Pure Destiny (PureDark Ones #12) - Aja James Page 0,41

adulthood. Sheltered, protected, kept in the dark about most things.

In just the past year, she’d been abducted, Awakened, journeyed across the Middle East and faced down an army of enemy soldiers… If her life got any more exciting, she might have to carry defibrillators wherever she went.

Being transported in a giant claw by helicopter was certainly a new experience to add to her ever growing list of unique experiences.

Sophia narrowed her eyes at the rapidly receding scenery of Manhattan beneath her. The rooftop of the Shield was still close enough to make out four dark figures standing in a line on top of the wall, watching their departure.

How had they flown so far already?

The helicopter also continued to climb as it sped away from the epicenter of the city. By the time the three of them were reeled all the way up, Sophia had ascertained that they were headed north. Perhaps slightly northeast. She couldn’t be sure, given the disorientation of dangling so high in the sky, added to the speed at which they were traveling.

The claw had opened enough as they approached the helicopter’s belly that Dalair pulled himself and Benji out first, propelling the boy inside with a solid push before reaching down to grasp Sophia by the upper arm.

She pulled herself up his body and clung to him with all her strength, her eyes shut tightly against an onslaught of vertigo. She didn’t open them until he’d pulled both of them inside and the side door of the helicopter slid shut to seal them in.

“Stay,” he instructed in that detestable flat voice, gesturing with a glance at the two side-by-side seats against the opposite wall of the helo.

“Buckle up.”

Not looking to see if she and Benji obeyed him, he navigated to the front, hunching as he moved within the medium-sized aircraft, though Sophia didn’t have first-hand benchmarks to compare with.

When he took the pilot seat, she realized suddenly that there had been no one manning this flight. The steering wheel, or whatever it was called in a helicopter, turned and adjusted by itself. It looked like a yoke, actually. There was a copilot seat in the cockpit as well, with a similar handle-bar in front, shifting in sync with the one on the left.

She tapped her nearly invisible ear piece, hoping that by some small miracle, she’d still be able to contact the Shield. Unsurprisingly, however, the signal was scrambled. Only static could be heard. She didn’t know whether it was because they’d flown too far out of range or because the helicopter’s technology prevented unauthorized communication. Likely the latter.

Tamping down her frustration and disappointment, she put on her calm, “big sister” face and turned to her young charge.

“Are you all right, Benji?” Sophia asked softly, making sure he was strapped in before doing the same for herself.

He nodded, big blue eyes bright with…excitement. Not worry.

“That was awesome, Sophie!” he whispered loudly. “But next time when we jump off a building we should wear parachutes. I’ve always wanted to go skydiving.”

Sophia’s eyebrows hiked up her forehead.

“Really,” she muttered, feeling another wave of nausea coming on.

Sophia would rather stay on solid ground. No deep sea or sky-high adventures for her, if she could help it. Unfortunately, this particular jaunt was taken out of her hands.

Benji nodded with even more eagerness.

“You know when Cloud turned into that giant green dragon and saved the day? I really wish I could have ridden on his back. Or the white dragon that Aella took Ere on. I love flying! And now we’re in a helicopter! I’ve never been in one before.”

At least one of them was having fun.

Sophia was glad Benji treated this abduction like an adventure. She was determined to bring him home before his enthusiasm could be soured by reality. Which meant that she needed to figure out how to stop them from reaching their destination. She really didn’t want to know what their enemies had in store for them.

Suddenly, Benji’s face fell.

“I wish Mom and Dad could have come with us. I hope they’re all right. Uncle Tal and Mama Bear too.”

He grimaced in recollection.

“Mama Bear was hurt because of me.”

“Not because of you, Benji,” Sophia quickly corrected. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He nodded again and looked past her toward the cockpit, where the back of Dalair’s seat blocked most of him from view.

They could only see the tremendous width of his shoulders narrowing to a trim waist, one muscular arm attached to a vein-wrapped hand gripping the throttle