Page 9

“ S it down here.”

Hollyn met the gaze of Thian, lounging on a large, horseshoe shaped couch in Yumia’s living room. Even though it was another room she’d had to clean in the labyrinthian caves that served as her home, it was a welcome sight after a long day of more menial chores.

She collapsed on the cushion about a seat away from Thian, who looked well-rested but bored.

Not for the first time, she wondered what he did all day.

For the past three days, Hollyn’s sense of urgency grew minute-by-minute as she realized how close the full moon was.

While Thian relaxed and Yumia got all of her to-do list done…

by Hollyn, of course…Grigori had Willow, and Hollyn needed to be able to use the amulet that hung around her neck now.

It was the way to freedom, and Hollyn couldn’t see how she was supposed to use it without her magic, which she still didn’t know how to use.

Hollyn let her head drop back onto the top of the couch and sighed heavily. This was not good. By her calculations, she needed to face her father in two days time, and as of now, all she’d gained in Yumia’s lair were calluses on her hands.

Thian patted his lap and said, “Give me your feet. I’m sure they’re killing you.”

With great effort, Hollyn rolled her neck until she met his gaze. “I’m fine.”

“Come on! I’ll rub them for you. No doubt you need it.”

She did. Right now, she’d give anything for a hot bath and a deep-tissue massage. But she didn’t think Kai would like someone else touching her, even if it was a much-needed foot rub.

For a few heartbeats, she stared at him before she asked, “What did you do all day?”

He shrugged and motioned for her feet once more. “I didn’t do anything as taxing as you did. Put your feet up here. I promise, I will keep it innocent.”

His eyes heated slightly, and Hollyn felt her cheeks go red. What had he meant by that? Was he insinuating that he wanted a foot rub to be something more than innocent? Now, she was even more wary.

But she had to admit that her feet were killing her.

With slow reluctance, she lifted one foot and placed it on his muscular thigh. Though it gave a little, she could feel the bunching of his muscles, reminding her of his masculinity. He was an attractive man, no doubt, but she really wasn’t drawn to him the way she was pulled toward Kai.

Yet, when his hands wrapped around the arch of her foot and squeezed with a gentle twisting motion, she couldn’t help the pleasure-filled groan that escaped her lips, and she knew it had sounded sexual.

The corners of his mouth tipped up in a sensual grin, and for just a moment, Hollyn could see his appeal. Just as quickly, though, she shook that thought off. He still wasn’t Kai.

There was no denying he had fucking great hands though.

Damn! She was in heaven right now. Hollyn closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure.

She really had been working non-stop for three days, only pausing to sleep for about six hours each night.

It was the most ridiculous arrangement, but the small taste of magic she’d experienced on the first day was enough to make her keep working.

Clearly, Yumia knew something Hollyn didn’t.

Right? A wall of water slamming her to her backside was all the proof she needed.

She just needed to hold strong and make sure Yumia knew she needed to be ready in two days time.

A gust of panic fluttered in her chest, but the minute Thian switched to her other foot, it receded slightly.

He continued to move back and forth between her feet for a half an hour before lowering them to the floor and scooting closer to her, leaving only an inch or two between them.

Hollyn sat up straight and started to rise, but he pulled her back down with a hand to her shoulder.

“I’d say your back could use some attention as well.” He splayed his large hand across her lower back and pushed into her aching muscles there. Again, noises of pleasure tumbled from her lips as the tension of the day began to melt away.

“Maybe just a little bit.” She relaxed and rested her elbows on her knees, letting him knead her back until she was a pool of contentment.

As he rubbed, he asked, “Do you trust Kai?”

She jolted upright and met Thian’s gaze. He was at least a foot taller than Hollyn, so she looked up into his glowing eyes. “Where did that question come from?”

“I just know how Atlantis is. I believe you have a place you call ‘Sin City.’ Atlantis is a similar vibe. Do you think Kai can handle the temptation?”

Although she’d only known him for weeks, Hollyn didn’t doubt Kai’s character. He’d not only helped Hollyn time and time again, but he’d also helped Willow. He was devastated at the thought of Willow being in Grigori’s hands. He was a good guy.

“Yes, I trust him wholeheartedly.”

Thian bit his lip and his eyes dipped in concern. He knew something.

“What?”

“If I had something that might prove that you shouldn’t trust him, would you want to see it?”

“What do you mean?”

He pulled out a small screen that looked like a cell phone.

With a few taps on the touchscreen, music and conversation like you might hear at a party began to play.

As he turned the screen toward her, Hollyn began to make out shapes in the dim nightclub.

There, in a small shaft of light, she saw Kai with closed eyes and a drunken grin on his face.

His mouth moved as he continued to say one word over and over, but she couldn’t make out what it was.

She watched as a beautiful woman tipped a glass of purple liquid into Kai’s mouth.

He swallowed greedily, and his head lolled backward as the woman set the glass down and ran her hand over his button-down shirt.

She lifted her eyes to the camera and gave a knowing smile and a wink of her purple, glowing eyes.

Hollyn turned away, not wanting to see any more. “What the hell? Where did you get that video?”

Thian scooted even closer and wrapped his arm around Hollyn. “What matters is that Kai is out partying while you’re preparing for the fight of your life. I hated to show that to you, but I thought you should see it.”

Hollyn stood up, pulling out of Thian’s embrace. How could he? It seemed so out of character for the Kai that she knew, and she couldn’t understand how he could have betrayed her trust so completely and horribly.

“Hollyn, come here. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

She did feel alone…so totally alone in that moment. The one person in the world she felt like she had on her side wasn’t who she thought he was. If she couldn’t trust Kai, who could she trust?

Thian was suddenly standing nearby, wrapping his arms around her from behind. But it wasn’t comforting in the least. It was invasive, and she didn’t like it. Something about his embrace felt…wrong.

She pulled away once more and moved toward the door. Over her shoulder she said, “I just need some time to process this. Don’t follow me.”

Thank the stars, he let her go.