Malakai (Stone Society #13) - Faith Gibson Page 0,84

the animal was clearly aware something bad was happening. Tessa put her mask over her nose and nodded.

Karson took one last look before he disappeared behind the cockpit door.

Josie? Sunshine, what’s wrong?

Oh, god. Malakai, I love you.

Josie? Josie! Sunshine?

Before Josie could answer Kai, the cabin was shot into the air. Everyone screamed, Josie included. The pressure from the seatbelt was painful, and even though she was wearing an oxygen mask, Josie felt like she was going to pass out. Her eyes hurt from how tightly they were closed, but when the pod changed directions, she opened them and screamed again. The cabin was in freefall, and her heart threatened to stop. Josie’s life didn’t pass before her eyes, but Kai’s face was front and center in her mind.

Oh, Malakai.

Something in her peripheral made Josie look out the window. Two large figures were flying toward the pod, and when they got closer, she could see both Bryce and Karson in their shifter forms, diving through the air toward the cabin. They disappeared from view, and Josie waited for the pain to come with hitting the water, but instead of crashing into the ocean below, the pod jerked. She figured it was the parachutes opening. Then the pod slowed and swung back and forth. The splash came, but it was nothing more than a jarring halt, then the pod tilted sideways.

“Wheee, that was fun!” Amelia squealed.

“Are we dead?” Trevor asked.

“Is everyone okay?” Tessa asked, as she allowed Molly to jump off the sofa. The dog whined and began pacing the aisle, causing more rocking.

“Should we stay seated?” Willow asked.

“I think so,” Isabelle answered. “Molly’s rocking the pod, and if we all stand, it’ll be like trying to walk in a canoe.”

“How the hell are we going to explain this to the Coast Guard?” Tessa asked, looking around at everyone. “Sophia? Abbi? Are you two okay? Connor?”

“I’m fine,” Connor said, less enthusiastically than Amelia had.

“I’d rather not do that again, but I’m okay,” Abbi responded.

“Sophia?” Isabelle called out, but the woman didn’t answer. “Soph!” Isabelle unbuckled and knee walked to where her niece was sitting. “Shit, she’s unconscious.”

“I don’t feel so good,” Katherine said. If this was a commercial plane, there would have been barf bags in the pocket of the seat in front of them, but since it was a private jet, the seats were mostly facing the aisle. Katherine couldn’t put her head between her legs because of the life jacket.

Josie unbuckled and slowly crawled over to the redhead. “Unbuckle.” Katherine did, and Josie helped her remove the life jacket. She directed Katherine to lean over, and she rubbed small circles on the other woman’s back.

Josie?

I’m here, but holy hell. Our plane…

Katherine sat up suddenly and shoved Josie out of the way. She made it three steps, rocking the pod, and then she vomited. At least they were toward the back of the cabin.

What about the plane?

We had engine trouble. The pod was ejected, and now we’re floating on the ocean.

Josie grabbed her head when her Gargoyle roared.

Sunshine? Please tell me you’re just messing with our beast.

Why would I joke about something like that? Either the parachutes did their job, or Bryce and Karson intercepted the pod because we splashed down instead of crashing.

Is everyone okay?

Sophia’s unconscious. Katherine threw up, and Molly’s unsettled.

Where are Bryce and Karson now?

Josie crawled onto the seat and looked out the window. Bobbing in the water.

Hang tight, Sunshine. I need to tell the others.

I’m not going anywhere.

Kai was lucky he hadn’t wrecked. He was close to Frey’s house when his shifter spoke to their mate. He jumped out of the Jeep and yelled, “Frey!” even though yelling wasn’t necessary.

His boss came running around the side of the house. “What is it? Did you see Unholy?”

“No, it’s the jet. I’m not sure what happened exactly, but Josie and the others are in some kind of pod floating in the middle of the ocean.”

“Come again?” Frey stared at Kai like he was an alien.

“I’m not joking. I just talked to Josie. The plane was going down, and a pod was ejected.”

Frey dug his phone out of his pocket. He paced in front of Kai while he waited for whoever he was calling to answer. “Bryce isn’t picking up.”

“That’s because he and Karson are floating in the ocean outside the pod.”

“What?” Frey’s phone rang. “Jules?”

Kai could hear Julian. “Frey, the jet just crashed. Kat says everyone is okay for the most part, but the fucking jet just crashed in