"What's going on, Tula?" Tony whispered.
"It's a long story, and it didn't start tonight." She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "Areana has been in secret contact with her sister Annani, who leads a clan of immortals who have been fighting against Navuh since the time the gods were killed."
Tony nodded. "You said it was a rumor and that no one knew for a fact that there were other immortals out there."
"Well, it wasn't a rumor, and Annani and her people are very real." She kept walking, pulling him along. "Areana arranged for a rescue. Annani's people sent a team of divers who also know how to scale a cliff. Yamanu climbed up and took me down. He is a powerful shrouder who can affect multiple human minds at once, which is why none of the guards are trying to stop us, and none of the servants are out trying to see what the commotion is about."
"When was that arranged?"
She could hear the hurt in Tony's voice. He'd already pieced the story together from what she'd told him so far. Tony was many things, but stupid wasn't one of them.
"When Areana contacted Annani, her people responded that they could only take one person," she explained. "One person who would stage her suicide so no suspicion would be cast on Areana. They were willing to do this for me because of the baby and because Annani was best friends with my sister. They wouldn't have done it for anyone else, and they weren't willing to risk Areana. As it was, she was already taking a great risk by helping me escape."
"I understand all of that, and I agree a hundred percent that it had to be you." Tony's hand tightened on hers. "But you were going to leave without saying goodbye, and that's not okay."
"I couldn't risk it, Tony. I was doing it for the baby. I hated the thought of leaving everyone behind, but I had to do it."
"I understand." His voice was flat, hurt bleeding through despite his attempt to sound neutral. "So, why did you come back?"
This was easier. This she could tell mostly truthfully. "Everything went crazy. I slipped from Yamanu's back because, frankly, I was crying my eyes out and shaking all over. Areana tried to catch me and fell, then Navuh came out of nowhere, saw her going over, and dove after her."
Tony's eyes went wide, his steps stopping completely. "Areana fell? Is she—is she dead?"
"I caught her," Yamanu said from behind them, his tone suggesting this should be obvious. "I would have never let her fall."
"And Navuh?" Tony ignored the Guardian's commentary. "You said that he was badly injured. How is he even alive after diving onto the rocks below the cliff?"
"He's a stubborn bastard who probably made a deal with the devil. That's the only explanation I have. But he's unconscious, badly injured. Areana pleaded for his life, and the divers took them both to the submarine."
"Submarine?" Tony's voice cracked. "Our submarine?"
"It's not the small one we wanted to steal. They came in a big one, stopped several miles away from the island, and the divers made the rest of the way on underwater scooters. That's how they got here undetected." Wanting to be done with this uncomfortable conversation, Tula lengthened her strides and pulled Tony along. "When I realized Navuh was out of commission, I knew I had to come back. Without him, the island will descend into chaos. The harem will be the first target of the soldiers, regular and enhanced. I couldn't leave you and the others to that fate."
They rounded the corner, and she could see the others ahead, clustered near the cliff's edge.
"So, it wasn't because you love me and couldn't live without me?" Tony's words were so quiet that she almost missed them.
The question hung between them, sharp and painful. She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly tight. What could she say? That she'd already mourned him? That she'd made her peace with never seeing him again? That coming back for him had been about saving his life, not about love?
All of it was true. None of it was what he needed to hear.
But she was saved from answering by their arrival at the cliff. Everyone turned to look at them. Tamira held Eluheed's hand, Sarah was clutching Beulah's, and Liliat looked like she might faint.
"Finally," Raviki said. "Now will someone please explain what we're supposed to do? Because if the plan is to jump off this cliff, I have some serious objections."
Yamanu stepped forward. "Ladies, gentlemen, my name is Yamanu, as some of you already know, and I'm here to get you off this island. Yes, it involves going over the cliff. No, you won't be jumping to your deaths. You will go down strapped to a climber's back, who will be using a rope. Divers with scuba equipment will be waiting for you below." He tapped his earpiece. "Send Okidu up. We are ready."
He turned back to the stunned group. "Once you get down, you will be outfitted with scuba gear and accompanied by a trained professional to a waiting submarine."
"This is insane," Sarah whispered.
"Yes," Yamanu agreed cheerfully. "It is, but it's a doable plan as long as no one realizes that Navuh is gone and chaos erupts. When that happens, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near here, especially not if I were a member of his harem."
The group exchanged glances, fear and hope warring in their expressions.
"What happened to Navuh?" Liliat asked. "And where is Areana?"
"Hopefully, Areana is already on the submarine," Tula said, keeping her voice steady despite the ache in her chest. Theywere going to hate her when they realized she was going to leave them behind. "She fell during my attempted extraction and was rescued. Navuh must have suspected something and came out to investigate. When he saw her falling, he jumped after her. He's alive but badly hurt. They took him to the submarine as well. They have a doctor there."
