Page 167 of Blue Arrow Island
“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 myshoulder 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.
