AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Desert Skies One, Desert Skies One…” John’s voice came over the radio.
Erin nodded for me to grab it.
“Desert Skies One, over,” I replied.
“Holy crap!” John blurted. So much for maintaining radio etiquette. “You’re crazy. Both of you.”
My dragon grinned.Makes us perfect for each other.
“Ask him if the guests are all right,” Erin said, still focusing on the clouds.
If Madden had still been in the basket, he would have been a blubbering mess. But Erin was cool and calm. Professional, in a word. If we survived this—
When we survive this,my dragon corrected.
—I would make damn sure Henry knew it was Erin who’d salvaged what she could.
“A little bruised, but okay,” John confirmed. “Where are you headed?”
“To the holl—”
Erin cut me off, grabbing the mike. “To the wetlands. No time to talk now. Desert Skies One out.” With that, she clicked off the radio.
“Um…” I started, confused.
She huddled closer, whispering. “No need to announce our intention. Just in case the walls have ears.”
I glanced around the basket. Did she think Harlon had it bugged?
Erin shook her head, pointing to the clouds. “My dad says the wind carries sounds to him. So, just in case…”
I nodded, more uneasy than ever. The average warlock couldn’t mess with things like wind and weather — not on this scale anyway. But there was nothing average about Harlon.
I glanced at Erin, wondering about her father — and her own, subtle power.
She’d started to descend, I noticed. Not by dumping air in big bursts, however. Instead, she’d stopped the flow of hot air, letting the balloon descend gradually. Did she hope the wind wouldn’t notice?
The jagged line of rocks drew swiftly closer, though our path was a zigzag. Dark, cloudy tendrils buffeted the balloon from both sides, toying with us like a cat with its prey.
“Dammit…” Erin murmured, waving a hand to swat an insect away…or coaxing the wind into a more favorable direction?
I tried not to stare, because I doubted she was even aware of it. But the more I watched, the more I was sure she’d inherited some of her father’s powers. Not enough to extinguish the blasts that attacked us from all directions, but enough to nudge them. The balloon’s zigzag turns grew less abrupt as we steadily approached the rise.
“The minute we touch down, jump,” she whispered.
I tapped her shoulder, making her look at me. “Only if you do.” I wasn’t going to try that hanging-off-the-balloon stunt again, and I sure wasn’t going to let Erin’s heroics carry her away again.
And, whoa. Her eyes were glittering. Was that determination or a trace of magic?
She nodded firmly. “Believe me, I’m bailing out this time.” Then she spoke loud and clear, bluffing in case Harlon was listening. “Another mile and we’ll reach the landing point near the wetlands. I’ll stay low to avoid the worst wind.”
Whoosh!The balloon zipped along even faster.
I gulped, looking around. Maybe Harlon really could hear us.
We were so low, the basket scraped over bushes. So low, I feared we wouldn’t clear the rocky outcrop rushing up at us, concealing whatever lay beyond it.
Erin signaled for me to brace for impact.
