Before anyone has the chance to look up and see us, I clamber away from the opening, tugging Orion out of sight with me. We collapse against the wall of the tree house, just beside the window.

"T-they... they're killing each other. People are dying... I..." Orion chokes out while wiping a thick layer of sweat from his brow. A blood-curdling scream suddenly rips through the air, and my brother gasps. "W-what do we do?" Orion huffs out in a panic.

Asserting ourselves in a war between Moons and mortals would be foolish. The wiser option is to use the mayhem to our advantage and slip away while we can. I don't trust Dolion, so the sooner we're away from him, the better. And once we're out on our own, we'll need to find Juniper and Atlas as soon as possible so that we can work together to find a way back home. But I already know that Orion isn't going to make this easy by any means.

I swallow, turning to him to ask, "Can you walk?"

He nods but his bright eyes are wide with uncertainty. "Yeah, but what are we—"

"We're leaving," I interject firmly. I use the wall behind me to right myself, then rise up to my feet. I hold out a hand to help Orion up, but he doesn't take it.

"What do you mean 'leaving'?" he asks gruffly, staring up at me in disbelief.

I drop my hand, pursing my lips. "I mean, get up and get moving. We'll be better off on our own. This is the best chance we have—"

"What?" His voice is barely below a shout, so I hold a finger over my lips, reminding him that we need to not blow our cover. He lowers his voice considerably, but the fiery passion in his eyes tells me that he is not backing down on this. "We can't just leave them. We have to help."

"No, you're too injured, and I'm not risking my life for anyone down there."

He's on his feet now, but he's clutching his side, his stance slightly askew. He looks like he might fall onto his face, but his stubbornness keeps him as upright as he can be in his current condition.

"I... I can fight. We can't just abandon these people, Cal," he argues weakly.

I extend my hand out to keep him steady. "Orion, we'll be lucky if you can make it down the ladder. What's going on down there is none of our business. It's not our fight, so let's—"

"These people helped me! I would've died if Dolion hadn't found me when he did!"

"Stop. Yelling," I hiss through clenched teeth, giving him a cold stare.

He shoves my hand away from him but nearly topples over when he does so. I catch him before he can fall, but he pushes away from me again. I keep my hands to myself this time, and he ends up slumping against the wall helplessly. 

"You know, if Dolion and Astrid had decided that me bleeding out in the middle of the woods wasn't their business, I wouldn't even be here to argue with you right now."

Astrid? I know that name. She's the Moonborn that Maddox traveled back to the second dimension with. But shouldn't she be on Maddox's side of the island? Why is she allied with Dolion?

"Cal," Orion urges desperately when more screams ring out from below.

I shake my head. "I'm not doing this with you, Orion. You don't have magic, and you're in no shape to fight, not to mention you'd be greatly outnumbered."

His turquoise eyes narrow at me for a moment, then soften. "What about Stella and Nova?"

He's got me there. I don't want to see anything bad happen to either of those girls. 

Before Juniper came along, I grew up around nothing but boys, so Nova was the closest thing I had to a sister for a long time. And Stella makes my sister look fearless. Stella's too timid and weak for her own good, but Nova is older, wiser. She knows how to take care of herself and her sister. She's likely long gone with Stella at her side. Or they're hiding someplace no one would ever think to look. 

"They know how to protect themselves. They're probably far away from here by now."

He clenches his fists, stepping forward. "You go then. Go on and run away like a coward, but I'm staying," he declares firmly, glaring down at me.

Despite being the eldest sister in our family, I have to look up at all of my brothers. I've always cursed the Moon for blessing them with their long legs and leaving me with just the opposite. In moments like this, I feel like I'm taken less seriously because of my size. Or maybe it's just because I'm Orion's sister, not his brother. If Atlas were in my shoes right now, Orion would've shut up minutes ago.

Not that I need Atlas to get my siblings to listen to me. I'm quite obstinate on my own when I need to be. And while Orion's fierce determination has always been admirable in my eyes, I do not buckle easily, especially when it comes to my brothers. I'm used to their defiance and short tempers. 

"Running isn't always cowardly, Orion. In our case, it's the smartest thing we could do right now."

"But I—"

"We don't owe these people anything," I interject, shooting daggers into his eyes.

He scowls, holding his breath for a long moment before finally sinking back down to the ground. He exhales in frustration, clutching his torso. But this isn't him conceding. Orion doesn't give up that easily. His wounds are simply too deep, and he can't stand anymore.

