Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall #1)(11)

She lowers her head, letting her hair fall across her face. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“Uh, yeah—I helped you.”

“Helped me.” An oddly hysterical laugh slips out of her lips as she looks up, peering at me between the wild, wavy strands.

I stare into the same dark eyes I’ve seen every night. Every time I close my eyes. I always thought they were beautiful. Almost hypnotic. Powerful, even.

Now they look defeated.

As if confirming my thoughts, she curls her knees into her chest, hugging them with her arms and rocking back and forth.

“You didn’t help me,” she whispers. “You just killed everyone.”





CHAPTER 8


AUDRA


My eyes burn in a way I don’t understand. Then something wet streaks down my check.

A tear.

Everything inside me knots with a mix of fear and rage.

I shouldn’t be crying. Not because I have to be brave or strong or maintain any of the other aspects of my oath. I physically shouldn’t be able to shed tears.

The fact that I can means it really is too late. My body’s absorbed the water. I’ll be weakened for months.

Just like my father was the day he died.

My shoulders shake as a tremendous sob overcomes me. I want to tear at my skin, scratch deep and hard, like that could somehow scrape away the water inside me. But it doesn’t work that way. I’ve suffered so much to avoid my father’s mistake, gone to such lengths not to tie myself to the earth. But I never planned for this. Never considered that joining the wind would make me faint, or that Vane would give me water to revive me.

Vane.

My head snaps up, and I smear the traitorous tears away with my hands. He’s balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to jump back.

I can’t blame him. My behavior is far from the composed, commanding presence I was trained to present when his mind finally had a breakthrough.

I have to get it together. This is another . . . complication. I’ll find the solution.

I clear my throat, brushing my hair out of my face as I rise. I wish I had time to rebraid it—and change back into my uniform—but I have to settle for tucking it behind my ears and smoothing the fabric of my dress.

“I’m sorry,” I say, proud that I sound strong and steady. “We need to talk.”

“You think?” His pitch is an octave higher than I’m used to. “Who are you—and what the hell do you mean, I just killed everyone?”

“Keep your voice down.” I step toward him, but he jerks away.

“Don’t come any closer—and don’t tell me what to freaking do. You’re in my house.”

“I know. And if you don’t want your parents to find me, you need to be quiet.”

He glares at me, clearly not happy I’ve made a valid point. “Who are you?”

“My name is Audra. I have all the answers you’re looking for, Vane. But we need to have this conversation somewhere private. Will you come with me?”

Rebellion wars in his eyes. And after the way I acted, I can’t blame him. Which only makes it more frustrating.

My head throbs from the strain I put my body through. I rub my temples and take a deep, slow breath as I study the lines of his face—a face I know so well I can recall every detail from memory. Fear is etched in every feature, making him look older. Pained.

I’ve been ordered to make him trust me, but in that moment I’m surprised to realize I want him to trust me.

“Please, Vane. I need you to come with me.” My eyes hold his as I take a cautious step toward him. I reach out and let my fingers brush down his arm. He flinches but doesn’t pull away—even when I take his hand.

His skin feels smooth and warm, and my fingers tingle as they absorb his heat.

Strange.

It’s been years since I’ve touched anyone. My body must not know how to respond.

Vane stares at our hands, the fear in his face fading into uncertainty. “Is it safe?”

“Completely.”

“Is it far away?”

“We can walk there.”

“And you promise you’ll explain everything?”

“Everything.”

His eyes challenge me. Dare me to break my promise. He doesn’t understand it’s part of my job to tell him everything. But he will soon enough.

I pull him toward the window.

“Wait—we’re going out that way?”

“I can’t exactly walk out the front door—especially in this.” I point to my tiny blue-black dress. It seemed revealing earlier, when I was alone. Now, in the light of his room, with his eyes trailing over me, I feel almost naked.

Especially when he grins and says, “Yeah, my mom definitely wouldn’t approve.”

I drop his hand and fold my arms across my chest. I’d almost forgotten how obnoxious he can be. “Let’s go.”

I leap through the window without looking back. It isn’t a far fall—the house only has one story—but there’s an unfamiliar ache in my joints when my feet hit the ground.

The water.

I bite my lip, taking deep breaths to remain calm as Vane heaves himself out the window. He yelps as his arm catches the thorns of the pyracantha. I roll my eyes.