The Steele Wolf (Iron Butterfly #2)(44)

“Let’s go.” Kael said stiffly, and they both turned and left out the window. I waited a minute before following. They were both harnessed into the skites and were standing on the ledge. Joss counted off and they both jumped. I raced to the edge and looked over to see Joss’ skite fly smoothly in a wide circle before disappearing into the mists. Kael’s skite didn’t glide like Joss’; it shook and dropped straight down into the mists, falling like a stone.

I clutched the veranda wall, my fingers digging into the warm stone. I heard myself scream Kael’s name as my world spun.





Chapter 20



He was dead. Kael was dead, I knew it. Warm hands pressed against my forehead and leaned me forward. Opening my eyes I stared into the worried green eyes of Joss. No, wait; the eyes seemed older as if they carried years of worry. It was Nero.

“Don’t sit up too fast,” Nero warned. “Take a deep breath.”

“Is he okay? Did he make it?” I held Nero’s arm in a death grip, refusing to let go until he told me that Kael was all right.

“I don’t know. Would you like me to go after them?” He stood up as if to get another skite.

“Yes! No! I don’t know? I don’t want to be left alone up here and not be able to know what’s going on.”

Nero’s eyes hardened when he looked over the ledge. “I shouldn’t have let him try it. We don’t usually allow newcomers to try a skite without more practice. When you and Kael went inside, I tried to dissuade my son. Joss assured me that Kael could handle it.”

“WHAT!” Now I was angry. Joss knew that this was dangerous and his father was against it and he challenged Kael, knowing he wouldn’t say no. I was so angry I could spit. But I was also nervous.

Nero ran out of the room and I leaned over the ledge and yelled Kael’s name, but the mists swallowed up my cry. Nero came back in with his wooden flute and played a familiar sound of notes. The hair on the back of my neck rose in anticipation as a loud screech filled the air and another dorabill flew and landed on the veranda. This one was smaller than the last.

“Come, get on.” Nero nimbly leapt onto the back of the giant bird and held his hand out to me. I tentatively gave him my hand and with one quick pull I was sitting in front of him grasping the horrible bird around the neck. Nero whistled and I felt the bird lift off and dive down into the mists. I was too scared to scream as the jump took my breath away.

My eyes were squeezed shut and I clenched my teeth and held on for dear life as the bird screeched again. I opened my eyes at the last minute to see the ground rushing towards us at intense speeds; just when I thought we would crash, the dorabill spread his wings and our dive came to an abrupt halt as the bird leveled out. A few heartbeats later we landed and I refused to let go of the terrifying bird, I was so scared.

Nero slid off and reached for me and pried my fingers from around the dorabill’s neck. My fingers were stiff from adrenaline and I had problems getting them to cooperate. When I finally tried to slide off the bird, my legs refused to work and I crashed to the ground in a heap.

Loud laughter reached my ears, and I looked up into the smiling laughing faces of none other than Kael and Joss. I was too shocked to see him alive and in one piece to even berate them for laughing.

“You made it? But I saw you fall!” I finally got my legs to move and I stood up and put my hands on my hips.

“I did fall and was falling fast, but once I entered the mists the updrafts from the waterfalls caught me and made it easier to glide down.”

“You scared me. I thought you died,” I yelled at him.

Kael just looked at me in the oddest way and I swear I saw his normal dark aura lighten. “I know. I heard you scream my name.” His intense eyes met mine and there was a moment of hidden question behind them. He looked at me longer than was necessary and I felt my cheeks go red. A rush of uncertain feelings assailed me.

“No, I didn’t,” I defended poorly. “I just would rather have you not die today.”

“Nice to know you care,” he said.

“UGGHH, no I don’t!” I replied sarcastically. “Remember, you told me to.” I was frustrated that he could tie me up in knots.

His demeanor quickly changed and then the smiling face disappeared behind his stony SwordBrother face. I instantly regretted the words; even said in angry fun, they were strong and powerful words. Kael started to walk away but paused when Nero broke the silence.

Nero smirked. “She fainted.”

Kael stopped and turned to look at me his eyebrow rose questioningly.

“I did not. I…I.” I looked at Kael’s blank face and saw a quick twitch of his upper lip as he held back a smirk. He’d better not smile, I thought. “Oh bother.” I turned and headed towards what I thought was the direction of the stables. It wasn’t. Turning back towards the men again I came face to face with Joss.

“And you! Don’t get me started on what you did. You had no right to get him on that paper contraption. You are going to get an earful later.” I jabbed my finger into his chest and he grabbed it playfully.

“I knew he could handle it and he did,” he teased. He leaned into me and pressed his mouth to my ear. “I saw him fall and I dropped quickly; once I cleared out of the mists I was able to control the wind to catch him. It took a lot out of me. But I wouldn’t have let anything happen to him,” Joss whispered.