Black Recluse by Anna Bowman

Author:Anna Bowman [Bowman, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733127905
Publisher: Rivet Wing Press
Published: 2019-07-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Solomand

Solomand watched Rayn fall, his heart dropping with her. How could she not have made the jump? Fighting against the airship’s forward thrust, he fought his way to the intercom panel by the door.

“Turn back, Zee!”

“But, Sol, we can’t turn back—they’ll blow us out of the sky!” Jank yelled.

He recoiled, backing away as Solomand spun around to face him. He might have lunged at the engineer, but a shrill beep emanated from his transmitter.

He looked down to see the coded letters illuminate, revealing Minuet’s transmission:

I have her at Rim. You know what I want.

Solomand jumped to the intercom. “Zee—bearing romeo-zero-zulu-five-four!” He turned to Jank. “Make sure the guidance keeps working.”

Jank dragged both hands down his face.

“It’s not meant to be flown like this, Sol!” he groaned, issuing a final complaint before dodging off to follow the order. “Why can’t you learn how to fly the damned thing proper?”

The Rim was the narrow strip of land beneath the clouds of Blackpool. It ran to the outer edge of the cliff, the opposite way of the road that wound into the valley. Solomand secured one end of a rope to a rung on the wall, and the other around his wrist. His fingers quivered, threading the knots. Blood pounding in his ears, he crouched down and eased on the edge of the open ramp.

You know what I want.

He did know. But the fire of hell would be unleashed on this world before he gave it to her.

You go too far, Minuet.

People were not pawns in some game. One would not be exchanged for another. She should have known better. Solomand would never compromise or make deals with anyone that wore Coalition colors. Never again.

The grating shifted under him, tilting as the airship turned. Rushing wind no longer felt cold against his skin. Solomand’s boots slipped. The rope tightened, burning his fingers.

If I ever get you out of this…

He tried not to think about what would happen if he didn’t get her back.

The engines whined in protest as the Spry sank lower, concealed by the white haze of clouds. Solomand spotted her against the cliff; Rayn, with no sign of her captor. He gritted his teeth and got ready.

He nearly lost his footing altogether as the airship lurched forward. Rayn was near the edge now, reaching for Solomand’s outstretched hand. His fingers clasped around hers and he yanked her onto the ramp. His arm tightened around Rayn, and he pulled them both inside, slamming the button to close the door before collapsing to the floor.

The ramp creaked shut, closing out the dark night sky.

“What took you so long?”

Rayn rolled onto her back, tilting her head to face him. The blood had all but dried on her flushed cheeks. Wisps of red hair clung to the side of her face.

Solomand felt sick. He managed a relieved smile.

“You didn’t think I was going to leave you, did you?”

Rayn’s eyes closed. The rise and fall of her chest slowed.

“No.” She reached inside her vest and dug out the spherical map.

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