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movements. If he broke an arm or leg, their investigation would be over before it began, and he'd never
trust her again.
Her own heart started to beat faster as they drew closer to the ground, and she sucked in a deep breath,
forcibly calming herself. He'd be fine. He was doing fine.
"Okay, now kick your tailset up out of your way and bend your knees, she shouted. Cup your wings
and backbeat. Remember, you want to slow down as much as possible! Youwill float!"
She fell in behind him, as far back as the safety line would let her go, and started to slow down, herself.
"Open your wing slots! she shouted, watching him. Knees forward! Like you're jumping on a bed!"
Had Cristof ever jumped on a bed in his life? It was hard to imagine.
She kicked her own tailset up. The winds weren't too bad. She could probably make a running landing,
but she was afraid that if she tried, she'd stumble over Cristof. The only thing worse than him breaking an
arm would be her breaking one. She could fly for help if he got injured, but she didn't think he'd be able
to do the same for her.
"Slow down and lean backward! Lift your arms up!"
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His knees hit the ground, their heavy protective pads digging furrows into the dirt as he threw his weight
as far back as he could, nearly flat on his back. She breathed a sigh of relief as he skidded to a halt,
buoyed by the extra ondium on his harness.
Her own landing was only a little more graceful as she let herself slide in behind him.
"Are you all right? She locked her wings high and staggered to her feet, wincing as her knees protested.
She stripped off her cap, goggles, and gloves.
Cristof's wings had fallen to the ground, and his head was slumped forward as he panted. She walked
over and knelt in front of him.
"Hey. She cupped his cold face in her hands. He was shaking and pale. You did it. We're here."
He swallowed and nodded.
"Come on, exalted. Concentrate on what you're doing. Dragging your wings is bad form. Lift your arms
up. Lock your wings upright."
Moving slowly, he followed her instructions, then slipped his arms free of the armature and yanked off
his cap and goggles. They fell to the ground between his legs. His eyes were wide, his pupils dilated and
his glasses askew.
"Easy, now. Taya smoothed his sweat-dampened hair and adjusted his glasses. That was good. That
was really good. She leaned forward and hugged him. Silly crow. I told you that you could fly."
He stiffened a moment, then he grabbed her, pulling her close and clutching her as though his life
depended on it.
Taya's heart lurched. She closed her eyes, pulse pounding.
In a minute he's going to let go and make some self-deprecating quip, and everything will be
normal again.
Seconds passed. His breathing slowed and his trembling subsided. Taya waited for him to pull away, but
instead he rested his forehead against her shoulder, still holding her.
She swallowed. Her fingers curled protectively in the thick, ragged thatch of his black hair, then ran
down the sharp angles of his shoulders.
"I still feel like I'm falling, he said at last, looking up. A gleam of morning sunlight played around the wire
rim of his glasses. I'm afraid to let go."
For a moment she stared into his pale eyes.
"It's all right. You're safe. Her pulse pounded in her throat. Had anyone ever looked at her so
desperately before? She'd wanted a glimpse behind his mask, and now she knew what was back
there a deep, aching loneliness. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore."
"If I let go, you might fly away without me, he said, his voice cracking.
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"I won't "
He leaned forward and kissed her, one gloved hand sliding up into her hair.
For a moment Taya stiffened. Then she closed her eyes, letting herself relax into the moment. His
tentative kiss slowly grew more confident as he realized she wasn't going to pull back.
Some critical part of her pointed out that it was ridiculous to kneel in the dirt and kiss this ungracious,
ill-tempered outcaste, but the rest of her felt a surge of affection for him. The uncertain, eager way his
fingers touched her cheeks and the back of her neck made her heart ache.
Poor, awkward crow. So much more determined and honest than his handsome brother had ever been.
Taya laid a hand against his jaw, tasting salt on his lips, and hooked the fingers of her other hand into the
harness straps across his back as he pulled her as close as their metal keels would allow. He was so tall it
felt like he was folding himself around her. He slid his hand from her hair to the small of her back as their
tongues touched and their breath mingled. His kiss and his body seemed to provide the only warmth to
be found in the cold mountain air.
For a long minute they held each other, lost in each other's lips, breath, and touch. Then, at last, Cristof
pulled back and tugged off his glasses with one hand.
"I can't see, he said, breathlessly.
She glanced at his steamed lenses and laughed.There's the self-deprecating quip I was waiting for ,
she thought, relieved to be on familiar ground again. Her cheeks were flushed and her nerves were
tingling.And in a moment he'll push me away.
But she felt comfortable kneeling in front of him, his knees flanking hers, their bodies held inches apart by
their ondium armatures. More comfortable than she'd ever felt with Alister.
"Keep them off, she suggested. You don't need them right now."
"Lady. He rubbed the lenses on his flight suit sleeve and put his spectacles back on again. His lips tilted
in a wry, sad smile as he gazed at her. Don't tempt me. If we keep doing that, we'll never find Alister's
program."
Taya studied him. There it was, the gentle push away. She couldn't blame him, really. He had to be as
surprised by the moment as she was. But she still felt disappointed as she stood up, stretched her legs,
and unsnapped the line between them.
"We'd better get to work then, she said, forcing a light tone.
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