Maines shakes her head, and Oak steps to her side, wrapping his arms around her. He knows exactly what she’s thinking as the fear courses through her body.
“I’m not going to sit here and let you do this to her,” Fen shouts. “Silas, you are asking her to do something that almost killed Larkin and Warrick. How dare you put her in this kind of danger? After you’ve waited so long to be with her.”
“Fenmore. Hush,” Silas roars, slamming his fists on the table. “I won’t let Malachi corrupt her mind. She’s too valuable and knows too much. I’m trying to fucking save her.” He grips the table in a feeble attempt to calm himself. “And this is the only way I know how.”
Her eyes fill with rage, and she spits out, “If she fucking dies, Silas, I will never forgive you.”
“She won’t.”
Fen’s eyes lock on mine, and I see the fear behind her eyes. She lingers for a moment before shifting from the house, followed by a trail of shadows.
Silas stares at the space, but no regret shows behind his piercing eyes. He exhales harshly, rubbing his throbbing temples.
“Want me to bring her back?” Warrick asks.
“No.” Silas shakes his head. “We need you here.”
Warrick’s shoulders sag. “She’ll be okay.”
“I know she will.”
“We need to get started,” Warrick says. “Larkin, get up.”
Larkin raises his head, and nerves slam into my chest. His face is pale, and I notice his fingertips shake. He clearly does not want to do this, but I know he can’t say no.
What about this bothers him so much?
“We will do it here,” Silas says, pointing to the table.
“Briar should change,” Maines steps in.
“There isn’t time,” Silas responds.
He begins clearing the plates and various objects off, making a large enough spot for me to lie down. “Larkin, get the supplies, and be back here within five minutes. Briar will be ready for you to begin then.”
Larkin remains silent as he shifts.
Maines turns to me. “Are you sure about this?”
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “If it protects us and what we know, then yes. I’m sure. I know Silas wouldn’t do this unless it were necessary.”
Silas nods. “Maines and Oak, you two will also need to do this, but another time. I fear you'll opt out after you see this, but please know this is for our safety.”
“No chance I’m fucking doing this,” Oak snaps.
Maines takes his hand, already anxious, and offers him an understanding smile.
I step out onto the balcony, taking a moment to think.
Memories of my brother flood my mind as I breathe in the sea air, and he’s all I can think about. Then, I realize Silas faced this situation after Thatcher shot him with an arrow.
A large hand gently touches my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“I believe I survived the fourth trial because my body had already endured some of the poison,” Silas says, moving beside me to gaze over the horizon. “I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared to do this.”
“I can do it,” I say, with a weary smile and more confidence than I feel.
“I know you can.” He grabs my hand. “But, when the needle touches your skin, it’ll burn like you’ve been dropped on the surface of the sun. When the poison breaks through the skin, you’ll want to tear your flesh from the bone. It will bleed, but once Larkin starts, he can’t stop.”
