“You don’t need to. Do it for real,” Alexei said. I could hear the smile in his voice. “Trust me on this, I have a hunch it’ll work.”
“What will?” Oliver said, a lot closer now, his hand smacking me in the face. “Sorry. Can’t see anything.”
Alexei scoffed, and I reached out for Oliver, pulling him right next to our faces.
“Say your hunch is right, Alexei. Wouldn’t he see it coming since he’s already infiltrated your mind?”
“Depends if he’s still in there—and that depends on how much blood he took and how much time has passed. But I’ve reinforced my mental shields and don’t feel him. Trust me, I think the plan will work.”
“And he can’t hear our conversation through his shadows?”
“Not unless he’s standing close, or he’d have to be in our mind to know more. He can only sense our heat signatures and movement.”
“I want to know the plan,” Oliver whispered right next to my cheek.
Alexei proceeded to tell him.
“Of course.”
I had a feeling Oliver was rolling his eyes as much as I was. But he knew Ronen best, so if Alexei had a hunch, then it could work. Add in the fact that Ronen ripped us apart—for reasons I couldn’t think about—and it was our best bet. The only problem was I didn’t think it’d be a big enough scene to disrupt his shadows, nor was I going to willingly make out with Alexei while heteased my breasts—his words, not mine.
“I have a better idea, but it’ll be much harder.” I shifted both their heads so my mouth was at their ears and explained.
“No, I like my plan more.”
“Me too. Haven’t I puked enough in these stupid lessons?” Oliver groaned loudly.
I smiled, knowing wherever Ronen hid, he had to have heard that.
My ears popped as something changed in my environment, and wings rustled to my left. Curious, I slid my hand over Alexei’s shoulder and ran my fingers through his heavenly soft feathers.
Alexei moaned. “Are you sure you don’t want to go with my plan? Because you pretty much ran a finger along my cock. And I’m trying really hard not to get turned on right now. But a guy can only do so much.”
I jerked my hand back and wrapped it around his neck. “Sorry.”
He laughed and scooped me up after figuring out his arm placement. “There’s a reason our wings don’t stay out. So please, keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times, or we’re going with my plan.”
A fierce, cold breeze snapped at my face as Alexei shot us into the air. He only went so far, staying within the shadows, but I knew the drop would kill me either way.
“You think this is really going to work?” The palms of my hands were slick with sweat, and my pulse quickened.
“Yes. And so do you, or you wouldn’t have suggested it. He’d never let anything happen to you,” Alexei admitted softly.
He made it sound like I meant something to him. Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. If I did, I should’ve been ecstatic. That meant he might actually help me. Too bad it no longer mattered.
“Ready?”
“For this day to be over? Yes. For free-falling over the ground—or worse, the Shard Field—no.”
Alexei huffed. “Enjoy the fall.”
I swallowed. My nails dug into my hands, refusing to let go.
“Catch her if you can!” Alexei shouted as he released me. Even if I wanted to hold on to him longer, my sweaty hands slid, and I fell.
A shriek clawed up my throat. This was how I died. My stomach jumped into my mouth, and I flailed. It didn’t matter if this was our plan. Images of my body impaled on icicles invaded my mind. Surely Ronen had retreated to some far-off corner. He wouldn’t rescue me in time. Hadn’t I already been falling forever?
Strong arms closed around me, and I was gasping for all the air I could get.
