an open wound.
    “Not a chance, buddy,” Tiernan snapped, wrenching her hand out of his. “Curse or no curse, you’re stuck with me. We’ll figure out the parameters of how far apart we can get, for how long, later. Or, actually, probably pretty soon, because I’m going to have to, um, use the ladies’
    room. But this is my story and I’m staying.”
    Alexios’s eyes widened comically. “I can tell this is going to be interesting. Later. I’ve got to get to work. Check in with me from the party.”
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    Brennan nodded and stepped forward to clasp Alexios’s arm. “I will watch over your woman at the reception. You have my word.”
    Alexios laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Grace can watch over herself, but thanks for the backup. Watch over your own woman, while you’re at it. I have a feeling she might be the best thing to happen to you in a very long time.”
    Tiernan rolled her eyes. “Watch the ‘my woman, your woman’