Smoked - Mari Mancusi Page 0,78

have to get to Zavier before Connor does.”

Caleb gritted his teeth. “Come on, Trin. We’ve been flying around in circles, playing catch-up all night. Scarlet might know where he’s headed. She could save us time in the long run and give us a better chance of catching up to him.”

And I can make sure she’s okay, he added to himself.

Trinity turned, giving him a pointed look. “What makes you think she’ll tell us, even if she does know?”

Caleb sighed. He didn’t want to admit she had a point. Scarlet had been so angry before she’d taken off on him. The things she’d said… Things he totally deserved for her to say.

He’d spent the entire flight wracked by guilt, trying to figure out a way to get Scarlet to forgive him—and so far he’d come up empty. And who could blame her? He’d basically tricked her—kissed her, then locked her up, taking away her free will. Taking away her chance to protect her dragons. She’d warned him they weren’t safe, but he’d refused to listen.

And now Zoe was dead. It couldn’t have been more Caleb’s fault if he’d struck her down with his own hand.

“I’ll make her see,” he declared with a bravado he didn’t feel. “Whatever she thinks of us personally, she’s going to need help to keep Zavier safe. And we’re the only ones who can do that.”

Trinity frowned, not looking happy about the plan. But to her credit, she didn’t argue, only directed Emmy to turn west, skimming an old desert road until a rocky mountainside rose up to greet them. Caleb squinted down at it, heart in his throat. Was she there? Was she alive?

Please be okay. Please be okay.

“Hurry,” he urged Emmy.

Emmy complied, swooping in for a landing on the largest of the mountain’s ledges. At first, it appeared empty, just jagged, barren rocks mocking them in all directions. But then, his eyes locked onto something moving. A small, dark shadow peeking out from behind a stalagmite.

His heart leapt to his throat. It was her. She was alive.

He dove off the dragon, ignoring the jarring in his ankle as he hit the ground too hard and at a bad angle. Running to her, he could feel the tears brimming in his eyes, his heart lurching in his chest. “Buttercup!” he cried. “Oh my God, Buttercup.”

She stared at him warily, taking a step back as he approached, anger and confusion warring on her face. Her eyes went from him to Trinity and Emmy before returning to him. “What are you doing here?” she demanded in a tight voice.

Caleb forced himself to stop short. Even though all he wanted to do was to put his arms around her and squeeze her tight—to throw himself at her feet and beg for a forgiveness he didn’t deserve.

“I…just…I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he stammered.

She frowned. “I was until you showed up.”

“Scarlet…”

“Look, Caleb,” she interrupted, cutting him off with a wave of her hand. “Zavier will be back any minute now, and trust me, you don’t want to be here when he comes. Let’s just say the merciless slaughter of his innocent sister hasn’t exactly put him in the cheeriest of moods.”

“Where is Zavier now?” Trinity demanded, slipping off Emmy and stepping forward. “Where did he go? And why did he leave you here?”

Caleb frowned, shooting her a warning look. Let me handle this, he begged. You’re only going to make it worse.

Sure enough, Scarlet’s face twisted. “Why would I tell you?” she sneered. “So you and your little boyfriend can finish the job?” She shot a look at Caleb, her eyes burning fire. “Or is he your boyfriend now? I never can seem to keep track.”

Caleb’s gut wrenched. “Scarlet, that’s not fair.”

“No! This isn’t fair!” she screeched. “You promised me they’d be safe! You promised no harm would come to them! I trusted you! And you repaid that trust by locking me up so I couldn’t protect them!”

He closed his eyes as he felt her fury rain down on him, knowing he deserved it all and more. “I know,” he said when she was finished. “And I’m not expecting you to forgive me for what I did. But Zavier’s still alive, Scarlet. And my brother is after him. We have to work together if we want to save his life.”

Scarlet’s face paled. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, looking devastated.

“Where is he?” Caleb pressed, deciding to go for it. “Where is Zavier now?”

“I…I don’t know,” she