Chapter 20
I find him in the departure hangar standing by the gray helicopter he always fondly refers to as his bird. He’s dressed casually in khakis, a white T-shirt, and brown boots. The look suits him.
His green eyes brighten as I stride toward him. “Hey. I have a couple hours free, so I’m taking the bird up. Thought you might like to join me.”
“Going anywhere in particular?”
He shrugs. “Just the sky.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I was going to take Xavier to the range and introduce him to Zak.”
“The range’ll be there when you get back. The sunshine won’t.”
“Good point.” Although I feel bad abandoning Xavier again, the offer is too tempting to pass up.
A minute later, we’re sitting in the cockpit.
He hands me a headset before flicking on some flight controls, and the rotors start hissing in the cavernous space.
Even though I’ve seen it once before, it still jars me when the mountain seems to open up for us.
Looking completely at ease in the pilot’s seat, Gray flies us out of the hangar, his long fingers on the yoke, handsome profile set in a line of concentration.
Everything sounds so much louder from the cockpit.
The whir of the rotors, the wind whining past us, the vibration of the engine humming through my body.
We’re wearing headsets so we can talk to each other, which only serves as a reminder that he can’t communicate telepathically.
It’s rare for a Mod to lack such a basic ability.
Most Mods can do telepathy and nothing else, like Cross.
I peer out the windshield at the valley below us, a patchwork of grass, trees, and roofs of various structures that are too small to make out from the air.
“You okay?” His voice fills my ear over the purring of the rotor blades.
“I’m good.”
As I gaze at the sprawling landscape, something shiny catches my eye, winking at me. I crane my neck to try to get a better view.
“Is that a solar field?” I ask.
“Yep.”
“Was it already there when you found this base or did the network install it?”
“A little bit of both. It was a lot smaller when we got here, but we strengthened it, installed more panels.”
The chopper dips, and so does my stomach. Gray doesn’t seem at all affected. He looks like he belongs in this helicopter. Like it’s part of him.
I turn to smile at him. “You love flying, huh?”
He nods, pensive. “I do. Life is a lot simpler up here.”
“I can see that. There’s so much noise down there.”
“A lot of fucking noise. Flying is a reprieve from that. I don’t know how to describe it other than…” He trails off for a beat. “Time moves slower up here. The sky’s the only place I can think clearly.”
“That’s how I feel when I’m shooting. When I’m lining up a shot, I have to clear my head of everything but the wind, the scope, the target. Life gets so quiet in those moments.”
“Those are the best moments.”
“Can we fly closer to the valley?”
All I can see from up here are those scattered rooftops and what appears to be several dirt roads winding their way through the settlement. Everyone keeps talking about this place, but I still haven’t been there. It intrigues me that there’s a whole community of people I haven’t even met.
He flashes that easy smile of his. “I’ll do you one better. Let’s go for a visit.”
My stomach flutters with a mix of nerves and anticipation. Judging by the reception I’ve received at the Dagger, I’m skeptical that my welcome in the valley will be any warmer. But I’m too curious to turn down the offer.
He adjusts the controls, and the helicopter responds, making a gentle bank to the right.
We’re circling the edge of the valley now, which provides me with a better view of the settlement.
I see small houses nestled against the hilly terrain, with swathes of green rolling through the landscape.
Most of the homes seem to be constructed from wood, but I spot a few with stone exteriors.
We fly in a wide arc, then begin to descend, passing over what appears to be a circular courtyard enclosed by low stone walls.
With utter precision, Gray lowers the chopper onto a flat cement pad surrounded by a vast stretch of grass, the wind created by the rotors kicking up dirt.
The air grows still once the blades whir to a stop.
I unbuckle my harness and hop out, happy when my boots connect with earth. I’m not afraid of flying or anxious in the air, but I feel most comfortable with solid ground beneath my feet.
Gray climbs out and joins me. “It’s a bit of a walk from here. There’s a closer landing pad across the valley, but I figured you’d want to see as much of the settlement as you could.”
He figured right.
We walk along the grass toward a gravel path while I admire our surroundings. The valley is encircled by towering mountains, their jagged peaks and ridges sharp against the sky.
“It’s quieter than I expected,” I remark.
“Yeah, this isn’t a Faithful camp where everyone is living on top of each other. Like those old communities you read about in school—what were those called?”
