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Soren’s expression went from smug to shocked as he realized what she’d said.
Reef’s face underwent the same transformation, in reverse. He broke into a wide grin, tipping his head at her in a gesture of respect.
“Don’t just stand there,” he said to Soren and Jupiter. “Your first-in-command just gave an order. Load up. ”
Aria hugged Caleb, promising she’d see him soon, and boarded with them.
The bay doors opened to the cargo hold, a wide, bare space that stretched across the middle of the Hover. She moved to the cockpit at the front with Soren and Jupiter, who dropped into the two seats and immediately began to argue about which button controlled what.
It didn’t inspire confidence.
Leaning against the threshold, she watched them while keeping her ears tuned for Perry and Roar.
She wasn’t worried about bringing Jupiter. He was harmless, and she liked the idea of having another Dweller on the team. The more they could integrate, the better. But Soren was another matter.
Could she trust him? He had come through for her with Talon. But then he’d also attacked her in Ag 6. And she’d trusted his father, Hess, and look where that had gotten her. Then there was Soren’s attitude and his history with Perry. The only thing he really contributed were his piloting skills, and those were shaky.
Soren sensed her watching him and broke off with Jupiter. “What?”
“Are you ready?” she asked.
His lip curled up—a dead giveaway that he was nervous. “What kind of question is that? Is there a way to prepare for this that I’m unaware of?”
“You’ll do fine. You’ve flown it already. Just don’t crash. ”
She caught him by surprise. His smirk softened into a more natural smile. “I’ll try not to. ”
Aria heard Perry walk up behind her. His hand settled on the small of her back.
“Get this ship moving, Soren,” he said, over her shoulder. “Put us ahead of that storm. ”
Through the windshield she saw that the fog had begun to burn off, revealing a patch of sky to the south. There, the Aether wheeled in spirals, a sight both terrifying and familiar. The red flares were brighter than she’d expected, shocking as fresh blood. Seeing them stole her breath away.
“I was just waiting for you to show up, Outsider,” Soren said.
Perry had already left, heading back into the cargo hold, leaving a fading warmth where his hand had rested.
Soren’s mouth pulled into a sneer. “Aria, please explain to me how you can—”
“I’m not explaining anything to you, Soren,” she said, and left.
She knew what he was going to say. Perry had shattered Soren’s jaw that night in Ag 6. She knew he found the idea of her and Perry together repulsive.
At the far end of the cargo hold, she saw Perry duck through the door that opened into a stowage room. Earlier, when she’d first arrived on the bluff with Caleb, she had left her things in the supply lockers back there. She’d found food, medicine, and camping supplies, along with a small kitchen. Most importantly, the room stored their weapons.
An entire wall of lockers contained pistols, stun guns, bulkier weapons she suspected were for long-range, and other arms used by Guardians. Perry’s and Brooke’s bows would be added as well, along with a few full quivers.
A packed arsenal, but it didn’t feel like enough. Together, Sable and Hess had at least eight hundred people. She’d seen Hess’s forces as he’d fled Reverie. He’d taken all the Guardians, choosing soldiers over regular civilians. But Sable worried her even more. Maybe he didn’t have the technological prowess Hess had, but he was cunning and completely ruthless.
They were facing the most capable fighters from
both worlds. To succeed, they’d need much more than the weapons stored in the back.
The engine thrummed to life, startling her. She pulled one of the jump seats down from the wall and sat, drawing the thick harness straps over her shoulders.
Brooke came in from outside, followed by Roar. Aria heard them walk up the ramp and into the hold, but she didn’t look up. With only one hand, snapping the heavy closure of the harness was impossible. She fumbled with it, trying not to scream.
Roar knelt in front of her. “Do you really need help or are you just trying to get my attention?”
