Breaking Sky(59)

“Keep in mind I still don’t know as much as you do about defense,” Tristan said. “We’re all ill-prepared.”

A dead sort of silence filled the room, and Romeo reclined on Pippin’s pillow, staring up at his family snapshots. Solid minutes ticked by, only broken by Romeo pointing to one of the pictures. “Is that your mother, Henry? She’s kind of hot.”

Pippin’s face flushed so darkly that Chase barely recognized him. In fact, Pippin seemed more uncomfortable than she’d ever seen, which made her own skin feel too tight. He looked like he was about to blow.

Sylph interrupted her thoughts. “I haven’t been this on edge since my aptitude tests for my Star application.” She flung her braid behind her shoulder and faced Tristan, hard. “Do you have any ideas, Arrow?”

“Who, me?” Tristan asked coolly. “You’re inviting the Canadians into the conversation now? Keep this up and we’ll start feeling welcome, Sylph.”

“We’re in this together. Chase is right to get us talking strategy as a team.”

Tristan’s eyes darted toward Chase’s briefly, almost flirtingly. Her cheeks warmed like traitors, and she buried a flash of their kiss as deep as humanly possible. It wasn’t easy, but whatever had happened in the infirmary had no place in the oncoming storm.

And then there was Pippin.

“The trials will be as expected,” Romeo said. “What we need to worry about is being punched out of a cargo plane tomorrow. We’re going to test the already sketchy ejection system, and let me remind you that Adrien is not exactly confident about it.”

“They won’t send us up without some assurance that it’ll work,” Chase said.

Tristan and Romeo exchanged glances. “Adrien won’t risk our lives, but…”

“But?” Riot leaned in. “But is not the word I want to hear in that sentence.”

“But she’s being pressured by General Dickhead Tourn,” Romeo said. “He’s the one that’ll get us killed. Not like he’s concerned with human life.”


Chase stared down. She didn’t want to know if Tristan or Pippin was looking at her. They should be; it was her fault. She’d long since suspected that her involvement in the Streaker project kept Tourn invested. Kale had even told her that her dad kept tabs on her flying. For the first time, she wondered if that was proof he really did give a damn.

“General Dickhead is his official title,” she said because the group was too quiet.

Sylph crossed her legs, and Romeo stared at them. “So how are we going to dazzle the government board?”

Pippin made a dismissive sound, and Chase glared his way before talking over his objection. “Sylph’s right.”

Riot’s eyes got a little big. “Now they both agree with each other. Anyone else feel like we’re entering dangerous territory?”

“I do,” Pippin said. “I don’t trust them working together.”

“Pippin.” Chase’s eyes were on his fast and hard. “We have to trust each other.”

“Even if some of us are harboring secrets?” His words jabbed.

The room went extra quiet.

“Don’t,” Chase managed. Pippin looked away, his face blotching red.

“Okay. That was awkward.” Sylph cleared her throat. “Listen. I say we set up drills that show off all our strengths. We make each other look good. What do the Canadians think?”

Tristan took the edge of the bunk in one tight fist. “I think I’m still not over the fact that we’re friends, especially after your stunt yesterday that almost cost Chase and Henry their lives.” Tristan left the room so fast. Romeo followed his pilot.

“What is wrong with them?” Sylph asked. “Nyx pulls a thousand stunts, and I do one and look at everyone freak out at me.”

Pippin’s expression was still too dark. “Nyx gets special allowances because of her daddy.”

Chase’s heart flew into action. “Pippin!”

He wouldn’t look at her. “Papa Kale lets her get away with everything,” he added as a lame cover-up.

Sylph looked pleased. “This is true.”

But Pippin had meant Tourn. He’d lashed out at Chase in her most vulnerable spot.

“Fuck you, Henry,” she said, her voice low and mean.

“Whoa. Guys.” Riot whistled. “Let’s chill.”

Sylph stood between them. “I’ve never seen you two go at it before. Now’s not the time. Make up.” She grabbed Pippin by the back of his shirt and hauled him to his feet like she was going to force them to hug. He yanked away from her, threw a crumpled piece of paper on his bed, and left.

The door slammed, and the moment ticked between them like a countdown.

Sylph’s eyes were huge. “Nyx. You can’t fly if you can’t talk to each other.”

“I realize that.”

“So go make up with him.”

Chase rubbed her face. “I’m trying. He doesn’t want to make up.”

“But aren’t you two like mirrored souls or something?” Riot asked.

“Don’t you have trouble with mirrors, Riot?” Chase snapped back.

“Hey.” Sylph smacked Chase on the cheek and not lightly.