“Communes?” I supply.
“Right. Communes. Most of the valley residents came from Sanctum Point, so a lot of them are used to living in hiding in the city, trying to keep their abilities under wraps. I think they brought that mentality here. They live quiet lives, prefer to stay in their homes.” He grins.
“Don’t get me wrong, they throw some fucking great parties, but for the most part, they keep to themselves. ”
It smells different down here than it does up on the mountain.
The air in the Dagger is filtered, so it always holds a slightly stuffy trace.
Either that or it smells like fuel and exhaust. Here it’s fresher, carrying the scent of pine and flowers and the smoke wafting out of chimneys in the distance.
We near a huge, enclosed pasture, and my heart skips happily when I spot the horses.
Three of them, grazing near a split-level fence.
A soft whinny carries in the breeze, bringing a smile to my lips and making me long for my sweet mare, Kelley.
My ranch was reassigned, and I have no idea who’s living there now.
Whoever it is, I hope they’re being good to her.
“Are those workhorses, or do people ride them?” I ask Gray.
“Both. The farmers use them for plowing, hauling firewood, other farmwork. But people do take them out for trail rides. The horses need the exercise.”
“Do you ride?”
“Nope,” he says cheerfully. “I have no desire to plummet to my death off the back of a giant animal that could stomp me to death.”
“Says the man who flies fighter jets.”
“Planes are way safer than horses.”
“I don’t know if that’s true.”
As we keep walking, he points out various crop fields, and the vineyards in the distance.
“Orchards are down there.” He gestures at a distant rise at the edge of the village.
“And up there is the solar field you saw—it powers the entire valley. There are backup generators, too, but we try to rely on the sun as much as we can.”
I nod, impressed by what they’ve built here. The community is entirely self-sustainable.
We pass a wooden chicken coop and a goat enclosure, then round a corner to find a handful of cottages set far apart. I notice Gray quicken his pace, but his laid-back demeanor doesn’t change, at least not until the front door of one of the cottages swings open.
A middle-aged woman with blond hair appears in the doorway, waving at us. “Grayson!” she calls.
His entire body stiffens. When his gaze lands on the woman, I feel the shift in the air. The tension. His good humor evaporates as if a switch has been flipped.
“Who’s that?” I murmur.
“My aunt.”
The woman hurries down the path from the house. When she reaches us, she looks as if she wants to embrace Gray, her arms lifting slightly, but whatever she sees on his face has her hands dropping to her sides.
“I didn’t expect to see you here today,” she says, an awkward note in her voice.
“Just giving a tour,” he says, his own voice cool and distant. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him sound like that before. “Wren is new to the Dagger. I’m showing her around the valley.”
I step forward with my hand extended. “Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”
She gives my wrist a brisk shake. Her hands are cold to the touch and rough with calluses. “Likewise. I’m Jenni, Grayson’s aunt.”
“We should get going,” he says abruptly. “Lots more to show Wren.”
My gaze slides between them. I glimpse a flicker of desperation in Jenni’s eyes, as if she wants to argue, beg him to stay. But his posture remains rigid, every muscle locked in place. It’s obvious he’d rather be anywhere but talking to this woman. Whatever their history, it’s not a pleasant one.
“All right. I won’t keep you then,” Jenni says, defeat settling over her face. She edges away. “Don’t be a stranger.”
He doesn’t even say goodbye as he takes my arm and guides me down the dusty road.
The second his aunt is out of sight, he lets out a ragged breath, clenching and unclenching his fingers as if he’s trying not to make a fist.
“Hey…” I don’t want to pry, but I can’t help it. “What was that? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We’re not close, that’s all.”
Clearly.
Rather than push for answers, I simply nod and keep walking. Though I make a mental note of the encounter, because this is the first time I’ve ever seen a real crack in his playful, carefree exterior.
We continue down the road, Gray explaining more of valley life. “Our main laundry facilities are at the Dagger. But some folks prefer to wash their things here.” He points toward a cluster of trees. “There’s a nice clean stream beyond those trees.”
We pass several barns, supply sheds, a schoolhouse. There are very few people outside, but the ones we do see are quick to smile or wave in greeting. Everything seems to move at a slower rhythm here, lacking the fast pace and tension of life on a military base.