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H ollyn Oates stumbled slightly, her feet getting tangled up as she maintained eye contact. She swiped a hand across her forehead to push her hair out of her eyes and narrowed her focus on the grinning face across from her. As she circled her opponent, she noted that he was three times her size.

How the hell was she supposed to take him down?

Normally, she could use her siren’s song to mesmerize a male attacker long enough to knock his feet out from under him, but this was no ordinary man.

This was General Mako, an underwater dweller, one of Poseidon’s trusted warriors, and one of the few males resistant to her singing ability.

It was downright infuriating for someone like Hollyn who had developed a confidence in how to handle herself.

Now, she was literally and figuratively out of her element.

He waved a meaty set of fingers in a come here motion as he said, “Come on, little siren, let’s see what you got.”

He wanted to see her attack skills. Attack skills that consisted of a whole lot of nothing lately, but she had to try something. If she was going to take on her warlock father, Grigori, before he caught up to her and imprisoned her for the rest of her life, she needed to get something.

Every muscle in her body tensed as she gave a small cry and lunged for the General’s thigh.

She leaped and planted a foot on his upper leg as she wrapped an arm around his left shoulder and used it to swing around behind him, successfully launching herself onto his back.

His hands swiped at her, but she moved quickly enough to avoid being grabbed.

With speed she knew was her only advantage, she wrapped her legs around his torso and squeezed tightly to make herself almost impossible to remove.

Next, she wrapped her entire right arm around his neck and locked her other hand onto her wrist as she began to tighten her grip.

She was like a little monkey ready to bring him to the ground.

Yet, before he felt even a moment of lack of oxygen, she felt his arms reach overhead and grab her by her shirt.

With one, strong yank, he pulled her off of him, over his head, and slammed her to the ground.

Any and all air left her lungs in a rush.

Pain radiated through her back into her extremities as she regained her senses.

“That’s enough!” She heard Kai’s voice from a distance, but it didn’t take long for him to reach her as he hovered above her.

He knelt down and, in a whisper, asked, “Are you okay? Do we need to take you to the medic?”

Frustration and embarrassment began to replace the agony of hitting the ground, and she lashed out in misplaced anger.

“Let me up! I’m fine. I don’t need you to rush in every time I hit the ground.”

A look of confusion mixed with hurt covered Kai’s face, and Hollyn nearly caved to the guilt that began to hover at the back of her brain.

“Well, stop hitting the ground so hard, and I’ll stop worrying about you.”

“It’s not like I have control of that, now do I?”

General Mako called out, “Control? Now there’s an idea? Do you really think control is how you win a fight against a bigger, stronger opponent?” He laughed loudly. “I think you need to let go of the idea that you can control everything and that that’s the only way you’re going to come out on top.”

Kai reached out a hand, and Hollyn begrudgingly took it, letting him pull her to her feet.

“That makes no sense. Letting go of control? You might as well tell me to stop eating or to stop breathing. I need to gain control, especially over my magic.”

Hollyn held out her hand and a small wave of water formed and then dissipated almost as quickly as it came. She shook her head in disappointment. “I think I’m a lost cause.”

Kai wrapped his arms around Hollyn, pulling her against his chest. She let him hold her for a moment before stepping out of his hold. Again, a sad confusion crossed his features.

Poseidon’s booming voice sounded behind all of them as he said, “You need to visit the Sea Witch. If anyone in my oceans knows about magic, it’s her.”

“I’m willing to try anything at this point. Where can I find her?”

“I can go with her,” Kai volunteered.

Poseidon stood straight, pulling his shoulders back. “Actually, son, I was hoping to take you on a tour of the kingdom and introduce you to Triton, your half-brother.”

Hollyn was sure Kai would want to meet a sibling, but he shook his head and said, “Wherever Hollyn goes, I go.”

