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Gunfire and loud yells from around the corner jerked their heads away for only a moment. I took advantage and scrambled for the box, my arm stretched out, my fingertips only inches from the nectar.
Crunch.
A boot pressed down on my hand, forcing a cry up my throat. Amara’s heel dug in, snapping a few bones. “Not so fast,pisica.”Cat.
The sound of pounding feet headed our way put them on defense.
“We have to go,” Sloane barked, looking at Conner. “Grab it!”
The fae bent over, his fingers about to touch the container, before he jerked back. I knew he sensed what I had. Something so powerful it sent shivers down your spine. The power thumped off it, a heartbeat under the skin, like it was declaring loudly what it was. Beckoning you to it, taunting you to touch. As if it was testing your willpower, your strength. Would you resist or fall victim?
“Now!” Sloane had his gun ready to fire at anything coming around that corner, already backstepping, ready to take off.
Conner snatched up the box, shoving it in his bag.
“Nooo!” I thrashed against Amara’s boot, pain pushing bile up my throat.
“Go!” Conner yelled, turning and running, Salone and Vale following suit, leaving the rest of their men to die for the cause.
“Thank you for making that so easy.” Amara leaned down, her lips curling. “Getting it from them will be like taking candy from a baby.” She drew out a gun. “And hurting Croygen will only make this day better.” She pointed the barrel at me.
“Katrina!” Croygen’s voice snapped both our heads in his direction as he barreled around the corner, terror wide in his dark eyes. “Amara, no!” He sprinted for me. Cooper was not far behind him, wearing only shredded pants, a barely conscious Annabeth in his arms.
Amara snarled, knowing she was no match for them. Lifting her boot from my hand, she took off running, catching up with the other three before vanishing quickly into the dark tunnel—along with the nectar.
“No!” I tried to get up, my eyes still focused on where they vanished.
“Kat?” Croygen dropped down next to me, his eyes searching my body, his hands moving over my bare skin. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Cradling my hand, I shook my head. “I’m fine.” Nothing I wouldn’t heal from in a day. I peered up at him in utter failure. “They took it… those Hungarian soldiers have the nectar.”
“Then we go after it.” He tugged off his jacket, ripping off his shirt. He put my head through the hole, tugging it over my head and covering my naked frame.
More screams and cries came from the cave, some fleeing, running by us, while others were singing their death song.
If we stayed, we’d be next.
“We have to go. Now!” Cooper barked, adjusting AB in his arms, his feet already moving.
Croygen helped me up, pushing me to follow Cooper while he curved around, swiping up Sprig’s sleeping form. He didn’t pause before grabbing Pam too, putting the stuffed animal in Sprig’s arms. He tugged on his long coat, looking even more like a sexy pirate with his bare chest and wounds. He placed his friend in his pocket, tucking him in deep to keep him safe. “Katrina?” he rumbled, his lashes lifting to mine. “Stop looking at me that way… and run.”
Right. Run.
My bare feet hit the stone, my legs stretching as I trailed after Cooper, feeling Croygen right behind me.
Unearthly screeches and yells grew more and more distant as we headed for the surface. I hoped they would stay in the safety of their refuge. But with Dr. Novikov dead, would they remain there or venture out into the world?
I wagged my head, not wanting to think about the repercussions of that. What things like them could do in the world, especially if they reproduced.
They were a problem for another day. Right now I had to deal with the dilemma before us—getting the nectar back.
And knowing we were leaving this hellhole with even less than we came in with.
We rose from the depths, clawing and digging out of the tomb of darkness. The fresh air filled my nose, my face turning up to the rays of sun soaking into my skin. The sound of a rushing river was a balm to my soul as it drowned out the hustle of people streaming by me. It was stifling hot, but I lapped it up like cream, ready to curl up and absorb the heat.
It felt as if we had been underground for years. My throat tightened, and I swallowed back my emotion, shaking off the dread that haunted me the entire time—the fear that I would die there. Not on my ship or by the sea, but trapped in a crypt of darkness and death.
A shoulder slammed into me, causing me to stumble, and my eyes bolted open to the stream of treasure seekers making their way into the cave. The place was bustling and chaotic. Makeshift stands for supplies and food, corrals for horses, and peddlers with “authentic” cave maps packed the area in front of the cave entrance. Everyone thought they were the ones who would find it, had the right tools or strategy, and would come out of here the victor. And all were throwing their money away. The prize was already gone.
