Free Atlantis Unmasked by Alyssa Day Page B

marble floor of the palace loomed large when you irritated Alaric.
    Riley sighed in obvious relief, but then suddenly looked up and scanned the room. “I know Christophe ran off, but where is Denal?”
    Alexios looked around. He hadn’t noticed Christophe leave. Then he shot a glance at Alaric, willing him to be silent. “He got himself a little messy, so he wanted to get cleaned up. I’m sure he’ll be along soon.”
    Riley furrowed her brow and Alexios dreaded the next question, but luckily the baby started to make tiny whimpering sounds, restlessly turning his head back and forth. Justice blinked and thrust the baby back at Riley.
    â€œUh-huh. From the look on your face at the first hint of a whimper, I’m guessing we don’t need to talk about babies for a while,” Keely said.
    Justice apparently thought better of any public protest, so he just took Keely’s hand and they stood and moved back from the bed. Riley cuddled Aidan close for a moment then looked up and around the room at all of them.
    â€œThank you all, so much, for everything you have done for me and for our baby. We wouldn’t . . . we wouldn’t have survived without your sacrifices on our behalf.” She had to stop to compose herself, and then she continued. “We love you all, and as aknasha I can feel the depth of emotion from each and every one of you and how much you love us in return. We are so lucky that you are all part of our family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
    By the end of her speech, the room was completely silent, until a loud and very demanding wail startled them all. Laughing a little, not knowing what to do with the unfamiliar emotion threatening to choke him, Alexios fell back on tradition and ceremony. “All hail Prince Aidan! All hail the heir to Atlantis!”
    The room resounded with the shouted replies. “Prince Aidan! Prince Aidan! Prince Aidan!”
    Finally, Conlan held up a hand for silence. “Thank you, but my son is very determined that he have his first meal now, so if you’ll all excuse us, we’re going to let Riley and baby have some much-deserved rest.”
    Alexios bowed to his friend and comrade the high prince and then turned and ushered the others out of the room. “The ale is quite definitely on me, my friends!”
    â€œSpeaking of ale, where is Christophe?” Brennan asked.
    â€œHe said that babies make him nervous,” Alaric said dryly. “I suspect we’ll find him already ensconced with a mug or five of the palace’s best brew.”
    Laughing and chattering, everyone headed for the dining hall to properly celebrate. Alexios hung back to talk to Alaric.
    â€œIt’s a truly grand day, isn’t it?”
    â€œGrand, perhaps, but not yet without danger,” Alaric said, his eyes narrowing. “Not all Atlanteans welcome so many changes to the old ways.”
    â€œWhat does it mean, Alaric? The first human-Atlantean prince? What does it mean for tradition and for Atlantis?” Alexios generally tried to stay out of politics, but if something threatened the newborn heir, he intended to be prepared.
    â€œI don’t know yet. Poseidon himself approved the match and granted his blessing on the child, so there is no basis for denying him his heritage. But zealots don’t always need reasons. We simply need to be ready for them.”
    â€œOh, yes,” Alexios said, hands twitching toward the daggers that weren’t yet back in their sheaths. “We will be ready.”

Fort Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida
    Even after the sudden thunderstorm struck, Grace continued to pace the long parapets that bordered the top of the fort for nearly an hour in the driving rain. Sometimes walking, sometimes running. Leaping over the gaps. Gazing out at the ocean as if she could see all the way down through the waters to wherever Atlantis continued to hide from the rest of the