Page 127 of Angel Lost

Farrell huffs out a ring of smoke before lifting himself into the air. He circles once before scooping Reye up from the huddle of students. She screams as he powers through the air, dangling her from one foot, toward the portal.

“Asshole,” snarls Zephyr.

Beside me, the rebel soldier clears his throat. What now? The students are hustling across the sand, heading straight for us. I plant my feet on either side of Kai and pass my knife from hand to hand. The students gather in a half-moon. They don’t attack, but that’s about the only comfort I can take from their expressions. Thorne squares his shoulders and steps forward. Of course wolf-boy would try to take charge.

“Let her go,” he says, eyes fixed on Nyx. “And Kai.”

I scrub a tired hand across my face. I’d forgotten about Nyx. About how it must look to have her tied up, to have Kai inert at my feet.

Kai groans and rolls over in the sand. On hands and knees, he barfs up lake water, mucus streaming from his nose, eyes watering. Withoutthinking I drop to the sand beside him, an arm across his shoulders. After a few moments, he sits back, leaning against me.

Thorne’s expression softens. I jerk my head at the soldier, and he rips the tape from Nyx’s mouth.

“Motherfucking toad lover,” she screeches, and we all flinch.

Thorne snarls, his muscles bunching again.

Nyx clicks her tongue, eyeing the students. Finally, she speaks. “They’re not the enemy. We…we’re free.” Her voice breaks.

Beside me, Kai moves his hand hesitantly to his hairline With one finger he traces the nape of his neck, his jaw slack.

As one, the students copy his gesture, slow smiles breaking out. They are free; their slave bonds dissolved with Davina’s death.

But anger radiates from Zephyr in waves. His aura glows brilliant, brittle. I pat his trouser leg, then pull myself up, slipping an arm around his waist.Soon, Zephyr. We’ll get the Virrey soon.

My phone buzzes.

Raff. “We’ve wiped the system, but the security firm has been tipped off. Get to the portal, avoid any remaining cameras.”

Shit. My gaze travels around the motley group. Farrell wanted the students dead. I can’t…

“We have to go. Nyx knows too much. She stays with us, for now.” The solider heaves her back over his shoulder, ignoring the stream of abuse he gets. I turn to Zephyr. “You’ll need to carry Kai. I don’t have the strength.”

Zephyr’s face sets in a stony mask, his movements jerky as he hauls Kai to his feet. Hecate, I don’t have time for tantrums right now. I turn back to Thorne.

“To protect our identity, I’m going to ask you all to come with us.”

Some of the students protest, but he holds up a hand.

I shuffle awkwardly. “Davina bound you all to her. Now she’s gone, you have free will. I’m asking you to do this. Not telling you. No one can make you do anything, not anymore. But…even without meaning to…any one of youcould put me and my allegiance at risk. You could let something slip. Or be tortured into giving up information. So—” My voice cracks and I pause. “So please, come with me. Just give me a few days.”

Thorne glances around the students before nodding. I squeeze my eyes shut against the tears of relief threatening. If they’d refused, would I have done as Farrell wanted? Maybe. I can’t dwell on it. I have to get them safely to Farrell’s now. Get them hidden away on the estate. The rebels will look out for them. I’ll make sure of it.

My bones ache, my brain is foggy, and if I don’t get a snack soon, someone is going to die. Someone else. I cringe. At my back, Chano grumbles in his sleep and I wriggle closer, enjoying the heat radiating from him. My bladder pulses, again, and I finally give in. I’m awake. No more dozing for me. I check the clock. Holy hell, I manage a grand total of two hours sleep after I healed Kai. Semi-healed Kai. I’m still not as good at healing as I should be. I crawl across Farrell’s comatose frame and poke a toe out of bed. The center of my back throbs with a kidney-punch kind of pain, and bile rushes into my mouth. I pause, taking a few deep breaths until it eases.

My wing. I need a healer.

Later. After I pee. I step around Kai’s prone body, sprawled on a mattress on the floor, and pad to their bathroom. Zephyr still hasn’t joined us. I chew the inside of my cheek.

Everything will be better with the bathroom and a shower. And a snack. I flick through my phone. Still nothing on the news. There’s no way he doesn’t know by now; it’s been almost ten hours since we escaped. Ten hours since I killed his sister. The longer there’s no breaking news, the more worry consumes me.

Chano better be right. Behaving normally after that shitshow feels alien. But he’s sure we have to keep up the pretense. Alairik and Raff are goodwith tech. But are they that good? I can’t shake the feeling that we should be running, not stopped here at the academy, where we’re supposed to be. A sitting target for anyone who knows what we did.

I slip out into the dawn. Biting into one of Mrs. Cocci’s cookies, my feet curled under me, a mug of steaming coffee clutched in my hand, I finally let my shoulders relax. Bliss. A few moments alone in the early morning is just what I need. My body clock is used to the Gifted Academy timetable. I’d already have had a swim by now. Except, no. It’s Friday. I should be here. Which means…I lean my head on my mug. ItmeansI have class in under two hours.

Except I don’t even make it to class before I get summoned to the dean’s office. I’m half in, half out of my blazer when a knock sounds on the door. Kai gropes his way to it, bleary-eyed, tripping over one of Farrell’s stupid dragon statues. Swearing, he opens the door.

Val stands in the doorway, a crease from sleeping on her face, and her hair on end.

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