Page 45 of A Sky of Storms
“Which fucker did this to you?” Zane snarled, his eyes searching mine as he shifted his arms to my body protectively.
I leaned into his touch, relishing his warm embrace as he adjusted his legs, placing one between my own. My skin warmed, my body becoming heated at the savage promise in his eyes to hurt whoever did this to me. A ripple of pleasure swirled between my legs, and I had to shift subtly to avoid grating against his junk.
Nobody had ever looked at me like that before, and I didn’t know what to make of it. But that was a puzzle for another time.
I huffed, stepping back. “Some flying creature attacked me when I landed. It tore my wing. I can’t fly.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but the creature following me screeched at that same moment. Thankfully, it sounded further away. Silence rippled between us for a few seconds as we held our breath. And then the screams began.
My pulse raced as the sounds of Potentials dying greeted us, and I looked to him, setting my jaw as I pulled him along by the wrist. “Come on, I spotted a building maybe a few kilometres away. If we make a run for it, we might be able to get across while that thing is distracted.”
He nodded, sliding his calloused palm into my hand and taking my spear in the other, holding it aloft like a damn water god. Vengeful merman looked good on him.
We ran together, him half pulling me along as I stumbled a few times, but I refused to die in this godsforsaken place. A watery grave just wasn’t it. Besides, I had a shit list with some names begging to be ticked off and a throne waiting for my ass to warm it.
Queendom was calling.
My breaths came in gasps, my blood pumping loudly in my ears. Safety was so close—just another kilometre and we’d make it. Of course, the residents of this bog didn’t take too kindly to that idea. A few screeches called from above and, alarmed, I glanced up to find more of those batlike things circling.
“Shit,” Zane panted between breaths. “Faster, Starfish, we’re almost there.”
A strangled moan came from my lips as he practically dragged me through the marsh, and a strong beat of air from bat wings surged against my cheek as it approached. “Duck,” I screamed, flattening myself to the ground as it soared over our heads.
We turned, facing off against two of the beasts with Zane brandishing his spear. “Go, get to the hut.”
I glanced to freedom longingly, but as I looked back at Zane, I knew I’d already made my choice. I turned, shifting my stance. “I’m not leaving you.”
His eyes gleamed with something deadly as he looked at me, and I realised beneath that calm exterior lay a predator just waiting to be freed if given the chance. The first bat dove, and Zane stood his ground until the last second, swivelling the spear with such precision he pierced its heart with a strangely sexual thrust … or maybe that was just me. The bat screeched, flapping its wings for a few seconds until they slowed to a stop and it dropped lifelessly to the ground.
The other surged for Zane while he was distracted and I roared, somehow managing to land it on its back as I dug my nails in and snapped the bone on its wing, grappling with it until it fell beneath me and I pummelled my fists into its face again and again.
I put all my rage into those blows, seeing red as flashes of my parent’s faces blurred before me, every hit I’d taken by their hands, every harsh word they’d ever said. Then I thought of Ethan in that position and every worker they’d forced into labouring for them, and my anger swelled tenfold.
Hands reached for me, pulling me away, and I finally realised the creature was long dead and I’d just been mashing at its still body. Zane looked at me, his brows pinching as he lifted my chin.
“Damn, Starfish, you’re a fucking goddess.”
My fists were bloody where I clutched him, but he didn’t seem to care as a sob escaped me and a tear trickled down my face. All the emotions I’d been bottling up chose that moment to finally show themselves.
Two weeks in and I’d been thrown through the ringer and wrung the fuck out. I was useless. What chance did I have at becoming queen if I couldn’t even hold my own against people like my sister? I’d thought I was strong, but even after everything I’d survived, I was still so weak. So pathetic.
Zane tugged me closer, and I breathed in his scent. His hair smelled like coconuts and mangoes, and his skin reminded me of a salty sea breeze. A tropical freaking paradise.
He pulled me into his arms, trailing a knuckle over my cheek, and I breathed in deeply as more tears fell. The walls I’d built to protect myself came crashing down as I struggled to maintain some semblance of control.
I’d dismissed Zane’s strength too easily, when really, he was unphased by the shifting tides and had proven himself more than capable against new threats. Maybe there was more to his laidback attitude than I’d realised.
I leaned in and kissed him without thinking, the action coming so easily, seeming so right. His lips felt perfect against my own—warm and inviting, and I sighed against his mouth. Shit, he was so easily sucking me in again. I began to pull away, but he growled, sliding his hand around the nape of my neck and tipping my head up as his tongue curled around mine.
I moaned, needing this comfort, needing to forget my worries if only for a moment. His touch was bliss everywhere his skin met mine, but I hissed as his hand brushed against my wing and I sucked in a breath, stepping away on instinct.
He stared at me longingly, but made no move to approach again, and I took the opportunity to inhale deeply, letting my head clear. Harmless fun at the academy was one thing, but distractions in a place like this could get me killed. My emotions were getting the better of me … and my body.
“Thank you,” I breathed. “For helping me get here.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Starfish,” he said quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I think we were meant to help each other through these trials.”
I shook my head, frowning at him. “Why? I’m sure you’ve heard what people say about me and my family. Why are you so nice to me?”
