Kory swore every cuss word I thought I knew, and then some. “Why are you listening to her?” he demanded as a few Defenders stepped away from him. “She’s nothing to you! I’m the one who gave you this life, me, not her!”
I shot Kory a withering look. “You may have been the one pressing the needle to their skin, but they are a part of me, not you.” My eyes swept the room. “I can show you how magnificent you really are. I’m the only one who can replace the void you have within you.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end at my own words. I caught Mack’s pale face from below, his eyes wide.
“The Irukas have tricked you into coming here; it’s a trap,” I continued. “If you want to live, you need to follow me now and leave this place.” With that, I shot forward, flying through the air freely until about a hundred monstrous Defenders joined me.
Jaxon and Kalepe flanked my sides, and I could only pray Mack had scooped Kate up and was following us all out. The doors were open, for now. Whatever tactics Blake was using with Tonbo must be working.
No one pushed or shoved. Everyone flew in unity with the strength of an army. The air whipped around us from the force of so many monstrous wings flapping at once. Some deep part of me stirred at the sight of them. They are majestic, I relented. Even if they are bugs.
The Defenders who’d been in the rear were already out the door. I could taste the freedom, the victory. I can’t believe this all worked! And with no real bloodshed either! Everyone’s in one piece…
I’d thought it too soon—horrible growling sounds made my blood turn cold. Within seconds, a group of Defenders came crashing into Jaxon, Kalepe, and me. They’d been in the corner… waiting for me to come near. Seeing the bloodthirst in their eyes, I had no doubts as to where the twenty unchanged Defenders had gone. The ones that had kept me up all night with their claws trying to reach me through the bars. They’d been here, with the rest, only they hadn’t been given my DNA. They had no desire to protect or defend me, so while I gave my speech about being one with them, they must have waited, stalking me from the shadows.
Kalepe and Jaxon reacted immediately, buffering the attacks while shoving me behind their backs. Every other Defender near us jumped into the fight as well. Stunned, I watched in shock and horror as Kalepe didn’t hesitate to rip one of his ‘friends’ in half with his claws.
It scared me how fast the twenty were slaughtered. The metallic stench of blood in the air turned my stomach. No one stopped to think that all they needed was one more injection. They were still human, deep down within, probably some of their closest friends and family. The Defenders had only seen them as an immediate threat to me. End of story.
As much as I’d wanted to scream at them to stop, something prevented me. Was it Sammy? Or was it my own fear of what those bugs would do to me if they weren’t destroyed? I shuddered as she seemed to gloat. You never need to be afraid again, Sam.
I never wanted this! To be in charge of these trained killers! Responsible for their actions!
You wanted to save them, didn’t you?
Well, yes…
This was the only way. How else did you think this would go down?
We’d passed through the open door, the briny night air a welcome relief to the claustrophobia. My shirt clung to my sweat-covered flesh, my entire body shaking with adrenaline. I searched for Blake. Even if he were holding Tonbo back, surely he’d be here. I couldn’t see him, or Tonbo, but I did make out several dragons. Which, to my horror, the Defenders began fighting off.
“No! Stop!” I screeched, this time making my voice heard. I was desperate to avoid another bloodbath.
The Defenders immediately stopped attacking the dragons, but that didn’t stop them from being attacked in turn. Hearing one yelp in agony as a dragon speared it through the chest with a long-handled harpoon, I gasped, grabbing Jaxon’s arm.
At the same time, Sammy commanded. Come on, Sam. We’ve got to get them out of here!
Where do we go? I don’t know how to do this! This was never the plan! We were going to just get them out… and Blake and I…
Blake’s not here. Sammy’s words were sharp. So take charge!
My world was spinning, breathing proved difficult. I knew we had to get out of here, but I didn’t want to go alone. I needed Blake.
Jaxon’s black eyes peered down to me. “Take them to my caves.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” I breathed out, grateful Jaxon sensed my predicament. I turned to Kalepe. “Tell everyone we’ve got a long flight ahead. Switch to camo and follow me.”
-----------------------
We left the island, only losing one Defender’s life. A life that was purely my fault because I had told them not to fight, which meant they didn’t defend themselves either. I couldn’t think about the twenty who had died within minutes. It made my stomach ill knowing what the Defenders would do if they sensed I was in danger. It seemed either decision I made—to allow them to fight or hinder them—meant death. How could I be the one who decided that?
Trust me; this is a good thing, Sammy reassured.
No. It’s not! Where’s Blake? I need to find him.
We will find him later once we get them to safety. You think Tonbo’s going to give up that easily?
No… but there’s something weird about how easy it really was. I mean, where was Tonbo back there?
