Page 43 (1/2)

After who kno long, she finally looks up at eous "Nohat?" she whispers

I have a feeling that question is going to keep haunting us

"The Gales are coht?"

She nods

"Then I think you should leave" I point to her mother’s crumpled body "Do you really want to be the one to tell thelances at Arella--then i hersick "They’ll need to questionPlease let ainst youryour ares at the word, and her voice trembles as she says, "They’ll trap her deep in the earth, starve her from the drafts, until her wind form withers and crumbles I hear it’s a pain far worse than death"

I squeeze her hands "She deserves it"

She doesn’t say anything

I give her a minute to collect herself, but I can’t take my eyes off the sky The Gales could be here any second "You’ve been through enough, Audra Let uardian If they think I abandoned you--"

"I’ll tell the sure he’s"

I can’t say it

I focus on the winds, letting the Westerlies’ peaceful song cal to tell thehs with relief, like I’ve given the right answer But then she tenses "MyBesides, would they really believe a criminal over us?"

"No," she adh

"We’ll figure it out," I pros"

I’, butI have a feeling Audra and I were already connected so to each other after the stor passed between us A rush of heat Kind of like what happened today e kissed--but totally different, too More like ere drawing strength and support from each other

Could that be another kind of bond?

It would explain the sparks we feel e touch, and the way I’ve been able to see her intoday by kissingbefore the Gales made their little betrothal

I’o," I tell her, helping her sit up

"You’re sure you’ll be okay?"

"I’ll be fine In fact, I’ these Gales of yours I have a few bones to pick with theet yourself exiled"

"Please--I’old"

Her s her face toward oodbye

At the last second I shift and kiss her forehead It’s not tiain

"I’ll see you soon," I whisper

"Hoill you get home? You won’t be able to fly that far"

"I’ll have one of the Gales give o Clean yourself up No offense--but you kinda need it"

She smiles for real this time, and shoves me "You’re pretty filthy yourself"

"You love that about me"

Her face turns serious "I do"

My heart swells, and I’oodbye like she’s never been kissed goodbye before But she calls a group of Easterlies to her side Our eyes hold as she wraps the drafts around her and floats sloay

Audra’s mom doesn’t stir, but I coil a couple of Westerlies around her hands and feet just to be safe Then I squat in the shade of a wind the air with songs asking the same question in my head

What now?

I don’t know

Butmaybe I don’t need to know I love Audra She loves me We survived the storm We finally know the truth about our pasts

Isn’t that enough?

"Who are you?" a man’s voice asks, and I nearly peethe sath hair has an intricate braid running down one side of his narroide-eyed face--but half of his hair remains loose Maybe that means he’s special Which would be awesome because I have so and offering a hand to shake "Maybe you’ve heard of me?"

His eyes widen, and he turns to Arella’s unconscious form "What happened?"

"Better have a seat You and I have a lot to talk about"

CHAPTER 58

AUDRA

I didn’t plan to return to ain But the winds see they want me to find

I stand in the shade of the oak where I swore my oath to the Gales The oath I’ve now broken

What will I do without its rigid structure guiding my life?

What do I have left?

Vane