He looks up at me in disappointment. "We do owe them, Cal. They're our people. They're from Lunaria, so we are responsible for them."

"No, Mom and Dad are responsible for them. Our parents rule over Lunaria, not us."

He runs a hand down his face in exasperation. "Okay, and who do you think is going to take over one day when they're gone?" he asks expectantly. He answers the question himself before I can take a breath. "Us, Calypso! The country will be ours to rule one day, and—"

"There is no us," I say, cutting him off again. "If we're being honest with ourselves, it will be Atlas who rules over our country one day after he kills us in the Moon—"

"Stop, stop!" he exclaims quietly. "I-I don't wanna think about that right now. Besides, I lost my magic and so did Atlas. Why would Dad make us go to the Moon Gathering with no magic?"

I kneel beside him, holding his forlorn gaze. If the truth is what it takes to get him to listen to reason, then so be it. I don't care how morbid it is. "If your magic was gone for good, then why would you still need to be imprisoned on the island? I think leaving this place is the only way to get your magic back, Orion. But even if you're right, Dad won't let any of us out of the Moon Gathering—magic or not, our bloodline still holds power that will be amplified upon our deaths." He blinks at me, eyes wide as he processes my words. I continue when he doesn't speak. "We can still kill each other without magic in the Moon Gathering. So, if you don't want to die, you'll have to find a way to beat Atlas. And you won't be able to do that if you die here fighting for something that isn't any of our concern."

My resolve is as unwavering as ever, but Orion still isn't going to let this go. I can see it in his eyes. "You may not care, but I do. If I'm gonna die anyway, then I-I've got nothing to lose. A-and it's our family's fault that everyone's trapped here in the first place." His voice is shaking now. He's struggling to keep his composure.

Does he think this is our family's fault? He must've learned a lot about Dad while on this island too. He knows that the mortals hate us because of our father's gruesome behavior. But it's not just our family that is resented. Everything Alberich Van Blake has done is now associated with his kind, his people. The whole world hates Moonborns now. And us Van Blake's, even the most innocent of us, have no choice but to carry the guilt. 

The mortals below may be here looking for Maddox, but their anger towards Moons is what encouraged such a violent reaction. The people of Lunaria being slaughtered beneath us are paying our father's consequences, and it isn't fair, I know. I truly do understand why my brother feels the way he does. I feel our father's burden too, but we can't let it get us killed.

"Please, Cal," he insists.

The corners of my lips curl down. "Orion, just days ago you complained to me about how our family shouldn't be condemned to the same fate as 'lower class Moonborns'. You were fine with people dying in the Moon Gathering as long as it wasn't any of us before, but now you have a problem with it?" I challenge.

My words floor him. His mouth opens and closes a couple of times before he can finally manage a response. "I-I... T-that's not the same thing," he stammers.

I raise my chin, giving him a flat look. "It is the same thing. The only difference is that you're getting a front-row seat to the killings. It might as well be a Moon Gathering down there right now." 

He shakes his head. "Look, you know I don't like the idea of the Moon Gathering, but us Moonborns don't just mindlessly kill each other for no reason. It's our way. It's how Lunaria stays strong," he says precariously. He turns to look out the window when another shriek resounds from the havoc ensuing outside. "It's senseless killing you're asking me to turn my back on. It's not for power or to support our country. It's just meaningless."

That's it. There's no reasoning with him. If I have to drag him out of here kicking and screaming, then I will. "Orion, get up. Get your things. And let's go," I behest.

His voice finally cracks, and I can tell that he's holding back tears. "I can't! Dad has done horrible, horrible things, Cal. I've heard so many terrible stories. He's tortured and murdered so many people. But not just bad people. Innocent people in unsuspecting villages were killed just to make an example."

"Orion—"

He cuts me off, sucking in a shallow breath and saying, "And It's not just mortals and Starborns that hate us. Some Moons hate us too now, you know? Not everyone in Lunaria sees the Moon Gathering as an honor. And who blames them? Our people have had to kill their own siblings for power... for years."

"Get. Your. Things," I reiterate callously. I can't afford to offer more patience. If we linger for much longer, someone will inevitably find us up here and kill us.

He balls his fists, his stubborn gaze returning. "Are you even listening to me?" he asks incredulously, shakily rising to his feet for the second time. "Our people are dying. There's children and elderly down there, and you— you know what? It doesn't matter." He turns his back on me after throwing a dirty look my way.

