Page 31

Dr. Novikov’s body jerked, his muscles locking up as his head snapped back, the bullet driving into his brain. It seemed to take a moment for his mind to register that it no longer functioned.

His eyes went down to where his hand gripped Sprig, the nectar that could have saved him within his grasp. But it was too late.

His eyes glassed over with understanding before they went blank. His hand loosened on Sprig, his muscles giving out, reducing him into a mere bag of bones.

I stared at the dead doctor for a moment, then slowly went to Annabeth. Heaving with pain and adrenaline, she kept her gaze lasered on him, the gun still pointed in his direction, ready to fire again. Bleeding and shaking, she looked like a badass fallen angel.

Gradually, she blinked, her gaze finding mine in the darkness, registering what just happened. She had killed a man.

Cooper’s roar jerked her head, pulling us both out of the moment, the noise wailing back in my pointed ears, realizing violence and danger were moving in for us.

“Go!” Annabeth motioned to me and Sprig. “Get it out of here!” She flinched when she stood, her hand going to her bleeding shoulder, legs wobbling under her.

I didn’t want to leave her, but she wouldn’t be able to get out of here like I could.

“GO!” she demanded again, already heading toward her mate.

Gathering items up off the floor, Sprig shoved the small box in his backpack and leaped onto my back.“Goooo!Bhean chait!”With a whoop, his fingers gripped the fur at the base of my neck. “Ride on, kitty!”

I sprang forward, feeling his feathery weight, his heels digging into my sides to stay on, the knapsack filled with the nectar bouncing on his back. Keeping low, I darted for the exit, my heartbeat tripling as I veered away from people and through legs, our escape getting closer and closer. I saw the exit to the cavern; no one was aware the cat and monkey were stealing the treasure out from under them.

I could do it.

Ihadto.

What if I kept going? Took it back to Batara like I was supposed to. End the curse placed on me. Save my crew, my ship… myself. It was the pirate thing to do. Decency and honor were thrown to the wind. It was a weakness. A limitation. Being nice usually got you killed. I had to be cutthroat and ruthless.

Puss in Boots would take it without reservation, thinking only of herself, of the people depending on her back in Singapore.

You’d let Annabeth die? Leave all of them?

Darting out of the larger den, I curved around the corner.

Wham!

My frame ricocheted off what felt like cement, rolling back. The shock turned me back into my human-like body, and I skidded over the rough ground. I heard Sprig cry out, his body flying back, the honey bag falling off him as he hit the rocky floor. Pam and the nectar box tumbled out.

I shook my head, my brain spinning as I looked up.

Terror froze me for a moment, locked in the beam of the flashlights.

Violet-blue eyes peered down at me, and I took in his chiseled jaw and light brown hair. Two other men stood slightly behind him. I recognized them. The captains of the Hungarian men I saw following us that one night. The symbols of their prominent positions were embedded on their arm sleeves.

Sloane, Vale, and Conner.

“What do we have here?” Sloane pointed his light on the box, the lid slightly ajar, exposing the substance, which resembled a dried jumbo date.

“Is that what we were sent here for?” Conner tilted his head. “That?”

“Don’t underestimate what it can do.” A woman came from behind Sloane, her smug expression landing on me. Instant vile and hatred burned up my throat.

Amara.

My gaze snapped to the four of them, trying to understand the connection between them. Though with what I heard about Amara, I shouldn’t be surprised.

She smiled hungrily at Sloane, touching his arm. “Didn’t I tell you if you just waited here, it would come straight to you? I wouldn’t lead you wrong.”

He glanced at her dubiously while the other two appeared completely smitten, ready to answer her beck and call. That seemed to be one of her talents: seducing and conning men to get what she wanted.