Page 34 of Blue Arrow Island (Blue Arrow Island #1)

The chain of command is important, but you have a duty to consider who will benefit from orders you’re given, and to speak up when you know something is wrong. Blind obedience and misplaced loyalty can lead good people down very bad paths.

- Excerpt from a police training manual written by Ben Hollis

A gust of wind blows loose strands of hair across my face when I emerge from the cave. When I look up at the sky, my gut churns with nervousness. It’s not just the cloud the snow has been falling from that’s gray now—it’s the entire sky.

Marcus’s brow furrows when he steps out of the cave. “We have to go back to camp. It’s never good when it comes on this fast. Virginia’s storm will gain momentum from the temperature drop.”

I tuck errant sections of hair behind my ears. “What’s the point of the microclimates?”

His expression is sober when he responds, a storm much like the one in the sky brewing in his eyes. “The ultimate goal is probably weaponizing climate. Heating or freezing people in certain areas to death.”

My lips part with shock as the horror of it sets in. Whitman could kill large groups of people without sending in a single soldier. The implications are terrifying.

“But here, the microclimates were being used for training at Rising Tide. People were being taught to endure the worst weather conditions. To build shelters out of the materials around you.”

I lock eyes with him, a bad feeling settling over me. “But now she’s using it against your camp.”

“ Our camp.”

“Ours.”

“Virginia was sowing chaos any way she could, but she slowed way down in the past few months. I think the lack of food and supplies forced her to change gears and focus manpower on surviving.” His lips purse in a thin, grim line.

“But now she’s desperate. She’s going to throw everything she can at us. ”

I nod, wind rustling through the trees around us. “What if we give them some food? Do you think it would help?”

“No. It would take a lot of manpower to deliver it, and I can’t risk her killing those people.” He glances around. “Flavius is gone. We need to get back as fast as we can.”

“Let’s go.”

He casts a quick look at the tall volcano on the other side of the island. Then he takes off his pack and pulls out his radio, pressing a button on it.

“Ares to Athena.”

He waits, and a response comes a couple seconds later. “Athena reads, Ares.”

“Implement all storm protocols immediately.”

“Copy that, Ares.”

Nova’s voice is cool and calm. Marcus packs his radio and shoulders his pack, giving me a quick look. “Ready?”

I nod and we start the trip back at a light jog.

“God of war, huh?” I say, keeping my gaze ahead.

“I didn’t choose that call sign.”

“Who did?”

There’s a pause. “Finn.”

“The two of you were close?”

“We were. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened to him.”

I flick a glance at him, confused. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

His jaw is set in a tense line. “I should’ve turned my team back the moment I saw Pax.”

“Why?”

Almost a full minute passes. I don’t think he’s going to respond, but he finally does. “Pax was controlling the snake.”

On a surface level, it shocks me. But also ... I knew. A part of me knew and just didn’t want to admit it. His expression changed right before the snake flew out of the jungle. It was too convenient that the snake showed up right at the moment Pax needed to flee.

“He ran ahead and left me that day. I was so afraid you guys were behind me, planning to kill me.”

Marcus scoffs. “Pax is out for Pax. He’s not as evil as Virginia, but he’s a self-serving bastard.”

Wind whips hair around my face and I brush it away from my eyes. The snow has turned into sleet. Wet, mushy blobs land on my arms as we approach the jungle entrance.

“I asked Ellison to give you a pregnancy test when you were unconscious after you first arrived,” Marcus admits, scanning back and forth for any threats in the jungle.

“Me? Hell no.”

“When I saw you with Pax that day, I assumed the two of you were together.”

I’m jolted by the memory of kissing him. I genuinely thought I was losing my mind because of the way aromium made me feel around Pax. And he knew the entire time, but never told me.

“Absolutely not. He tried, but I’m smarter than that.”

I think. Who knows? If I’d never been thrown into that hole by Virginia, maybe my aromium would’ve just gotten stronger, and eventually I wouldn’t have been able to resist Pax’s advances. The thought of being pregnant with his robot soldier baby makes my stomach turn with a sick sensation.

“So if we ran into him right now, he could get that monster snake to attack us?” I ask.

“Yeah. If there’s a group of people, he can’t target exactly which one he wants it to attack. But if someone was hurting him, the snake would go for that person.”

“Why? How?”

He lowers his brows. “Aromium.”

I slow slightly, unable to keep Marcus’s pace. He matches me.

“I can’t believe any scientist with a shred of ethics would create that nightmare,” I seethe. “We have to destroy it. All of it.”

“I’m trying. Not having much success so far, though.”

“Tell me about the owner of?—”

“Fuck!” Marcus stops and bends to grab his calf, where bright-red blood seeps from a fresh slash.

I don’t even take time to think. I swipe his machete and jump in front of him, slicing the head off a massive praying mantis.

At least, that’s what it looks like, but it’s the size of a full-grown golden retriever, Marcus’s blood staining one of its razor-sharp forelegs.

It’s covered with a brown, leathery skin.

“What the fuck is that?” I yell.

“Genetically engineered mantis,” he mutters. “They’re mean fuckers.”

I gape at him. “Who thought that was a good idea? They have compound eyes and they can see in 3D. And those legs are like razors.”

He grimaces. “Let’s talk about it later. We have to get back.”

“Let’s see your leg.”

“It’s fine.”

This asshole. I’m in no mood for his heroics. I can’t carry him back to camp.

“Move your hand!”

He does, and I groan when I see blood gushing from the four-inch gash in his calf. “Get out the first-aid stuff.”

