“It’s time to go.” The familiar timber of his voice silenced the sounds of the city. She reached for his mask, ran her fingers over it and then under until she could feel the scratch of the hair along his jaw. The curve of his lips. The bend of his nose. She peeled it off, pushing it over dark locks of hair and gasped when she drew her hands away.
“Desmond?”
He stood over her, a deep cut dripping red down his cheek, his nose twisted and bloody. Her knees gave out, sending her plummeting to the ground but those strong arms she knew well wrapped around her waist and pulled her up.
“We have to go.” He moved to put his sentry mask over his head but before he covered his face she pressed on the back of his neck until his mouth was aligned with hers.
Then he kissed her. He kissed her until she could not breathe. He kissed her so deeply she forgot, for a moment, where they were or what had happened. For a fraction of time it was just her and him and every ounce of pain and worry and fear washed away like sand adrift in the wind. She was home, in his arms, and he kept kissing her until their souls were threaded, the beat of their hearts syncing together.
Alive, alive, alive, their pulses sang with every press of their lips.
Then, he pulled away and reality came crashing back into her.
The ache from the burns on her neck.
Her wrists.
The fact that Desmond was here, in front of her, when she thought him dead.
Another flash of light cut across his face before he pulled his mask on completely. His arms tightened around her, crushing her into his chest. “Whatever happens, my love, don’t let go of me.”
Thirty-Five
Aesira
The Aquila sliced through the red dust that encompassed Vargah as they docked in the Boneyard District. Aesira tightened her armor, straightening her chest plate, positioning her sword at her side.
Feverish air encompassed them as they stepped off the ship but it was nothing compared to the flood of distraught people screaming and shouting.
She leaned into Stone’s side to whisper in his ear. “Naming Day?”
“You’d think they’d be cheering.”
A woman’s toe snagged on Aesira’s boot, sending her to the ground. “Are you alright?” Aesira asked, helpingher to her feet.
“Rebels,” the woman managed through a sob. “The rebels are here! They’ve come to take our water. Ourastra!” Then she was gone, fleeing into the crowd.
“Rebels?” Stone turned to Aesira, pulling a knife from his boot. “There haven’t been rebels in Vargah in years.”
Her heart sped up, more shouting and frenzied screaming sounding in all directions. “I need to find my sister.”
Stone nodded. “I’ll go with you.” He turned to face Patch, Bee, and Birdie. “You three stay back. Keep the ship running. We’ll need a way out if rebels are truly here.”
“We’ll need food,” Bee said, “and water. We can’t make another trip without replenishing.”
“Try and find what you can but stay close,” Stone said.
Bee nodded then gripped Birdie’s hand and dashed through the Boneyard District.
“I'll stay with the Aquila,” Patch said.
Stone dropped his bag, his books. “If we’re not back by sundown, you’ll leave for the Isles. Do you understand?”
Reluctantly, Patch nodded before Stone turned to her. “Ready?”
Aesira waved Nora forward. “Let’s go.”
“I’m staying, Commander.” Nora looped her arm with Patch’s.
