Free A Tale of Two Airships (Take to the Skies Book 2) by Katherine McIntyre Page A

one of them.” I didn’t bother hiding the criticism behind my statement. After all, from what I’d seen so far, she had some sense to her behind all the frippery and feigned manners.
    “Because, why should you have to be born into it to enjoy the finer things in life?” she lifted a brow, delivering a cool turnaround. I pursed my lips and nodded. She had a fair point—I wouldn’t say no to a pair of clothes free from holes and stains, and I couldn’t imagine the relief we’d have if we could choose what jobs we wanted rather than get pushed into more and more dangerous ones.
    “And you’re sure they’re touched down in port the town over?” I asked, switching the conversation back to priority number one, how the hell we were going to pull ourselves out of this mess.
    “My sources wouldn’t dare lie to me.” The feline smile curving her lips reminded me how any friend of Mordecai Blacksmith must have a certain level of danger to them. And I had the feeling many a man met his end by underestimating this dainty belle.
    “Well then we’ll be shining our pistols and preparing—what is it you fight with?” I squinted as I asked her.
    She lifted her skirt to mid-thigh where a garter strapped there contained dozens of small vials filled with blue and green liquids. “A lady wouldn’t wield anything as crass as firearms.”
    I snorted. “Thank the gods I’m no lady.”
    A yawn split the air, followed by a groan. Moments later, Isabella slunk over, to her credit with her skirts in order and her long, dark waves less tangled than mine. The steps creaked again as Edward stomped his way down with none of the grace and poise Viola maintained. Due to the loud sound, Mordecai shot up from where he slept, and even Jack roused. Spade’s eyes had opened, but when the man had woken up was beyond me.
    “Looks like it’s a real party now,” I commented, shooting Viola an amused glance. Her lips curled into a half smile. Perhaps snooty Miss Embrees wasn’t so bad. After all, I appreciated a girl with mettle and enough spine to know herself. And enough poison in one garter to slaughter an army.
    “So, who’s ready to steal an airship?” Jack rubbed his eyes as he joined the party. A goofy smile overtook his face—the exact sort of reaction to danger I dreamed of with one of mine. Mordecai clapped him on the back.
    “Did anyone bother to find out what sort of model the Fireswamp is?” Spade jumped in.
    I snorted. “Come on now Spade, you can fly anything, right?” The twitch of his lips as irritation stole his face was worth it. I waited until fully entertained before continuing. “She’s a smaller model—won’t be blasting anyone out of the skies any time soon, but for overtaking our girl, she’ll suffice. As for the steering, it’s on the simpler scale. You’ll find it an utter bore.”
    Viola’s kettle whistled, and with prompt efficiency, she pulled multiple cups from her cupboard, shooting a glance to the crowd now gathering in her main room. “How many for tea?” she asked.
    “I haven’t had a good cup in an age,” I sighed. “Edwin ruined our last canister when he infused it with the neon goo he ‘claimed’ was absinthe flavoring.”
    Mordecai hid a smile. “I may have been holding out on the lot of you—I’ve got a secret stash of earl grey in my bunk.”
    “You too?” Isabella asked, taking a seat at Viola’s small kitchen table. “I prefer rose tea myself, but I’ve hidden mine forever.” She passed me a withering glance. “The amount of sugar you dump in yours, darling, ruins any good cup.”
    I sniffed the air and marched to where Viola stood, shaking her head and smiling as she pulled more porcelain cups from her cabinet and set the kettle with more water to boil. “I’ll help you distribute. My traitorous crew seems to think I can’t handle my tea black.”
    Isabella rolled her eyes at my mock indignance and joined us in the kitchen. “So with a crew of eight for this