“You’re saying I could open up a hole in the ground under your feet and it wouldn’t be my fault because I can’t control it?”
Pax shifts, crossing his arms. “I’m on your side. I’m trying to help her.”
“Stop it, both of you,” I cut in.
They both brood and I use the silence to think about how we should approach the exiles.
“We don’t even know where they are,” I say, thinking out loud. “They could be in a place where the others don’t have anywhere to hide and cover us.”
“There’s no safe place on this island for them,” Pax says. “Between the two of us, we’ve got this. As long as we can see them, we’re close enough.” He furrows his brow with concern. “I can do this by myself if you want.”
Marcus shakes his head. “It’s too many at once. Seven of them. You can only control one snake at a time.”
“I can only set one target at a time. I can send ten snakes after one person, and as soon as they’re dead, target the next one and all ten snakes will go for them.”
“No,” I say. “Some of them would be able to reach you before you got to them all.”
“Not if they can’t see me.”
“I targeted all of those soldiers at the same time,” I say. “I’m doing this.”
Pax nods. “It won’t be hard to find them. Half this island was leveled by the volcano.”
“Flavius,” Marcus says, his voice so soft I can hardly hear him.
I put a hand on his arm. “You okay?”
He looks pained. “They’re starving. The volcano ...”
Pax’s expression turns grim. “It’s the same for the snakes. The volcano killed lots of them, and the ones who are left aren’t going to make it long-term. That’s why we need to get control of this island back while I can still help.”
“I need to help the wolves,” Marcus says.
“We will,” I assure him.
“How can you feel them without your aromium on?” Pax asks Marcus.
“I don’t know.”
“You guys ready?” Nova asks from nearby.
“Almost,” I say.
“Both of you start with Theron,” Marcus says. “I can handle any of the other six, and Nova and Amira will cover me.”
“Maybe Olin and Ellison should just stay in the cave,” Pax suggests.
Marcus shakes his head. “Ellison won’t.”
“Can Olin shoot a bow?”
“He’s getting better,” I say.
Pax grins. “So no.”
“No,” Marcus agrees.
“He’s had training,” I say. “But he’s rusty.”