A soft groan escapes him as he hobbles over to his bedside to grab his crossbow and the quiver that is filled with arrows. For a moment, I think he's going to oblige my demands, but he instead marches to the window with the already loaded crossbow. My eyes widen as he points it at the crowd below, but before he can shoot it at anyone, I tug him back out of view. The weapon drops to the floor of the tree house with a thud, and my brother hisses in pain.

"What are you doing? Those are people you're aiming at," I snap, staring at him in bemusement. 

He shrugs irritably. "Yeah, so?"

"So, it's not like hunting deer, Orion. Those are actual people down there."

He scoffs. "Oh, so now you want to acknowledge that their lives matter?"

"Orion, stop being a little brat."

He stoops down to pick up his crossbow and shoves past me with ease. "Like I said, you can go but I'm staying."

I grab his arm and step in front of him to block his path. "You can't—"

"How can you not care about this, Cal?" he asks abruptly, jerking his head down to lour at me. His expression soon loses its rage, and when he speaks again, he sounds completely disheartened. "I thought you, of all people, would understand but you don't even care."

My body tenses, and I think my expression falls slightly because a look of surprise flashes across Orion's face for a moment. I close my eyes, inhaling deeply. He, of all people, should know that I'm not heartless. When I reopen my eyes, I tell him, "I do care, Orion. I hate that this is happening. I hate all of it. And I hate that I can't save any of those people down there, but I can save you," I proclaim with finality. 

He gives me a sad look, and his eyes glaze over with unshed tears. "Cal... I appreciate you... but you'd only be delaying the inevitable. I don't like to think about it, but I know that you're right about Atlas. He'll be the one that rules over our people one day. He's strong," he says softly, averting his eyes from me. A heavy dejection makes my throat tighten. Orion takes a  quick breath before looking back at me and saying, "Our brother will have a future and I won't. So, if I'm gonna die... I want to at least do all the right things while I can. And if I die trying, then that's that. I'm okay with it."

There's a long gap of silence between us before I softly croak out the words, "I'm not." I manage to keep my eyes dry, but my heart sinks more and more with each passing second. He's only sixteen. He shouldn't have to make peace with something like this.

I've been trying so hard to not let myself think too much about our father. Because if I let myself think about what he's done, or about how much pain he is causing his children, I know that I'll hate him. I know that I'll have to question all the good memories I have of him.  And I know that it will hurt. But my mind can only block out so much for so long. My fingernails dig into the palms of my hands, but my mind is so far gone that I barely register the pain. With Orion's words echoing on repeat in my head, I can't stop myself from feeling it.

Hatred. Right here, right now... in this very moment... I hate him. I hate my father.

"Well, it's my life. I'd like to choose what I do with it while I can, at least," Orion mutters. 

He starts to walk over to the window once more, crossbow in hand, but I stop him again. If this is what Orion wants, then so be it. I'd be no better than our father if I were to force my little brother to live the way I want him to, but with that being said, I still can't let him get himself killed.

An infuriated sound escapes him. "Calypso, I swear to the Moon if you don't let me—"

"Shut up," I say suddenly, taking him off guard. "Stay out of sight as much as you can, and don't shoot that crossbow unless you absolutely have to."

He whips his head around in bewilderment. "Wait, what? What do you mean? What are you gonna do?" he asks.

"I'm going down there, and I'm going to stop the fight. Maddox, the guy Cyrus was asking Dolion about... er, I know him, so I think I can talk the mortals down."

"Think?" Orion blurts, eyes wide.

My expression is a lackluster one. "Do you want my help, or not?" I ask impatiently.

Men yelling and the sound of weapons clashing from below are the only sounds to be heard for a moment. Orion is at a loss for words, but when he does finally respond, he announces, "I'm going with you."

I shake my head, striding past him and heading for the doorway covered by a thin white sheet. "No, I've got this. Besides, everyone would probably be dead by the time I got you down the ladder," I utter dryly.

"Cal," he says disapprovingly, catching my wrist in his hand. 

I turn to face him, smiling halfheartedly. "We can't waste any more time. I'll be careful."

"But... what if..." he trails off, giving me a worried look. He doesn't want to say it out loud, but he's worried that I might die. It's written all over his face. But he doesn't know that I am the only one down there that will have magic. My odds are more favorable than he realizes.

