“I wanted to run something past you,” Tarian says. “Walk with us.”
I fall into step beside them, my parents trailing behind, floating Gael’s cage.
“I’d like to dump Monta inside the mine and let Gaea deal with him. Do you have any objections?”
I glance in the direction of the cliffs. I can’t help it.
“I know Monta killed Reeve’s parents, but allowing the Hunter to take the fate of an Atlantean would set a complicated precedent.”
“I understand.” Pale sand puffs around my sneakers. “But can he be there to witness it? It would give him closure.”
“If he witnesses what Gaea does to Gael”—the sound of Malachi’s voice drifts toward us as he ambles nearer, hands pressed into the pockets of his slacks—“he’ll never dare act against the mine.”
“Why do you sound so certain he’s going to betray us?” I bite out, no longer resigned and nervous. No, now I’m well and truly annoyed.
“Why are you rushing to forgive the bastard?” Malachi counters.
“I’m not rushing to forgive him. If I were, do you honestly think I’d have agreed to let him wander around?” I stream out a sharp exhale. “Tarian can interrogate them. There’s no way they’re still under the influence?—”
“Their mothers had transfusions of our blood during their pregnancies, which made their offspring immune to Atlantean compulsion.” Malachi’s jaw sits at a rigid angle.
“What?” My gasp silences the cicadas.
“Did your little boyfriend fail to tell you this?”
When Reeve had told me that compulsion didn’t work on him, I hadn’t realized he meant from birth.
“Mal, come on…be nice.” Calanthe chides him.
His mouth pinches, but only for a second. “Tarian tried to interrogate Quinn earlier, but evenhismagic didn’t work on her. The only one who can squeeze the truth out of them is Gaea.”
“Why do I have the feeling that if they don’t jump into the mine,” I mutter, “you plan on pushing them in?”
“If their hearts are in the right place, Gaea will float them up,” he says.
“Holy shit!” I blink at him. “Youareplanning to send them down to her.”
“I trust Gaea,” Malachi says. “Don’t you?”
A sharp heat flares behind my lids as I glare at him, then at the silent others. First at Tarian and Calanthe, then at my parents. The resignation etched across their faces causes the fire to spread from my eyes to the whole of me.
“What was the point in bringing him back from the dead, then?” I cry out. “Why not just tell me it was impossible, Tarian?”
When his eyes lift to a spot beyond me, I twirl to find that Reeve is no longer up north. He stands beside a shrub, alone.
“Where’s your tiny sidekick?” Malachi asks, tracing the circle of limestones with his eyes.
“Eating. We ran into Diego, who mentioned where to find refreshments.”
“You preferred to spy rather than eat?” Malachi asks.
“That’s uncalled for,” I hiss.
“Is it? He didn’t exactly whistle to announce his presence.”
“When did you become so cynical?” My cheeks tremble as I fight to keep my face from betraying my heart.
“He’s not cynical; he’s cautious,” Reeve says, stepping closer to us, which puts him closer to the mine.
