He glances at Beliel, who looks excited at the thought of getting out. ‘Sacrifices will need to be made.’

42

The Watchers are sure there are more hellions in the direction where the first ones came from. We decide to split up to increase our chances of finding them.

‘Howler and Cyclone, come with me,’ says Raffe. ‘The rest of you, split into small groups and each take a direction. We’ll meet back here.’ He looks at the sky. ‘How do you tell time here?’

‘It’ll get hotter,’ says Thermo. ‘We can meet when we feel like we’re baking.’

‘That’d be now,’ says Howler.

‘We’ll meet when Howler feels like he’s burning and the rest of us feel like we’re baking,’ says Raffe. ‘Ready?’

‘Uh, can I go with Thermo?’ asks Howler.

‘Thermo?’ asks Raffe. ‘The last time I assigned you with him, you said it was dangerous to pair up with him because you were afraid you’d fall asleep on the mission.’

‘Yeah, that’s why he’ll be the odd man out, and if I go with him, I won’t have to go with you and your Daughter of Man.’

‘Good point,’ says Cyclone. ‘Can I go with Howler and Thermo? They’re helpless without me.’

Howler snorts.

‘What’s wrong with going with me?’ I ask.

‘No one wants to be stuck with love birds.’ Howler shakes his head.

‘Awkward,’ says Cyclone, already walking toward Thermo.

‘You think I’d do something to risk a fall?’ asks Raffe.

‘You can’t fall for anything you do here, Commander,’ says Thermo. ‘You’re already in the Pit, so technically, it’s equivalent to being in a Fallen state during the time you’re here.’

The heat intensifies in my cheeks, and I want to crawl behind a rock.

Raffe looks like he wants to be stubborn but then says, ‘Fine, but you’d better bring back a bunch of hellions, Howler.’

‘You can count on it, boss.’ Howler throws us a broad wink, and takes off into the air. Cyclone and Thermo fly after him.

The rest of the Watchers take off in small groups, each taking different directions. It’s a wonder that they can still fly on their mangy wings. I guess there’s nothing functionally wrong with the wings since they fly expertly. It’s just that they’re not pretty to look at.

Raffe watches them go, then looks at me. ‘Shall we go for a ride and see what the place looks like?’

I nod, trying not to look embarrassed.

I step closer to Raffe. I’ll never get used to stepping into his arms.

Instead of putting his arm under my knees, he holds me up with his arms around my waist, with us facing each other in a hug. With a couple of sweeps of his wings, we take off.

I have my arms around his neck, but my legs are dangling. I don’t feel as secure as I normally do when he holds me with his arms behind my back and below my knees. I instinctively slide my knees around his middle and squeeze for a better hold.

But that’s not enough. As we go higher, I can feel myself sliding just a little. His arms around my waist are firm, but as we rise above the Sea of Killing Hands, I feel an equal mix of excitement and fear.

‘Don’t drop me.’ I cling tighter and press myself up against him a little more.

‘Never.’ There’s so much confidence and assurance in his voice. ‘I have you. You’re as secure as can be.’

Oh, what the hell. I wrap my legs completely around his hips and hook my feet across his butt.

He tilts his body forward a little with a smile spreading across his face. My cheeks flame.

Now I’m hanging on like a monkey as we glide over the Pit. I can’t see as well as I’d be able to if he had been holding me the other way. Instead of looking over his shoulder at his sweeping wings, I turn my head to see the landscape below. That puts my face almost lip to lip with his.

I try to focus on the smoldering city ahead of us, but my head is filled with the warmth of his breath and the electric tingle of his cheek against mine.

Flying is not as smooth a glide as it might look from below. There’s a subtle shifting of our bodies as his wings push against the air. I’m hanging on to him so tightly that I begin to notice that he’s rubbing against me with every whoosh of his wings.

The heat in the Pit is becoming more intense. The Sea of Hands below shifts and moves like currents of lava flowing over each other.

The rubbing is causing a warm, tingly sensation, as if all my blood is rushing to the parts of my body that are pressed against him. My head begins to feel light. My breathing comes faster.

His breath speeds up to match mine, or maybe it’s the other way around. Before I know it, he’s nuzzling his head against my cheek. A low moan escapes his lips.

I shift without thinking, tightening my legs around his hips, pressing myself against him. He strokes the curve of my back, pressing me even closer to his warmth. I marvel at the sensation as he subtly shifts his body against mine.

He lowers his head while we’re flying and touches his lips to mine. His kiss is hot and wet as it intensifies.

My head seems to be rumbling. Then I realize it’s the sky. It’s thunder. Suddenly, warm raindrops fall on us, spraying us until we’re completely wet.

Raffe ignores it and continues to kiss me. We hold each other, pressing tighter and harder together.

We fly in each other’s arms in the rain over a smoldering hell.