“I’m saying we focus on the people wecansave,” she snapped, folding her strong arms across her chest. “If I don’t operate on Gus and several others in the next twenty-four hours, they won’t make it.”
Owen nodded. “Dr. Mercer has a point. We still don’t know what the tribute is, let alone where to find it. We may not have the time or resources to?—”
Cirrus scoffed, throwing his head back in frustration. “Sounds like you both want to give up on this whole thing. Let Enyo win. Abandon Florence to fend for herself against those animals.”
Melodie’s eyes flashed with anger. “How dare you!” she snarled, jabbing a finger at him. “I’m notabandoninganyone. I took an oath to care for as many of our crew as I can. Iwill notsacrifice thirty to chase after seven.”
Owen lifted his chin. “The doctor makes a good?—”
Cirrus grit his teeth in anger. “Oh,screw you, Thorne?—”
The argument exploded, voices overlapping, frustration turning to outright shouting.
Garrett raised a hand. Silence fell.
He turned to Lewis. “Mr. Blume, what’s your take?”
Lewis blinked behind his spectacles, startled to be addressed. “Captain, I, uh… I’ve never encountered man-eating plants in the royal greenhouse.” He cleared his throat. “Most of the flora here is a mix of familiar and unknown species. Hard to say what we’ll run into next.”
Cirrus waved impatiently. “So, your vote would be…?”
Lewis dropped his shoulders. “Whatever we do, we need more food. I can help with foraging, but as for everything else… I haven't the foggiest idea.”
Cirrus turned to Vivienne. “I’m suresheagrees we should move forward.”
The commander’s jaw flexed. “Miss Banner can speak for herself.”
“She also doesn’t need yourrepresentation,Owen,” Melodie cut in, her gaze full of daggers.
All eyes landed on Vivienne.
Her heartbeat hastened. Her skin tingled with the prickling heat of panic as a rush of adrenaline fueled the gathering storm inside her.
“I-I need a moment,” she stammered. “Let me think.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried into the trees.
Cirrus and Lewis moved to follow, but Garrett stopped them with a firm hand.
“Allow me,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
* * *
Vivienne walkedtwenty feet into the rainforest before sinking to the ground against a massive tree. She pulled her knees to her chest, tears spilling down her cheeks.What am I doing? How can I choose who lives and who dies? Why are they asking me anything?She ached for home, the library, the smell of parchment, and the simple joy of a warm pastry. Nothing about this journey was what she had imagined.
Footsteps rustled through the underbrush, making her snap to attention. Her hand flew to her dagger, but relaxed when she saw Captain Garrett. He sat beside her without a word, his steady presence oddly reassuring.
Her voice trembled. “Why is everyone looking to me? I’m the lastperson who should decide anything.”
Garrett tilted his head. “And how did you arrive at that conclusion?”
She let out a bitter laugh. “Are you serious? People are dead, injured, and missing because of me. None of this would have happened if I’d just kept my reckless mouth shut in front of the king.”
The captain rubbed the back of his neck. “This isn’t the first expedition born of the king’s whims, and it won’t be the last. No voyage comes without risk. Everyone knew that.”
“Ididn’t.” Her arms tightened around her knees. “It’s one thing to read about adventures. It’s another to live them. Legends and stories don’t talk about how terrified and unprepared their heroes felt. They always seem to have everything figured out.”
Garrett arched a brow. “Vivienne Banner, daughter of two brilliant parents and remarkable in her own right, isscared?”
