Free Revenant by Patti Larsen Page A

down when the plane lifts off, my ears popping from the sudden change in air pressure. They won’t risk normals. And if they are waiting on the other end in Miami, so be it. I’ll find a way to free us. But they won’t try to take us from a plane full of normals.
    They won’t.
    The sound of soft snoring finally shakes me free of my fear. I turn toward Sage to find him sleeping with his head against the bulkhead, hands curved in his lap. I lean in and kiss his cheek, knowing he’s the smart one. I need to get some sleep of my own. I’ve been up and running for days now, the few hours of rest here and there hardly enough. But someone has to watch over him.
    The flight attendant smiles as she offers me a drink and a snack. I pick at my peanuts, sip my water, the moments passing adding to my relief and the niggling doubt in equal measure. Maybe I’m just too good at this to ever really believe I’ve done what I need to do to win our freedom.
    As I set aside my snack, I catch a whiff of a hot meal being served up front in first class. We’re only two rows back from the curtain dividing the haves from the cattle. It’s chicken of some kind, smells delicious.
    It’s not until Sage stirs beside me I realize how much danger we’re in. I look up and into the gaze of a wolf, sharp canines glowing as he snarls his hunger. Damn it, why didn’t I feed him before we got on the plane? I know better. But I was distracted, in a hurry, thinking only of escape. It’s not like me to miss a detail, but I have, a rather large one, and it could mean the end of the road for both of us.
    I have to use power, I have no choice. But when I try to smother his wolf, it pushes back against me.
    STARVING . He tries to rise. I can’t stop him so I go with him, but when we reach the aisle, I turn him with force, pushing him toward the back of the plane. He fights me, head down, snarling. We win a few startled looks from passengers as we go by, but fortunately, most of them are wearing headsets, watching movies, distracted from the real and dangerous show walking past them.
    The bathroom stall on the right is full, but the one on the left is empty. I catch a shocked glance from a flight attendant as I push Sage into the stall and go in after him, locking the door behind me. There’s barely enough room for us both, worse with Sage’s wolf trying desperately to emerge. I pin him to the toilet seat and sit in his lap, straddling him, holding him down physically and with magic. The wolf fights me, argues, snarls.
    No. I pin him with power, forcing the wolf to stop. His hands are claws now, fur growing on his cheeks. His eyes are full of power, canine and angry. I continue to smother him as best I can, soothing him instead of rousing my own rage. He responds at last, panting out his elongated mouth, not quite a snout, and it begins to retreat.
    “Open the door, please!” The flight attendant pounds on the flimsy barrier between us and her.
    “He’s very sick.” I feel his anger resurface. Damn her and her terrible timing.
    “Please, open the door.” She sounds mad herself.
    Sage . I whisper in his mind. You have to take control. Or we’re in huge trouble .
    He growls in my mind, but I can feel him doing his best while the attendant continues to bang on the door. Another joins her, two voices whispering and then a male voice joins hers.
    “You must open the door immediately,” the man says.
    Sage gulps a breath and pushes. The wolf retreats in a rush, snapping at me, but finally giving in. Something clicks and the lock turns from the outside. I turn to find the two attendants staring at us. The woman looks nervous and angry, but her male counterpart just looks embarrassed.
    “Sorry,” I say, climbing off Sage. I know what this looks like, and the best thing to do is play along. “We’re done now.”
    The woman tsks while the man sighs and steps aside. “If we were still over land, you’d be removed from the plane. As it is, consider