I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I mean it, I've got this. And if it comes to it, you'll keep me safe," I encourage as my eyes drift down to the crossbow clutched in his hand. He follows my gaze, and I see a glimmer of hope ignite in his eyes.

He's still skeptical, but he doesn't try to stop me this time when I pull away. He moves closer to the window to get a good angle to watch, but he stands to the side so that he's not an open target. He then glances over at me, nodding stiffly in an affirmative manner. I throw him one last meaningful look before ducking through the white fabric and stepping out onto the platform of the tree house.

I drop down to my knees immediately so that I'm not spotted before I make it to the ground. Peering over the wooden ledge, I have a clear view of the turmoil occurring below me. Spears, knives, and hatchets are being thrown and jabbed into flesh. Some of the Moonborns are trying to flee into the woods, but it looks like the humans have formed some sort of barricade around the perimeter of the clearing. Anyone who tries to flee from Dolion's camp is either shoved back into the violence or impaled by an arrow. Only half of the over-sized tent in the center of the camp is still standing, but people are still trying to seek refuge within it. 

I still don't see Stella or Nova anywhere, but I continue to tell myself that this is a good thing. But from the looks of it, the mortals are showing mercy towards the children. Ares and Vivian, the mortals who shared a meal with me back in Maddox's camp, have most of the children huddled together and out of the way. The kids are terrified and sobbing hopelessly, but they're not in immediate danger. 

Dolion is up and moving, despite the pain he must be feeling in his shoulder. He swings a rusty axe in Cyrus's direction, but the Englishman dodges it with ease. Cyrus swipes back at him with a spear, but Dolion doesn't let himself get hurt again. Everyone else on the battlefield is fighting with just as much conviction as their relentless leaders. Both human and Celestial corpses are dotted around the inside and the outside of the clearing. Hopefully, some of the bodies on the ground are still breathing. 

I tear my eyes away from the horror taking place right before me and swing my legs out and onto the ladder. I don't have time to be cautious, so I unhook my feet from the ladder's steps and use the sides of the contraption to slide down to the ground. Both my bandaged and uninjured hands burn in protest. I wince at the sensation, but I don't dare let go. 

Just as my feet touch the ground, my ears are met with the sound of glass shattering, and the large tent suddenly catches fire. Panicked screams make my ears ring. Moons begin to scramble away from the hazard, but the mortals outside of the tent are all too eager to plunge their blades into their bellies.

I came down here prepared to talk everyone down, but I don't think anyone will be willing to hear me out quite yet. Not with so much bloodlust in the air.

My heart is hammering in my chest, but I swallow my fear and push forward.

Before anyone else can be killed, I run out into the open and shout, "Spróxte!" With the palm of my hand extended in the mortals' direction, the translucent blast of magic that shoots from my hand knocks about a dozen of them off of their feet. 

Spears and arrows make a beeline for me, making my pulse quicken. I use my magic to deflect what I can while dodging the others. One of the arrows manages to graze my arm, but other than that, I remain unscathed so far.

I repeat the same force spell several more times, sending both humans and Moonborns flying back. Once it's been made obvious that my magic is continuous and that I will not be evaporating away to another dimension any time soon, the mortals finally start to distance themselves. No one leaves the clearing, but everyone is now on separate ends of the field, yielding to my power.

Standing protectively in front of the disoriented humans is Cyrus, armed with a spear that is pointed in my direction. I think the only reason he isn't throwing it is because Dolion has a hatchet aimed at him. Dolion's gray eyes don't stray away from Cyrus for a second. He's waiting for him to slip up, eager even. My brother's crossbow is likely locked onto Cyrus's head as we speak. And never misses a shot. Maddox's accented friend would be a fool if he made any sudden movements right now.

The sounds of chaos die down slowly and all eyes fall on me. There's a brief pause before scattered whispers erupt throughout the crowd of Moons and mortals. Most comments are incoherent, but I'm able to make out a few words.

Someone asks, "How is she using magic in the Sun?" 

Another surprised stranger utters the words, "How is she still here?"

"The cage isn't taking her," someone else pipes in just as another says, "Her family is powerful, but I didn't know the girl could harness magic during the day like her father."

"When did she get here?"

"Is she here to help us?"

"Is she going to kill us?"

Slowly, as not to alarm Cyrus or anyone else, I raise my hand in the direction of the burning tent. Cyrus's knuckles turn white, but he still doesn't throw the weapon in his hands. "Krýo," I say under my breath. A cold pang aches up my arm and out of my hand. Cyrus visibly relaxes as my magic diminishes the size of the flames. After a few long moments, the fires are nonexistent. 

