Hollyn inhaled the familiar, floral scent of her mother and never wanted this moment to end, but she wouldn’t get another chance like this if she gave Grigori time to regroup.
“I can’t wait to catch up with you, Mom, but the other half of my genetic makeup really needs a reckoning.”
“Of course! How can I help?”
Hollyn nodded and explained everything she could about Kai and Willow in thirty seconds. She directed Layla to go outside find them and get to safety.
Layla never hesitated for a moment except to give Hollyn one last hug as she said, “Now, go kick his ass!”
The two women gave one last look over their shoulders as Layla disappeared outside and Hollyn went deeper into the heat of the volcano. She followed a darkened tunnel that made her wish she had Kai’s ability to see in the dark until she turned a corner slowly and emerged into another cavernous space. As if he’d been waiting for her, her father stood sweating next to a lava pit. He gestured upward.
The sight of Jesse, her aunt, swinging over the pit, her eyes wide and her mouth covered, made Hollyn’s heart drop to her stomach.
Aunt Jesse shook her head and shouted muffled words, but Hollyn’s gut reaction was to let her emotions take over. She wanted to rail and cry and beg Grigori to set Jesse free, but Yumia’s voice seemed to fill her thoughts.His biggest weakness is that he really has no control over you.
Hollyn was in control.
18
Kai could barely pull enough air into his lungs as he climbed higher and higher toward the mouth of the volcano. The sulfurous smell of rotten eggs filled the air, and he struggled to pull in each breath. His legs burned with each stride, but he didn’t slow down and he didn’t stop for a moment’s rest.
Could he really do this? Could he climb in from the top down? What if there weren’t any paths to her from here? He knew that he’d do anything for Hollyn, but right now, he felt like he was following the stupidest plan he could have come up with. However, he had to get to Hollyn somehow.
Another tremor rocked the volcano, and Kai, not for the first time, grew concerned that the thing was actually about to blow. He steadied himself once more and waited for the shaking to stop. Thankfully it did, but there was a lingering noise.
A distant hum began to sound. The closer it got, the choppier it became until he recognized the rotary rhythm of helicopter blades. He looked up and saw the gray body of the aircraft in the distance. What if Grigori had noticed him and sent a battalion to keep him occupied and away from Hollyn?
Yet, as the chopper got near enough that he could feel the wind of the downdraft, he saw some familiar faces. Alek and Natalia, Willow’s parents, were being lowered on a ladder. Behind them, Coral, Hollyn’s mother’s sister began to climb down as well. The helicopter hovered until all three were on the ground and then flew it away.
As the noise lessened, Kai called out, “What are you doing here?”
Alek said, “Once she found you and Willow, Bertie gave us the coordinates.”
Kai asked, “Is Willow safe?”
Natalia reached out a hand to grab Kai’s. “Thanks to you!”
Relief filled Kai, and he looked toward Coral, whose face showed her concern in every ticking muscle. “My plan is shit! I thought I could go in through the top, but I think this volcano is about to blow its top.”
Alek nodded and smiled. “Don’t worry! I know this volcano. My brother has used it for his lair for a number of years. There’s a second entrance just on the other side.”
Kai wiped his brow. “Lead the way!”
Coral fell in step behind Kai, with Alek and Natalia bringing up the rear.
Her voice was appealing and soft as she said, “By the way, you have ground forces, too.”
“Grigori’s guards? Yeah, Willow warned me about them.”
“No. They’re here to help you. I was surprised to see Poseidon, Triton, and Polyphemus on the beach, but they’re kicking ass down there with a few other faces I didn’t recognize.”
Kai couldn’t hide his surprise. “They’re actually here?”
She nodded. “I thought it was unusual, but I suspected you were a Son of Poseidon the moment I met you.”
“It’s a complicated situation.”
“Family relationships always are.”
