Page 75 of Blue Arrow Island
Vance has a sheathed knife on his hip. It’s just a few feet away, but with all the people around us, it might as well be a mile. He doesn’t have a snap on it; if I could grab the hilt, I’d be able to pull it free quickly. My fingertips twitch with the urge to do it.
But then what? I can’t make it on my own in the jungle. Especially not if Virginia is still looking for me. Whatever device this camp has that creates an invisible perimeter to ward off anything with active aromium, it’s the only thing keeping Virginia from getting to me.
We reach the furthest buildings I’ve been to in the camp. I know one of them is the housing block for the security team, where Amira lives. Dread curdles in my stomach as Vance leads me past the buildings toward a huge fenced area with a well-worn dirt path around it. The fence, around six feet tall, is made of small tree trunks lashed together.
A small group of people rounds a corner, running on the path around the fence. Marcus is at the front of the group, and he’s only wearing shorts, low-cut socks, and shoes.
It’s all I can do to keep my mouth closed so my tongue doesn’t roll out of it. His chest is as bronzed as the rest of him,slick with sweat and defined with muscle. I swallow as he gets closer, my pulse racing with awareness. He has defined abs and dark chest hair, a trail of it dipping beneath the waistband of his shorts.
And the scowl. I never thought scowls were sexy, but pair it with that dark, intense gaze of his, andsexyis putting it mildly.
He breaks off from the group and jogs over to us, sweat droplets flying from his hair when he runs his hand through it. When I scan the rest of the runners, I spot Amira in the back. She smiles and gives me a little wave, which settles my nerves a little.
“Hey.” Marcus jerks his chin at Vance. “I’ve got her. Join the run.”
“Oh.” Vance arches his brows, surprised. “I haven’t been running at all since I started guarding her.”
Marcus’s scowl deepens. “All the more reason to get your ass in there.”
“Right.”
Vance jogs after the group and Marcus turns his focus to me.
“Let’s go.” His tone is clipped.
“Wait!” I clear my throat as he gives me a questioning look. “Um, about last night, when Ray said?—”
He cuts me off. “This isn’t about that. I know what Ray’s about.”
My breath stills. “Are you...”
“Come into the ring and we’ll talk.”
He stalks off, leaving me a view of his broad, muscled back and his damn near perfect ass. Even his calves are defined with muscle.
I square my shoulders and follow. I need to relax. I’m a tightly wound ball of nerves. A few deep breaths help slow my heart rate a little.
The area inside the fence, which he called the ring, has a door built from small tree trunks. Marcus opens it and gestures for me to walk inside.
The space is wide open, the ground mostly covered in mulch. There’s an area with a pile of tree trunks and stacks of different-sized rocks. Next to it is what looks like a pull-up bar, well constructed from smooth, sanded wood.
Marcus stands in the middle of the ring, facing me with his hands on his hips. I try to look casual as I walk out to meet him, but I can’t help scanning the sky. This feels like a trap. Are arrows going to come flying over the wall at me?
“What’s going on?” I ask when I reach him.
He puts a hand out. “Relax. Nothing bad’s about to happen.”
“I’m fine.”
He pushes his brows together. “You look like you’re about to puke or pass out.”
Or pee my pants, but I don’t admit it. “Just tell me why I’m here.”
He exhales heavily, looking away and running a hand over his stubbled jaw before looking back at me. He’s usually clean-shaven. Now that I’m close to him, I can see dark circles beneath his eyes.
“I just wanted to talk to you in a place no one can overhear.” He crosses his arms and widens his stance, looking uncomfortable. “I keep things close to the vest for a lot of reasons. A big one is that I don’t want to worry my people.”
I nod slowly, more confused than ever about why he wanted me here.
