The Lofties (The Echelon Book 2) by Ramona Finn (no david read aloud .txt) 📕

all, but every day seems to lead them closer to the tipping point. With death hanging over her, Myla will have to muster all her power, all her faith, and all of her love to end the conflict once and for all.

No matter the cost.

Get your copy of The Skyseekers

Available May 12th, 2021.

www.ramonafinn.com

EXCERPT

The wind knifed through my shirt, sharp with frost. Sand stung my cheeks. I ran fast, but Lock ran faster, long strides closing the gap. He caught me at the riverbank and spun me around, jammed his blaster under my chin.

“Got you.”

“No, you don’t.” I drove an elbow into his guts and whirled free. Lock grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back. His breath came hot in my ear as I stretched to ease the strain. He growled deep in his chest, a feral sound.

“Say I win,” he demanded.

“You lose.” I brought my heel down on his boot. Lock flinched and jerked back, and we danced through the sandstorm, kicking and snarling in our murderous embrace. My goggles went flying, and I squinted against the sand. Lock lost his blaster and snatched a handful of my hair. He was holding back—I could feel it, and I punished him for it, battering into him with everything I’d got.

“Ow. That’s my kidney.” He caught me in a bear hug, crushing me to his chest.

“Then fight. If you don’t like it, then—” I got my hand over his face, thumb in his mouth, fingers groping for his eyes. Lock cursed and spluttered, and the dirt crumbled under our feet, rough clods and pebbles raining down the bank. I hooked my leg between his and we collapsed in a tangle, rolling and skidding into the dry riverbed.

Lock wound up on top, knee jammed between my thighs. He dropped down to pin me, smothering me with his weight. I could feel his heart pounding, the rush of his blood. He was hot all over, breath puffing white.

“Get—get off.”

“Not till you say I win.” He dug his hips into mine, and I bucked up against him. A flush rose in his cheeks, and my breath came faster. I grabbed a handful of his tunic and twisted till it choked him. He flailed, rolled away, and I rolled with him. I unhooked my own blaster and crammed it in his mouth.

“Say I win.”

Lock made a wet sound, sort of a cough.

“Go on. Say it.”

“C-ca—”

“I don’t think he can say much with your muzzle down his throat.”

I jerked back, surprised to find Ben peering down at us. “That right?”

Lock freed himself with a grimace and spat in the sand. “Mm. Gun grease. Quit feeding me your blaster.”

“Quit letting me win.”

“I—”

“Look, I hate to interrupt your, uh... whatever you call that, but I’m ready when you are.” Ben cleared his throat, and I felt my color rise.

“We’re training,” I said. “Lock’s teaching me to fight like a Decemite.”

“If you say so.” Ben made a sour face, and I could’ve strangled him. He nodded back toward Stillwater. “I’ll be by the trucks when you’re done.”

I watched him go, fuming. Lock shifted between my legs, and I scrambled to my feet.

“I wasn’t letting you win,” he said.

“Right.” I snorted. “I’m more agile than you. Smarter, too. But since when could I pin you like that, and you wouldn’t—” The words died on my lips as Lock heaved himself upright. He was breathing hard, sweat beading on his brow. He swiped it away with a grunt, leaving his goggles askew.

“You’re tired,” I said. “Winded.”

“Little bit.” He unscrewed his canteen and gulped water, letting it dribble down his chin. I watched, fighting dread, as he caught his breath. “Jasper’s bots have their limits. I can’t push it like I’m used to, but it’s fine. I’m good.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“’Cause you’d worry, that’s why.” Lock bent to retrieve his blaster and jammed it back in its holster. “You’d hold back, go easy, and you wouldn’t learn what you need. But you’re not going to break me. I’m still me.”

“So I really did beat you all those times?”

“No need to rub it in.” Lock scrambled up the bank and bent to offer me his hand. “Seriously, if you’re worried about me holding my own in a real fight, don’t be. This is good for me too, training against you. I’m learning my limits, adjusting my strategies. When the time comes, I’ll be ready.”

“You’d better be.” I took his hand and let him pull me up. He did it easily and slid his arm around my waist.

“Off with Ben now?”

I glanced up at him. “Jealous?”

“Of you or of him?” Lock chuckled, gruff and throaty. “Nah. I’ve never been the jealous type. But I like this, out here with you. Feels like, sometimes...”

“What?”

“Like that last day in Sky, when we ran round town together. Like what life might’ve been if there was no Dirt or Sky, no war, no Lazrad. You know—fun.” He let me go with a sigh. “I think I’ll stay here a while, out where it’s quiet.”

“Okay.” I lingered a moment, though I knew Ben was waiting. I didn’t like the slump of Lock’s shoulders, or the heaviness of his tone. “See you for dinner, though? I’ll be back by then.”

“I might be late for that. Starkey needs a supply run—I’m headed up to the Nest.”

“After, then. I’ll save you some leftovers.”

“Sure.” Lock plopped down in the sand, long legs hanging down the bank. I trotted downriver, back to Stillwater. Ben was where he’d said he’d be, leaning on his truck with his mask perched on his head. He pulled it down as I approached and hopped into the driver’s seat.

“I’ve upped the challenge today,” he said. “Don’t forget to buckle up.”

“Oh, yeah?” I tugged my seat belt across my chest. “What’d you do?”

“Wait and see.”

Ben hit the gas and we were off, out the gates and upriver, past the last of the lampposts. We left the valley behind us, and Stillwater seemed to vanish, swallowed