“What’s happening?” Hollyn whispered to Thian’s back.
“I forget you can’t see anything. Honestly, I can’t even make out any more than a shadowy figure.”
“What do we do?”
Out of thin air, a disembodied, female voice commanded, “Hollyn Oates, step forward for my assessment.”
Hollyn startled and stood still for three pounding heartbeats before pushing around Thian and standing with her shoulders back and spine straightened. Even the air stilled as Hollyn barely dared to breathe. She waited for any sign that she was passing an unknown test of some sort. She didn’t even know what she was supposed to do. Should she throw her arms around, sing, pull up the baby wave she could produce in her hand?
As the time ticked on, she was ready to give up and begin the long swim back to Hanupali. Were they going to stand here forever?
Out of nowhere, the voice returned and said, “You’ll do.”
The lights flashed on and filled the cavern. Hollyn blinked several times as everything came into view. Instead of a person at the end of the cavern, a cardboard cut-out of a famous boy-band figure, Harry somebody, stood in front of a red door.
“Well, what are you waiting for? A red carpet? Get in here, you kooky kids!”
Hollyn took a deep breath and took the steps between the door and herself. There wasn’t a knob, so she pushed it inward and walked into a scene that looked liked Willy Wonka had hired the patrons of the Mos Eisley Cantina to make his chocolate, and one thought went through Hollyn’s brain.
“Cover me in icing and call me a cake because I’ve found my party.”
4
Oleen directed the staff and advisors of her kingdom as if she had done it all her life. Yet, she never gave a harsh word or a stern look. Her way was a gentle respect for all that made people want to do everything in their power to please her. Kai was so proud of her, and he knew without a doubt that he’d made the right decision when it came to who should rule Hanupali.
He approached her and raised his hand in greeting.
“How’s my little sister, Queen Oleen, today?” He liked the idea of having a sibling. For his entire life until he’d learned of his origin, he’d been an only child. The thought of his new-found family, especially his sister, brought a smile to his face.
“Honestly, a little overwhelmed. How does one plan their own coronation party?”
“I don’t know, but if anyone can do it, it’s definitely you.”
She laughed but nodded in agreement. With a glance around, she asked, “Where’s Hollyn?”
Kai felt every muscle in his face tense, and he gave a slight shrug before he said, “She went to see Yumia, the Sea Witch.Before she can face her father, Grigori, she’s got to hone her magic skills.”
“Why didn’t you go with her?”
A deep sigh filled Kai’s chest. “Poseidon insisted I visit Atlantis with him and meet Triton and my other siblings there.” It hit Kai that he had multiple siblings. He just hoped he connected with them as well as he had Oleen.
“So, you let her go off on her own again. I mean, it worked out well the first time but only because Poseidon found her before the raiders could hurt her.”
“No, she wasn’t alone. Poseidon gave up his personal guard, Thian, to guide her and keep her safe.” Kai couldn’t keep the resentment out of his voice.
“Thian? Thian Grand? I hear he’s quite hot. Did you just send your girlfriend off with a starring member of the Thunder Down Under show?”
Kai’s head began to pound. “Please, don’t say that. I trust Hollyn completely, and I have no doubt he will keep her safe.” Yet, something occurred to him. Something he hoped Oleen could clarify about the raider attack.
“Have you ever known the roving raiders to attack one of the food storage warehouses before?”
“What? Has there been an attack?”
For a moment, Kai was concerned that she didn’t know about what had happened. Shouldn’t the queen be the first person to know when the kingdom is under threat?
“Uma and Poseidon called me to a warehouse. Well, to be honest, it looked more like a cave-in by the time I saw it. They said the raiders had taken everything inside and destroyed it.”
Oleen looked thoughtful for a moment. “Where was the warehouse?”
