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)
“He won’t.”
I love that she still has enough goodness to trust people. In this case, though, she’s trusting a snake. When Gussie finally got to the island, I would have run here without stopping if I’d known Briar was holed up in a cave with fucking Pax.
She adds her other palm to my chest, looking up at me. “Before we go in there, I just want to say I love you. I love you. I love you. I never thought I’d get to tell you that again.”
My feelings for her threaten to overpower me. It’s all I can do to keep myself from flipping her onto her back and fucking her right here and right now.
“I love you, too.” I cup the back of her neck. “And when we can get some time alone, there are things I need to tell you that are just for you.”
“Okay.”
When she moves her hands from my chest and turns in the direction of the cave, I look her over. She’s been through it. There’s dried blood on one of her shins and a slash in the pants that looks like the work of a megamantis. Her hair was in a bun at one point, but now about half of it is. The dirt on her face is tear-streaked.
She thought Ingrid’s 6A5 clone was actually me. I can’t imagine seeing someone who looked just like her, but wasn’t.
If that fucking guy has touched my woman, I’ll choke the life out of him. It’s one thing to be Ingrid’s unknowing pawn, but it’s another to take advantage of Briar.
Just thinking about it is waking up my connection to wolves and the earth. I mentally slam the door on it, because shaking the ground would lead Ingrid’s troops to us.
When we reach the thick curtain of flowering vines covering the cave’s entrance, Briar puts a palm on my chest and meets my gaze.
“Give me fifteen seconds to tell them.”
She slips behind the vines and I wait. It’s not long before she gently parts the vines and signals me to enter.
When I do, the first face I see is Ellison’s. She’s standing and smiling, a torch in the ground illuminating her face. The older sister I never had races up to me and throws her arms around me.
“A clone?” She pulls back and looks at my face, teary. “Did they do that to all of us?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m just so glad you’re okay.” She looks me over, squinting at the ink on my forearm. “Oh no. Is that ...?”
“It’s semi-permanent.”
She nods, relieved. Nova approaches me next, clapping me on the shoulder.
“Good to have you back, boss.”
Olin grins and Amira gives me a little wave. Then my eyes land on Pax, whose expression is neutral. We just stare at each other for a few seconds.
“Guess the wind shifted directions,” I say.
He scoffs and looks away. “You don’t have a fucking clue, Marcus. Where were you when people on this island were getting melted down like scrap metal?”
“None of your fucking business.”
Briar moves to stand beside me, looking between us. “Here’s what we’re not doing—fighting each other. There are too many people on this island who want us dead, so man up, both of you.”
Pax’s eyes stay locked on mine in a silent challenge. He’s ready to go if I am. And I’m so fucking ready. But Briar’s right. This isn’t the time.
“We’re taking out Theron and the exiles,” Nova says. “Soon. You couldn’t have come at a better time.”
I nod. “You’ve all got your aromium on.”
Nova shrugs a shoulder. “We have to use every weapon we’ve got.”
My connection tugs at me, urging me to activate my aromium and step into the full potential of the power it would give me. Flavius is struggling with something, but without my aromium, the details are fuzzy. He’s bitter and would like nothing more than a hard fight to work out his aggressions.
“Where’s the switch?” I ask.
“No.” Briar crosses her arms and glares at me. “You can’t help anyone if you’re dead.”
I sniff and look away because I don’t like being told what I can and can’t do—even by her.
“I was just curious.”
Amira slowly reaches for a backpack on the ground near her. It’s in there, but I don’t let on that I know.
“The plan is for Briar and Pax to take out Theron and the exiles while the rest of us spread out to provide backup under cover,” Nova says.
Is it possible for my brows to just fly off my fucking forehead and hit the roof of this cave? That’s how high up they go over that plan.
“Are you joking?”
Nova huffs a note of aggravation. “Here we go.”
“You didn’t see what she did to Ingrid’s guys,” Amira says defensively. “Eleven of them. Dead in fifteen seconds.”
I look at Briar. “What happened?”
She shrugs, dismissive. “What Amira said. I thought they’d brainwashed you, and I got ... enraged instead of scared when Theron and the exiles were coming at us. Then Ingrid’s guys were closing in.”