She nodded at Katerina and took a step back. With purpose, she turned toward Thian and held out her hand when she was standing in front of him.
“This is ridiculous! I wouldn’t lie to you, Hollyn.”
“Prove it.” He blew out a frustrated breath and laid his palm on top of hers. Almost instantly, their hands flamed red with energy.
“I haven’t even asked the first question, Thian.”
He pulled back. “Fuck! Okay! He’s going to kill me, but Poseidon sent me here with you with a plan to seduce you. I was supposed to show you the video and be the one to pick up the pieces when you fell apart. But, you didn’t fall apart. You’re too damn strong.”
“Let me see the video again,” Hollyn demanded.
Thian shook his head in disbelief, but he did as she commanded and pushed play on the screen once more. The sound of people partying filled the small speakers, but Hollyn wasn’t focused on that. Instead, she zeroed in on Kai’s lips. She swiped her finger across the screen, rewound it, and watched it again. Clear as can be now, she saw what Kai was mouthing, with his eyes closed.
“Hollyn.” His voice was close enough that she felt his breath on the shell of her ear.
He’d come up behind her and was watching the video with her. She turned and faced him fully. He’d said her name in the video. Even drugged out of his mind, he’d been thinking only of her.
She met his gaze. “I knew I could trust you. I’m sorry I ever let anyone make me doubt it for a second.”
He took her hand in his and lifted it to his mouth for a gentle kiss. “I’ll always come for you, Hollyn. I love you.”
“I love you, too!”
The whole room turned a tinge of green as energy encompassed the pair. An invisible electric current seemed to pass between them as the world around Hollyn faded, and she focused on one thing and one thing only—Kai’s lips.
The kiss was magnetic, pulling them together in a slow touch that turned passionate in an instant. Hollyn wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her tightly to his chest, sliding one hand up to cradle the nape of her neck. Hollyn’s whole body sang with desire, and she moaned when he slid his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. For the first time in days, Hollyn felt that all was right with the world. As she ran her fingers through his hair and felt the tendrils of sensation swirling in her mid-section and shooting lower, she knew that no matter what else was going on in her world, one truth would never change—she loved Kai.
After a few more passionate moments, Kai and Hollyn pulled back and stared into each other’s eyes.
Kai smiled a crooked smile. “I missed you, baby.”
Hollyn nodded. “Let’s never do that again.”
With a laugh, Kai said, “Agreed. No matter what comes, we’ll face it together.”
With an assurance she wasn’t entirely certain she could follow through with, Hollyn told him they’d face everything together, but deep down, she was afraid that in the end, she’d have to face her father…alone.
14
Like a homing beacon had been built just for him, Kai could sense the way to Hanupali City without assistance from anyone. It was nice to know he could always find his way back; however, after surviving not one, but two of Uma’s plots for him, he wasn’t sure he would ever return after this final time.
Nevertheless, as they swam into the city and entered the palace, he let Uma embrace him in a hug. She glanced at Hollyn and gave a slight smile, but when she noticed Katerina beside Hollyn, the smile fell from her face.
“Well, I see everyone has met everyone else. Where’s Thian Grand?”
Kai pulled free from her hug and said, “We sent him back to Poseidon, tail between his legs.”
“I know you probably hate me now, but let me explain.”
Shaking his head, Kai said, “I don’t need an explanation from you, Uma. I’ve already had one from Poseidon.”
“Please, call me Mother.”
“That’s not a title you’ve ever earned. Tessa Iona was the only person who ever was a mother to me. She’s the only one who gets that title. However, I do ask one thing.”
Uma seemed desperate as she said, “Anything!”
“You need to give Katerina a home here where she’ll never be used to manipulate another soul. Promise me you will never force her to work at the Lotus Club again, and I’ll promise you that I will visit Queen Oleen at least once a year. If you happen to be there when I arrive, I’ll see you, too.”
