Page 30 of In My Wildest Dreams

She nodded. He was right. She was in control.

Resolve firmly in place, Hollyn turned her focus toward the chopper, quickly turning to avoid the rising plume of toxic smoke billowing out of the volcano now. She took one last look at Kai, and with everything in her, released a perfect high C, gripped the talisman tightly in one of her hands as she blasted the biggest wave of blue energy she’d ever let loose directly at the helicopter holding her father. Every inch of her glowed with energy, and she felt the catalytic effect of the medallion amplifying her power beyond anything she could have imagined. Like a titanium fist, the energy pounded the chopper, bending it in the middle and breaking one of the rotors. It began to careen in circles, losing all ability to fly. Like a perfect three-point shot, the chopper plopped right into the mouth of the volcano, falling out of sight.

The volcano gave a giant shake, and Hollyn embraced Kai for what she thought would likely be their last embrace.

“Thank you for coming back for me.”

“Always, love.”

Hollyn watched as a grin lifted the corners of Kai’s mouth. “Tell you what. If you’ll trust me one last time, I think I can save us.”

She nodded. Everything inside her said that Kai would always do the right thing by her. She could trust him.

“When I say, leap, let go and jump with me, okay?”

“What? I don’t think I can?”

“Are you kidding me? How many times have you done something you didn’t think you could do? I don’t know for sure, but I bet you wished for freedom, and if you did, this is what it looks like, taking the risks even when you’re scared.”

Be careful what you wish for.But if Hollyn were honest, she had gotten everything she’d wished for and more, and not because she’d played it safe. She’d taken multiple risks. What was one more?

She gave a decisive answer as she said, “Let’s do it!”

At the same moment that the volcano blew and began to spew bright red lava, along with barely recognizable pieces of metal that had once belonged to a helicopter, a giant wave rose out of the ocean toward the shore. On it, was a sleek speedboat. As a cloud of ash began to pour toward them at a ridiculously high speed, Kai pulled her arm, and they began to run toward the edge of the cliff.

“Jump!” Kai shouted, and without hesitation, Hollyn took the leap with him.

They hit the speedboat, rolled, and quickly clambered inside. Like a getaway tsunami, the wave switched directions and began to push them out to sea. All around them, debris began raining down, hitting the water with a sizzle.

“If any of that hits this boat, we’re done for!” Hollyn shouted.

But Kai didn’t seem worried at all. He started the engine, and it revved a few times before the wave set them down gently, and Kai hit the gas. They sped away, dodging the rocks that were still being sent out to sea from the blast.

Hollyn looked back at the incredible sight of a volcano in full eruption, one they’d barely escaped. A sense of complete and utter relief washed over her. She was free. She was forever free from Grigori.

21

Kai and Jesse hoisted the mainsail and the headsail, Bertie flying around and being her bossy self, as Hollyn steered the boat—her boat. Otis laid contently at her feet, put to sleep by the gentle rocking of the massive sailboat. She couldn’t stop smiling lately at the thought that she owned her own sailboat—The Siren Witch. Not only that, but she had her mother Layla again and her aunt Jesse. She also had new family. Coral and her family had become an important part of Hollyn’s life. Alek, Natalia, Willow, and Nana Jo were now her people, too.

Most importantly, though, she had Kai.

Kai and she had been near inseparable since they left the volcano behind. Their days were spent sunning on the bunny pad of the deck and their nights were spent having the hottest sex ever. The only time they spent apart was when Kai flew his new Bombardier Global 7500 plane. She didn’t mind flying in the luxury of such a nice private plane either.

Of course, in order to pay for all of this, Hollyn had finally sold off the gold coins she’d found in the Carolinas, including not just one, but two Tricentennial Royal coins she’d found in themix. It had been enough to buy the boat and the plane, but they weren’t exactly retired yet. Hollyn continued to dive for treasure in the ocean, knowing now that she no longer needed SCUBA equipment to do so, and Kai joined her when he wasn’t flying passengers from place to place.

All in all, they were enjoying their life together, taking a few risks here and there to remind them that they were both free.

As the sails were tied off, Kai came up beside Hollyn and took her in his arms. Jesse took over the wheel and gave them a knowing smile.

“Kai, it’s the middle of the day.”

“And you look too good in that bikini to waste it. Come on, I have a treasure to show you in our cabin.”

She laughed knowingly. “That’s the corniest line ever, but you’re in luck. I happen to be in the mood for corny today.”

“Well, lucky me because I’m in the mood for you.”

Hollyn and Kai ran below, kissing and laughing the whole way. Love looked good on Hollyn, and she didn’t mind the look of love Kai gave her every time his gaze fell on her.

It had been a real wild one, but she wouldn’t have dreamed it any other way—not in her wildest dreams.

The End