I don’t know, maybe Blake was retaining him for us. Which is all the more reason for us not to stop, but to finish this.
I wanted to continue arguing with Sammy, but I knew she was right about at least one thing. We did need to get the Defenders far from the island and the surrounding ocean, where the Irukas could be summoned to act again. As soon as we got them some place safe, I would find Blake. In all our haste, I wished I’d brought a cell phone. Some way to reach him quick. Make sure he was okay.
Feeling someone fly up next to me, I fought the urge to drop my camo. My heart surged, hoping it was Blake, even though it wasn’t his scent I detected. Blake was warm honey, a sunset in the woods, not a spicy pumpkin pie.
Mack’s hand slid up my arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind.
“I’d know your scent anywhere,” he said, aligning his body with mine. I slowed my pace, allowing us to fly next to each other more comfortably. I could tell by the grumbles from Jaxon and Kalepe that they weren’t happy to be moved out of their spots as my personal bodyguards. I sure hope these two don’t think they are going to be permanently glued to my sides.
“Funny, I just thought the same thing about you,” I answered him, surprised how difficult it was for me to speak at the moment. All of my thoughts were focused on how his hand felt gliding up my arm, toward my shoulder. It more than tickled; it sent tiny thrills through my body.
“Where’s Kate?” I asked, clearing my throat. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s with the Defenders holding Kory, toward the back of this mess.”
“Oh.” I’d forgotten all about Kory. “We’ll figure out what to do with him once we land, I guess.”
“I have a few ideas,” Jaxon growled.
“I bet you do, but we can’t kill him right away,” I replied, surprising myself.
Why on earth should we let Kory live? I inwardly thought.
Because Jocelyn loves him, Sammy simply replied.
What? Are you serious?
Look, we have several hours until we land. Kory won’t dare try to escape now. If he does, it means death. Jaxon will see to that. Let’s just worry about Kory later.
I shook my head, trying in vain to figure out Sammy. Just when I think I knew her motivations and feelings, she threw another curve ball at me.
“So we’re heading to Jaxon’s cavern? You really want to bring this bug army to the mainland?” Mack asked, bringing my attention back to him, and more importantly, to the way his hand felt on my bare shoulder. Did he know how crazy his touch was making me? How fast my heart was beating now?
“I didn’t know where else to go,” I admitted. “Jaxon offered his place, so…”
Mack chuckled, even if it sounded strained. “This is crazy, you know that, Sam.”
“Please don’t call me that.”
“What? Crazy?” he asked, slowing his pace even more. I matched his speed. Even with the camo making it so we couldn’t see each other’s faces, I knew what he really wanted to ask. The question hung in the air between us. I was scared I didn’t know the answer, and yet, even more terrified the answer was all too apparent. I bit my lip, not wanting to admit to him that Sammy was in my head, telling me what to say and do. It felt like if I were to say it aloud, it’d be permanent.
“No. Don’t you call me Sam,” I blurted instead as my insides cringed. Sammy, why did you say that? Now he will think…
Mack’s hand slipped behind my neck, and before I could counter my statement, his lips crushed against mine. I wanted to pull back, to tell him to stop. My mind screamed that I loved Blake, but my heart ached to have more of Mack. I’d never felt so torn and confused, and yet filled with desire at the same time.
You aren’t the only one with a heart in this body, you know.
I deepened the kiss; my hands tangled themselves in his hair, my mouth working with his. Mack groaned softly, pressing me against him, his hands sliding up my back as his lips traveled down my throat.
Sammy, stop it! I pleaded, feeling like a helpless bystander to my own actions. This isn’t fair!
To whom? she angrily thought. To you?
To Mack! You’re only going to break his heart again because we both know we won’t end up with him!
We don’t know that, Sammy snapped back.
I hated that she was right.
Mack stopped kissing me and pulled me against his chest, holding me tightly. For half a second, I allowed myself to close my eyes and enjoy the sound of his heartbeat against my ear. His body was warm and I was exhausted, the temptation to drift to sleep was overwhelming me.
He leaned down and said in a low voice, “Sammy, is it really you? Please tell me I’m not making a horrible mistake.”
“Honestly, I don’t know who I am anymore,” I admitted.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m still me but… sometimes, I can hear what she’s thinking. All that stuff I said back there was what Sammy wanted me to say.”
Mack shifted back, and I felt his eyes. I glanced up, wanting to make eye contact. Stupid camo! Makes every conversation so much harder. But then again, maybe it’s a good thing Mack can’t see me. I knew I was flushed. It felt like fire was racing through my veins.
“So you’re both Sammy and Sam right now?” Mack asked, his arms loosening around my waist.
“I’m afraid so.”