Prologue

It took a long time. And it hurt. A lot. But what can I say? It's a small price to pay to be able to fly.

Chapter one—Angry Air

Angel.

Angel.

Angel.

She was all I could think about. I was too heartsick even to think about Fang, or my Mom, or Ella, all of whom I hadn't seen it what seemed like… forever. Angel was more important. But Angel was dead. Dead. I would never see her again. I stifled a cry. A leader can never show her pain.

I slowly banked left. "Iggy," I called, my voice cracking. "Iggy, west 45 degrees, okay?" He didn't respond, but followed Nudge and the Gasman. Dylan trailed slowly behind us all. Was this really happening? Had my flock diminished this much in numbers? First Fang, now Angel. Not that Fang was dead, anyway. But pretty much as good as.

Dylan flew to my side, his wings shining and glittering in the soft morning sun. "Max… Max, I know you're… sad, about Angel and Fang and stuff…" Dylan flinched as he over pronounced Fang's name, spitting the word out. "But… you know… Maybe this is better. I mean, no more Angel to annoy you about wanting to be leader and stuff, and no more Fang keeping us apart anymore. Right, Max? 'Cause now it's just you and me and—"

"What!" I exclaimed. I climbed a little higher in the sky, looking down on Dylan. "What did you just say to me?"

He desperately tried to backtrack. "No, Max, it's not like that. It's just that things might be better, easier, now, for us—"

But I had reached the end of my fuse. "You think things are gonna be better, easier now? Are you crazy? Do you think this is some kind of game? People are dying! Angel's already dead, Fang could be dying right now for all we know, the apocalypse is coming, and oh, don't remind me, I still have to SAVE THE WORLD, and you think things are easier now? Well, I'm sorry, but apparently we aren't seeing eye-to-eye, Dylan! I don't care about you and I; I don't even care about Fang and I! So stop being such a jerk, and think about someone other than yourself. Because otherwise I don't have time for you. 'Cause I have the whole world to look after." I turned away from him. "Come on, Nudge, Gazzy, Ig, let's go." I spun back to Dylan. "And you? Stay away from me. Stay away from my flock. Find a home somewhere else. Your not welcome with us anymore." I flew away from him before I could see his tears. But I did look back. Just to make sure Nudge and Gazzy and Ig were following. Well, that's what I told myself. I stared at Dylan. He was hovering in the mid air, wings pumping. His eyes pleaded for help. I almost flew back to give him a second chance.

Then I remembered Angel and I soared as far away as possible. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dylan turn to leave, shame stabbing at every move he made. Good riddance, I thought. But my heart was heavy with grief as I flew into the heavens.