Using the sketch, Doyle marked the best places to lay their traps.

“Not too close to the entrance.” Bran, too, studied the sketch. “We’d want as many of them inside as possible when, and if, I set them off.”

“Why the hell would they use a cave way the hell up here?” Riley wondered. “He’s after a villa—and that suits Malmon. A cave, that suits Nerezza.”

“It’s not hers,” Sasha insisted.

“Whatever reason, he has something planned, or why see danger inside for two of us?” With a nod, Bran approved Doyle’s marked positions. “I can work with this. What I’ve made can cure in the cave as easily as it can in the workshop. What do you say, Sawyer? You and I take a quick trip down, gather what’s needed, bring it back again?”

“Sure.” Instinctively Sawyer reached for his compass, then angled his head. “You can get us down there, right? Like you took Sasha to the promontory in Corfu.”

“Here to there? I can, yes. Easy as a Sunday drive.”

“I’ve never traveled your way.”

“Well then, I’ll give you a ride.” Bran rose, reached down. The men gripped forearms. “We’ll be back shortly.”

And they winked away.

“I miss driving,” Riley commented.

Doyle polished off a sandwich. “Tell me about it.” He shoved to his feet, wandered off, then stood staring out at the sweeping view of blue water, white rock, and the green with the tumble of houses below.

“Looking for possible snipers’ nests,” Riley concluded. “Even though he knows this is too far up. They may HQ here, but they’ll come down a ways, the snipers. When we get back, I’ll see if I can find out if Malmon’s bagged a villa. And he’s going to want a boat. He has his own, so maybe he’ll just bring that, or have it brought. The Escapade—his yacht. As if what he does is charming.”

“I hope we search for the star tomorrow. I like the scent of the land here.” To prove it, Annika drew in a long breath. “And the way the sun strikes the water, the land. But if we find the star before he comes, we could be gone.”

“We face him first. On the land, on the sea. In the dark, in the light. Our lightning against his. He hurts you.” Again, Sasha gripped Annika’s hand. “It’s your blood in the water. And Sawyer’s on the ground.”

She dropped her head. “They’re coming too fast. I can’t keep up.”

“You’re pushing too hard.” Riley scooted around, knelt on the rocky ground to dig knots out of Sasha’s shoulders.

“I just can’t see it clearly.”

“You’ve blocked her. Stands to reason she’s doing what she can to block you. Don’t push it, Sash.”

Then Bran and Sawyer were back, nearly at the exact spot. Now both of them carried satchels.

“Supercool trip.”

“Another?” Bran demanded after a single glance at Sasha.

“Just in flashes. They’re just flashes today.”

“Let it go for a bit.”

“See?” Riley rubbed Sasha’s shoulders, then rose. “Let’s get started.”

“Won’t they see what you put inside the cave?” Annika asked.

“I’ll sink them into the ground, at Doyle’s strategic points. This time they’ll work in a chain reaction, at my command. The first goes, then all follow.”

“Will it kill?”

“It’s war,” Doyle said as he strode back. “And none of us can afford to be delicate about it.”

“Ease up,” Sawyer ordered.

“There’s no easing up once they come, once they come at us. Munitions, and plenty of them. Room for cages for any of us they capture. That’s what I’d use the cave for. And the prep area for sending men down from the west, for securing snipers’ nests. Men,” he said flatly, “who’ll have guns with long-range capabilities. Men who kill for a living and who’ll be trained to put a bullet in your brain in the middle of one of your cartwheels.”

Sawyer stepped in front of Annika. “Back the fuck off.”

“No, don’t shield me. Thank you, but don’t.” Her hand wanted to tremble, but she willed it steady as she laid it on Sawyer’s tensed arm. “I know what must be. I took my oath.” She stepped clear, faced Doyle. “You’ve killed men before, and you will again. I don’t need Sasha’s gift to know this. Land people kill what they are, and it’s your greatest weakness, your deepest shame. I know those who come will kill, so we do what we must do. But it brings no peace or pleasure.”

“No. Neither. Ever.”

“Do you see them, the ones who’ve fallen for you?”

“Every one.”

She looked into his eyes a long moment, then took his hands. “It’s a heavy burden to carry. After this, we’ll all carry it. I can’t place the weapons in the cave. Show us where else they’re needed. Sawyer and I will do our part.”

They took the second satchel and, using the map, hiked to the nearest location marked.

“You shouldn’t be angry with Doyle for being harsh with me.”

“Can’t help it.”

“You can,” she corrected. “Because, as I do, you know he’s harsh because he worries I will hesitate, and be hurt, or not protect another from harm.” To soothe them both, she leaned against him. “You worry, too.”