Her knot members sat in a circle, tied to a tree. Blood trickled down Thrym’s face, and their supplies were strewn all over the clearing. There had been a fight. And her knot lost. Dread fell like a rock into her stomach. She groaned again, this time because of a different pain. Atlas was going to hurt her family. He’d caught them.

But how?

She locked eyes with Deimos.

“The catheter has a kink,” he said.

Romy tried to sit. And that was when she realised just how naked she was. Blushing, Romy pulled up the blanket wrapped around her so it was just under her chin.

“Bit late for that, little skyling,” Houston sang. “Your breasts are divine, by the way. You wouldn’t think it from outside the clothing, but believe me—”

A fist flew out of nowhere and smacked into the back of the doctor’s head.

“Ow!”

Tilting her head, Romy unleashed the full power of her loathing on him. Atlas’s expression flickered with some kind of emotion before he turned away.

He chucked some clothing at her. “Go, put these on.”

Romy glanced at the clothing, not moving.

“And don’t think of running. I have your knot.”

Anger bubbling, Romy snatched up the clothing with one hand, clutching the blanket with the other.

Once in the tree line, she thought rapidly. Did the pair have backup? It seemed unlikely they came alone. Romy jerked a white T-shirt on and stormed back into the clearing. As she did, her eyes fell on a streamlined, two-wheeled vehicle that Houston was rolling into their strewn camp.

That explained how the pair caught up. But not how they found them so easily. Romy still didn’t know if there were others.

Atlas turned as she approached. He didn’t move as Romy pulled back her left hand and slapped him as hard as she possibly could across the face. His head rocked to the side, his feet unmoving. She heard Elara gasp behind her.

“You traitor,” she said in a shaking voice.

He turned to face forwards, red handprint bright on his cheek. “You idiot,” he countered. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Whatever response she’d expected, it wasn’t that. Romy folded her arms, taking a step backwards. When in doubt, remain silent.

Atlas invaded the space she’d just established. “You were nearly safe,” he yelled.

Romy’s eyes widened, despite her own fury as Atlas lost his temper.

She shook her head. “I heard you, Atlas! I heard you talking to Tina, saying how the Orbitos were coming to get us. Our bodies.”

Atlas opened his mouth.

“Atlas,” Houston said quietly.

“How did you find us?” snapped Romy, turning to the less-confusing doctor.

Houston rubbed the back of his head. “Uh, well, I put trackers in each of you.”

Why was it Houston kept failing her? He grew pale under the force of her withering glare.