AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He knelt beside her, his eyes shining in the dimness. “How are you doing?”
“Me? I’m doing amazing. ”
“Really,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Come here. ” He took her hand and lifted her up. In a heartbeat, she found herself in a dim corner made darker by Perry, who towered over her and around her, blocking out the meager light.
Bending, he rested his forehead against hers and smiled. “I had some things I wanted to talk to you about. I think they were important, but I can’t remember now. ”
“Because I said I’m amazing?”
His smile widened. “Because you are amazing. ” He took her injured hand, running his thumb over her knuckles. “How is this?”
She couldn’t believe he wanted to know if she was in pain. “Not bad . . . I’m becoming left-handed. ” The pain was either fading day by day, or she was becoming better at coping with it. Either way, she decided to consider it an improvement. “You?”
“A little sore,” he said absently, like he’d forgotten the bruises that covered him. “That move you did on Kirra was champ. It would never work on me, though. ”
“I could pin you in two seconds flat. ”
“I don’t know about that. ” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “We’ll have to see. ” He cradled her face with callused hands, and bridged the distance between them.
His lips were gentle and soft as he kissed her, unlike the flexed muscles in his forearms. He felt solid and real and safe—everything she needed. She took the hem of his shirt and pulled him closer.
His kiss deepened as he leaned into her. His hands slid down her waist and settled on her hips, sending a warm wave of desire flooding through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting more, but he broke their kiss and made a low hissing sound by her ear. “You know I’m at a steep disadvantage here, right? When you want me, I feel it. It’s impossible to keep my hands off you. ”
“Sounds like an advantage to both of us. ”
He drew back, giving her a lopsided grin. “It would be if we were alone. ” His gaze strayed toward the cockpit, a familiar, steady focus returning to his eyes. “We’re almost there. ”
Through the windshield, she saw ocean and Aether—a sky twisting with Aether—but she found herself smiling. She couldn’t wait to see Caleb again. She couldn’t wait to see Molly and Willow, and even Brooke.
Perry straightened, taking her hand. “We need to be united about something. If Jupiter and Brooke made it safely, we’ve got the Belswan Hover they brought back, and now this Dragonwing. Between the two, I’m guessing they’d fit a hundred people. ”
“It’s not enough. That would barely fit a quarter of us. You’re not thinking of only sending a hundred people to the Still Blue, are you?”
He shook his head. “No. I wasn’t. I’m not ready to give in yet. ”
Aria realized she’d already known his answer. They felt the same way about this. Hundreds of years ago during the Unity, there’d been a selection to choose those who’d take shelter in the Pods and those who wouldn’t. It had divided her ancestors and his, but she couldn’t let that happen again. How could she value one person’s life more than another? How could she choose Caleb over Talon? Jupiter over Willow?
She couldn’t, and neither could Perry. They had brought Dwellers and Outsiders together, and that was how it would stay.
“We have to be prepared, Aria. Not everyone will see it the way we do. ”
“We’ll make them see it. We’ll find another solution. ”
“I have some thoughts on that. ” He glanced at the cockpit again. Roar stood next to the pilot, directing him over the last stretch toward the cave. “We’ll talk later. ”
She knew they would, but she wanted to tell him something now, while Roar was occupied. “I have a favor to ask. ”
“Anything. ”
“Talk to him. ”
He understood right away. “We’re fine. ” He shifted his weight, his green eyes darting back to Roar. “He’s my brother. . . . We don’t need to apologize. ”
“I didn’t mean that you should apologize, Perry. ” Roar’s anger had faded in the Komodo, but he stood no chance of accepting what had happened to Liv unless Perry did. Unless they got through it together.
Perry stared into her eyes like he saw all her thoughts in them. Then he brought her hand up and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
“I promise,” he said.
