Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I’m leaving in five minutes,” Nova says. “With or without you guys.”
Fifteen minutes later, Marcus and I are leading the way through the jungle, following the well-worn dirt path that will take us to Rising Tide. Our group of eight is walking in pairs, keeping distance between each pair in case of an ambush.
“What are you thinking?” Marcus asks, his tone low.
“Nothing good.” We’ve sidelined our personal issues, focused only on getting Ellison back. “They could slaughter us all when we walk into camp.”
No amount of guns and stun sticks could protect us from that many trained fighters. The Tiders hate us more than ever over Virginia’s death and their lack of supplies.
We all turned our aromium on at the edge of the perimeter, where it can safely be switched on with a device. Everyone except Marcus, because he almost died the last time he used his aromium and he can’t risk using it without a stabilizer, which I’m not sure we’ll ever figure out how to make.
Something brushes the edges of my senses all at once. It’s a low crackle of awareness—almost a hum, but without sound. I feel it with every step I take.
It’s different than the sensation of vines communicating with me. This is something bigger. I’ve never experienced it, with or without my aromium. But I don’t want to mention it. All that matters right now is getting Ellison back.
“Theron either doesn’t have aromium, or he brought a switching device with him,” Marcus says, so quiet it’s almost a whisper.
I understand why. That news would incite panic. I think he’s right, though. Our shield is active, which means no one with aromium could have come into our camp.
Glancing over my shoulder to make sure Nova and Olin are out of earshot behind us, I say, “It’s more likely he doesn’t have it.”
“I agree.” Marcus scans both sides of the jungle, on alert for anything that could threaten us.
“Pax would’ve taken her himself if he could’ve,” I say.
“I don’t know if he’s got the balls. That could’ve gone bad. It should’ve, if our patrol team was doing its fucking job.”
He slashes an arm out in front of me, forcing me to stop. Then he raises his other arm in the air, signaling everyone behind us to stop.
“Listen,” he whispers.
Aromium enhances the senses, so every call, chitter, and roar has coalesced into white noise I’m not even paying attention to anymore. I stop breathing, trying to hear whatever Marcus does.
“Marcus!”
The concerned shout makes us both turn. It was Wyatt. He and Chance were walking behind Nova and Olin. I squint to see what Wyatt’s looking at behind him.
“Stay alert,” Marcus says softly.
Movement on the dirt path behind Wyatt makes me reach for the handgun I have holstered.
Wyatt drops his stun stick and Chance tosses his gun to the ground. That’s when I see what has their attention.
It’s the massive newcomer to Rising Tide, Theron. He has a thick arm wrapped around Amira’s waist, her back to his chest as he forces her to walk in front of him. His other hand holds a knife, the blade at her throat.
“No,” I whisper.
“Drop your fucking weapons and walk!” Theron yells.
Another Tider has Adele walking in front of her, Adele’s hands in the air. Wyatt and Chance look at Marcus, whose scowl deepens.
“Drop your weapons or I cut,” Theron barks, the vibrations of his deep bellow making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
I release my hold on my gun, the terror in Amira’s eyes wrapping a fist around my heart. Nova and Olin drop their weapons, too. Only Marcus keeps his gun in hand.
The rest of our team reaches us, all eight of us clustering together. Marcus stands out front, pointing his weapon at Theron.
“Both of ’em die if you don’t drop it in two seconds,” Theron says. “One—”
“Marcus!” I scream, terrified I’m about to watch Amira die.
At the same moment, he bends and sets the gun on the ground.
Disappointment flickers over Theron’s expression. He wanted to kill Amira. I keep my eyes on hers in silent reassurance.
Of what, I don’t know, because we’re officially fucked.
7
“I understand your anger. Know that we are working toward something bigger than you can see. We want the same things, but it takes time. We can save five women today, or all of them when the time is right.” - Decoded message from ILF handler Hiro Tanaka to ILF undercover operative Nightingale
Briar
The brush of awareness I’ve been feeling since my aromium was reactivated becomes a roar. Power surges through me like an overwhelming current, shorting out my senses. For a few seconds, I’m drowning in it. An earthy, sappy sensation invades my mouth and nose. The stirring of thousands of leaves and tendrils rumbles through me, the ground somehow swelling beneath my feet without moving.