Page 71 of A Sky of Storms
I jumped to my feet, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Kayden and Ace had both sabotaged me, no matter what they said. I shook my head. Lesson damn well learned. I strode through the marsh, already saturated by the disgusting water, with Kayden close on my heels.
“He better not be dead,” I snapped, seething. Ace had some serious explaining to do. Shot or not, I wanted answers.
By some miracle, Ace was already on his feet, storming back and forth when we reached him, blood trickling down the side of his head.
“What was that all about?” I asked, not bothering to check in on his well-being. If he was up and moving after a gunshot wound, then he was fine to answer my questions.
“He knew I wasn’t Mark and tried to kill me, what do you think?!” Ace shouted, throwing his hands in the air.
“Did he say anything before he decided to murder you?” I asked, hands on my hips.
Ace shook his head then winced from the movement. “Nah, nothing of use. Our little chat was me trying to convince him not to put a bullet between my eyes.”
“Did you see what he looked like? Was he a Drake? I saw your logo on the side of the helicopter.”
“Logo,” Ace scoffed. “We aren’t a fucking corporation or sports team.”
“Answer me.”
Ace narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t recognise his voice so, no, not a Drake. As for the helicopter, I don’t know why this mystery guy had access to it.”
“Not as high up in your gang as you thought,” Kayden said, attracting an elbow to the side from Ace. Kayden laughed. “Tough break.”
Ace strode towards me, his gait wobbly. He probably was fighting a concussion. “I don’t know what’s going on,” he said, looking me dead in the eyes. “But I plan to find out.”
“Theysaidtheyweregoing scouting,” the Potential said, looking between me and Fallon. “Were they not allowed to leave?”
“We don’t run a dictatorship here. Everyone is free to come and go when they want,” she said. “Thanks, Nick.”
The Potential smiled then left us to it, and I spun Fallon around to face me. “How are you so calm when our friends have abandoned us?”
“They’re not my friends.”
“Hush, little one,” I said, stroking her black hair like she was a cat. I was already feeling calmer, so it had to be working wonders on her. “We will endure their betrayal. Don’t worry, I’m still here with you and I’ll never leave.”
Her lips quirked as she tilted her head, looking all kinds of cute. “I’m not worried.”
“You don’t need to put on a brave face with me,” I told her. There could have been any reason for Ace, Noah, and Kayden to be gone, but my mind was diving into the deepest of oceans. With Victoria outright declaring her intentions to kill Fallon, I was already on edge and now that my three besties were gone without a word…
“They’ve left us to form their own group,” I said, whimpering.
Fallon smoothed the crease between my brow with her thumb. “Let’s just wait and see, water boy. No jumping to conclusions. We should prepare ourselves for Victoria to attack though,” she added, stepping back. “With our numbers down, waiting around could get us all killed. We are an easy target right now.”
“You’re presuming they’re coming back,” I said. “For all we know, they’ve allied with each other and left permanently.”
“Kayden and Ace?” She laughed, her eyes twinkling. “Not a chance. Those two can barely stand being in the same room.”
I sighed. It was sweet of Fallon to try and be positive for me. She was the clownfish to my sea anemone. “Maybe they discovered that they are truly meant to be the best of friends. It happens, you know. One minute you are enemies, then a defining moment happens and you’re buddies for life.” I groaned. “I missed their defining moment.”
“No one had a defining moment,” she said, planting a quick kiss on my lips. “Take a breath. I’m going to go check our defences and see what we can improve.”
She strode away, off to organise the others. Fallon was born for leadership—strong, intelligent, and strategic, but also caring and considerate of those around her. She had a good heart and shined when she felt needed by those around her. I hoped she’d start to see that she needed others too, even though she liked to hide behind her independence.
It was a bit of a bummer she’d never become queen. She would have made a good one.
Everyone in the garrison was moving with purpose, erecting extra defences or sorting through weapons. My heart just wasn’t in it. I still couldn’t believe my new besties had up and left without telling me. I’d thought they were warming up to us all being friends, but maybe Fallon had a point about them being up to something sinister. It’s like my aunt always said, you can never trust an orca at a seal’s birthday party.
I scratched my chin. Is that how it went or was it a football game? My aunt always handed out her advice at family events when the alcohol was flowing. Anyway, the point was Ace and Kayden were orcas and poor Noah was a majestic seal. That realisation had dread pooling into my gut and I gasped aloud. Had they done something to him? Had they taken him hostage?
