Book Seven: Chapter 55

Mike pursed his lips as if deep in thought. “You should really be asking her,” he said, knowing Quetzalli wouldn’t tell anyone. “That’s her secret to share.”

Ingrid groaned and shook her head. “Of course you couldn’t just tell me. Look, can you at least tell me that she won’t hinder us? Looking at her, she doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who can handle the stress of bushwhacking up a mountain.”

“She can handle it.” Holding back a grin, he continued. “I once saw her eat a man from the inside using a bunch of insects.”

“Fuck you, Caretaker.” Ingrid’s eyes went hard. “Maybe this is a game to you, but this is my life. Do you know how many times I’ve watched someone I care about get killed? Maybe if you’d lost someone close to you, you’d understand.”

He sighed and turned his attention toward her. “I apologize,” he said. “I was trying to be funny.”

“Try harder.” She turned to walk away, but spun back around to face him. “Actually, stop trying. That would