It's uncomfortably silent now that the fire and the whispers have been snuffed out. Everyone is watching me. My eyes land on several scornful faces, but I'm met with just as many, if not more curious eyes filled with hope. The anticipation in the air is nearly palpable.

I take a few steps forward, locking my eyes onto Cyrus's dark ones. "Maddox isn't dead," I announce loud enough for everyone to hear. "He was with me in the second dimension, er... the other side of this place that steals magic, I mean. We were together."

Cyrus's nostrils flare as he jabs his spear into the ground. "Prove it!" Dolion lowers his hatchet after Cyrus lets go of the spear, but his guard never fully drops.

Nervousness gnaws at me, and I clasp my hands behind my back. "I can't prove it. He's not here. We got separated. He's still on the other side," I admit shamefully. I don't say this part out loud, but he could very well be dead. There was a monster just down the hall before I was ripped away from him. His fate is unknown at this point.

"Separated?" Cyrus repeats doubtfully. "You killed him, didn't you?"

I frown. "No, of course not. We were trying to find a way out together, but..." I swallow my next words. I can't tell these people that some younger carbon copy of my dad broke into my subconscious and whisked me away to safety. Everyone is already looking at me like I have three heads. No need to give them a reason to believe that I'm insane. "But I passed out and I don't know how, or why, but I was back on this island when I woke up. Alone." That is the truth, minus the crazy.

"You're lying. You used magic when I was chasing you, and Maddox was nowhere around. It was just you and your stupid sister," Cyrus sneers, "Either tell me the truth or die."

"Careful, Cyrus," Dolion warns, taking a menacing step forward. The brunette glowers at him for a moment before turning back to me. The crowd behind him follows his movements. All eyes on me again.

I clear my throat. "I did a teleportation spell to save my sister and myself, yes, but I didn't lose my magic like everyone else. Juniper used her magic later on while Maddox was with us, and we all got pulled into the second dimension."

Cyrus looks me up and down, then his expression twists into one of confusion. "Where's your sister, then?" he asks sharply. "And why didn't you lose your magic? All Moons do, but not you?"

Definitely not a good idea to mention Atlas's name. "I got separated from Juniper too." It's best to keep my truths vague for now. "And I don't know why... I just... didn't."

His dark eyes are still full of uncertainty, but I think he partially believes me. He continues his interrogation though, asking, "Why was Maddox with you and your sister in the first place? He knew you stole from us, so he wasn't exactly happy with you. And I told him that you were a Moonborn."

That's right. Maddox's people, including Cyrus, believe that he is a mere human like the rest of them. They don't know that he's a Celestial, a Moonborn to be specific. So, the idea of a human Maddox traveling with me, a supposed Moonborn, sounds highly unlikely to Cyrus and his people.

"He was trying to get back the things that I stole," I start, then hesitate for a moment. What can I say now? That Maddox and I were on a journey to use my Star magic to save us all? No, I can't confess that I'm a Starborn. The mortals despise me either way, but there's no guarantee that my father's people wouldn't crack. Being a Starborn in Lunaria is illegal. There have been other Moons in our country that have brought a Starborn into our world, only to have the child taken from them at my father's command. He'd be the biggest hypocrite of all time if people knew what I was. And I'd have the biggest target on my back. "But we were all attacked before we could all part ways, so my sister panicked and used her magic to try to defend us," I say quickly. I cross my fingers that my reluctance went unnoticed. 

"Who attacked you?" Cyrus presses.

I shrug, looking anywhere but at Dolion. He lied about knowing my real name in front of Maddox, so this will be me returning the favor. No one needs to know that Dolion attacked Maddox. "Does it matter? Someone on the island. I didn't get a good look at their face," I reply nonchalantly.

Cyrus narrows his eyes in suspicion and tsks. "You're leaving things out. I can tell. You'd do well not to lie to me, Callie," he warns.

"I'm not lying, Cyrus."

His expression sours even more, and he takes a menacing step in my direction. I start to press forward, ready to defend myself if necessary, but Dolion puts himself between us. His hatchet is strapped to the back of his shirt now, but he's wielding the axe he swung at Cyrus just minutes ago. Cyrus freezes in place when Dolion raises the weapon in warning.

"You have five minutes to remove your dead from my camp," Dolion yells just loud enough for all the mortals to hear.

