Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
“We don’t mind being called that. The Tiders mean it like we’re Luddites because we’re against aromium.”
I hum with amusement. “That’s kind of funny considering all the technology you guys have in your camp.”
“Most of them don’t know what we have. They just know what Virginia tells them.”
“And Pax. You never mention Pax, but they’re coleaders.”
“In name only. Virginia’s running that show.”
He’s right about that. It occurs to me that he knows a lot about Rising Tide. More than an outsider would.
“You didn’t come here with the scientists’ camp, did you? You were a Tider.”
“Yep.”
He pulls out a bandanna, wrapping it around his forehead and tying it behind his head. It’s already brutally hot, only a few snowflakes making it through the thick jungle canopy.
“What did you do before the virus?” I ask him.
“Med student. First year.”
“Really?”
He turns to glance over his shoulder at me. “Why does that surprise you?”
“I guess because when you said you were a former quarterback, I only thought of you as a football player.”
He uses the machete in his hand to hack away at a vine near his head, making his shoulder muscles ripple. I shake my head, wondering what he’s bad at. That body and intensity, and he was in medical school?
“Let me guess—you were going to become a gynecologist.”
He barks out a laugh. “Nope. I hadn’t decided between pediatrics and pediatric surgery.”
Oh, my ovaries. The thought of him cradling a baby is just too much.
“You may have been a little scary to kids.”
“Me?” He says it lightly.
“Just a little.”
He stops and turns around, looking in every direction. His gaze freezes on something behind me. I whip myself around to see what it is, my heart racing with worry.
“It’s him,” I say softly.
“Him?”
“This wolf came to me when I was at the cave I’m taking you to. When the Tiders were chasing me. He could’ve eaten me, but he didn’t.”
Marcus grins, amused. “Flavius is a good boy. Aren’t you?”
At the sound of the name, the wolf cocks his head at him like he recognizes Marcus. I look from Marcus to the animal and then back again. “From the Latin word for yellow?”
He nods. “For his eyes. He’s following to look out for us.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
He turns and continues walking. I sigh heavily and follow, looking over my shoulder every few seconds to make sure Flavius is still a safe distance behind me.
But what really is a safe distance from a two-hundred-fifty-pound predator? If he launched himself at me, I’d have no hope of getting away. I rest my hand on the gun holstered at my waist.
“This is farther from camp than I realized,” I say after a few minutes of silence. “How did you guys get me back to camp after you found me?”
“I carried you.”
My lips part and my already high temperature rises another degree. He carried me, and I was too unconscious to even enjoy it.
“Well, that was nice of you,” I say stiffly. “Thanks.”
We stop for a water break, Flavius sitting and keeping his distance of about fifty feet behind us. It takes us almost another half hour to reach the bush I nearly bled to death in.
“You okay?” Marcus asks me.
I nod. “Just thinking about that day. Virginia tried to kill me just for leaving their camp. I don’t understand why.”
“She didn’t want you telling us anything about their camp.”
I knew I was about to die. I’d accepted it. But then that vine shot out of the jungle and saved me. I’ll never forget the buzzing sound of it rapidly growing and wrapping around her.
“How did a plant save me?” I ask. “Why?”
Marcus’s expression clouds. “We need to keep moving. I don’t want to be out here any longer than we have to.”
“It’s this way. Not too far from here.”
We walk side by side through a clearing, Flavius still trailing. The snow is lighter here, but it’s still falling.
“Did you sleep okay on the floor last night?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Good enough.”
“Well, you can have your bed back tonight.”
He looks over at me, his mossy-green eyes drawing me in. “I’d rather you stay a few more nights in my room. If you don’t mind.”
He wants me in his room. In his bed. I don’t dwell on the fact that he wants me to be in his bed by myself.
“I guess I made a few more enemies this morning.” I spot the curtain of bright-orange flowers at the cave’s entrance. “There.”
He gives me a confused look. “Where?”
“Come on.”
I lead the way to the flowers, then say, “Follow me.”
Like I did the first time, I gently slide behind the dense jumble of vines, making sure not to disturb any of the flowers.
“Are you fucking serious?” Marcus murmurs as he follows. “I’ve searched this area so many times. I thought this was solid rock.”
“Surprise,” I deadpan.