Chapter 109. The Inner Chamber

Tristan

The jet touched down on a small airstrip that Derek had somehow arranged on an island I'd never heard of, and the moment we stepped off the plane, I could feel that something was wrong.

The bond with Athena was there but it felt different, like she was further away than she should be based on what we'd tracked during the flight.

"She's not here," I said immediately, and my voice came out tight with frustration.

Orion nodded beside me, his face grim. "I can feel it too. She's close but not on this island."

Derek was already talking into his radio, coordinating with his men who had spread out to secure the landing area. When he finished, he turned to us with a frown.

"My scouts are reporting activity about two miles across the water," he said, pointing toward the dark ocean.

"There's a cave system built into the cliffs on the opposite shore. Natural formation but it looks like it's been modified."

I followed his