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“I’m gladoneof us is having a good time,” he said.
I glanced at the other side of the lake. Wisps of steam rose from the surface so I could barely see Graham at all, and he was definitely too far away to overhear us. “It’s not what you think.”
He snorted. “Unlike that idiot, I can see through your lies—and you’ve managed to convince me you can’t fulfill your side of the bargain.” He lifted his face from the shadows, every angle of his face harsh with contempt. “Congratulations.”
My face grew hot and my muscles tensed. I hoisted myself out of the water, the cool air hitting my exposed skin. I tried not to cower as I faced Cael in only my underwear. “If you hurt him, I’ll make sure youneverget what you want, even if it means I don’t either.”
“Then I’ll make sure everyone knows who Bryn Yarrow really is.”
“I don’t care.”
He laughed softly and shook his head. “Your father certainly will. But anyway, I came here to tell you Enforcers are searching the island.”
“What?” My question was nearly soundless.
“Their boat’s anchored to the north. I’d recommend getting out of here. Now.”
So I hadn’t seen Cael’s boat. And I hadn’t gotten rid of him. I’d done something much more dangerous. I looked down the mountain, searching the shores for a sign of the Enforcers, but I saw nothing. The island was dark and quiet.
Except—
A tiny glow of orange light drew my eyes back to the eastern shore. The light grew larger and brighter. Something was burning.
“No, no, no, no. It’s my boat!”
Cael swore. “Mine will be next.” He jumped down, landing hard on the path below and sprinting down the mountain.
“Bryn!”
I glanced back. Graham ran around the rim toward me just as Cael disappeared from view.
“I heard your voice,” he said as he came closer. “What happened?”
I stared down at the blaze past the shore, hardly daring to blink. “Enforcers. They’re burning our boat.”
“What?” His eyes traveled down the mountain until he saw it too. “How do you know it’s—” He took a deep breath. “What should we do?”
I tore my eyes from the distant fire. Cael’s boat was still here, somewhere, but I wouldn’t take Graham anywhere near him.
My boat was on fire.
Enforcers were here for us.
I swallowed and looked at Graham. The memory of pain lingered in his eyes. I didn’t know how I’d save him yet, but I would. For now, we had to get off this miserable island.
“We might be able to catch up with Keane,” I said.
“Keane? Isn’t he part of the problem?”
“He said something that made me think he’d be willing to help us. I’m not sure if he meant it, but it’s the best chance we’ve got.”
“Then let’s go,” he said, his trust in me still strong.
We threw on our clothes. Our torch had long burned out so we’d have to navigate through the dark.
We took the curved mountain path, eventually passing the crevice that led to the cave. From there, we tried to head north in the direction Keane’s group had gone. We were going much slower in the darkness than I would’ve preferred. With all the veins of black rock and tangled bushes poking through the ground, running meant falling.
I hoped Keane and his men were okay, that I hadn’t sentenced them all to death by sending them to steal the Enforcers’ boat. Yes, the islanders were probably stronger and tougher than the Enforcers, and certainly dangerous with their spears, but the Enforcers had something the islanders didn’t: guns.
