Chapter 9
We were well on our way. The plan was, go as much of the way as possible from Death Valley to Ireland on the wing—as little paper trail as we could manage would only protect us.
"Hey, Sean," Fang said. "You dye your wings?"
"Nope," Sean said. "Natural blue."
"Hm. Hard to believe, I've never seen that."
"We've all got different wings," Sean said. "Me hair, that I dye."
"Yeah, I figured."
"Ye could dye yer wings, though," Sean said. "I mean, ye're all basic black."
"I like basic black," Fang countered.
"Here's somethin': I'm thinkin' of growin' a beard."
"Oh, awful idea, dude. Terrible."
"Bah, ye're not the boss of me."
"Hey, Fang?" I said.
He turned in the air. "Yeah, Max?"
"A word."
We took off, to waaaaaay up above everybody else.
"While it's thrilling that you're talking fashion with a guy you once tried to strangle," I began, "I… I need some support, Fang."
"You have my support," he said. "Forever, babe."
"I know, but… it used to be that we couldn't stand to be… not touching each other. Now we're flying and… and you're talking to somebody else. Doesn't matter who it is, but it's not me, and… Is this marriage? I don't like the idea of… of me changing. Of us changing."
"You're not," Fang said. "We're still us… no, we're not changing. We haven't changed since that first kiss. You're still my Max."
I sighed. "Well, I wouldn't mind hearing that more often. I mean, you're great when we're alone, but sometimes I need to know that I'm your choice… that in a room of people, you'd go to me first."
Fang raised an eyebrow. "Max, are… are you implying that I may leave you for Sean?"
My face burned. "I… um… no… no, no, no, I don't think that's what I was saying…" I was positive that steam was coming out of my ears. At the very least, I was beet-red.
Fang leaned into me and kissed my hair. "God, you're stupid. I love you."
"I just need more you-and-me time," I said quietly.
"Done," Fang said. "Just ask."
We returned to the flock. "Anybody need a break?" I called.
"This is gonna take forever," Iggy said. "Can't we hijack some military jet? Cruise into the CSM base at the speed of sound?"
I glared at him. "Okay, Iggy, that was…"
"Not me," Iggy said. "Don't look at me."
I turned to Gazzy, who chuckled. "Wanna see a UFO?" he said.
I dove onto him and gave him a hug. "Ah, Gazzy, you're okay…"
"Of course I am," he said, breaking free. "I've always been okay…"
I smiled sadly at him. "Not always."
"No," Gazzy said. "No, I remember the day you left, I… I wanted to die. I don't think I've ever wanted anything more than I wanted to die in that moment. You know, but every problem is temporary. I always put a lot of effort into keeping up the flock's morale, cracking jokes, saving the day. And then when you came back, well, that was a great day for everybody. And now, I… well, now I don't really need to put any effort into being me. I can just do it, you know? I feel… I feel really good, most of the time."
I smiled. "Well, that's really nice to hear…"
"But then… then I look at them…" he growled.
I followed his gaze to Jax and Falon. They noticed, but didn't seem to care.
"And then all the bitterness comes bubbling back," Gazzy finished.
"Don't look at them, then," I said.
"Right, like I can avoid them. No… no, I look at them, and I need to fight… SOMETHING. I need to fight something."
Suddenly, something struck me hard in the back. I leaned back and screamed, which hampered my flight.
"What was that?" Nudge demanded.
"I don't know," Imogen said. "Keep an eye out…"
Lines of blood appeared on Imogen's wings, as if they came from within. Iggy's face was whipped back as if by a punch.
We all came together, rotating around each other. Then, we finally saw our aggressor.
She rose on an air current, on a pair of pterodactyl wings as blood-red as her eyes.
"TIME TO DEAL WITH MEEEEE!" Kellie screeched happily.