She turned to him and placed a hand on his chest. He moved to hold it in his own hand as their gazes met. Hollyn’s heartbeat picked up. She struggled to breathe when he stared at her so directly.

She swallowed twice before she said, “It’s okay. I think you should stay and meet your siblings. I will learn what I need to learn and be back in no time.”

For a moment, he looked so unsure. Then, he leaned in and brushed his lips over hers, sending a sensation of tingles down her spine. “If you’re sure?”

It took a second for his question to register, but once it did, she nodded her head and reassured him. “Of course. I’ll be fine, and you would likely be bored out of your mind waiting around for me to move water around with my hands. I hope I can stay awake long enough to become a badass.”

He chuckled. “You’re already a badass.”

“I’m glad you think so. Let’s hope I can convince a certain warlock who wants to get his hands on my tears for eternity that he should be scared of me. That would be quite the script flip.”

This time, when he pulled her flush against his body, Hollyn didn’t resist the contact, instead leaning into his strength. She wished she didn’t crave his touch so much. Surely, this dependence on Kai was not something she needed to cultivate long term. But right now, she couldn’t seem to care.

His chin barely rested on her head as he asked, “Are you certain you don’t want me to come with you? I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

She smiled at his insinuation, and parts of her body began to come alive with need. Maybe they could slip away for a few minutes before she went to look for the sea witch.

She let go enough to look into his gorgeous brown eyes and said, “Do you want to find a quiet place to talk about it?”

A slow, sexy grin slid across his face as he caught on to her meaning. “I don’t know. I might want to talk all night.”

“I am feeling incredibly chatty.” Hollyn couldn’t stop the small laugh that seemed to flutter up from the butterflies frolicking in her mid-section.

Kai cupped her face and inched toward her lips as he said, “I’ll just have to find a way to distract you, I guess.”

Electricity sparked as barely a breath separated them. The rest of the world around them faded away and Hollyn waited, anticipating the soft touch of Kai’s lips on hers.

A voice behind them cleared loudly, breaking the spell of the moment. With sudden awareness, Hollyn and Kai pulled apart and turned to face Poseidon, who had a knowing grin on his bearded face.

Beside him stood a tall, muscular warrior-type, armed with spears and knives. His blonde hair flowed down to his shoulders in beachy waves, and his green eyes glowed like two bright emeralds as he stared straight at Hollyn.

Poseidon’s booming voice filled the space as he introduced the man beside him. “Let me introduce Thian Grand, my head bodyguard. I’ve chosen him to accompany Hollyn to speak with Yumia, the sea witch of Kalapua. He’ll protect you all the way there and back.”

Kai’s tone was clipped as he said, “I am completely capable of escorting Hollyn. We don’t need to take your bodyguard away from his duties.”

Hollyn glanced at Kai and noted the redness of his tan face.

She’d never seen him like this. Hollyn knew jealousy when she saw it.

But he had nothing to be jealous about. Her mind was set on the mission, and nothing could turn her head away from Kai.

She knew she didn’t want anyone else by her side as she faced her father.

Yet, it was Poseidon who said, “Hollyn will be in good hands. I need you here, son. It’s important that you know where you came from.”

Kai did not look convinced, so Hollyn whispered, “It’s okay. I’ll be okay. It’s probably just going to be a few days.”

He stared at her and then looked back at his father. Would he be able to let this go?

“Fine! But if she’s not back in a few days, I’m going after her.”

“Of course! I’ll take you there myself.”

In that moment, a guard rushed in and spoke in a low, urgent tone directly to Poseidon.

The god of the sea looked around at the gathered people, and said, “Thian, get Hollyn to Yumia. Kai, come with me. There’s been an attack.”

Before she could protest, Thian took her elbow and began leading her away.

She turned her head and met Kai’s gaze as the distance grew between them.

His stern look softened for just a moment and he gave her a nod.

She was sure he meant it as reassurance, but all she could think was that she didn’t want this to be the last time she ever saw him.