Page 31 of Ruthless Fae
One of the twins shook his head. “Only seven. We can take care of ourselves.” He inclined his head as he offered me Karen’s modified helmet, without meeting my gaze.
I took it, numbly, reminded of his purpose. “No, ten,” I said, feeling my heart turn to ice. “Daniella is locked in that room. We have to go back and get her.” I turned to run out the door.
Vaughn blocked my path. “No.”
“Get out of my way!”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t let you.”
“We can’t let her die.”
“Four thousand feet until impact.”
Vinya spoke behind me. “It doesn’t matter, Tally. I wouldn’t be able to take her. I only have enough power to teleport six people.”
“What?!” three people exclaimed at the same time, the most outrage coming from my aunt. “That’s unacceptable. Where is the all-mighty Dean McIntosh?” Kiana demanded.
“Not here,” Vinya said, her voice dripping with regret.
“Three thousand feet until impact.”
The twins exchanged a glance between themselves, then with a nod, and without a word, they dematerialized, the same way the rest of the crew had.
“Why didn’t they take anyone with them?!” Kiana yelled.
Vinya took a step closer, her eyes hard as she stared at my aunt. “That’s all their limited powers will allow.”
“What about any of you?” Kiana cast her gaze around.
Ronnie and Becca buried their chins in their chests. My aunt’s keen eyes zeroed in on them as she spotted their shame.
I jumped to their defense before she dared say anything. “They’re just kids. They don’t have enough training.”
“I’ll stay back,” Vaughn said. “Take them, Vinya.”
I shook my head. “No!”
“One thousand feet until impact.”
“I’ll do it. I’ll stay,” I shouted.
Vinya stepped closer. “No one has to do that. I’ll take everyone, even if it kills me.” She put her hand out for us to grab.
“Daniella, too?” I asked, nonsensically, even though I knew Vinya needed to be in contact with those she meant to transport.
Vinya shook her head.
“I’m not leaving her.” I tried to run again, but Vaughn trapped me in the cage of his strong arms as Vinya laid a hand on my shoulder and everyone else gathered around to grab on.
I turned my head to meet Vinya’s gaze and begged her not to take me, to leave me here so I could go to Daniella and stay with her, so she wouldn’t be alone. But Vinya wouldn’t look at me. Instead, she stared at all the hands piled in front of her, and just for one instant, her gaze flicked toward Kiana with a mixture of hate and righteousness, and I knew right away what she intended to do.
“Five hundred feet until impact.”
As I still fought against Vaughn’s arms, the spell took me, disintegrating me piece by piece.
An instant later, an explosion rocked the world.
A loud boom pierced my ears with savage force. I pressed my hands to either side of my head as heat lapped at my skin, and everything shook.
