out to be the wrong cure, and
she’d destroyed it. How was it discovered? By Tobias, no less. She
could certainly see the advantage of one side having it and finding
a way to surreptitiously use it on the other. If Tobias could pull
it off, the South might actually win. The idea left a bad taste in
her mouth, like old curdled milk.
“How do you know this?” Rheana asked.
Kane’s eyes shuttered, and Calista knew he
didn’t trust her with all his secrets. She didn’t blame him. These
were secrets she wanted no part of.
“An informant inside Tobias’ camp.”
“An informant or a Branch spy?”
He didn’t answer, just clamped his mouth
shut. She nodded at Rheana.
“A spy then.”
Rheana agreed. “That would be my guess.”
“Anything else I should know?” Calista asked,
turning back to Kane.
He shook his head. “That’s about it.”
“Good. Let me out of here. I have to go after
my sister.”
He nodded to Sebastian who moved from the
door. “Get dressed. We’ll start gathering supplies.”
From the open doorway, she turned and
narrowed her eyes. He was not tagging along. “This is my
sister, my business. I don’t need or want any help.”
He smiled but there was no warmth in it, only
grim determination.
“Tough shit.”
She shook her head and left the room,
gathering her robe in two hands she ran up the stairs. We’ll see
about that.
CHAPTER FOUR
It took a few hours to make travel
arrangements, then gather rations, water, weapons, and extra
ammunition. Kane kept Calista in the dark as long as possible,
knowing she’d balk at their transportation, afraid she’d try to set
out on the road on her own again if he left her behind. She’d
already tried to sneak away once. He’d counted on that and been
ready for it with guards watching the back of the house. By the
time they left the house the sun was rising, and Calista was
fuming. At him. He kept his expression stoic and his gaze on the
road, not giving into the sigh that threatened to erupt or his own
building temper.
Her anger served one good purpose. She was so
wrapped up in it she didn’t notice the airship until they were
almost on top of it. When the ship registered, her eyes widened and
she paled, jerking her head around the meet his gaze.
“No.”
“We got word while you were sulking that Izzy
and her kidnappers were spotted leaving the city in an airship. You
know we can’t catch up to them on horseback.”
Thankfully, Special Branch had an airship at
its disposal, and Phin had been easily convinced to let them use
it. Mathias, Sebastian, and the pilot loaded their supplies while
he pulled Calista aside.
“I do not sulk.”
He’d been hoping for an angry retort, but her
voice shook a little and her pretty face paled with unease. He’d
known she had a problem with heights from a previous job and from
the incident yesterday on the wall. This was a hell of a way to
force her to face that fear, but he didn’t have a choice. There was
no time to delay, and he couldn’t trust her to stay put if he left
her behind. He hoped her devotion to her sister was enough to get
her on board. He’d really hate to have to drag her on kicking and
screaming. Maybe he should just knock her out. One look at the
weaponry disbursed around her body and he nixed that idea. She’d
come to shooting, and if that didn’t kill him, the long fall
would.
Mathias signaled they were ready to go, and
he took her elbow, guiding her to the steps that led up into the
passenger box. She hesitated at the bottom step, her fingers
convulsively clenching on his arm.
“It’s the fastest way to get to Izzy,
darlin’. Look how high the sides are. We’ll get on, go find
somewhere to sit and I’ll stay right by your side.”
She glared at him. Fine. Maybe offering her a
way to conceal or ignore her fear was the wrong approach. Or maybe
it was reminding her he’d be close. Instead she got her back up
again, but at least it spurred
she’d destroyed it. How was it discovered? By Tobias, no less. She
could certainly see the advantage of one side having it and finding
a way to surreptitiously use it on the other. If Tobias could pull
it off, the South might actually win. The idea left a bad taste in
her mouth, like old curdled milk.
“How do you know this?” Rheana asked.
Kane’s eyes shuttered, and Calista knew he
didn’t trust her with all his secrets. She didn’t blame him. These
were secrets she wanted no part of.
“An informant inside Tobias’ camp.”
“An informant or a Branch spy?”
He didn’t answer, just clamped his mouth
shut. She nodded at Rheana.
“A spy then.”
Rheana agreed. “That would be my guess.”
“Anything else I should know?” Calista asked,
turning back to Kane.
He shook his head. “That’s about it.”
“Good. Let me out of here. I have to go after
my sister.”
He nodded to Sebastian who moved from the
door. “Get dressed. We’ll start gathering supplies.”
From the open doorway, she turned and
narrowed her eyes. He was not tagging along. “This is my
sister, my business. I don’t need or want any help.”
He smiled but there was no warmth in it, only
grim determination.
“Tough shit.”
She shook her head and left the room,
gathering her robe in two hands she ran up the stairs. We’ll see
about that.
CHAPTER FOUR
It took a few hours to make travel
arrangements, then gather rations, water, weapons, and extra
ammunition. Kane kept Calista in the dark as long as possible,
knowing she’d balk at their transportation, afraid she’d try to set
out on the road on her own again if he left her behind. She’d
already tried to sneak away once. He’d counted on that and been
ready for it with guards watching the back of the house. By the
time they left the house the sun was rising, and Calista was
fuming. At him. He kept his expression stoic and his gaze on the
road, not giving into the sigh that threatened to erupt or his own
building temper.
Her anger served one good purpose. She was so
wrapped up in it she didn’t notice the airship until they were
almost on top of it. When the ship registered, her eyes widened and
she paled, jerking her head around the meet his gaze.
“No.”
“We got word while you were sulking that Izzy
and her kidnappers were spotted leaving the city in an airship. You
know we can’t catch up to them on horseback.”
Thankfully, Special Branch had an airship at
its disposal, and Phin had been easily convinced to let them use
it. Mathias, Sebastian, and the pilot loaded their supplies while
he pulled Calista aside.
“I do not sulk.”
He’d been hoping for an angry retort, but her
voice shook a little and her pretty face paled with unease. He’d
known she had a problem with heights from a previous job and from
the incident yesterday on the wall. This was a hell of a way to
force her to face that fear, but he didn’t have a choice. There was
no time to delay, and he couldn’t trust her to stay put if he left
her behind. He hoped her devotion to her sister was enough to get
her on board. He’d really hate to have to drag her on kicking and
screaming. Maybe he should just knock her out. One look at the
weaponry disbursed around her body and he nixed that idea. She’d
come to shooting, and if that didn’t kill him, the long fall
would.
Mathias signaled they were ready to go, and
he took her elbow, guiding her to the steps that led up into the
passenger box. She hesitated at the bottom step, her fingers
convulsively clenching on his arm.
“It’s the fastest way to get to Izzy,
darlin’. Look how high the sides are. We’ll get on, go find
somewhere to sit and I’ll stay right by your side.”
She glared at him. Fine. Maybe offering her a
way to conceal or ignore her fear was the wrong approach. Or maybe
it was reminding her he’d be close. Instead she got her back up
again, but at least it spurred
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