Page 58 of Blue Arrow Island (Blue Arrow Island #1)

Plants have their own form of chemical warfare called allelopathy, where they release chemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants competing for resources. They can even release chemicals that make herbivores less likely to graze by affecting their nervous systems.

- Excerpt from a lecture given by Dr. Lucinda Hollis in her Plant Evolution course

“Don’t do this.” Pax’s tone is pleading, his gaze jumping from me to Virginia and then back to me again. “If you two could just get past your anger, you’d see how alike you are. This island needs both of you.”

It’s midafternoon, the burning torches placed around the circle flickering even though we don’t need their light. Dark eye sockets in the hundreds of skulls that line the space stare out at us vacantly.

They were people once, with beating hearts and dreams. They loved people and were loved in return. But then the virus came, and life became a battle of survival. I have to believe most, if not all, of the people whose bones rim this space deserved a better death than the one they got.

“I’m nothing like her,” I snap. “Nothing like any of you. You eat your own people. You kill for sport.”

Gasps sound from the people gathered around the outer ring of the circle. Pax is standing between me and Virginia at the circle’s entrance, trying to talk us out of going through with the ritual.

I gesture at the Tiders watching us, many with spears in hand. “Why don’t they know what was injected into them before they were brought here? Or that one of the mystery meats here is human flesh?”

Pax’s eyes flash with anger. “That’s outrageous and untrue.”

“She lies,” Virginia says. “She wants to divide our people so she and Marcus can rule over us all.”

I scoff. “That’s so far from the truth.”

“Stop stalling and let’s do this.”

She’s dressed in a fitted black sleeveless shirt and canvas pants, her arms too thin but still lined with muscle. Her blond hair is pulled back in a tight bun, the lines on her face making her look older than thirty-five.

My heart thunders in my chest as I move to step inside the circle, Pax calling out, “Briar, don’t!”

I’m my father’s daughter, and I don’t back down from what I know is right. Someone has to stand up to Virginia. If I don’t leave the circle, at least the people here heard what I said and saw that someone challenged her iron authority.

The gleam in Virginia’s eyes is feral as she follows me into the circle, the bystanders letting out deep cries of approval and slamming the bottoms of the spears to the ground.

This shouldn’t be anyone’s entertainment. But this island is a merciless mistress, no brutality or sacrifice ever enough to sate it.

The bonfire in the center of the circle crackles as a log drops, the flames blazing more than six feet into the air. Black smoke wafts from the fire, the air still tinged with the smell of burning flesh from the last time people fought here.

“I’m going to enjoy your screams,” Virginia says in a low tone.

I’m crouched in my fighting stance. She wants to rattle me, but I won’t let her. I keep my breathing controlled and my mind on what I need to do.

“Do you know why I was chosen as one of the original twenty-six?” she asks.

“Were they in need of a psychopath?”

She scoffs. “I worked in Army black ops. I spent my entire career training to kill people and killing people.”

“So you volunteered?”

She arches a brow. “Proudly.”

“Bullshit. You’re here because Whitman’s holding your niece hostage.”

She narrows her cold eyes at me and advances, throwing a left hook. I dodge it, quick on my feet even in the sand.

“You think she’d be proud of you?” I taunt her, hoping she’ll make a dumb move.

She fakes another hook with her right hand, her left punching me square in the gut when I misjudge her intent.

Damn, she’s strong. I cringe and recover quickly, but not soon enough. She hits me with a jab and a cross, momentarily stunning me.

I feign a punch to her stomach, instead kicking her knee. She stumbles back, scowling. Then she lunges for me, reaching for my neck and trying to wrap her hands around it. I pivot my shoulder and use my arm to break her hold, driving a knee into her stomach.

My dad’s training kicks in. I’ve gotten a feel for her fighting style; now it’s time to catch her off guard. I drive the heel of my hand into her face and kick her other knee as hard as I can.

Right before my foot is out of range, she grabs it, spinning me and shoving me to the ground. Then she jumps me, throwing punches at my face. Sand flies into my mouth, my eyes, and my nose.

I grab a fistful of her shirt and try to push her off of me. She’s thin; it should be easier than it is.

“Briar!”

The sound of Marcus’s voice infuses me with the extra shred of strength I need to get Virginia off of me. I throw her to the ground, drawing my fist back before driving it into her nose. There’s a satisfying crunch, followed by blood flowing from her nose.

I get to my feet, stumbling slightly, and get enough distance from Virginia that I can safely look over at Marcus. It’s not just him standing there, though.

Nova, Amira, Niran, Wyatt, Olin, and Adele are all with him, everyone strapped with knives and guns and holding stun sticks. Marcus’s pack of wolves is there, too, Flavius growling and baring his teeth from his spot beside Marcus.

They came for me. I’m not surprised, but I still feel a flicker of gratitude.

“Release her now and no one has to die,” Marcus says, his voice lethally calm.

He’s a fortress—shirtless, sweaty and still dirty from our trek through the jungle to find the flower. The hard angles of his face and the storm raging in his eyes take my breath away, making me grateful we’re on the same side.

“I called her into the circle,” I tell him, Virginia on her feet now.

His expression darkens further. “Step out, Briar.”

In a very short time, he’s come to mean so much to me. I care deeply for him and part of me wants to obey his command, if only to satisfy him. But I can’t.

“We’re not done. Only one of us is leaving this circle.”