Cyrus's dull eyes slide over to me and he scowls. "We can't leave yet. I need more answers from her."

"That's too bad," Dolion says with a shrug.

Cyrus is about to lose his temper again but is cut off when Ares steps forward and shouts, "Callie, if what you say is true, then Maddox is trapped in that dimension. And he's human... humans can't get out of there without magic."

Vivian, Ares's half-sister, adds, "And we can't get in without magic! You have to help us, Callie."

Dolion speaks before I can. "We've barely recovered from the storm, and now we have to clean up the mess that you've all made. You don't get to run in here and murder my people and then ask for favors! Leave or die!" he booms threateningly.

Cyrus plucks his spear out of the dirt and points it at Dolion. "Your people are dead because you're a moron, Locke! You started all of this back when we—"

I effectively cut off Cyrus's tangent when I send him hurling backward with the wave of my hand. His weapon falls to the side, and Cyrus lands flat on his face. I snatch the axe out of Dolion's hands before he can even think to hurt anyone with it and then toss it to the side. Dolion narrows his eyes at me when I push past him but he says nothing.

"No more killing each other!" I state authoritatively. 

A stranger, one of Moonborns, stands up and replies, "But the treaty was violated—"

"I don't care about some stupid treaty! As far as I'm concerned, it is now null and void!" I reply crassly. The Moonborn takes a swift seat and doesn't dare speak again. Unintelligible whispers bounce around the camp, and I pause for a moment, surprised by my own boldness. "Unless you're a member of this camp— leave!" I command.

Vivian's violet-blue eyes widen in both disbelief and desperation. "Callie, please," she pleads urgently. "I know you have to care about him— about Maddox. It's impossible not to."

"And he saved you," Cyrus blurts out, scrutinizing me with dark eyes. He's on his feet now, brushing himself off. "You would've drowned if it wasn't for him. Helping us save him is the least you could do."

I grumble internally. I knew Maddox's kindness would come back to bite me. I know I owe him. I owe him more than anyone here actually knows. And I hate it. This is why I don't welcome generosity. I knew it would be held over my head at some point.

"She doesn't owe any of you anything. You're lucky you get the chance to walk away right now."

Cyrus glowers at Dolion. "This doesn't concern you, Locke. We're not leaving until—"

"I'll meet you tomorrow, Cyrus," I interject. "I'll tell you anything you want to know, and I'll do everything I can to help you all save Maddox." I mean what I say. If helping the mortals will keep my family safe, then so be it. Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, I still need Maddox's help.

Cyrus frowns. "No, come with me today. I can't wait until tomorrow."

"I need today," I argue, shaking my head. "I have to help put this camp back together, and I have to make sure my brother is going to be okay. After that, I'm all yours."

"Your brother?" he scoffs scornfully. 

I nod. "Yes. Juniper isn't the only family I have on the island."

Doubt shines in his eyes, but he lets it go and finally says, "Fine. We'll leave for now. Meet me at our camp, the one that you stole from, at sunrise tomorrow," he orders snobbishly. 

I ignore his snarky comment, but it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. "I know where it is. I'll be there," I say.

"Alone," he adds curtly. "If you're not alone, or if you don't show up at all, we'll be right back here. And we'll bring more than just knives and spears."

"It won't come to that," I say solemnly. 

A brief, humorless laugh escapes him, and his eyes flicker over to Dolion, who appears to be suppressing a mischievous smirk for some reason. "We'll see," he mutters before turning his back to me. "My people— get your things! We're going home!"

Cyrus and the other mortals gather their weapons and begin to file out of the clearing and into the forest rather quickly, while the Moonborns start checking the lifeless bodies scattered around for a pulse. A sad feeling gnaws at me. There's almost more blood than grass on the field.

I tear my eyes away from the grotesque sight and glance up at Orion's tree house to find him peering down at me. His expression is torn between worry and awe. When he realizes that I'm looking at him, he waves sheepishly. The corners of my mouth twitch up into a brief smile, but Dolion's voice restores my equanimity. 

"You've got a lot of explaining to do, Callie-bear."

He's standing right in front of me now, eyeing me with both curiosity and irritation. I straighten my posture. This is my chance to get some answers of my own out of him. 

"So do you," I counter, raising an accusatory eyebrow. "And you can start by telling me what exactly went down on this island before you and Maddox's treaty came into play."

He bites back a smirk. "Alright, fine. You win... I'll tell you everything that I can."