Page 102 of Blue Arrow Island
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.
