Free Earth & Sky by Kaye Draper Page A

reluctantly.  “But you, Wren, you’re in
danger.  Let me port you somewhere safe.”
    I shook my head.  “Of course not.  I need to go back to my
people.”  My heart ached at the thought of returning to the slaughter.  I
glanced at his beautiful wings, thought of blasting them to pieces with my gun,
leaving him earth-bound here where he could do less damage.  I thought I might
puke.
    He closed the distance between us, his face urgent. 
“Wren, your people are going to be killed.  If you insist on returning, you
have to get them out of there.”
    I stared at him.  “What are you talking about?”  Suspicion
crept into my voice.  Was he trying to trick me?  It was clear that we were
winning- maybe he was trying to use our “connection” to gain an advantage. 
Maybe my father was right all those years ago, and he was influencing me
somehow.
    He squeezed my hands.  “It’s a trap,” he said softly. 
“The army you’re fighting now- it’s only one arm of our forces.  The other will
port in at the east end of the valley any second now, and attack from behind. 
Your people will be trapped and outnumbered.  They’ll all die.”
    I stared at him, stunned.  How could I have been so
stupid?  It was my first time leading the army.  I was supposed to prove
myself.  Obviously, I had failed.  I gritted my teeth in anger.
    The Fallen warrior, my Fallen warrior, stared down at me
with pity in his eyes.  I squared my shoulders and glared at him, defiant.  “I
will not leave my people to die.  It’s my duty to be with them.  Take me back,
now!”
    He slipped the tall, plumed helm over his head, covering
all but his expressive mouth.  Then he tugged me close, holding me to him with
one arm.  I stood rigid in his embrace.  “When we return, pull your troops. 
Call a retreat.  I’ll delay the order to close the valley.”  One corner of his
mouth turned up in a wry grin.  “It will come a moment too late- simply poor
judgment on my part.”  He sighed.  “I’d rather not return you to danger, but
I’ll give you every opportunity to get away.”
    I nodded stiffly.  Calling a retreat would be a disgrace,
but it would save the lives of my clan.  “I can never thank you enough for
this,” I said flatly.  What were we doing here?
    The arm around my waist tightened.  “Come to me,” he said
suddenly.  “When this is over.  Tonight.  Meet me here.”
    I shook my head.  “Whatever it is between us, it’s
wrong.”  I steeled myself against the twisting-knife feeling in my chest.  “If
our clans knew…”
    He pressed his lips to my forehead.  “I’ll protect you. 
From Earth and Sky.”
    I turned my face away to stare past him, straightening my
spine.  “I don’t need anyone to protect me.”
    There was a fluttering snap, and he spread his glorious
wings, then curled them forward, enclosing us in darkness.  Power rippled over
my skin and we ported back to the battle.  He brought us to the edge of the
field.
    Turning my back on him, I drew my pistol and dagger.  I
surged across the field to the center of my people, leaping over fallen bodies,
shooting or stabbing anyone who got in my way.  The Shifters around me were so sure
of their victory.  I could feel it vibrating in them.  They knew we had won.  I
holstered my weapons and clapped my hands together.  We had only moments before
we were exterminated. 
    I pulled my hands apart and a long wooden pole with a
flapping piece of white fabric emerged.  I rammed the standard into the ground
and slapped my hands to the earth, sending the pole into the air atop a hill. 
The flag flapped in the wind, a glowing symbol of defeat.  The warriors around
me stared at me as if I had lost my mind.  “Retreat!”  I drew my sword and used
it to prod the nearest of my people.  “Move out now.  It’s a trap!”
    General Yates dashed in from the field, his face an
apocalyptic shade of red.  “What the hell are you