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“What?” The man paused.

“He means you better not be fucking with him.” Croygen slanted his head the opposite way, his expression deadly. “Are you?” His meaning went well beyond honey and Sprig.

“No. I am not.” The man looked Croygen dead in the eyes.

“Then touch away, but keep it above the junk, please. Pam will get jealous.” Sprig patted Pam’s head peeking out of his backpack.

The man poked and touched his arms, peering close to the sprite, studying him.

“Truly exceptional.” He leaned in closer, but Croygen stepped back. The gentleman cleared his throat. “Did… are there more of him?”

Croygen’s lids slanted, watching the man. “No. He’s one of a kind.”

“Awww… buttaneer, I didn’t know you felt that way.” Sprig leaned into Croygen’s neck, patting him.

“One of you is more than enough.”

I could tell the guy wanted to say more, to hold Sprig, but he read Croygen’s defensive stance and kept his distance.

“Come, please.” The guy waved us over, traveling back to the fire. “Eat, rest, and then I can show you the nests.”

“Thank you.” Of course, Annabeth progressed to him first, offering appreciation and manners while the rest of us moved warily to the campfire. My fingers still held the gun I had stolen from Amara’s men, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

This was the strangest hostage situation I had ever been in. It was clear we were in charge, our weapons still drawn on him, but he treated us like friends joining him at camp.

I had learned that kindness hardly ever came free. There was always a price, even if the price tag wasn’t showing.

Chapter 6

Croygen

“Katrina.” Her name was almost a growl. “I don’t want to hear one more word from your mouth.” I moved closer to her, trying to keep anyone else from hearing. “Get on my bed mat. Now.” I pointed down at it.

“No.” She scowled, her arms folding. “He’s human. I think I can take him.”

“Katrina…” I gritted my teeth, ready to gag and tie her up again. She was pushing all my buttons.

“I can take care of myself. I lived on the streets, remember?” She sounded like a brat. I didn’t care if she actually threw a tantrum; I was going to get my way on this.

“I know you can, but I don’t trusthim,” I muttered even lower, trying not to let the man hear me. Though he seemed harmless, something about him didn’t sit right with me. We never put away our weapons, not that he was an actual threat. I mean, against us, what could he do?

Yet I still didn’t want Kat out of my eyesight. I needed her right next to me.

The man had drifted off soon after eating, his back against the wall, his arms folded and head tucked down. Though with every exhale, my muscles locked up, ready to pounce.

“He’s fast asleep.” She motioned back to him. “He’s old. He can’t do anything. Cooper and I would hear him before he made a move.”

Probably, but I didn’t care.

We needed rest; all of us were running on fumes. Like the man, AB had crashed over an hour ago after we ate, her body giving out before her will did, which I feared might be a metaphor for what was to come. We needed to find this nectar; her life depended on it, and there was a good chance it might be hidden in the nests.

Every day I saw the regression in AB, her body losing its battle against the disease eating quickly at her. It made me wish I had pushed harder for her not to come on this journey. To keep her safe and bubble-wrapped until we brought it back to her. It was too late now, and like Kat, I don’t think my strong stance on the matter would have stopped her.

I let out a huge, drawn-out breath, my lids closing for a moment as I tried to rein in my temper.

“Humor me tonight.” I clenched through every word, my physique looming over her, our bodies almost touching. My mouth was only inches from hers. “Please.”

She kept her attention to the side, her arms crossed, giving a little shrug of her shoulder.