But that was not what he had agreed with Marius.

He was supposed to stay here. He was their access to the Codex. Instead, he was about to abandon the Romans, taking the Codex with him.

Leaving it here was not an option—the contenders needed it to scan discoveries, and to make any deals for the treasure they found. Nor was Cade staying and letting the others go an option, even if they could somehow summon the Codex when they needed it. He now knew they hated his bomb idea. Left to their own devices and having to make a decision on what to trade with Abaddon then and there … they couldn’t be trusted to teleport the bomb to the keep.

He’d have enough trouble convincing them to do it if he was there. But that was a bridge to cross for another time.

The good thing was, they didn’t need to build a raft this time. And thanks to the Romans, the food, water, and equipment needed for a trip into the jungles were in plentiful supply. The legionaries even had backpacks, and there were hundreds to choose from, piled high in the storeroom while they were not in use.

Still, Cade knew that abandoning the Romans without telling them their plans would be seen as an act of betrayal. Returning with treasure, or the results thereof, would do little to calm Marius down. Their leaving would undermine his leadership and leave him simmering with anger the entire time they were away.

He needed to speak to Marius.

“Coming to bed, Cade?” Amber asked, poking her head out from behind a shelf.

Cade turned, only to see her settled in the cot beside his. It had been pulled surreptitiously behind some shelves where they could have a little privacy. Cade’s heart beat a little faster, and Amber blushed as his eyes flicked between her and the cot’s new location.

“Uh…,” Cade felt his stomach twist with a sudden rush of anxiety.

Amber usually slept with the other girls. Something had changed while he’d been gone.

“I need to speak to Marius,” Cade said. “I’ll be right back.”

He hurried out of the room, strangely relieved for the excuse. He’d have to think about why that was later.

Still, now he was standing in the atrium, the eyes of a score of legionaries having a late-night meal upon him. He smiled awkwardly and walked up the stairs, his mind spinning. It was not a conversation he was prepared to have, yet he needed to gauge what Marius’s views were on expeditions and remnants. What would he even say?

“What do you want?” His way blocked by a legionary. The man raised his eyebrows.

“Marius,” Cade replied simply, too tired to drag the Latin words from his memory.

The legionary stood aside, and to Cade’s dismay, the commander was in the hall between the two rooms of the top floor. No time to gather his thoughts.

Marius turned to see Cade and gave him a smile, beckoning him closer.