Page 129 of Tailwind

Then we were apart again. Cam clapped me on the shoulder, clearing her throat as she did.

‘That was the most awkward hug I’ve ever seen.’ Josie was squatting by Gottyk, scratching between his eyes. His tail thumped against the floor in happiness. ‘And it explains a lot.’

I scoffed out a laugh at her comment, trying not to sound too panicked. I’d talked about my family to Josie, but hadn’t warned her about Cam’s temper.

‘Josie, this is my sister, Cam. Cam, this is my friend, strategist and partner in crime, Josie.’

Cam was scowling, looking down at Josie as she fussed over Gottyk. Her hands were on her hips, making her dark jacket fan out like wyvern wings. Much like a wyvern, it was posturing to make herself bigger and more intimidating. Our family trait of being short and stocky worked well for racing, but not so much when it came to looking like we could beat someone up.

I mean, we could, but we didn’t look like it.

‘You’re twelve years too late if you want to make comments on how I raise my sister.’

Panic shot through me. I stepped in front of Cam, my hands up. ‘Cam—’

She sidestepped, ignoring me. ‘I’m going to let you off this time because I know you helped Lena, but make a comment like that about my sister again and I won’t be so forgiving.’

A nervous laugh escaped me, hoping Josie would buy it as one big joke. On the floor, Gottyk opened his eyes.

Josie stood, brushing her glossy black hair over her shoulder. She tilted her head slightly, looking Cam in the eye. I usually flinched under that unwavering gaze, but Cam stood her ground.

I hoped Josie could see the difference. I was all brawn and instinct, willing to follow her directions and take her word as final. Cam wasn’t just a meathead like me though. Yes, she could fly – although never as well as me – but she could also run a racing crew, keep tabs on several business ventures at once and had got into a standoff with Bach Lotiere across our kitchen table.

Not for the first time, I wished she’d lighten up a little around the people I introduced her to. I bounced on the balls of my feet, unsure whether to dive between them or go for cover.

Finally, Josie broke the silence. ‘Lena may well be the best person I know.’

‘What?’ It was out of my mouth before I had the chance to feel grateful for the compliment.

‘People don’t just turn out that way by themselves. Yes, she may be stubborn, thick-headed and forgets to close her mouth to chew …’

‘Hey!’ Once again I was ignored.

‘But she’s also brave. She had the guts to seize an opportunity to change her life around, consequences be damned.’

My stomach lurched with the sudden wave of affection I felt towards Josie.

‘Not only did she do something that I had been too afraid to do by myself for years, but she took me with her. She could have protected herself, kept everyone else away and chased glory alone, but she didn’t. So instead of festering in self-pity for yet another year I got the chance to prove myself too.

‘How a person treats others when they themselves are suffering reveals who they really are. I believe kindness is learned, Cam. If you’re the one who raised her, then I guess that means she learned it from you.’

My hand twitched, wanting to thump her on the arm for all the heartfelt words. The only thing holding me back was that it would prove her right. We might not show it the same way as everyone else, but we Paldon sisters still loved hard.

Cam must have been fighting a similar kind of urge, because I could see the tendons in her neck flexing.

‘Fine.’

I choked on air.

She rolled her shoulders and bypassed both me and Josie to crouch next to Gottyk, holding her hand out for him to sniff before going in for a fuss.

My eyes widened. I’d never seen my sister back down from an argument. Whether she was wrong or just wanted to drive a point home, she didn’t just let it go. I gestured at Josie silently, waving my hands wildly in disbelief, but she only rolled her eyes.

She didn’t get it.

‘Don’t you have some meetings to attend?’ Cam had already managed to get Gottyk to roll over, scratching under his chin and making his back leg twitch.

‘Yes! Yes, we do.’ I took Josie by the elbow and led her away, scared for the both of us at this bizarre, relaxed version of my surly big sister.