I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time now.
“I gave up trusting anyone the night I was betrayed, and Whitney killed Ivy because I tried to escape. Just say what you have to say,” she told Angel.
The men close to Jonas, Kyle and Jeff might’ve seemed as if they were looking for her, but she didn’t think they were really serious about it. Like Angel, they believed her to be right where she was. How? What had given her away other than Blue? Blue may have given Angel her direction, but not her exact location.
Kyle and Jeff are worried about what you’ll think of me if you hear Angel’s account before I have a chance to tell you what happened, Jonas said. I should have told you, Camellia, but this kind of thing isn’t something you spring on someone you’re trying to get to fall in love with you.
Tusker watched the helicopters, believing someone was close to them. Lewis and Gorman were in the forest, knowing—knowing—someone was there. Kyle had nearly been stepped on. It wasn’t owls. Gray would have told her. Lowell and Pops were on full alert. Camellia had to figure out what they were using to find them. If Angel knew she wasn’t alone, he wasn’t buying into her story at all. He had to know Jonas was with her. Still, he believed what he was saying.
“At first, as they discovered the various enhancements weren’t just psychic, they worked together to develop them. They found they were unusually fast. Enormously strong. The two of them shared information. They had friendly competitions, pitting their abilities against one another in order to develop their skills for missions.”
So far, it all sounded sensible to her. As Angel told his story, she searched the fog for anything that might have given her and the others away to Tusker. She was certain he was the one communicating with a creature. If she could find a way to connect with him without his knowledge, she might be able to figure it out and stop the communication. That way, he wouldn’t be able to hunt them. Right now, no matter what they did, Shaker’s men might have the advantage.
Are you going to say something, Jonas?
What’s there to say, Camellia? So far, he’s doing an okay job of telling what it was like.
He wasn’t there. You were. Hearing the story isn’t the same as going through it. Discovering each separate genetic temperament you have to deal with and learning to use and control it.
Camellia waited for Jonas to say something, but he didn’t. He allowed Angel to tell his version. Jonas could be terribly stubborn, and right now, he was choosing to be at his worst. She wasn’t certain why. Kyle and Jeff remained in the background, neither one adding to the conversation, just listening to Angel give her the details.
She took her gaze from Angel and placed it firmly on Tusker. His back was to her. He seemed to be looking toward the helicopters, but every now and then, he tipped his head up slightly and looked toward the trees. She followed his gaze upward. There was little fog in the branches of the trees so high up, and she could see the occasional flutter of leaves as the breeze passed through. Insects chased one another in the sky. There was very little movement other than a lizard or two skittering up the trunk of a tree.
“Something began to happen to their friendship over time. It was subtle at first.”
Angel’s words were ominous enough to pull her attention back to him. His mask of calm began to disappear, to be replaced by lines carved deep with anger. “Jonas can be very jealous and controlling. He likes to be the center of attention. The one in charge. Oliver went from being his best friend to a rival. Jonas didn’t like that sometimes Oliver outran him or bested him in any way on a mission. There were troubling fights. Jonas began acting arrogant and talking to Oliver about how others without enhancements weren’t worth much, and why should they risk their lives for them?”
The Jonas she knew could be jealous; maybe being the commander might make one think he was controlling. Definitely, he preferred being the man in charge, but he didn’t seem to like to be the center of attention. She couldn’t see him claiming that others without enhancements were less important or valuable. He was a protective man, and she couldn’t see him ignoring those not enhanced.
Camellia waited in silence, but Jonas didn’t defend himself. Jeff or Kyle didn’t leap to his defense either.
“Go on.” She didn’t bother throwing her voice. She spoke directly to Angel, but she remained hidden in the mist.
Again, she turned her attention to Tusker below, studying him carefully. He turned his head to look over his shoulder toward her. When he did, there was a fluttering of wings in the trees, and bats wheeled and dipped, rushing to get the insects, especially night moths, from the sky.