Alyssa Day

I don__ care about his quest for redemption. I don__ want him anywhere near Quinn,_ Alaric snarled. __ will leave for St. Louis as soon as we adjourn this meeting._

I am needed here. Atlantis can burn in the nine hells for all I care. I have sacrificed enough to Poseidon. My days as high priest are done.

Always you, since the moment I first lay my hands on you to heal that bullet wound. SinceI fell inside your soul. Don__ you know that by now, Quinn?

Never, do you hear me? I will give up my friends, my country, my duty, and even my honor__ut never you.

I would give a century of my life for a single taste of your lips

Quinn,_ Alaric said quietly. __is aim is to ignite your temper. Perhaps you might allow me the chance to assist you this one time?_ __ine, but you seem to be making a habit of it,_ she shot back. __e can discuss that later, too. Be my guest._

No. Merely a trick of the light. But I had the impression you were seeking something more formal than__kay, go for it,_ as Ven would say,_ Alaric said, a hint of a smile surfacing. __ooked pretty impressive,didn__ it? It__ a priest thing.

You don__ always have to take it all on, either, you know. The weight of the world. The responsibility for everyone else__ problems. Sometimes it__ okay to let somebody else worry about you.

Lucky for you, since you__e the most dangerous man I__e ever met. Asane woman would run away from you, not toward you.

So he was frustrated with her. Most people rolled their eyes when they got frustrated. Alaric made dolphins do ballet.

I__e trusted human women before. Twice. The first died, and the second paid a terrible price and despises me. Never, ever again.

Wishes have voices sometimes.

With Quinn, safety wasn__ even an illusion. It was an impossibility

Except for Quinn, a dark voice whispered in his mind. A smile from her would be a gift beyond price.

Yet where Denal had prayed to Poseidon for death, Alaric was praying to the same god for life.

She__ alive, Alaric. She was wounded, but it was minor,_ Alexios said, a rough compassion in his voice. A strange weakness raced through Alaric and he had to fight his own lungs to draw breath. Quinn was wounded. __ow minor?_ he snarled. __ell me, now.

Emotion kicked logic__ ass. He was going after Quinn.

The rebel leader and the priest.