Helios nods. “It was Griffin’s idea. He won’t admit it, but he likes you guys.”
My face is tense from the cold and nerves, but I manage a smile. “What a cutie.”
Beet snorts through his wristband. “I’ll tell him you called him that.”
“Please don’t,” I say.
She snorts again, so very human.
We run to theBeetle, her panels reflecting the first rays of sun. She’s squatting on her six giant legs and the hatch on the side is wide open. Griffin grabs my hand as I jump on board. I was in theBeetleonly a week ago, but it’ll be Stellan and Alastair’s first time. Sure enough, I hear Stellan’s sudden intake of breath as he follows me through the passageways. She’s a marvel of technology and comfort. A house on legs, like in fairytales.
Griffin’s eyes are wary of Alastair, armed to the teeth, following us in. But he relaxes when his brother offers him a firm handshake and a quick “thank you.” We hang on to the bolted down furniture in the living room as theBeetlelurches into movement.
“It should take us twenty minutes following the coast at top speed,” Beet says through the speakers. “If you get motion sickness, please head to the galley to vomit in a plastic bag.”
I nod to no one in particular. My stomach is already churning from stress. They’re going to sacrifice Vex this morning. I hope we’ll reach her in time. Will we be able to put her back together if they dismantle her? Or are they planning on giving her as an offering to another old god? There’s no way Scylla traveled all the way up north. Right?
“Do we know of any old gods nearby?” I ask.
Helios, who I’m aware has a fascination for the giant creatures, shakes his head. “Not that I know of. And we didn’t see any in the past week. They’re not really inconspicuous.”
I sigh, relieved. Dealing with a cult of zealots is already bad enough without adding an old god to the mix. I stumble on my feet as theBeetletakes a sharp turn, and Stellan pulls me on to his lap on the green velvet couch. Alastair is crouched in the middle of the red carpet, sorting out weapons and ammo with Griffin behind him.
This is it,I realize grimly.We’re really attacking. They’ll regret the day they took one of us. And they’re lucky we’re not out for blood.
The plan is simple: reach the island, get Vex, and disappear after releasing the other prisoners while theBeetlecauses a distraction in the coastal town. We’re not above killing a few of them if they ask for it, but we won’t go out of our way to make them pay.
“I got in touch with the Firefly,”Beet says.“Jude and Oliver are awake and ready to offer air support.”
“Good,” I say. “Good…”
Alastair gestures towards the arsenal in front of him and smiles at me. “Take your pick, sweetheart.”
I laugh nervously and point towards the shotgun. “This one doesn’t require a good aim.” I know how to shoot, but I tend to lose my cool in dire situations and get clumsy.
Alastair hands me the shotgun. “Don’t shoot yourself in the foot.”
I glare at him. “My aim is notthatbad.”
Stellan kisses the back of my head and chuckles in my hair. Now I have two over-competent and over-bearing lovers.
Griffin walks back and forth through the Beetle, unbothered by the motion. It looks like he’s developed the equivalent of sea legs—Beetle legs?He busies himself with what appears to be the explosives. I wonder how they’ll sneak them in the buildings now that the sun is rising.
Helios has a harder time moving around and walks like a crab. I would laugh if I wasn’t so tense. “I got you guys some warmer clothes,” he says, dropping a pile on the couch. “You’ll need it in this weather.”
We weren’t supposed to drive farther than California when we each left the Traveling Market, and none of us packed for a cold climate.
“Oh yeah, thank you,” I say, choosing a brown coat and a red scarf that definitely belong to Helios.
Stellan grabs the bigger coats, offering one to Alastair who shakes his head. “I’ll be fine.”
“We’ll be arriving at the boat in a minute,” Beet says through the speakers. “Get ready, guys.”
I scramble to my feet and almost fall head first but Alastair catches me. Then the three of us are walking through the passageway leading to the main hatch.
TheBeetlecomes to an abrupt stop.
As we gather near the exit, Griffin looks at us and says, “Good luck and be careful,” before opening the hatch with a swift motion.
