Let The Wind Rise (Sky Fall, #3)(75)

She takes a deep breath before hissing a string of garbled words.

“Fascinating,” Aston breathes as a gray draft crawls out of her skin and forms a loose funnel around us. “I never would’ve thought to make that request.”

“What did she say?” I ask.

“It’s best not to explain to someone who doesn’t use the power,” he says. “We wouldn’t want to awaken the hunger.”

The air whips faster and faster, turning to a blur.

“Are you okay?” Vane asks, steadying Solana as she wobbles.

“It’s just a little draining,” she says. “How’s the craving in my eyes?”

He leans closer, and she seems to hold her breath. “Wow, I only see the tiniest glint.”

“As do I,” Aston agrees. “I must admit, I’m rather disappointed. I’ve been hoping you were wrong about this selflessness thing, since it doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. I guess I should count myself lucky that I’m too far gone for it to matter. You ready to move?”

Solana nods, and we creep out of the rocks, trying our best not to kick one another’s heels as we move.

“How is this hiding us?” Vane asks.

“It’s similar to how we disguise our forms when we fly,” Solana tells him. “I convinced the draft to combine our traces, so it’ll feel like there’s only one of us. And it’s weak and muffled, so Raiden might not even notice it. But if he does, he’ll think it’s a lone Gale. He definitely won’t be prepared for the four of us.”

We move in silence after that, making the slow climb up the rock formation.

I stretch out my senses, trying to home in on Raiden’s exact location. But either we’re too far away, or Raiden’s too good at hiding.

“By the way,” Solana whispers, turning to look at Aston. “I don’t believe that anyone can ever be too far gone.”

“Even Raiden?” Vane interrupts.

“He’s different,” she says. “He’s the one who started messing with the power. And even if he could change his ways, he’s done too much to be redeemed.”

“As have I,” Aston tells her. “I know you still see me as that eager-to-help Gale—but I can’t even remember being him. And the things I’ve done since then would give you nightmares.”

“But you’re here now,” Solana whispers. “I saw how terrified you were in that tunnel outside Brezengarde. And still, you came back—and now you’re marching up to face Raiden, knowing our chances aren’t good.”

“So really, we should be questioning my sanity,” he says with a forced smile. Several seconds later he adds, “I just . . . want this all to be over.”

I can’t tell what he means, but the sadness in his tone turns my heart heavy.

He clears his throat. “We should pause in that crevice ahead. It’s making me twitchy that I can’t get a reading on Raiden. I know he’s good—but he’s not this good.”

We ease into the crack—which is much cozier than it looked from the outside—and I end up pressed rather tightly against Vane.

“Sorry,” he whispers, trying to find somewhere to put his arms.

“It’s okay,” I tell him, pulling his hands to rest on my hips. “I don’t mind.”

A teasing glint sparks to life in his eyes, but it’s gone just as fast, and he turns his face away, eyes on the ground.

I want to grab his chin and force him to look at me—talk to me. Explain his complicated mixed signals.

But time is never on our side.

“Is anyone getting anything?” Aston whispers. “Though I should probably limit the question to Solana since you lovebirds clearly have your minds other places.”

His raised eyebrows fuel my blush, and I close my eyes and listen to the sky. “Everything feels empty.”

“That’s what I’m sensing too,” Solana agrees.

“Everything is empty,” a new voice says, and my brain screams, NOT AGAIN!

We all look up to find my mother standing over our crevice with one of her loyal crows perched on her shoulder.

“You can’t sense Raiden,” she says, “because he’s not here.”





CHAPTER 43


VANE


What do you mean Raiden’s not here?” I ask as I scramble out of the crack we’ve been hiding in—trying not to bruise Audra in the process.

“I thought the statement was self-explanatory.” Arella reaches up to stroke her ugly crow, and I wish it would bite her. “Raiden’s not here—and I don’t just mean on this rock. Apparently he’s skipping this whole battle.”

“How do we know this isn’t another one of your tricks?” Audra asks, jumping out of the crack and pointing her windslicer at her mother’s heart.

Arella rolls her eyes. “Your senses are giving you the same message, aren’t they? It seems Raiden elected to let his army handle the matter for him.”

“That doesn’t sound like him,” Aston says as he hefts himself out of the crevice and helps Solana climb out with her weak ankle. “Maybe for a quick snatch-and-grab mission. But he sent his entire force.”