Ava Rising: Book 2 of 3

Chapter 7

Ava turned her head to stare at Lucas, who was soundly asleep cocooned in several of the courtesy blankets provided by the airline. He had removed his blond wig, exposing a new buzz cut. She had the most intense desire to run her fingers through the short bristles. But she didn't want to wake him—it was a miracle they'd made it this far and he needed the rest.

After hurriedly changing out of their flame-eaten clothes, they had charmed their way through the airport and into first class seats on the next flight to Australia. She had kept her head down, sending calming thoughts around her, leaving scores of sleeping people in her wake. It had taken all of the discipline she had not to look over her shoulder every second, terrified of finding another set of emotionless killer eyes among the crowd. But Lucas had absolutely insisted on the point and she had decided to trust him for the moment. The half hour of waiting after they had boarded the flight but were not yet in the air had left her drenched in sweat. She examined the bloody marks on her arms where she had dug fingernails into skin to keep from jumping out of her seat, escaping from the Makhai ambush she was sure would come while they were sitting ducks on the runway. But Lucas had been right—the plan had gone off without a hitch. He had nodded off moments after takeoff—it was the first time she had seen him truly relax into a deep slumber. She didn't really want to know what had made him so desperately afraid these last few weeks, haunting him as he tried to sleep, but maybe it would finally come out over the next fourteen hours of forced repose.

Lucas whimpered softly in his sleep like an exhausted puppy and Ava couldn't help but smile. The smile didn't quite stretch across her face—a spurt of jealousy blocked its path. Although she had dutifully kept her head down in the airport she couldn't help but overhear snatches of news coverage from the TVs dotting the terminal. It had all been focused on the destruction wrought by the earthquake. An earthquake she had triggered. She snuck another glance at Lucas. His fear seemed to have receded but her burdens had only grown. She wouldn't be sleeping that deeply for a long time.

It was true that first class had infinitely more legroom than coach, but the proximity of Lucas's body was still disconcerting. Ava turned away from his sleeping form, which was letting off a pulse of warmth with every heartbeat, to look down at the Pacific Ocean stretching out below her. It was midnight blue now but would soon be sparkling azure as the plane headed west. She was so very far from the earth—a feeling that usually made her panic but today made her feel strangely giddy. She had escaped, at least momentarily. A knee knocked into hers gently and she turned to find Lucas rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The giddiness she felt was reflected in his smile.

"We've crossed through the wardrobe to Narnia, at least for a little while. For the next fourteen hours we can be whoever we want to be," she said with a toothy grin.

Lucas replied, "Do you have any idea how advanced the technology is in these new 777s?" He ran his hand lovingly over the plastic of his armrest. "This is so exciting." He rocked forward in his seat. "I'm going to go ask the flight attendant for a tour."

Ava's smile faltered. Lucas must have noticed because he replanted himself in his seat. "Or I could stay here and talk to you about Narnia."

"It was a metaphor," she replied with a mock scowl. "It felt like we were entering a parallel universe, a parallel universe where we might have more freedom," she said, arching her eyebrows suggestively, "to act like teenagers."

She felt a wave of attraction roll off of Lucas at her words and fairly pin her to her seat. "Hold your horses, cowboy. We have to test my theory slowly."

Lucas turned to look at her, his face the picture of innocence. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Ava trailed off, flustered. "It seemed like your body might...like to join me...in my seat." It was the best euphemism she could muster in the moment.