She nods. “The toe of my boot got stuck under a root and I twisted it. I’m fine. Go.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
She glares at me. “I’m not helpless. You have to go. I’ll catch up.”
Marcus is already out of sight. My plant connection hums to life, fueled by my concern for him, but I won’t leave Amira—not with Ingrid’s soldiers stalking us. She won’t be able to balance her weight enough to shoot her bow.
“Get on my back.”
She huffs a laugh. “No.”
“Amira, get on my back. My aromium is on, so I’m stronger.”
I bend slightly to make it easier. She puts her arms around my neck, the bow in her hand smacking me in the face. When she jumps, I grab her legs and take off.
“Drop the bow before you poke one of my eyes out!” I whisper-hiss.
“I can’t. I need it.”
Vines slither beside me on the ground as I push myself to run as fast as my body will let me. Aromium makes it a lot easier. It only takes a couple minutes for us to reach Marcus, and when we do, my stomach hits the ground.
He’s bent at the waist, vomiting. The aromium switching device lies beside the bag Amira’s been carrying it in. She must have left it here to carry her quiver on her back.
“No.” I go to him, my world tipping off its axis. “No, no, no. Please tell me you didn’t.”
He looks up at me, his chest heaving. “I had to.”
Tree roots rumble beneath my feet, leaves quivering all around us. My plants are mobilizing for a fight, but this isn’t one we can win.
“Marcus!”
Ellison is grief-stricken; she and the others just seeing what he’s done.
“You’ll die,” she says softly.
He vomits again, then stands up. “There’s no time. Stella just killed the clone. She thought it was me. Niran’s with her. They’re on the way to Ingrid’s boat to kill the aromium kids.”
“We have to stop them,” Pax says, locking his eyes onto mine.
“No.” Marcus puts his hand on the tree trunk next to him, trying to keep himself upright. “I want all of you to go. There’s a boat in the grotto. It’s a sub, and it’s ...” He shudders in what I think it a seizure.
It only lasts a few seconds, and then he continues. “It’s big enough for all of you. Voice command. Say, ‘Gussie, open,’ and she’ll open her door for you. Tell ...” He swallows hard, leaning on the tree. “Tell her to take you to Corpus Christi. The ILF is there.”
“What the fuck are you thinking?” I can barely keep my voice contained. “You don’t need to martyr yourself. We’re a team. All of us.”
His dark eyes are mournful when they meet mine. “I need to know ... you guys are okay. They made Mae marry Lochlan. I found out on Island Four. Get to her.”
“No.” The word catches in my throat, Amira puts a steadying arm around me.
Not my sister. I’m dizzy as it sets in. They’re punishing her for what I did.
Vines shoot through the jungle floor, sending dirt flying as they whoosh up to the canopy. Ancient tree roots quake with my fury. The entire jungle is alive, its scream vibrating through me.
“I needed you.” I cry softly. “I needed you with me.”
He comes over to me, taking my hand. “I’m sorry. What happened to those kids ...” He chokes back tears. “I have to save them. It’s on me. None of you did this.”
Pax hangs his head. Nova cries silent tears. Amira, Olin, and Ellison look so deeply pained that Marcus might as well already be dead.
