Page 168 of Blue Arrow Island
“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, absolutelynothingshort 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.
