“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 thatplan.
“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.”
“She annihilated them,” Pax says. “None of us did anything but watch.”
I’ve never wanted to punch him as much as I do right now. He’s trying to make me into the guy who doesn’t believe in Briar, and himself into the one who does.
Briar is powerful. I’ve seen what she can do with plants. But there are too many ways for this plan to go bad, and I can’t lose her.
“How’d you kill them?” I ask her.
“Lianas and strangler figs.”
I wait for her to continue. “Okay, but how?”
Amira answers for her. “She used the vines to chop off their heads and legs and squeeze their guts out.”
Holy shit. I just look at Briar for a couple of seconds.
“Don’t make me mad,” she says lightly.
“Marcus.” Nova’s serious tone makes me turn to face her. “She’s the greatest weapon on this island. Greater than you, even, because she can control who the vines attack. You can make the volcano blow, but it could kill all of us.”
I nod, the reality of Briar’s abilities hitting me like a blow. It’s a good thing, but it’s not without a downside.
“I don’t think I can hide somewhere while she does it,” I admit. “I know she’s capable. But my emotions trigger my connections, and if I feel like she’s in danger, I can’t control what I do.”
“So leave the island until it’s over,” Pax says. “You obviously have a way to do it.”
“Like hell.” I glare at him. “You’re as likely to kill her as help her.”
“And what would I gain from that?”
“This could all be part of your plan. With them.” I lock eyes with Briar. “Whose idea was it for you and Pax to take out Theron and the exiles?”
Her brows drop down a notch in answer.
“It was you, Pax,” Ellison says.
He throws his arms out. “Yeah, because it’s the best idea we’ve got. When Briar took my people in, I pledged my loyalty to her. I meant it.”
I shake my head. “Your word means nothing to me.”
“He saved us.” Briar gives me a pleading look. “He didn’t have to, but he did. I love you with every ounce of my being, so don’t take offense, but this isn’t a dictatorship anymore. It’s a democracy. There are seven people here. We’ll vote on whether to go forward with the plan. Majority wins. And I’ll remind everyone here that we have no food, limited weapons, and Ingrid’s people are hunting us.”
