To Honor: Vampire Assassin League #22 by Jackie Ivie Page B

meant Takeshi couldn’t take Christine airborne. The air above them would be filled with hydrogen gas. Asphyxiation would be the main trouble.
    For Christine.
    And that he’d never allow.
    The runway ended. The front of the plane dipped. And the plane started falling. Christine’s cry accompanied Takeshi’s dive toward the tail section, smashing the wall that led to his bedroom suite. The place was a riot of confusion. Everything was slammed up against the back wall. That included the mattress. Takeshi smirked before pivoting, slamming his shoulders against it and that buffered their launch out through metal, and softened the landing as well.
    He couldn’t have planned it better.
    The mattress had been a gift of fortune. The bedding still upon it, an even greater prize. He unfurled Christine from him with sure hands. He refastened the silk around her. It would help against the elements. Vaughn hadn’t been exaggerating. They were on a glacier that glistened blue-white with moon glow. It was probably cold. He couldn’t feel it. He tucked Christine between the mattress and the sheet. She was shaking. He didn’t know if it was shock or cold.
    “You’re...leaving me?”
    The words reflected her tremor. Takeshi’s heart constricted.
    “I will be right back . ”
    “But—?”
    “I have to get Vaughn. The pilot. He may be hurt. Worse.”
    “You’ll...come back?”
    “There is no question of that, watashi no ai . You are my mate. I will always be there. Always.”
    “You promise?”
    “ Hai. ”
    “O...kay.”
    Takeshi didn’t waste another second. He knew where they were. The plane had crashed into the sea or Lopp Lagoon, at the 65th parallel. Bering Sea. Late fall weather. He hadn’t much time. In this temperature of water, hypothermia would occur within minutes. Prior to that, a human would go into the function disability stage. Their muscles would weaken. They’d lose coordination and strength. The first moments were the most critical however. That’s when cold shock happened. Even a half-turned human would be breathing hard and fast and deep. Drowning was a real possibility.
    And that’s if Vaughn wasn’t injured.
    The jet was easy to locate. It hadn’t completely submerged yet. But the cockpit was completely underwater. The water was dark with blood. Vaughn was wearing a breathing apparatus. Smart man. He was still conscious. Grievously injured. And stuck. The entire nose appeared to have compressed onto him, smashing his chest. Pelvis. Legs. Takeshi peeled metal open, ripped through the seat belt and pulled the pilot free. It took eight seconds. Felt like a thousand. Another moment they were out of the water. And then he had the man atop the mattress, right beside Christine. She gasped. Sat up. And was watching.
    He didn’t look toward her. He didn’t have time. He yanked Vaughn’s mask off.
    “Vaughn-San! Vaughn! Can you hear me?”
    “Yeah.”
    The pilot’s voice was weak. His pulse even weaker.
    “I heard you were half changed? Is that true?”
    “Pretty...much.”
    “You ready to finish, then?”
    “I can re—. Re. Re.” The man coughed. Blood frothed from his mouth before he finished. “Recuperate.”
    “No. Apologies. Vaughn-San. You’ve lost too much blood.”
    “I get a choice?”
    “ Hai. You can die.”
    The man chuckled. More blood gushed out.
    “Shit. I always...thought I’d get...a hot female. Rocking hot body. Legs to die for. You know. Like Sasha. But no. Not...me. I gotta go and get the ninja.”
    “Is that a yes?”
    “Yeah. Do it.”
    Takeshi concentrated. Felt his canines tingling just before they started reacting. Elongating. To razor sharpness.
    “What...are you doing?” Christine whispered.
    “Changing him.”
    “Changing?”
    Shock colored her voice. It dragged at him. He didn’t dare look in her direction. Everything was working against him. He didn’t have time to explain. Or comfort. Or mute what she was about to see. Takeshi sliced his wrist with