Page 132 of Blue Arrow Island
I look down and see vines coiling around his legs, another one sliding up my left leg in a soft caress.
“Oh shit.”
They’re up to Marcus’s thighs now, encasing him like a mummy. He meets my eyes.
“It’s your anger. They’re responding to it. And since you’re mad at me, they might squeeze me to death if you don’t relax.” He cringes as the vines encircle his waist.
I close my eyes, picturing a meadow. My parents are there. So is Marcus. My dad is giving him a warm look.
“Good,” Marcus says. “Deep breaths. Good thoughts.”
I imagine I’m taking my mom’s hands, looking into her eyes. Telling her how much I love her. How much she taught me. How much I miss her but still feel her with me.
“Think about being okay,” he says. “Try to send that message out with your mind.”
I open my eyes, following his direction.
I’m okay. I’m safe. I’m not angry.
The vines slow, then pause. It’s almost like they’re waiting for me to tell them what to do.
I keep assuring them—in my mind—that I’m okay. They retreat, uncoiling from around Marcus. The one that climbed up my side brushes a small leaf across my cheek before sliding away.
Marcus exhales softly, locking his eyes on mine. “We need to go. Keep your emotions in check.”
“Why are the vines only responding to me?”
“It’s too much to explain right now. We have to go. You take the lead.”
Aromium allows me to race through the jungle faster than I could move without it. I’m dodging obstacles before my mind fully registers them. Marcus is right behind me, reminding me when I need to change course.
It’s not great timing for a new boatload of prisoners. But I suppose it’s not great timing for the Tiders, either.
“Do you talk to people or just take them by force?” I call over my shoulder.
“Some people try talking, but I don’t.”
A smile tugs at my lips because that tracks. Marcus can be a bull in a china shop.
When the beach comes into view, I slow to a stop. Finding a safe vantage point, we scan the area and find the Tiders gathered on their end of the beach. Not everyone from our camp is here. Most of the command and security people are, and several other adults who can hold their own in a fight.
The boat is almost here. I can make out people on the deck shielding their eyes from the sun to see the beach better. I know the terror they must be feeling, being forced to swim toward danger.
I creep closer to our group, calling out to them so they know it’s us.
Relief flashes over Nova’s face when she sees us. She’s wearing a fitted, sleeveless black shirt and sand-colored canvas pants, the lines on her scalp freshly shaven. With her defined arm muscles and a stun stick in her hand, she looks like a warrior going into battle.
Ellison isn’t here. That makes sense, since her skill set is so valuable to the camp.
“Lean into your aromium,” Marcus says softly, his hardened gaze locked onto Virginia, who’s just a small figure at the other end of the beach from this distance. “But control your emotions.”
That’s easier said than done with some of the people here. If I get a shot at Virginia or Marcelle, I’m taking it, mission be damned.
It’s more complicated with Pax. He’s complicit in Virginia’s scheming to keep everyone at Rising Tide in the dark about aromium and he cut out Olin’s tongue, which I can’t forgive. But I don’t think he’s all bad.
The first boat passenger jumps into the water. Marcus stalks to the front of the group and I follow. Amira comes to my side, an arrow nocked and ready.
“Be careful,” I say under my breath.
