Page 64 of Splintered Shadow
Vekele’s wings wrapped around them, creating a barrier, and he ran. He powered through the crowd, knocking people aside. Someone struck him from behind and he stumbled, nearly dropping her and Ghost. Pitch swooped down, talons extended, and attacked. A blade nicked his wing near the base, not deep enough to damage it, but enough that he would tire quickly.
This needed to be over. Now.
He burst onto the balcony into the sunlight, free of the choking darkness. Without hesitation, he hopped over the railing and fell.
They fell for a heartbeat. His wings unfolded and caught the air, slowing their descent to the plaza below. Unbalanced as he was, this was not a controlled glide. They were falling too fast. He banked to the right to avoid crashing into the building. Sarah twisted in his arms, peering over his shoulder at the chaos they left behind.
“You said you couldn’t fly!” she shouted over the wind.
“This isn’t flying. This is falling.”
The ground rushed toward them. He bent his knees, preparing to land hard.
He staggered on impact, but he did not drop his mate. She wiggled out of his hold, and Ghost jumped down to the ground. The void beast growled at an unseen foe and took off at a run.
“Ghost! Where are you going?” Sarah called.
“There is no time. We must leave.” They were exposed on all sides. Empty, the plaza had been cordoned off for the ceremony. A pair of flyers—most likely belonging to the royal guard—waited on the far side of the plaza.
“But Ghost—”
“Will find you.” He took her hand and pulled her toward the nearest flyer.
Vekele recognized the flyer as a short-range model and lacked enough fuel to go anywhere Vekele considered a stronghold. The flyer was not ideal, but good enough to get away.
Ghost returned; his muzzle bloodied but otherwise intact. Somewhere, Vekele suspected, an enemy writhed in pain.
“Good male,” he said, reaching down to pat the void beast. Ghost took a step back, then allowed the touch, bumping the top of his head to Vekele’s palm.
The hatch on the nearest flyer was secure. He could force the lock but did not wish to waste time. Growling in frustration, he slammed his hand against the keypad.
A shot pinged off the back of the flyer. Sarah flinched, crouching down. “Hurry up and open it.”
“I lack the code, and it will take too long to force.”
Her eyes widened in astonishment. “You’re stealing a spaceship.”
“I am a prince. This is an emergency requisition, and this vehicle is not capable of spaceflight.”
She snorted, quietly laughing. “Oh, you’re serious.”
“They would be compensated.” Their survival was more important than worrying about property.
Another shot. Sarah jumped, her eyes turning black.
“All will be well,” he said. “Do not panic.”
“Don’t lie to me. How about that one?” Sarah pointed across the plaza to a two-seater model with the hatch open.
The flyer would suffice, but they would be exposed.
“Stay close. Do not run in a straight line. Veer left and right,” he said.
“Zig-zag. Got it.”
He grabbed her hand and ran, shielding them with his wings. Pitch flew ahead, finding the best path. He moved to the right, bullets kicking up shards of pavement. His wings stung as debris bounced off.
“In,” he shouted, lifting Sarah up and into the vehicle. “Stay down.”
