We traveled for twenty minutes before the machine started to drop smoothly out of the sky. My stomach lurched to my throat, and I clutched my seat belt, surprised how fast we’d arrived, but then again, I suspected we traveled quicker than planes.
When we landed, all I could see out the front window was darkness and the bright starry sky as far as the eye could see. Where in the world were we?
The front door opened with a rush of hot air, hissing in the process. And before us stood a mountain covered with tropical looking trees. This didn’t look like anywhere near home.
I hopped out and Corran followed behind me.
“Where are we?”
He took my hand and drew me closer to the mountain. “We’re at the edge of a crater.”
“Wait!” I pulled against his hand. “Like in a volcano?” It did feel hotter here, the heat so intense it was singeing my skin.
He smiled and moved closer, cupping my face. With a kiss that shocked me, he whispered, “Would you have preferred if I took you to a beach?”
I shrugged and nodded. “Actually yes.”
“Well, we might have time after this. We are in Honolulu.”
My feet froze, eyes growing. “Are you kidding me? I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii. I could have brought my swimsuit.”
He broke into a laugh, the sound so soft and sweet that I ate it up. I adored the way he laughed. “Then we better hurry up and get this job done.”