Page 35 of Flame and Fury

As soon as that thought enters my mind, Preston opens his mouth and projectile vomits all over the table of food.

“Oh gods.”

I guess that’s one way to keep the temptation of eating the poisoned food at bay. Drake grimaces before turning his head to avoid watching Preston. I dry heave and close my eyes, but the sound, oh gods, the sound. I cover my ears with my hands and scrunch my eyes closed.

“Did you eat some of the food?” Atlas draws in a sharp breath. He’s still standing at the edge of the woods, covered in the shade of the trees. His muscles bulge in his improvised tank top, and his shoulders tense.

“No,” I groan. “It’s called being a sympathetic puker.” I clap a hand over my mouth when Preston makes another horrendous sound. This is torture.

I push up off the couch, needing to get away from Preston. I can’t think when I’m two seconds from tossing my cookies.

The clearing is circled by a bevy of different types of trees. Some are so tall the tops disappear into the clouds. Others are arranged in perfectly manicured, neat little rows. I step under an archway created by the boughs of the trees, letting the sweet-smelling grass wash away any remnants of the scents of sickness.

Something squishes under my boot, and I hop back with a squeak.Please tell me I didn’t step on an organ or an animal or something. Looking down, I cringe at the dark red object. Gods, what is that? I squat, reluctantly inspecting the item a little closer.

It’s an apple.

Tipping my head back to look up into the trees, I find branches heavy with apples. I take a few steps farther down the lane and see another tree’s limbs laden with oranges. A few more steps and I find a pear tree. The fruit is too high for me to reach from the ground. Is this fruit just as lethal and toxic as the food on the table?

I’ve never really climbed a tree before, but I’m sure it’s something I’m capable of doing.

I wander back out into the clearing, biting down anxiously on the inside of my cheek. Nico is still writhing in pain. Jade is shaking on the bed, and Preston is on his hands and knees next to the table of food still puking. I notice that Jasper’s goodwill has run out, and he hasn’t gone over to check on Preston. Not that I blame him. I wouldn’t have checked on Jade either. I’m not that nice.

“I think I may have found something,” I announce to the clearing as soon as I step free from the trees.

“Is it a pair of earplugs? Please, tell me it’s earplugs.” Greer fake gags with a disgusted look on her face as she glares at Preston. I don’t blame her. He sounds like a roaring dinosaur every time he throws up.

“There are fruit trees back here.” I jerk my thumb over my shoulder toward the line of trees I just found.

“How do we know they’re not as toxic as the water or that food?” Atlas crosses his arms, surveying the absolute mess we’re in.

I shrug. “They might be. In that old myth about Tantalus, you said he couldn’t reach the fruit because the trees wouldn’t let him.”

Drake takes a step closer. “What are you thinking?”

“I can’t reach any of the fruit on my own, but I could climb the tree.”

“No,” Atlas barks out. “Absolutely not, we don't need anyone else getting poisoned.”

I jam my hands on my hips, lifting my chin. “They aren’t going to take us out of here Atlas. We have to figure out how to beat them at their own game.”

“Then I’ll taste the fruit.” He stomps past me heading straight for the row of trees. I roll my eyes, spin on my heel, and jog to catch up with him. Greer and Drake are right behind us, but Jasper stays with the others.

Atlas stops in front of a tree, shaking out his arms like he’s getting ready to climb. I push at his shoulder, shoving him aside. “Do you always have to do everything first?”

“You don’t need to get hurt.” Atlas dips his head and captures my gaze. His eyes are blazing with irritation.

“I recover very quickly,” I hiss back, opening my eyes wide. I can’t come out and say that my Fury blood will help me to bounce back from any poison much faster than his god blood will, but I’m screaming at him through my eyes.

Atlas takes a step back, dragging his hand through his hair with a loud huff of annoyance. “This is stupid, completely reckless.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Since we have no idea how to get out of here, let’s just start with this.”

“Wow, you two are really leaning into this whole bickering couple thing.” Greer cocks her head, a sly grin on her face. Drake drops his arm around Greer's shoulder, a similar look on his face as he watches me and Atlas.

Greer snarls and shoves Drake away. “It’s too damn hot to be touching.”

I raise a brow at her. “But If it were colder out, the touching wouldn’t be a problem?” I know Greer isn’t interested in Drake, but I can’t help but give her shit.

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