Page 69 of Castor
“Sirena will feed you,” Naida told him. “She might not trust most males, but she is never cruel to them. She won’t let you go hungry.”
“He’s always hungry,” Bellamy told her.
“Shut your face, Bell.” Raiden shoulder-bumped him as they walked to grab their bags from the trunk too.
“Which island are we going to?” Kyo asked. A breeze swept through his black hair, and as the smell of the Caribbean came with it, a longing look appeared in his eyes.
That’s right.His palace near Ishigaki Island was like a tropical paradise. Being in the Caribbean probably stirred up some of those memories. The sea reminded him of home.
“You won’t know of it,” Naida answered. “Like ours in Greece, it’s shielded from outsiders. It will take us twenty or so minutes to fly there.” She dug into her luggage and pulled out a protein bar before handing it to Raiden. “To hold you over until we reach it.”
Raiden flashed her a toothy grin. “You’re my new favorite person, Naida.”
Kyo leaned over to me and whispered, “The way to his heart really is through his stomach, huh?”
“I’ll have to tell that to Titan. Do you see how he’s looking at Ray?”
Titan smiled as Raiden tore open the protein bar and swallowed it in two bites, completely oblivious.
“Ready to go?” Alastair asked, and we nodded. He then looked at Naida. “Since Sirena knows you, would you mind joining me at the front?”
“I would be honored.”
We found a secluded place by the waterfront before taking off our shirts and releasing our wings. Naida wore a leather brassiere that allowed her to unfurl her wings without being completely topless. A dagger was attached to her hip, and with her fierce gaze, she looked every bit a warrior.
“Time to fly, little dragon,” I told Kyo before snaking my arms around his waist.
“Remember what I said about dropping me.” He was carrying our luggage since my arms would be full. Good thing we’d packed light, only bringing clothes and toiletry items—and our weapons—leaving the rest on the jet.
I chuckled and held him tighter. “I promise not to let you go.”
My words hit me in the chest. I had only meant them in reference to flying, but the truth of them burrowed deep in my core.
Kyo turned his face into my neck. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”
My chest ached.
Alastair and Naida flew in the front while Baxter and Kian trailed behind them. Titan and Raiden flew beside me and Kyo, while Bellamy and Elon closed behind us.
With the sun having set already, the darkness helped conceal us from human eyes as we left St. Thomas and made our way out to sea, nothing but dark water below us and a clear night sky above.
Silence fell over us with nothing but the occasional flap of heavy wings. Up ahead, a large, sharp cliff jutted from the water. Naida flew right toward it.
“Uh, Red? Please tell me that’s an illusion and we’re not really about to crash into a huge-ass rock. I’m too young to die.”
“Stop being so dramatic,” I said with a laugh.
Naida and Alastair reached the cliff and disappeared, followed by the others in front of us. Kyo tensed in my arms right before we passed through it. On the other side was an island that must’ve been two to three miles wide with rolling hills, forests of tall trees, and white sand beaches that could be seen even in the moonlight.
And on the beach was a group of warriors.
None of them flew up to meet us like when we arrived at Baxter’s island, but when we landed in the sand and approached, all of them held their weapons at the ready. They also wore very little clothing—which I knew Bellamy loved. A lot of leather, like the brassiere Naida wore, and bottoms that showed their long, toned legs. They radiated strength. Power.
“Naida,” the female in front said, bringing one arm over her chest. Her dark hair was buzzed on the sides with the longer hair on top braided and falling down her back. “Welcome home.”
“Greece is my home, Lysandra,” Naida reminded her, mirroring the greeting. “Yet, it pleases me to be here. I’ve missed all of you.”
“As we have with you.” Lysandra scrutinized the rest of us. “You’ve brought many males. I expect them to behave while on our island.”
