Page 45 of Red Marked

“No. You want her.” She’s on her feet. “You think I haven’t seen you looking? You want to take her back so that you can⁠—”

“Scarlet! That’s not what this is,” I tell her, my eyes narrowed.

Her voice climbs. “You can save it, Flint. Star is in love with someone else. She has been for years. So whatever you think will happen once you’ve got her down off this rock, it won’t.”

My stomach drops. I look over at Flint, but his demeanor hasn’t changed. I mean, why would it?

“Star needs to be here, which means I will go with you. I will do what it takes,” she tells Flint. Scarlet looks at me. She’s breathing hard. Her eyes are bright, and her mouth is pressed thin, and she’s waiting for me to agree with her.

I can’t.

I love her. I would die for her.

But he’s right.

I feel like she’s spiraled in the last year or two. She’s almost become a little feral. It isn’t just her. There are others here who are the same. A little quick to anger. A little quick to shift. Maybe I am a little rough around the edges too.

“I want to have a quick talk with you,” I tell her.

“Star…” She shakes her head. “No.”

“Now, Scarlet…please.”

She follows me. We go up the path far enough that the fire is a glow behind us. I stop where the rock opens onto the drop, and she turns on me before I can speak.

“Don’t.”

“Listen to me.”

“I know what you’re going to say.”

“Then let me say it.” I take her by her upper arms. “I need you to take over here. I need you to lead them while I’m gone.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“I know.”

“I don’t trust him, Star. Not with you or the Draig females. Not with any of this. What if something happens to you out there? Don’t go. We’re fine.”

“We’re not fine. I’m not having that conversation again. You know my take on it. You know deep down that I am right, just like you know I’m the right person to go to Mistveil.”

She pulls out of my hands and walks to the edge and stands there, looking out over the black jungle, and her voice, when she speaks, is small.

“What if you don’t come back?”

“I will.”

“You can’t promise that.” She turns. “They need you. You’re the glue. You’re the one who holds all of this together. I can’t do what you do. I don’t know how. I’m the one who breaks things, Star; that’s my job, and you want to just walk away.”

“I won’t just walk away. I’ll still be one of us. I’ll still be working for us…just not here. I think you’ll do just fine. You know the drill. You’re quite capable at survival…you said it yourself. You’re also good at killing if need be.”

“What if I make the wrong call?”

“You won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know you.” I step toward her. “I trust you. I need you to do the same for me. That’s all. Trust me, the way I’m trusting you.”