Breaking Sky by Cori McCarthy Page A

back to the Star had been the tensest experience of Chase’s life. Her fists had stayed tight, her body hunched forward—all the while expecting red drones to drop in at her, missiles hot. Her still-depleted adrenaline levels left her feeling like her head was sliding off her neck.
    Chase skewered her stack with her fork. “Surely we’re at war after last night.”
    â€œThe whole thing’ll be classified.” Starchy globs rolled around Pippin’s mouth with each word. She knew better than to try to talk to him now; he was serious about breakfast.
    â€œSo many people died,” she murmured. It couldn’t be swept under the rug. And what about Streaker Team Phoenix ? As soon as they landed at the Star, Kale and a handful of other officers had swept the Canadians into the cadet-restricted section of the base. Chase might not see Tristan again until they faced off at the government trials in two and a half months.
    Tristan . She couldn’t think of him as Arrow. Not after the way they had blown into each other through the explosions and flames.
    There had to be aftermath. Not the least of which might be that she’d broken direct orders in landing on JAFA’s runway, and she’d rammed that hangar door open. Would Kale call Tourn again? Would her father appear to discipline her? She could only imagine what Tourn would say if he found out that she used a multibillion-dollar jet as a battering ram…
    When she looked up, Pippin had paused mid-chew. Stunned. “Can we help you?” he asked.
    Sylph sat down beside Chase, nearly on top of her. The blonde’s tray banged into Chase’s, knocking her fork across the table. “The enemy of our enemy is our friend.”
    â€œCome again?” Pippin asked.
    Riot put his tray down beside Pippin and gave Chase a smile that she glanced away from.
    Sylph sighed. “It means—”
    â€œI know what it means, Sylph,” Pippin said. “Do you ?”
    â€œWe need to stick together.” Sylph took Chase’s shoulder, violating their long-standing “no touching unless assaulting” policy. “That third Streaker team is our enemy.”
    â€œFor the trials,” Chase amended.
    â€œFor everything. We have to win, and we’ll last longer if we gang up on them.” Sylph looked around the table like she was about to give an executive command. “We’re going to take Phoenix down. I don’t know what they’re playing at, but I’m. Not. Going. To. Lose. Especially not to Canadians.”
    Chase shifted under Sylph’s glare. Before last night she might have had a similar drive, but things had changed when she’d worked with Tristan and his RIO to get the wreckage off Dragon ’s nose. “So your plan is what exactly?”
    â€œStep one is discussing our weaknesses. I’ll tell you what you do wrong, and then you share how you think I might improve.”
    â€œThat sounds like it will go well,” Chase muttered.
    Pippin started choking on a muted laugh.
    Sylph wasn’t budging for humor. “We’re going to best them before the trials. Learn their weaknesses and exploit them.”
    Chase fetched her fork and reskewered her breakfast. “Sylph, we probably won’t even see them again until January. No doubt they’re on the other end of North America by now.”
    â€œLesson one.” Sylph turned Chase’s head by her chin, aiming her attention to a table overflowing with cadets. Tristan and his RIO were seated among them. Laughing . The image hit her all wrong. After last night, what in the world could they find funny?
    â€œYou have no peripheral vision, Nyx. It’s how I’ve outmaneuvered you like ninety percent of the time.”
    Chase shrugged out of Sylph’s hold at the same time Tristan eyed her across the room. He got up immediately and began to cross the distance between them, RIO in tow.
    â€œGame