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I snort as Cipher comes out of her room holding a bag. He simply glances between us all and heads toward the door.

I guess we are going back to the island with the girl.

Chapter Eleven

Valli

Normally I don’t sleep well, but Cipher let me take his bed last night, so I snuggled up and just wanted to sleep and forget my problems. Noa said he would be back in the morning, and Cave stood watch until I fell asleep.

And for the second time on the island, I slept great.

That is until the sound of a smoke alarm wakes me, and I jump out of bed. I race into the main room of Cipher’s shed, where he is sitting at his workbench explaining something to Cave. The big guy is stoically nodding his head, while Noa is fanning the toaster.

“Sorry, I burned your breakfast.”

“You made me toast,” I say with a laugh.

“The coffee is still good; I added cinnamon.”

Cipher looks over at me. “Good, you’re awake. We need to see Ares.”

“The problem is Clay will likely be there, and after last night, I’m not sure Cave is someone they want to see,” Noa adds.

We all look at Cave, who is staring back at us.

“Cave,” I say.

He turns so that he is looking directly at me.

“You have to apologize to Kayla.” He doesn’t even blink at my declaration, just stares. “I mean it. She helped me, and you put your hands on her. That is not okay. We are going to the bar, and you will say sorry.”

Cave looks toward Cipher.

“Don’t look at him, I’m talking to you,” I snap. “I don’t care if you don’t talk and you dress like a scarecrow, whatever your reasons for it. But you are a fully grown man and will be held accountable for your actions.”

Noa makes a sound, as if he is trying not to laugh, and I whip my head around to glare at him. He closes his mouth quickly, rolling his lips.

“I get that there are rules. If they come into your cornfield, they know the risk. But the bar is not your domain—it’s hers. You should know better.” I cross my arms, though my stern look is tempered by my pajamas.

Cave looks back at me, and after a moment of consideration, he nods. Good, I guess that’s settled. I hate when people don’t take accountability for their actions. Like with my brother, it’s always someone else’s fault and never his own.

After I change, we all walk to the bar. Noa asks if I want to help him today, and I tell him I really need to go to work because I can’t afford to take the day off. He says he will pay me if I want to work for him, but I decline. I won’t let him pay me out of pity.

Kayla is behind the bar when we walk in. She looks up and her eyes go straight to Cave. I step around him before he can loom and stare her down. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” she says.

Cave steps up to the bar, and though Kayla straightens slightly, she doesn’t seem scared of him. “Sorry,” he growls. It’s not the best apology in the world, but since he normally talks in riddles or one-word utterances, it’s the best she is going to get.

Kayla looks up at him before picking up a glass and turning it to fill it from the tap. She sets it down in front of him. “Don’t do it again.”

Cave wraps his hand around the glass with a nod. That appears to be the end of it.

Noa slides onto a stool. “Is Ares around?”

“He’s in the back.” Kayla tilts her head toward the door. “You can go through.”

Noa gets up, and I take the stool beside Cave, while Cipher sits on the other side of me. I feel small between the both of them.