“Oh, wonderful,” Vane grumbles. “What deal do you think she’s striking with Raiden this time? Handing all four of us over—maybe with whipped cream and a cherry on top?”
“I can’t imagine she’d be that foolish,” Aston says.
I roll my eyes. “Clearly you don’t know my mother.”
“Actually, she and I are closer than you’d think. Every time I absorb her pain I understand her better—but that’s not what I meant about her being foolish. She’s very aware that I’ve made the same threat as Raiden. I know what draft she’s protecting. And I know the command to destroy it.”
“You wouldn’t,” I whisper as everything inside me coats with frost.
“Oh, I think you know me well enough to know that I very much would. I’m like a thunderhead that way. I can look soft and fluffy. But get too close and I will blast the heart right out of you.”
“No one’s blasting the heart out of anyone,” Vane tells him, “unless it’s Raiden. Or Arella—if she really is off cutting another deal. And if you do anything that hurts Audra—or her father’s songs—I’ll show you just how violent a Westerly’s capable of being.”
“Good,” Aston says. “Keep that darkness close. You’re going to need it when we get to Raiden.”
“Speaking of which,” Solana jumps in, “shouldn’t we get working on that? The Storms are closing in on the Gales.”
“I was hoping your little Westerly might return with a few reinforcements before we press on,” Aston tells me.
I’ve been counting on the same thing. But no matter how far I stretch my senses, I can’t feel any winds.
“I have five drafts tucked away,” Solana offers. “Three Southerlies, a Northerly, and an Easterly—plus the two ruined winds I caught.”
“And I used four in that wind spike,” Vane adds. “And I have a Westerly shield.”
“Still not enough for what I was thinking,” Aston says. “We’ll just have to improvise.”
“What if we . . .” Solana’s voice trails off, and she closes her eyes. “I think I know a command that will blur our forms as we move—I just have to think it through to make sure it’s useable.”
She reaches for my hands and stares into my eyes.
It takes me a second to realize she’s testing her motives.
I suppose protecting the girl who stole your betrothed is about as unselfish an act as possible.
“Okay,” she whispers, her hands starting to shake. “I don’t think it’ll stretch very wide, so we’re going to have to huddle together.”
She takes a deep breath before hissing a string of garbled words.
“Fascinating,” Aston breathes as a gray draft crawls out of her skin and forms a loose funnel around us. “I never would’ve thought to make that request.”
“What did she say?” I ask.
“It’s best not to explain to someone who doesn’t use the power,” he says. “We wouldn’t want to awaken the hunger.”
The air whips faster and faster, turning to a blur.
“Are you okay?” Vane asks, steadying Solana as she wobbles.
“It’s just a little draining,” she says. “How’s the craving in my eyes?”
He leans closer, and she seems to hold her breath. “Wow, I only see the tiniest glint.”
“As do I,” Aston agrees. “I must admit, I’m rather disappointed. I’ve been hoping you were wrong about this selflessness thing, since it doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. I guess I should count myself lucky that I’m too far gone for it to matter. You ready to move?”
Solana nods, and we creep out of the rocks, trying our best not to kick one another’s heels as we move.
“How is this hiding us?” Vane asks.
“It’s similar to how we disguise our forms when we fly,” Solana tells him. “I convinced the draft to combine our traces, so it’ll feel like there’s only one of us. And it’s weak and muffled, so Raiden might not even notice it. But if he does, he’ll think it’s a lone Gale. He definitely won’t be prepared for the four of us.”
We move in silence after that, making the slow climb up the rock formation.
I stretch out my senses, trying to home in on Raiden’s exact location. But either we’re too far away, or Raiden’s too good at hiding.
“By the way,” Solana whispers, turning to look at Aston. “I don’t believe that anyone can ever be too far gone.”
“Even Raiden?” Vane interrupts.
“He’s different,” she says. “He’s the one who started messing with the power. And even if he could change his ways, he’s done too much to be redeemed.”
“As have I,” Aston tells her. “I know you still see me as that eager-to-help Gale—but I can’t even remember being him. And the things I’ve done since then would give you nightmares.”
“But you’re here now,” Solana whispers. “I saw how terrified you were in that tunnel outside Brezengarde. And still, you came back—and now you’re marching up to face Raiden, knowing our chances aren’t good.”
“So really, we should be questioning my sanity,” he says with a forced smile. Several seconds later he adds, “I just . . . want this all to be over.”