Deep Water Read Online Free PDF

were coming. By told you about the
cookout, then?”
    Poseidon frowned. “Cookout?”
    “Yes, at Nick’s cottage. We’re breaking in
his new grill.” Aphros crossed to the refrigerator and pulled out a large
platter piled with steaks and chicken breasts. “Just so you know, he also
invited our new neighbor. Seems nice enough for a mortal—apparently he’s a
marine biologist. Would you like to join us?”
    Having some food wouldn’t go amiss,
Poseidon decided. And afterward he could float the idea of a rapprochement with
Amphitrite and see what his sons thought of it. “I think I shall,” he
announced. With a thought, his chiton changed into a white polo shirt and cream
slacks. “I assume I’m dressed correctly for the occasion?”
    Aphros laughed. “That’s a little formal
for a beach cookout, but it’ll do.” He held out the tray of meat. “Here, could
you take this? I’ll carry the barbecue sauce and coleslaw.”
    Repressing an urge to snap his fingers and
summon a daimon from Olympus, Poseidon gingerly took the tray and followed his now-laden son over
to the next cottage. Similar in layout to Ian’s home, it boasted pale yellow
stucco walls and a large deck that overlooked the water. Clouds of midges
attracted by the outside lights hovered over the deck, kept at bay by the smoke
rising from a huge silver grill. A group of men had gathered around the device,
chatting and drinking beer.
    They all looked up at Aphros and
Poseidon’s approach. Ian and Bythos seemed surprised, while Nick appeared to be
genuinely pleased. The mers Aidan and Liam, however,
had gone pale, with Liam starting to bow as usual.
    Not in front of
the mortal ,
Poseidon sent. Liam coughed and straightened, pretending to rub his chest.
    “Hail the conquering heroes! We bring
offerings to be burnt,” Aphros announced, holding up the bowls in his hands.
“Plus condiments.”
    “Great. I’m starving.” A man stood off to
one side with a half-filled beer bottle in one hand, lifting it in salute. Poseidon
estimated the mortal’s age as late forties, judging by the handsome but
somewhat lined face and cropped salt and pepper hair. He wore a pair of khaki
shorts with a baggy black t-shirt emblazoned with a white skull and a crossed
trident and crook, bearing the words SEA SHEPHERDS.
    Poseidon approved of the marine wildlife
conservation group and had occasionally lent a surreptitious hand on some of
their missions. The mortal instantly rose a few notches in his opinion. “In that
case, I hope you enjoy beef and chicken,” he said, hoisting the platter.
    Nick’s guest chuckled. “Anything’s got to
be better than airplane food,” he said in a brisk English accent.
    “Oh, I think we can do better than that,”
Aphros said, taking the platter from Poseidon and forking meat onto the smoking
grill. “Father, this is Griffin Moore. He’s with the National Oceanography
Centre in England.”
    “As you might have guessed from the voice,”
Griffin said.
    “And Griff , this
is my father—” Aphros broke off, face blanking.
    Poseidon recognized the problem. “Dunn
Seaton,” he said, using one of his favorite mortal aliases. “A pleasure to meet
you, Mr. Moore.”
    “Likewise.” Griffin stuck out a hand.
Poseidon masked his divine aura, not wanting to overwhelm the mortal with a
god’s touch, then took the proffered hand.
    The inside of his head exploded. Light,
sound, touch, and memory surged together as a torrent of emotions overwhelmed
him—love, need, pain, regret, anguish, anger.
    Betrayal. You betrayed me. Both of you.
    Eyes wide in shock, Griffin yanked his
hand out of Poseidon’s. The onslaught disappeared as if a switch had been
thrown.
    “Shit,” the mortal muttered, shaking his
hand as if he’d just touched a live wire. “What the hell was that?”
    Poseidon clenched his own hand, still reeling
from the overload of emotion. “Static electricity,” he managed to say, mouth
dry. “Must’ve built up a charge