Let The Wind Rise (Sky Fall, #3)(33)

“Raiden holds no power over me,” Arella argues.

“Oh really?” Aston asks. “So then you wanted to betray your daughter?”

When she doesn’t respond, he adds, “If you truly want to save your girl, leave her rescue to people who might actually be able to help her.”

“Don’t pretend like you’re doing this for Audra,” Arella snaps. “You just want my pain.”

Aston doesn’t deny it. “But if that were all this was about, there are other much more exciting ways to force it out of you. So stop pouting and try doing what’s best for your daughter for once in her life.”

“You think she cares whether my daughter lives or dies?” Arella shouts, turning the full weight of her glare on Solana. “Do you think she’s safe from Raiden’s corruption? She’s already succumbed to the power of pain!”

“To save your life,” Solana snaps.

She turns to me to back her up, but I’m not sure I can.

I also notice she’s twirling her link so fast it’s probably rubbing the skin off her wrist.

“Maybe . . . you should go with them . . . ,” I mumble. “It’s getting pretty dangerous.”

“You need me,” Solana says. “You can’t do this without me.”

“She’s right,” Aston assures me.

I bite my lip.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Solana asks.

Okay, I know I’m about to trigger the rage storm to end all rage storms. But she’s still twisting her stupid link and I can’t ignore it anymore.

“Why are you taking such a huge risk, Solana? Is this about us?” I whisper the last part, pointing to her gold cuff.

The silence is crushing.

Solana breaks it with laughter—cold, angry laughter. “Get over yourself, Vane. This fortress was my home. The man who killed my family is in there. And Gus needs my help. His mother died protecting me—I owe it to her to save her son. That’s what I care about. So can we stop wasting time? We need to get back to the section of train tracks where I found the false tunnel. The real one has to be over there somewhere—and I already know which side of the tracks it isn’t on. It shouldn’t take me long to figure out where it is.”

“You don’t think Raiden’s destroyed it?” Aston asks.

She shakes her head. “My winds keep telling me to have hope. And the entrance is protected by a password, so even if Raiden found it, he wouldn’t be able to get in.”

“But won’t that area be crawling with Stormers?” I ask.

“Most likely,” Aston says. “You’ll need a distraction. A few well-placed firewhirls should buy you a few minutes—though there will likely be one Stormer who stays behind to keep watch.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Solana and I say at the same time.

“Come on, Vane—be real,” Solana tells me. “We both know the killing is going to fall on my shoulders. And that’s fine. I’ve outlived three guardians. I know how to fight.”

“Not as well as I do,” Arella argues.

“But we’ve already established that you’re coming with me,” Aston tells her. “We both know what I’ll do if you disobey me.”

Arella pales at the words, and I can’t help wondering what exactly Aston’s holding over her. Before I can ask him, he adds another warning.”

“If you face Raiden, remember that he’s protected by his backlash.”

“I still don’t believe he’s invincible,” I argue. “Gus made him bleed in Death Valley.”

“Did he now?” Aston asks. “I’m guessing it was just a scratch?”

He nods when I agree. “Then that’s either a fluke, or another part of the trick. Raiden’s a master of manipulation. Do not underestimate him. And if you decide to risk a shot, don’t go for the heart or the head.”

“Noted,” Solana says. “Anything else we need to know?”

“Yes. The Royal Passage will only get you inside the fortress. From there, you’ll have to navigate the labyrinth to find the dungeon.”

“My father’s memories included details on the different paths,” she promises.

“Yes, but they don’t include Raiden’s new additions,” Aston insists. “He’s been a busy boy since he took over. The only way to know where you’re heading is to watch for the pattern. Walls with smaller, rougher stones mean you’re in the old, original pathways. Those take you to the main courtyards and all the living quarters. Paths with precise, square-cut stones mean you’re in Raiden’s newer additions, heading to all the dungeons and towers. And any paths with metal slats are for the wind—be extra wary of those. I’m sure they were nice and safe when your family lived there. But the kind of tempests that fuel Raiden’s fortress are not to be trifled with. And if I had to guess, I’d say your friends will be in the northern dungeon, so try there first.”

“Actually, I was thinking we should swing by the turbine before we attempt the rescue,” Solana corrects. “Might as well cripple his power source while we have a chance.”

“Well, aren’t you the clever girl,” Aston says. “But surely you know a blow like that will dash all of Loverboy’s hopes of sneaking in and out undetected.”