Now we’re standing here watching her burn.
“Nothing about that car was impressive, darling.”
“Someone will see the smoke.” I glance up. The thick, black cloud is spreading fast, blotting out the blue sky like a fresh bruise. “We better get moving.”
“The town is twelve miles away.”
I strap my backpack to my chest and face him. “I won’t be able to carry you the whole way, but I can get us away from here.”
A thin band of static ripples across the bridge of Riven’s nose. “There’s no need for that.”
“Are you going to waste time arguing with me?” I point at the looming mountain. “People live up there. Someone will see the smoke and call 911. Do you want to pass them on the road in ten minutes?”
He shakes his head.
“Okay, great. I’m glad we agree.” I squint at the road ahead, waving as much smoke away as I can. There’s no way my hair won’t smell like onions after this. “I’ll take off, swing back, and scoop you up after I’ve got some momentum.”
“Scoop me up . . .”
“Yes.” I grin at him. “Like a baby.”
“Wonderful,” he mutters.
Riven is flustered, and that’s more fun to dwell on than the obstacles. “It’s not my fault your copycat wings aren’t strong enough to carry you,” I tease.
He sighs, then winces, and I wonder if he’s also thinking about our combination brawl-fall from the top of Crag’s monstrous neck. Riven took the brunt of the impact, and the image of him limping out of my cell afterward is burned into my brain. “I’m a chameleon,” he says. “The wings aren’t meant to function; they’re meant to help me blend in.”
“Which makes them useless.” I shrug. Riven’s mouth drops open, but I break into a sprint before he can respond, my wings thrilled to be released. “Be right back.”
Catching the updraft, I leap, flapping my wings until I’m twenty feet off the ground. Once I’ve gotten a decent read of the conditions, I circle back, lock in on Riven like a missile, and dive. He jumps. We collide hard. I wheeze, scrambling to get a good grip on him before we both end up with road rash.
“Wrap your legs around my waist,” I grit the words throughclenched teeth. “Arms over my shoulders. Head—fuck—move your head out of the way, Riven, I can’t see shit!”
He drops his chin to my shoulder, hooks his ankles over my ass, and rests his arms loosely behind my neck. My wings flap as I focus on reaching a good coasting altitude. There’s no way I’ll be able to carry us both twelve miles—but I can get us away from the flaming onion.
“The turnoff for the dirt road is about a mile ahead,” Riven says. “If we follow it, we’ll be hidden by the woods.”
“Got it.” I can do this. One mile. It’s only one mile.
The last time I flew flashes through my mind without warning.
Ice crusting my wings. The moth’s cruel laughter. Impenetrable darkness falling over the arena. The flying lizard screaming as he fell to his death.
“Stay calm, darling,” Riven murmurs. “You’re safe.” His thumb grazes the back of my neck. The gentle touch is enough to pull me out of the memory and allow me to shove it in a box where it belongs.
Sirens wail in the distance.
I flap my wings harder, aiming for the trees ahead. If I squint, I can see the turnoff for the dirt road.Almost there.The sirens get louder, bouncing off the granite mountains until they’re all I hear. With one final burst of speed, I swoop into the forest and land, running until I can slow us down, barely resisting the urge to cover my ears.
I glance over my shoulder as the fire truck zips by, lights flashing.
Riven drops his feet to the ground, layers of leaves and moss muffling his landing. “Good timing.” He doesn’t mention my distraction, and I’mthankful for that.
We walk in silence.
The canopy of trees blocks most of the sunlight, casting the forest in shadows.
I shudder and kick myself for being stupid.It’s nothing like the monster realm.I repeat the thought until I believe it, pinching my thighs every time I lose focus.
