After lying there for what seemed like forever, Clyde spoke: ‘We are almost to Skyhome. Dawn is worried about Kit.’
I sat up slowly, feeling a little dizzy, and held on to my bucket.
‘Dawn? I’m fine. We are almost there. Are you okay?’
‘Kit should not risk herself for Dawn.’ Her voice came through loud and clear. She sounded… angry, which I’d never experienced from her before.
‘Dawn is important to Kit,’ I told her. The tip of Skyhome was just visible now and I’d be so damn glad to get this bucket out of my hands and over to Dawn.
‘Kit needs to take care of herself,’ Dawn growled.
Whoa, she was totally pissed.
‘I’m fine,’ I added again.
Now we were flying up over the island and getting ready to land.
‘Over there.’ I showed Clyde where the den was that we’d all been holed up in.
Ronnie was standing in front of Dawn and she... looked… pissed.
I gulped.
After we landed, Ronnie ran over to me, red-faced, arms waving.
“You little… bitch!” she shouted angrily. “Don’t ever do that to me again!”
I winced. I’d never seen her so mad. She didn’t show much emotion, really.
“Ronnie, I’m sorry. I—”
“You fucking ghosted us and went on some solo mission while the breeders are trying to kill you. Really smart!” She glanced at my leg. “Oh, and you got hurt. Awesome.”
Damn, I didn’t think she’d be this mad. But it was worth it, because from the weak look Dawn was giving me, and the way she could barely hold up her head, she needed this green stuff now.
“I’m sorry, okay? Hugely fucking sorry. I made a bad call and I should’ve brought you. Now, help me with this, there’s a hole,” I told Ronnie, and tried to heave the tub off of Clyde, but my muscles were shot. I was super fatigued all of a sudden.
Ronnie glared at me for a moment but swooped in and covered the hole so I could release my hand.
Easing the tub in front of Dawn while trying not to put too much weight on her leg, Ronnie encouraged her to drink. The Galadria took slow, deliberate sips, and the green liquid lowered an inch each time. Once she was full and the hole was no longer an issue because she had drank past it, Ronnie turned on me again.
She crossed her arms, glaring at me. “Skid got you?”
I sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I did what needed to be done. Now I have two Galadrias who are well fed and we can fly home tomorrow when I’m rested.”
She continued to glare, letting the blood trickle from my arms and making no attempt to help me.
“Veronica. I. Am. Sorry. Don’t mess with me!” I shouted.
Maxine seemed to be watching us from the comfort of her morphine patch-induced haze in the den.
“Fine!” Ronnie snapped. “But do it again and you can stitch yourself up!”
She hobbled over to her suture kit and I scuffled after her. “I love you.” I lay down on my back inside the den and looked up at the rock ceiling.
“You drive me crazy.” Ronnie grabbed some sanitizing liquid and started to rub it all over me. I hissed as pain laced up my arms. “But I love you too,” she added.
I grinned. Ronnie was family, no matter what.
“They should give morphine to depressed people,” Maxine mused, staring at her two bandaged fingers. “I mean, I feel amazing. This is amazing.”
Ronnie sighed. “Okay, killer, take a little nap.”
Maxine seemed to enjoy that idea and lay on her back, closing her eyes.
“Ronnie?” I looked at my bestie, feeling the pain wash away from me like a tide in a storm.
She peered at me with tired eyes. We were too young to feel this old.
“I’m gonna end this fucking war and we’re going to buy houses next to each other and have kids that grow old together as best friends.”
She grinned, a full megawatt smile. “I gave you a shot of morphine just now.”
Oh. That explained the random mushiness and floaty feeling. “I mean it though.”
I did.
Ronnie patted my head. “I know, Kit. I know.”
Then I feel asleep.
Ten
When I awoke, I felt more rested than I had in… ever. When was the last time I’d gotten this much sleep? Since before the Dream Wars even began obviously. Peeling my eyes open, my gaze flew to Ronnie, who was pulling off the bandage on Dawn’s wings.
I sat up. “How is she?”
Ronnie shrugged. “We’re about to find out. She seems better. Just had breakfast and I want her to try flying.”
I sprang up and swayed on my feet a little at the adrenaline rush. “Be careful!” I told Dawn. Was it too soon to try flying? We could stay one more day.
Dawn’s big glassy eyes met mine. ‘Kit risk herself for Dawn, now Dawn will fly for Kit. Must get Kit home. Breeders are coming.’
Chills broke out on my arms.
‘Breeders coming here to Skyhome?’
Dawn nodded. ‘I couldn’t wake you. Breeders controlling giants. Coming to pull Skyhome down to the ground.’
Fuck!
I burst forward. “Pack up. We gotta get out of here.”
Ronnie put her hands out. “Whoa, whoa. How are you feeling? You lost a lot of blood yesterday and slept almost twenty hours.”
Twenty hours! Damien was probably going out of his mind. No wonder I was starving. I quickly told her and Ronnie what Dawn had said.
“Ah hell!” Maxine stood pulling out one of her guns and holding it loosely at her side.
I looked around at this beautiful place. Skyhome had been a source of comfort and safety for us. “It’s not right,” I growled.
“It’s the Dream War, hun. Nothing’s right,” Maxine said.
Wasn’t that the truth.
‘Clyde can fly two people. Clyde is strong,’ he told me, at his place by Dawn’s side.
That was good, because Dawn should only try to carry one person.
While Dawn worked on hovering
