Defying Destiny (Afterword Academy #3) - Katie May Page 0,24
need to find a path that you can all follow.”
“We have to climb.” Karston’s voice is louder this time.
Preston looks like he might either faint or puke as he gazes over the edge, face growing pale, skin glistening with sweat. “But the cliff has to be two hundred feet tall!”
“Then we better get moving,” Braxton barks, perching himself on the edge, legs dangling off. “I’ll go first. You guys follow me down.”
Such fucking shit. If I just had my wings, I could fly everyone down there in less than five minutes. Now, this could take hours. Below, the lava lake bubbles and pops, the heat from it coating my skin in sweat.
“Preston, you should come next,” Brax calls. “Since it will probably take you the longest, it’s best if you get a head start.”
Looking shattered, Preston mumbles, “Oh, okay.” He tries to put on a brave voice, but he can’t hide how it wobbles. Can’t hide how his throat works as he lowers himself to the edge, how his hands tremble as they try to find a grip as he turns around.
Creeping towards the edge, I sit down and try to coach Preston. Usually, his cowardice bothers me, but right now, I’m actually feeling bad for him.
He’s absolutely terrified.
Eyes squeezed shut, he’s gripping the stone so hard that his knuckles have turned white, even though he’s only descended about ten feet.
“Preston, listen to me,” I say firmly. “I’ll talk you through this, but you’re going to have to open your eyes, okay? I’m right here. You’re not alone. You can do this.”
One green eyes peaks open, pupils dilated from his fear. “Okay. Just—just tell me what to do.”
“Okay.” I scan the cliff face below him as Karston and Hadley sit on either side of me. “Now, below your left foot is a notch in the rock. Slide your toes down the face until your shoe dips inside. You can do this, Preston.”
He nods, squeezing his eyes shut to find his courage. Then he moves. “Eyes on me, baby bro.” Tongue jutting out between his lips in concentration, he lowers his leg, a smile pulling on his lips when he finds the notch.
“Great job!” I encourage. “Now, you have to move your hands.”
“I can do this,” Preston says proudly as he looks for a new hand hold. Below him, Braxton is already halfway down the mountainside. Though his wings are not sufficient enough to fly, the appendages give him balance.
“I can do this!” Preston exclaims, louder this time, his courage evident as he lowers himself another ten feet all on his own.
“Karston, you and Hadley go next,” I order just before Preston’s shrieks reach my ears. “Preston!” I scream as I look down and find him dangling by one hand, legs flailing below him.
“I’m gonna fall! Auston, help me!”
Leaping into action, I dive off the mountain and go to open my wings only to remember I don’t have any.
Fuck.
My life flashes before my eyes as I begin to freefall, past Preston, who has somehow steadied himself and is now continuing his descent, and almost down to Braxton when an Angel descends on me, wrapping me in her arms, white wings beating furiously.
“Hadley?” I choke out as she strains to carry my weight.
“Expecting…someone…else?” she grits out as she grunts, teeth clenched, wings beating erratically.
“Baby, you can do this, just flap your wings in the tune to your favorite song.” Fear flashes in her baby blue eyes, so I begin to hum to one of my favorite songs.
Hadley grins from ear to ear and looks at me before belting out a laugh as her wings beat in tune with me. “Really? ‘California Love,’ by 2Pac and Dr. Dre?”
I smile back, nodding but keeping the beat going. Nothing beats nineties gangster rap.
Nothing.
She slows our descent enough so that we don’t completely splatter when we crash into a narrow strip of rocky ground at the base of the cliff.
I don’t even wait to make sure she’s okay before rolling myself on top of her and taking her mouth. “You stupid—” kiss, “brave—” kiss, “crazy woman! Fuck, I love you so much!”
She holds my face in her hands and looks at me with such love that my chest actually squeezes, knowing I’m the recipient of a look like that. “I love you too,” she whispers before pulling my face down to hers again.
“Well, that was exciting.” Braxton’s voice sounds a second before his feet thump near our heads.