Perry’s hand settled on her hip, his grip firm. She felt their kiss shift into something deeper as his mouth moved with more urgency over hers. Suddenly there was real heat between them, and she had to force herself to draw away.
When she did, a soft curse slipped through Perry’s lips. His eyes were half-lidded, unfocused. He looked as overcome as she felt.
Aria leaned by his ear. “We’ll pick that up when we’re alone.”
He laughed. “That better be soon.” He took her face in his hands and drew her close so their foreheads touched. Aria’s hair fell forward, making a wall, a space that was just theirs. That close, all she could see were his eyes. They were glossy, shining like coins beneath water.
“You broke me in half when you left,” he whispered.
She knew she had. She’d known then, when she’d done it. “I was trying to protect you.”
“I know.” He exhaled, his breath soft on her face. “I know you were.” He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. “I want to tell you something.” He smiled, but the look in his eyes was mellow and tempting.
“You do?”
He nodded. “I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while. But I’m going to wait until later. When we’re alone.”
Aria laughed. “That better be soon.” She lay back against his chest and couldn’t remember feeling any safer than she did then.
Outside, the hills blurred past. She was surprised by how far they’d gone. They’d reach the Tides soon.
“I swear that almost made me sick,” Soren muttered.
Aria remembered their last hurried exchange through the Smarteye.
“What?” Soren said, scowling at her. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“You said you knew where the Still Blue was.” Their connection had been cut off, just before he could tell her.
Soren grinned. “That’s right, I do. I saw everything Sable and my father talked about. But I’m not saying a word in front of the Savage.”
Perry’s arms tensed around her. “Call me that again, Dweller, and it’ll be the last thing you ever say.” He shifted his back, relaxing again. “And you don’t need to tell me anything. I know where it is.”
Aria looked up at Perry. She moved too quickly, and pain shot down her arm. She bit the inside of her lip, waiting for it to subside. “You know where the Still Blue is?”
He nodded. “That fleet was moving dead west. There’s only one thing in that direction.”
The realization struck her before he’d finished speaking. “It’s at sea,” she said.
Perry made a low sound of agreement. “I was never closer to it than when I was home.”
Soren’s mouth twisted in disappointment. “Well, you don’t know everything.”
Aria shook her head, in no mood for Soren’s games. “Just say it, Soren. What did you find out?”
Soren’s lip curled like he was ready to say something snide, but then his expression relaxed. When he replied, his voice was even, and lacked its usual bitterness. “Sable says he has to go through a solid wall of Aether before he reaches open sky.” He made a dismissive sound, low in his throat. “He says he can do it, but it’s a lie. No ship can do that.”
No ship could, Aria thought, but there was another way. She spoke at the same time Perry did.
“Cinder.”
43
PEREGRINE
The Hover passed the Tide compound and glided north along the coast. Soren had to take them over the open ocean to reach the protected cove outside the cave, the bluff too steep for the craft to negotiate. Perry noticed that the ride was rougher over water. As Aria dozed in his arms, he looked across to the horizon and felt a surge of hope. They didn’t have Cinder, or the might that Hess and Sable would have together, but the Still Blue was somewhere at sea, and no one knew the sea like the Tides did. The ocean was their territory.
Talon and Clara woke as the Hover put down on the beach. Perry had an explanation ready as to why they’d needed to leave the compound, but seeing the huge smiles on their faces, he decided he’d explain later.
“Tell me I didn’t just land in front of a cave,” Soren said.
Aria stirred in Perry’s arms. Slowly she unfolded her legs and rose from his lap. “We can get rid of him any time.”
“I wish you weren’t joking,” Perry said. He already missed the feeling of her weight against him.
Soren pushed the steering console away and stood. “That’s some kind of gratitude for saving your lives. You’re both welcome, by the way.”
Aria smiled. She held her hand out to help Perry up, her injured arm tucked against her side. “Who said I was joking?”
Perry rose and followed her into the main cabin, ignoring the gasps of the Dwellers huddled there. Resting his hand on Talon’s shoulder, he stood beside Aria as she pressed a control by the door. The hatch opened with a rush of air that carried the sound of the waves, lowering to the sand.
In the morning light, he saw the Tides stream out of the cave, filling in along the beach. They gaped at the ship, caught between disbelief and panic. Behind him, dozens of Dwellers stared at the world outside, their fear palpable, strong enough to scent even with his smoke-blunted nose.
Perry spotted Marron and Reef. Bear and Molly. His gaze moved past the brothers—Hyde, Hayden, and Strag. Past Willow and Brooke. In search of Roar and Twig. Regret hit him as he realized that neither of them was there. He had to find them—and Cinder—but first he and Aria had to settle the Dwellers into their temporary home.