Page 42 of The Love Schematic

“That’s it,” Perro said with a gasp. He held his arm to his chest as he stood. “The others wouldn’t leave. Gustus convinced them he had it under control.”

Blaze gave the ship above him one more glance. Whatever was happening toThe Soaring Raerae, control was not part of it. But that wasn’t a problem he could contain. He had a ship full of people in a space barely big enough for them to stand. Mack had hopped onto a much bigger elf’s shoulders, as had any other elfling that had come aboard.

“Attention, everyone!” Blaze said over the crowd. The general murmurs quieted. “We’ll head down. I want everyone to link arms with the people next to them—those on the outside, link to people on the inside. We are beyond capacity, so I ask that you do not shift your weight as much as possible. I don’t want anyone falling off!”

The first bout of descent went a little too quickly, and the passengers gasped, screamed, or laughed in response. After that, Blaze had the hang of how the ship moved with the extra weight on it and managed a reasonable downward ride. Withinten minutes, they were floating above the Marketplace Pavilion again. Lady Mae had organized several cosmomancers to assist with helping elves off the ship.

Adrenaline plummeted faster than Lord Gustus’s ship had taken off. Blaze sagged against the ship’s wheel until Durae came to stand beside him. Then he pulled Durae into his arms, Durae’s back to his front, and let Durae lean against him. Durae rested his head back on his shoulder.

“I think you’re going to win all the awards,” Durae murmured with a yawn. “No one can deny that you designed the airship now.”

“I don’t care if I win a single one.” Blaze kissed Durae’s temple. “All I need is you.”

Durae turned his arms and smiled brighter than a hundred stars. “What a strange turn of coincidence. All I need is you.”

And they kissed.