“Briar—”

I turn in a circle, my thumb poised over the activation pad on the stun stick. If any other mutant creatures are coming our way, I’m going to zap the shit out of them.

“Stop wasting time and get it,” I snap. “You know it needs bandaged.”

I hear him riffling around in his pack. I give him about fifteen seconds, and when I look back at him, he’s wrapped the wound with an entire roll of gauze and he’s getting to his knees to stand.

“Let’s go,” he says, his voice strained.

“No more running.”

He scowls at me. “I missed the part where I put you in charge.”

“Get over yourself. And radio Nova and tell her to have someone meet us to help get you back.”

“I can’t.”

“Pretty sure you can.”

He narrows his eyes at me, putting more weight on his uninjured right leg. “We don’t give that kind of information over the radio.”

My instinct is to argue, but it makes sense, so I don’t. Instead, I put my arm around his back and force him to put an arm around my shoulders.

“You said you liked me back in the cave, but this really isn’t the time,” he quips.

“Oh, you’ve got jokes? Right after a dog-sized mantis attacked you and I cut its head off?”

“I told you this jungle isn’t safe.”

I scoff, his back hard and warm beneath my palm. “You could’ve been a little more specific.”

“What fun would that be?”

My note of laughter is humorless. “There’s nothing fun about this place.”

“I’m fine to make it back. We can jog.”

“We’re not jogging.”

“Because I’m faster?”

My eyes widen as I look at him, nervous energy coursing through me. “I’ll stab you in the other leg, and I’ll enjoy it.”

“Okay, okay. Keep your arm around me. We’re almost there anyway.”

The camp has a tall tower at its center, where someone keeps watch around the clock with binoculars. Whoever is there must’ve seen us, because Niran is racing out of the camp entrance as we approach.

“What happened?” he cries.

All traces of the carefree Niran I know are gone. His expression is panicked, his gaze locked onto Marcus.

“I’m fine. A mantis grazed my leg.”

Niran looks at the back of his calf, his brow furrowed. “You’re bleeding through the gauze. That’s not a graze.”

Marcus grunts with disapproval as Niran takes over for me, shouldering his weight. “I need a few stitches, but I’m fine. Briar can take me. Work on storm protocol.”

I’ve been so concerned about Marcus that I forgot about the storm. When I look up, I see that the sky is now a darker gray than it was before, clouds moving quickly. The mushy sleet has gotten harder and is now more like hail.

“Nova’s got the storm protocol,” Niran says.

Marcus shakes him off with a growling sound. “There’s a lot to do, get your ass moving! This is gonna be a bitch of a storm. The animals have to be moved and the crops have to be covered.”

We just walked through the front gates, which the guards close and lock behind us. I breathe a little easier knowing we’re protected by the tall, spike-covered fence.

“I’ll take him,” I tell Niran, giving him a sympathetic look.

He nods. “Thanks. He’s a real asshole when he’s in pain.”

“Oh, you mean...” I look from Niran to Marcus and back to Niran again. “This isn’t just his usual personality?”

Niran grins. “Well, that too.”

He leaves, and Marcus limps the rest of the way to the Sub entrance, a guard opening the door for him.

“Why is this place called the Sub?” I ask him as we descend.

“Subterranean research center. Sub for short.”

“Damn. And here I thought there was a dom somewhere in camp.”

He arches a brow, a smile playing on his lips. “Who says there’s not?”

Still hot. Even when he’s bleeding and cranky.

When we make it to Ellison’s office door, I knock on it and she opens it with a smile that slides away when she sees the gauze on Marcus’s leg.

“Mantis nicked me,” he says.

“Let’s go to the exam room.”

“Should I go find Nova to ask how I can help with the storm stuff?” I ask Marcus.

“No. Everyone has assigned jobs for it. You need to shelter in place in my room.”

I lower my brows, not liking his answer. “But you said there’s a lot to do, and I can’t even get into the room. I can help.”

“I’ll radio for someone to let you in.”

I back up a few steps, still facing him. “So I’m just going to find Nova, then.”

“Do you ever listen to me?” He glares at me, exasperated.

“I listened when you yelled fuck . Hacked off that mantis’s head. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Ellison fights a smile, putting a hand on his shoulder to try to lead him in the other direction.

“It’s gonna get bad fast out there,” Marcus warns. “When Nova puts out the shelter order, do it.”

I give him a confused look. “Of course I will.”

I turn around, letting myself break out in a full smile. I was wrong about nothing here being fun. Bantering with him is my entertainment.

“At least you listen to someone around here!” he calls after me.

I just wave, not turning back.

When I exit the tunnel, my light mood vanishes. The sky is a dark, ominous gray and the wind is stronger than before. People are running, some clutching children to their chests.

I don’t even know where to find Nova. Instead, I run to a woman trying to carry two toddlers, taking one of them from her.

“Where are we going?” I ask her.

“The Sub! But I still have to find another one who got away from me.” Her expression is pained, her cheeks tearstained.

“Give me both of them. I’ll take them to the Sub and come back to help you.”

“Thank you! The guard will know where you need to take them.”

She passes them to me. One of the kids clings to me for dear life, shaking, while the other one cries into my shirt.

“It’s okay, guys,” I assure them. “You’re safe.”

I race toward the tunnel, protecting the garden the furthest thing from my mind. Making sure everyone gets to a safe place is more important.

A gust of wind hits my back and I drop to my knees, one of the kids wailing.

“I’ve got you.”

I turn to see Vadim behind me, his hands on my waist to help me stand. He takes one of the children.

“They’re going to the Sub,” I tell him, yelling over the howling wind.

He nods, putting a hand on my lower back. We take off for the tunnel entrance together.