Page 22 of Charmed By Apollo

Several heartbeats passed as he held his breath, waiting for her answer.

The she-wolf did not say anything, but instead, took his hand.

Chapter 3

Geri

In the next instant, the cold, bleakness of Alaska disappeared around them, replaced with the heavy, humid air of the tropics. The thick, dense trees of the cold forest, too, were gone, and they were now surrounded by coconut trees and ferns. Geri didn’t need her enhanced senses to tell her that they were someplace completely removed from Alaska.

She looked around, and the scene before her was pleasant enough, but it hardly matched the mystique she had imagined with the island. Capilay Spring appeared as little more than a tranquil park with swimming holes dotted here and there.

She turned to Apollo. “Is this it?” she asked.

He looked around sheepishly. “Yes.”

She sighed, her gaze lingering on the tranquil surroundings. “Well, I suppose we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,” she remarked, trying to muster some optimism. “Let’s explore a bit and see what we find.”

The park was filled with tall trees and lush greenery, providing plenty of shade from the sun—smooth stone pathways wound through the foliage, leading them deeper into the park. As a shifter, she enjoyed all kinds of natural surroundings. Her enhanced senses picked up all the unfamiliar but pleasant scents and sounds, from the damp moss clinging to the trees to the buzz of tropical insects around them. A desire to shift into her wolf form and run through the jungle and rub her scent everywhere hit her. It had been too long since she’d been in her wolf form. She hadn’t done it while in Alaska, and there was supposed to be a pack run tomorrow in honor of her grandmother, which she was sad to miss.

But, if she was successful in bringing Grannie back, then it didn’t matter if she missed it.

“Man, it’s hot here,” she said, pulling her ponytail into a messy bun. She shifted uncomfortably in her workout clothes, grateful that they were lightweight and breathable, sparing her from the suffocating heat. “So, who exactly is this water nymph you mentioned?”

He glanced around, his eyes scanning the tranquil surroundings. “Her name is Kanlaon. She resides in these springs.”

“Do you think she’ll be able to help us?”

He nodded thoughtfully. “I believe she might. She knows this island and, at the very least, can tell us who to talk to.”

“Kalos to manari mou,” a sultry voice said behind them.

Geri noticed Apollo tense, and her gaze darted toward the voice. She spotted a figure emerging from the water, graceful and alluring. Her long, dark hair cascaded in lustrous waves down her slender shoulders, framing a face of timeless beauty. Her eyes, the color of deep ocean waters, sparkled with a mischievous glint as she regarded Geri and Apollo with curiosity.

Was this Kanlaon?

Geri glanced back and forth between Apollo and the woman, sensing the tension that hung in the air like a palpable force. She turned to Apollo, silently urging him to break the silence.

He met Geri’s gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of reluctance and resignation. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat. “Uh, hello, Castalia,” he said, his jaw clenched momentarily, unease flickering across his features before he quickly masked it with a neutral expression.

Castalia smiled, a beguiling curve of her lips that seemed to hold a hint of mischief. But as quickly as it appeared, it transformed into a playful pout, accentuating her allure even further. She cast a sidelong glance at Apollo, her gaze teasing as she chided him gently. “And here I thought you were going to introduce me to your lovely friend,” she remarked, her tone playful yet laced with an undercurrent of intrigue.

With a graceful movement, Castalia glided toward them, her presence exuding an irresistible charm. She extended a slender hand toward Geri, a warm smile gracing her lips. “I’m Castalia,” she introduced herself, her voice a melodic cadence that seemed to dance on the air.

Geri accepted Castalia’s hand, feeling a surge of curiosity mingled with caution. “Geri,” she replied, returning the water nymph’s smile with a polite nod.

Castalia’s gaze flowed over Geri. “She’s quite yummy, Apollo—any room for a third?”

As Castalia’s playful words hung in the air, Geri’s mouth dropped open in shock. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Beside her, Apollo appeared visibly flustered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Before Geri could even gather her thoughts to respond, Castalia continued with a teasing smile, “Of course, I’m just joking. I know how you don’t like to share, Apollo.” With a playful wink, she hooked her arm through his.

The gesture made Geri’s heart clench. A surge of emotions flooded her—surprise, anger, and a twinge of insecurity. She was successful at masking her emotions at least, but they threatened to boil over at any moment.

Apollo shifted uncomfortably under Castalia’s playful gaze, trying to diffuse the tension. “Castalia, please,” he murmured.

“Oh, lighten up, Apollo,” she teased, giving his arm a playful squeeze. “I’m just having a little fun.”

Geri forced a tight smile, trying to play along with the charade, but inside, her emotions churned. She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her, wondering what other surprises Castalia had up her sleeve.

---