“Hey, I’m delightful.” Raven flips her hair over her shoulder.
“Yes, you are.” I nod to her. “Okay, so where would Mount Etna be now?”
“It would be in a large volcano probably close to other volcanic activity.” Kira flips through the book.
“Hawaii?” Raven says.
“I don’t want to go back into the ocean again.” I shudder.
Memories assault me of the Island of the Lotus Eaters. No. That was an illusion. It wasn’t real. Jayden must sense the dark turn of my thoughts because his hand rubs soothing circles on my back.
“It wasn’t real, love. It was a test. I’m not leaving you,” he whispers in my ear.
“I know, but just the thought of having to cross that ocean since flying isn’t an option twists me up in knots.” I shiver.
“While Hawaii makes sense, I doubt the forge is there.” Kira turns to Thad.
“Hawaii is my father’s domain. The forge most likely wouldn’t be there even if their powers are similar.” Thad shrugs.
“Thank fuck for that,” I breathe. “No offense, Thad.”
“Trauma is trauma. I don’t blame you for not wanting to go back. If it were me, I wouldn’t want that either.”
“Okay,” Jayden says. “Where else fits the description?”
Adrian pulls the map of the US out and unrolls it on the table. “Etna was on an island to the west of Greece close to where Hephaestus was said to have fallen from Olympus. The only islands to the west fall into Poseidon’s domain, so we can rule that out, but it will still be on the west side of the country.”
Kira leans over the map. “There are more than a few volcanoes in the west, but only one I can think of that has these exact conditions. Elkhorn Mountain in Montana. It’s close to Yellowstone volcanic plains. It could be the site of the forge.”
“That’s pretty perfect,” I say. “We can travel through Arizona and Colorado to gather our shifter allies.”
Raven turns to Greyson. “Do you think they will still be willing to help considering the mess they’re in?”
“They’ll help. Grant has been in touch through Orpheus. Things are escalating for them, but they aren’t on the brink of war yet. We have time.”
“Except our problems rolled over to them,” I point out. “It’s our fault they’re so close to war in the first place.”
“Hey, B? Shut up.” Raven narrows her eyes. “How many times have we helped Tristan out of a mess?”
“Not counting the ones we got him into in the first place?” I ask.
“The entire world was going to shit each time. We saved them all over and over again. The wolves are the only ones who know a small portion of the things we sacrificed for the world. They will help us or I will put a boot up their asses.” Raven crosses her arms.
“She’s right, Beth. The wolves will help their allies in a time of need and we’re going to need all the help we can get,” Greyson says.
“Elkhorn looks correct,” Adrian says. “I think we are on the right track with that.”
“Now that we have that settled, we should have a couple days to evaluate the other students and make a plan for the probability of the queen attacking us here at the academy.” I stand ready to take off for the training grounds.
Adrian stands but his eyes roll back in his head and he slumps. Thad is there in an instant, safely lowering him to the ground.
“Shit, what is it now?” I mumble to myself.
Kira hands Thad a tongue depressor so we can keep him from hurting himself. It’s all methodical and calm. This has been happening daily to the point no one leaves him alone anymore in case it happens when we least expect it.
“You think it’s Apollo giving him more information or an actual vision?” Raven asks.
“I don’t know. Either way it’s nothing good.” I shake my head.
