Chapter 453

Katelina woke hours later to find the plane stationary and everyone asleep. Though she couldn't see outside, she knew the sun was burning in the sky.

She reached over Jorick's slouched form and laid her hand on the window shutter. The sun had always been a concern for Jorick and her friends, but she'd never feared it. Now, sliding the window back could mean death. Not the kind of death she'd been through already, but real, total, death. The kind that there was no coming back from.

She dropped her hand to her lap. The skin was pale and youthful, like a freshly scrubbed child. She marveled at the way her fingernails gleamed and sliced them across the arm of her seat. To her surprise the material gave way.

Jorick stirred next to her. After his usual gasp he met her eyes and offered her a smile. "Good morning, little one."

She didn't bother to correct him. After all, it was her morning now. Now and forever.