“I’m already over it.” His hands slide up to my face, cradling my cheeks gently. “And I understand why you had to do what you did. You—you stayed with him because you wanted to teach him compassion. I mean—who the hell does that?”

“I only helped Him relearn it.”

“And—Askal?”

“They used to bury pets on the island after they die. Askal and I grew attached to each other.” My dog beams.

“Still too humble for your own good,” Chase says, smiling. “I’ve never actually kissed a demigod before, you know. Rory and Jordan are constantly telling me to try something different, and this sounds about as different as it gets.”

My smile fades. “Chase—I can’t—”

Hemslock leaps for us without warning. He’s out of bullets and his flamethrower has been taken away, but he pulls a hunting knife from his boot. With a growl, he lunges his blade at me—

—and something rips open within him in response. He freezes, mouth dropping open. Copious amounts of blood fall from his lips, splashing onto the floor.

A large root has extended from Askal, his puppy facade disappearing briefly to reveal his true nature once more. He impales the man cleanly through the chest, the sharp tip sticking out from his back. Hemslock dangles in the air, his feet kicking uselessly as he gurgles.

As is his nature, the Diwata chooses violence.

I don’t feel anger, only sadness that it had to come to this, that the man had not learned from his reprieve. Hemslock glares at us with hate-filled eyes, still struggling to form words for one last rage-filled tirade about what he did or didn’t deserve. We never get to hear it. The light slowly fades from his eyes, his body sags, and his head lowers as the last breath leaves him.

I look at the other soldiers, on the off chance that they are tempted to follow their leader. But they seem to understand that the fight is over; the last four survivors slowly lower their weapons to the floor and raise their hands.

“We’re done,” one of them says. “We want out of here just as much as you do.”

With a sickening sound, Askal drops Hemslock’s body onto the ground.

“Did you do that?” Chase asks softly, though something in his voice tells me that the question is strictly rhetorical.

“No,” I say quietly. “Askal has always done what he wanted to do.”

Askal whines happily, settling back into his dog shape.

“Chase, Alon.” Gries gestures urgently at the cave. “We have to go.”

Chase steps toward his father.

I don’t. “No.”

Chase turns, surprised. “What do you mean? They should have another helicopter here by now. Maybe even boats. We gotta let them know we’re okay and that Hemslock is—”

I am already shaking my head. “No. I can’t go with you.”

Chase stares at me. “You can’t,” he says, voice hitching. “Why would you stay here after everything?”

“Because he’s my father. I can’t leave.” I lift my hand. Roots from the ground crawl up my leg, curl themselves against my palm. “You know what’s going to happen. The island will draw attention now. Whatever the show would have done, this will be bigger. They’ll want to know who I am. I’m not blind to see how the media will take this. One of Hollywood’s celebrities died on this island. They’ll bring more people here. There’ll be more deaths. I need to stay and protect him.”