Page 20 of We Steal The Flight

“Kane.” I break the silence softly. “I’m never leaving this island, not without you.”

He lifts his head and looks at me, and something in his expression—open and undone and utterly certain—makes my chest ache with how much I love him.

His thumb brushes my cheek. “Mine forever, then. How can I say no to you?” he says quietly. Not possessive. Just true.

“Yours.”

Kane sits up, a growl echoing from his throat. “Someone is coming.” We quickly throw our clothes on before two shadows appear in the cave entrance. Witches. One male and one female. The female steps forward, lowering her hood. “The storm confuses the Mindless, and I really want to see my best friend.”

Wini.

Chapter 13

After a brief catch-up with Wini and Headmaster Parker, I tell her all about Aster and how he’s with the shifter people, and she tells me all about the academy, how Bael from the Umbral Authority is there and causing trouble. Headmaster Parker goes with my mates to talk about the Mindless patrols and to get some food. I look at Wini’s face as she watches Headmaster Parker walk away, never taking her eyes from him.

“Things have changed recently,” I say, smiling at Wini. “The headmaster definitely seems like he’s defending you well, and you look at him like you look at Aster.”

Wini does look well, and I’m so happy to see her like this. Her long blonde hair is a little messy from the rain and humidity, but the waves suit her. She is somehow still tanned, covered in freckles, and when she looks at me, she smiles like we aren’t in a war. She has lost so much, but it hasn’t dampened her spirit at all.

“It’s complicated.” Her cheeks brighten, and then she leans in. “Well, not that complicated. We are together…and I will fight for him.”

“Really? Didn’t know you had a thing for teachers.” I knock her shoulder and she rolls her eyes at me.

“Says the one with four mates…damn, girl.” She knocks me right back. “You look happy, and you deserve that a thousand times over.”

“So do you.” I hug her tightly. “Tell me more about the academy and what’s been happening.”

“Well, you know I was stabbed, and that wasn’t fun.” I wince at the memory. “I’m not at my full strength yet,” she softly explains, “but I nearly died, and I’m lucky to be here. A lot of that was because of Luke and Aster never giving up on me.”

“I’m so happy they could help you. It was a mess down with that evil thing.” I blow out a breath. “And your brother?”

“Still alive.” She frowns. “But he is in a constant state of pain, knocked out on the drugs that we gave him, so he can’t actually wake up and tell anybody what happened. He’s got no hair now. Severely burned, pretty much everywhere, and he isn’t a threat to anyone anymore.” I shouldn’t feel this relieved, but it is all I can feel. That man tried to force me to marry him, force me to be his, and almost killed Vale. I slept with him, and he was my first everything, but he was using me. He was always using me. “I don’t think you need to worry about him bothering you. He can live the rest of his life out in that state and die like it too.”

“He got what he deserved.” I nod at her.

“I agree. Blood never made them nice to me; if anything, it was a curse. I don’t know where my dad is, but I’m not looking for him.” We both give each other a crooked smile; this was not the family she deserved. “Anyway, less sad family stuff. I didn’t come to be sad, just to help with whatever plan you have going on.”

“I just heard the plan.” Headmaster Parker walks in right on time. “I’ve got no qualms. Have you told Wini yet?”

“What plan?” Wini asks, leaning back. I explain it all as Black and Kane come in and join in on the explanation after a bit.

I clear my throat. “You should go through the portal that Lyra’s going to make across the cliffs. Part of her spell, as she explained, is going to force every witch and shifter to Bloodstone. We have less than two weeks, and I need to make the potion to open the portal to begin with.”

“You’re going to need ingredients,” Wini works out.

I can only nod. Wini looks up at Luke. “We should go back and get everything they need for the spell.”

“You don’t have to. We were figuring out a way to—” I offer, but she grabs my hand.

“No, all the ingredients are in the academy. It should be easy enough to get them and bring them here. Like I said earlier, they still trust us, and I’m not leaving you to fight this alone. Bloodstone Academy is my home too, and I’m staying with you no matter what happens.” She holds her chin high.

“You haven’t even seen the other world, Wini,” I gently remind her. “I’m only staying because I have to, because my mates are here and they will die if they leave.”

She shakes her head of crazy hair. “You’ve been a sister to me since the beginning, and I know you lost Rue, and I’ve lost everyone too, but I could not cope with losing you. I like it here. It’s safe. I’m sure Aster will want to stay and defend Bloodstone Academy. We’ll be at your side, at my best friend’s side. It’s the right thing to do.” She hugs me before I can fight her on it, and over her shoulder, Luke meets my eyes and nods once.

Maz walks through the door, holding up a note between his fingers. “The shifters have had to move. This is from Aster. We have to change our plan. Now.”

The new note is simple. Another one of the Umbral Authority is dead—no doubt Lyra did that—and the rest have sent all Mindless after the shifters. They found them.