The Aviary by Emily Shore

Author:Emily Shore [Shore, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing, Inc.

Luc offers to join me in the aviary, but I tell him I want some time alone. He agrees, provided my personal security joins me, which is just fine. Luc is still in the process of determining the source of the comas, scouring video feeds, which keeps him distracted.

Sky and I go to the spot where he handed my mother’s journal to me a month ago. The waterfall is the only break in security. This is where we taste a sample of freedom together. We can just be Sky and Ser. Not Vulture and Swan.

“Your last exhibit was impressive,” Sky says first, though I can hear the disdain in his voice.

“It feels like so long ago,” I say, reflecting on the month that has passed.

“He’s an artist. Takes his time. Obsessive just like he is with everything else. And it gives his father more time to invite international clients to the auction.” His words are soaked in loathing.

“This is your idea,” I remind him. “You told me to play along, to be the Swan, and get close to him so we increase our chances of finding Mom and Dad. That’s what I’m doing.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed.”

Narrowing my brows, I straighten. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sky ignores my question and changes the subject, bracing a hand against the rock wall. “Luc’s father, er, Malcolm—he’s been in contact with Director Force, especially after the Swan’s performance the night he visited. He wants to capitalize on Force’s interest in your next exhibit by driving Force’s curiosity to the breaking point.”

“Why is it so important for Force to want me?”

Sky’s mouth creases tight, and his bulging muscles tighten before he packs one hand into a fist. “Leverage. The Guild wants power, position. If you become as big as I suspect, they’ll use you and your parents and blackmail the Syndicate into getting what they want.”

“So, I’m just a bargaining chip. Wonderful.” I lean against the iron fence, across from Sky.

Defensive, Sky braces his hands against the rock wall behind him, nostrils flaring. “You think this is easy for me, Serenity? Watching them eat you up whenever your exhibit is open? Parading you around like some sick spectacle? Seeing the way he looks at you? Seeing the way you’ve begun looking at him?”

I lift a finger in warning. “I didn’t ask for any of this, Skylar Lace. If I had my way, we’d have run by now.”

“Could have fooled me.”

My back digs into the iron behind me, the falls misting my bare shoulders as my blood reaches its boiling point. “Stop pretending this is my fault!”

“It is your fault!” Sky raises his voice, but keeps it below the sound of the waterfall. “You’re just too damn…beautiful.”

“How about we mangle it up then?” I reach for the knife at his belt, but Sky is always quicker than me, and his hand comes down on mine.

“It wouldn’t even matter if you did. You know they can fix anything.” He releases my hand, then turns around.

“That’s not true.” I soften my voice, and he twists his head back just enough to hear me.

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