Atlantis Rising

Chapter 39

Conlan and Riley blinked at the light as they walked out of the door and into the bright sunshine. Quinn and Alaric, Jack, back in human form, and the rest of the Seven and the shape-shifters followed them into the bright noontime sun. Reisen came last, cradling his wounded arm, with Micah. The Trident had healed him, but Poseidon had not gifted him with the return of his hand.

The sea god's vengeance would be served its pound of flesh.

The band crossed the street and walked, content to be alive and free, down the sidewalk to where it bordered a tree-lined park. A fountain sparkled in the chill autumn air.

"So this is good-bye, Atlantean," Jack said.

Conlan, arm tight around Riley's waist, shook his head. "No, I have a feeling that we'll be seeing more of each other. This fight is far from over."

Jack grinned, saluted, and strode off, melting into the trees with the rest of the freedom fighters.

Quinn remained behind, still clutching her sister's hand. "What will you do now, Riley? Want a job? You're pretty handy to have around in a fight."

Riley smiled, but then looked up at Conlan, her gaze troubled. "I don't know, actually. We have kind of a problem. Conlan can't date a human without the world ending, and I'm kind of opposed to destroying all of humanity, Atlantis, and the shape-shifters in one fell swoop."

Ven laughed. "Hell, I never thought I'd say this, but one of those bloodsuckers wasn't all that bad. I never thought I'd see Drakos turn on Barrabas."

"Who's Drakos?" Quinn asked.

"You call him Daniel," Conlan replied absently, gaze fixed on Riley. "And he disappeared after the battle, though he gave no quarter during it. I think we will have to learn more of this Daniel."

Conlan pulled Riley into his arms and, right there in the park, in front of his men, Quinn, and half of D.C., he kissed Riley with all the passion inside him. All of the terror, all of the relief. Then, still holding her in his arms, he sought out the priest.

"Alaric. I choose her. Over my duty, over my kingship, and even over my life. Begin the ritual of divestiture—aid me to renounce the throne and gain my future."

He grinned at his brother. "Ven will make a wonderful king."

"Oh, hell, no," Ven said, backing away.

Alaric opened his mouth to answer, but the voice of the sea god issued forth instead. Pure power blazed out of the priest's eyes.

"YOU WILL NOT RENOUNCE THE THRONE, CONLAN OF ATLANTIS."

Conlan prepared to defy his god. "Wanna bet?"

"YOU WILL NOT RENOUNCE THE THRONE," the voice thundered, shaking the ground they stood on.

"YOU WILL MAKE THIS FEMALE WHO BEARS MY MARK YOUR QUEEN. I COMMAND IT. YOUR CHILD WHOM SHE CARRIES IN HER WOMB WILL RISE TO BE A KING LIKE THE WORLD HAS NEVER BEFORE SEEN."

Conlan's mouth fell open. He looked down at Riley, who was also gaping in shock.

"BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, THERE IS ENOUGH DEFIANCE TO RULE THE WORLD. AS THE GOD OF ATLANTIS, I WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD TEACH YOUR SON SOME RESPECT FOR MY AUTHORITY."

Alaric's mouth snapped shut, and he fell against Quinn, who put her arms around his waist to support him. "What the hell was that?" she asked.

"Oh, that was nobody of the nine hells," Riley answered, grinning. "That was Poseidon, and I guess we have his okay."

Conlan swept her up in his arms and swung her around and around, whooping with joy. "My lady, my wife, my queen. What more could I ask?"

When he put her down, she folded her arms. "I don't know, but there's a lot more that I could ask."

He felt his heart shrivel inside him. "What are you saying?"

She smiled at him, eyes sparkling. Her heart shone fiercely with the love that she sent flowing out to him. To all of them, he guessed, when he heard the startled gasps of his warriors. "I could ask for an actual proposal, for starters."

He opened his mouth. Closed it. Dropped to one knee. "I, Conlan, high prince and heir to the throne of the Seven Isles of Atlantis, do ask you, Riley Elisabeth Dawson, owner of my heart and soul and body, to be my lady wife and queen. Do you accept me?"

She put her hands out to him. Pulled him up to stand in front of her. "I accept with all of my heart, Conlan. I will love you until the end of time."

Even as he caught her lips with his own, Conlan heard his brother's relieved words.

"Whew! Dodged that bullet!"

Conlan kissed Riley with all the joy in his heart, until he even imagined he heard the music of rushing water dancing around them.

Then it splashed on his face.

Lifting his head, he saw the water in the pond shoot into the air in a firework of sparkling color, splashing a mist of droplets onto all of them. The wind whipped the airborne water into streams of beautiful shapes and phantom images. The earth joined in, trembling under their feet.

Alaric spoke in his own voice, holding the Trident up in the air. "My prince, Poseidon has decreed that you have found your true queen. Hail to King Conlan and Queen Riley."

As one, the Seven all knelt, holding daggers and swords up in the air and shouting. "Hail to King Conlan and Queen Riley."

Reisen and Micah were on their knees as fast as the rest. The face Reisen raised to Conlan was somber with devotion and apology. Conlan nodded. Healing would come faster with forgiveness than punishment.

Quinn laughed and hugged Riley and Conlan both. "You'd better invite me to the wedding, is all I have to say."

She put a hand on Riley's stomach. "Do you think it's true? That you're pregnant?"

Wonder swept through Riley's emotions, and she looked down at her sister's hand on her belly. "Oh, my God! Or, oh, sea god! I guess he might know what he's talking about."

Conlan held his hand out to Quinn, pulled her close to himself and Riley. "You will never fight alone again, my new sister."

He looked to Alaric and Ven, saw the grim determination side by side with their joy. "War is coming, and it is time to fulfill our sacred duty to protect mankind."

Conlan looked around at his brother, his new family, his priest, and his men. "Atlantis must rise."