Gaslight (Crossbreed #4)(100)

He came for me.

It removed any lingering doubts I might have had about what had gone down that night with Houdini.

Christian put his phone away. “There was no need to dangle from the tail, though I admire your tenacity. I saw them loading luggage into the craft. If she was in one of those large cases, they must have her impaled to keep her still.”

“You didn’t think to check it out?”

“They had their car parked in a locked garage all night. To be fair, we’ve been looking for Vampires. I didn’t think the numpties would have stuffed their valuable merchandise in a trunk for the past six hours while ordering shots. And don’t pretend you knew all along. I saw you getting cozy over there.”

“I was gathering information. Then I got bored. Either way, I won the bet.”

“Aye, lass. That you did.”



Two hours had passed since we ascended to the heavens and were floating above the clouds. There were more clouds miles above us, but the half-moon was in plain sight, creating the most spectacular view. Viktor changed course accordingly as Wyatt relayed messages on route changes. The cell phones quit working after a certain point, but Viktor had a satellite phone.

I glanced out the window, wondering if Blue was okay. How high was the other plane, and could her falcon cross these distances in such cold weather?

The engine sputtered, and the turbulence made my stomach drop.

Viktor’s voice came on. “Is there an airport nearby?”

Christian, still sitting next to me, had his gaze fixed on the clouds. “Wyatt said anyone can have a personal landing strip on private property, but it would have to be lit up and in a clearing.”

Viktor’s tone was concerning. “Something’s wrong. We’ve been steadily losing fuel. The reason I’m asking about an airport is because if we can’t find a place to land, we’re going to have to jump in the water.”

I swallowed hard. “Water?”

“We’re reaching Newfoundland. I need to take her down. Christian, tell me what you see.”

I gripped my seat as the plane made a quick descent. What the hell had I gotten myself into? Navigating city streets, I could do. Leaping across rooftops wasn’t a problem. But diving into the ocean and getting eaten by sharks?

This wasn’t in the brochure.

“There’s land straight ahead,” Christian said, peering between the front seats. “An inlet on the right at four o’clock. Trees as far as the eye can see.”

The plane tilted to the right, and I heard that unnerving sound again. I couldn’t be certain if it was the engine or the propeller slowing down, but it wasn’t a sound anyone wanted to hear at this altitude.

I turned to Christian. “What’s the plan?”

“We’ve been down this road before. I thought you liked heights?”

I gave him a lethal glare. “Again with the water. I remember how you yanked me off that underground bridge. I suppose this time you’ll kick me out of the plane.” When I thought back on those memories and what came after we hit the water, a sharp pain struck me in the temple. I covered my microphone. “Stay with Viktor. The jump might knock him out.”

Christian took off his headset. “I will, but you can’t swim to save your life.”

Viktor didn’t seem to hear our back-seat conversation.

“Yeah, Christian, but he’s our leader. You protect the leader first. I won’t die. I might drown and float off into the Atlantic Ocean, but I won’t die. Not unless I’m burned or beheaded.”

Christian leaned forward and raised his voice. “How close to the water can you get?”

Viktor gave a mirthless laugh. “All the way. I need to slow her down.”

When the engine shut off, a sense of calm and dread came over me.

Viktor unlatched his seat belt. “End of the line.”

I crawled over the seat into the front. “Christian will stay with you until you get to a safe distance.”

“My wolf—”

“Will die from a fall this high. If it knocks him out, you’ll drown. Let Christian take the brunt of the fall. He can use his blood to heal you if necessary.” I opened my door, the wind resistance strong.

Christian grabbed my sleeve. “Wait until we’re closer.”

“I can’t see a thing. Are we close to shore?”

“Aye, so long as you swim in the right direction. Remember the last time we jumped? Think about how you moved your body and kicked your feet. You can do this, Raven.”

Terrified, I angled my body out the door and waited for Christian to give the signal. Too high up, and I might shatter every bone in my body. People survived skydiving attempts where their parachutes didn’t open; surely I could do this.

Light glinted off the waves as the moon watched to see what would happen. The bleak weather and gathering darkness swallowed me into a nightmare.

“Not yet, Raven,” Christian said. “Viktor, I’ll come round when she goes. Hold on to me, you hear?”

“I should have been born a seal,” Viktor joked, still trying to control the plane.

We glided, the wind whistling against the plane.

“Now!” Christian shouted.

As the water came rushing into view, I held my breath and jumped into thin air. Deciding a foot landing would be best, I tucked my arms around my middle as my coat flew straight up. Seconds later, I plunged into the icy waters. The force of impact slammed into me with such brute strength that I wondered if I might die. When air bubbles tickled the inside of my nostrils, I frantically swam in search of the surface.