Let the Sky Fall (Sky Fall #1)(54)

The silence seems to stretch.

“So you have no problem with . . . killing?” he asks.

“No. But I’m an Easterly.”

“The swift, tricky winds,” he recites. “What does that even mean?”

“Easterlies are survivors. They do whatever needs to be done.”

“So you would kill?”

His stare is intense—but not judging.

“If I have to.”

I focus on my fingers, surprised to realize they’re tracing slow circles on his skin. The contact is soothing and thrilling at the same time. It makes me feel daring. Maybe too daring, because I can’t stop myself from asking, “Do you think you could?”

“Kill?”

I lock eyes with him again. “If it saved a life? If it saved your life? If it saved . . .”

I stop myself. I can’t ask him to save me. I’m supposed to save him.

Vane turns away as he considers my question, staring at what remains of the tree he destroyed. “I don’t know.”

He takes my hand, cradling it gently between his palms. Warmth travels up my arms, heading straight to my heart and making it flutter as he looks at me again, knocking my breath away with the tenderness in his haunting blue eyes. “I hope so.”

Me too.

It’s a miracle I don’t say the thought aloud.

I have no right to hope. But if he’s offering it freely, I can’t help but take it.

So I don’t pull away, even though I should. And I let myself believe he might be strong enough to save us all.

To save me.

He’s the only one who can.





CHAPTER 31


VANE


It isn’t until Audra’s bird returns from his second hunt of the day that I notice how late it is. I trained through breakfast and lunch—but it’s probably better. If I’d had anything in my stomach when I realized Audra was training me to kill, I would have heaved it all over myself.

It reminds me of the way my body reacted when the doctors gave me pills. Sweat, hives, spasms, puke, like my system will do anything—everything—to purge the medicine from my bloodstream. The idea of killing feels just as toxic.

Great—I’m allergic to violence. I’m sure Audra’s thrilled with that news.

Maybe I can fight it. I mean, sure, I don’t like violent movies or video games—but they don’t make me wig out like that. Maybe the fight will be the same way.

But those are fake, I tell myself. And this is horrifyingly real.

My head spins and I suck in air to try to clear it.

I have to get over this. Lives are at stake.

The innocent people in this valley.

Me.

Audra.

I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her alive. If that means taking out a Stormer or two, well . . . I’ll have to deal with that. Even if just thinking about it makes me nauseous.

“How did my parents handle the training?” I ask, hoping they knew some trick to be able to fight without throwing up.

Audra bites her lip and looks away.

I guess that means they didn’t do very well. I decide not to ask for the gory details. Especially since I’ve thought of a better question. “What were they like?”

“Your parents?”

“Yeah.” She’s been stubbornly secretive about my past, but she could at least tell me that. Maybe it would help trigger more memories tonight.

She sighs. “I wasn’t around them much. When my parents weren’t trying to train them, they kept all three of you inside, away from Raiden’s searchwinds, which were always so close on our trail.”

I have no idea what that means, but I guess it doesn’t matter.

“Your mom was always sneaking outside with you, though,” she adds, turning toward me. Her lips twist into a sad smile. “I used to watch you guys play together in the fields. She seemed like a great mom.”

“I wish I remembered her.” I’m surprised at how thick my voice sounds.

“I know,” she whispers.

There really isn’t anything else to say.

“Actually . . . ,” Audra says, jumping to her feet and heading to the corner of the house where her crappy bed of palm leaves is.

“What are you doing?” I ask, joining her as she starts rummaging around.

“Looking for something.”

My phone beeps and I pull it out of my pocket to check it. A text from Isaac, begging me to go out with him, Shelby, and Hannah tonight.

“Everything okay?” Audra asks as I text him back.

“Yeah. My friend’s just trying to convince me to go on a double date with Hannah tonight. I’m telling him thanks, but no thanks.”

“Good,” Audra says quietly.

My head snaps up. “Good?”

I definitely want clarification on that.

“Of course,” she says. “You need to train tonight.”

“Is that really the only reason?” I press, stepping closer. My phone buzzes and I shove it in my pocket. I’m not letting anything interrupt this conversation.

“What do you mean?” She tries to back away, but she’s standing in the only corner in her broken house and I’m blocking her escape.

Good. It’s high time Audra and I come to an understanding about whatever’s going on between us.