A muscle in his jaw tics, Flavius snarling. The ground hums beneath my feet, a low rumble shaking nearby trees.

“He’s breaking the rules,” Virginia says.

I hold a hand up, meeting Marcus’s steely gaze. “Stop. Please. I agreed to the rules of the circle. No weapons. No help.”

The ground still shakes slightly as he says, “No. It’s not a fair fight.”

Aggravation flares because no matter what I do, he still underestimates me. “This is my choice, and I made it.”

The skulls and bones lining the circle rattle as the vibrations in the ground intensify.

“Marcus!” I’m more forceful this time. “It’s my choice.”

Nova leans over to say something to him, and he closes his eyes, looking pained. The bones stop rattling and the shaking in the ground slows to a stop.

I lock my gaze onto his, silently thanking him. His eyes widen, and I sense Virginia coming for me. I can go high or low, but I have to decide quickly.

I go low, turning, crouching and driving my fist at her. It works perfectly, hitting her squarely in the throat. That’s an effective spot to land a hit on someone you don’t mind killing.

She drops to her knees, making a choking sound. I use the opening to twist my hips and get the leverage I need to kick her in the face. Gasps sound as she flies onto her back, still struggling for air.

The gashes on my ankles and calf from the raven are deep, and the wound in my back hurts, too. My face aches from the punches Virginia landed, but energy still surges through me. It’s the aromium, lending me strength that’s not really mine.

Virginia is getting up when I rush her, knocking her to the ground. I hate that I’ve been reduced to this, but I didn’t see any other way.

I straddle her, digging my knees into the sand and wrapping my hands around her neck.

“Let us offer everyone here a chance to turn off the aromium,” I say. “I’ll let you live.”

She’s clawing at my arms and writhing beneath me, but I’m stronger. She’s weakened, probably from lack of food. Even on aromium, people still need to eat, just not as much.

Her nails open up gashes on my arms, but I don’t let go of her neck.

“Fuck you.” She launches the words at me, her eyes dark and hate-filled.

“Virginia, get her off of you!” Pax yells. “Use your legs.”

She’s trying, but I’m like a dog with a bone. Nothing, absolutely nothing short of death would make me release my hold on her neck right now. This has to be as swift and merciful as possible.

I’m too tall for her to reach my eyes. I press my hands into her windpipe as she struggles beneath me, her hands clawing absently at my face.

Emotion wells in my throat, because there’s no thrill in this win. There won’t be any celebrating. Killing a bully to save others is still killing, and I loathe being in this position.

Her eyes bulge, Pax’s frantic yelling at her just static noise I can’t make out. A mournful wail breaks free from my chest.

“I won’t burn your body.” I press harder, willing it to end. “And I’ll find your niece. I’ll help her. I promise.”

Her lips part, awareness of what I just said lighting in her eyes before they fade to lifelessness. Her body goes limp and still and I crawl off of her, the dam of emotion inside me breaking.

“Virginia!” Pax screams and runs into the circle, his devastation cracking something open inside me.

“No one burns her,” I say, my voice breaking as I get to my feet. “Give her a respectful burial.”

He looks up at me from beside Virginia, the fury in his expression taking me aback. “You’re not leaving here.”

I feel Marcus’s warmth beside me. “Yes, she is.” He puts an arm around me, his palm on my lower back, and says, “Let’s go.”

We walk out of the circle, my gaze straight ahead as Amira draws her bow, aiming an arrow behind us.

Marcus and I both turn to find Pax stalking toward us, his hands trembling with rage.

“I’m calling you into the circle,” he says to me. “Right now.”

Marcus answers. “No. It’s over, Pax. No one else dies tonight.”

“Who the fuck do you think you’ve become?” Pax sneers at Marcus, disgusted. “You’ve got her convinced we’re the killers and you’re some sort of avenging angel, but that’s a load of shit.”

“We’re leaving.” Marcus steers me over to our group of people.

I’m still reeling from what I just did. It hurt more than I expected it to. Amira’s warm brown eyes meet mine, silently telling me it’s going to be okay.

“Tell her who you really are,” Pax says from behind us.

Marcus’s shoulders tighten and he stands straighter. We both turn around. Pax is unhinged, his fists balled at his sides and veins corded at his neck.

“I already know,” I say softly. “He told me everything. About the aromium strains and the reason you and I and he and Virginia can call on other living things.”

“He did?” Pax gapes between us, genuinely shocked.

“Yes. I know we all have relatives who contributed DNA to aromium. None of us asked for this.”

He scoffs, narrowing his eyes. “That’s not totally true.”

“Pax, don’t,” Marcus cautions.

“Fuck you, Marcus.” Pax meets my gaze. “My father was one of the original twenty-six. But Virginia didn’t have a family member who was in it; she was one of them. And so was Marcus.”

Marcus stiffens beside me, his cold gaze locked onto Pax.

My heart races and bile rushes up my throat. “What do you mean?” I look at Marcus. “What does he mean?”

It’s Pax who answers. “Marcus helped make aromium. He was one of the first ones on this island. He and Virginia were the original leaders of Rising Tide. Isn’t that right, Marcus?”

Marcus says nothing, but I don’t need him to answer the question. The answer is all over his face. There’s fury at Pax for telling me, but also shame. Guilt. Disgust.

It hits me harder than any of the punches Virginia threw. What a fool I’ve been.