She gave me a long, appraising look. All right, Mr. Hill, she finally said. Its not like we have a choice. Mr. Roth did put you in charge, after all. Well do it your way. She turned to the humans. You heard him, then. Find that chapterhouse. Start monitoring all St. George activity in the region. If the Order so much as sneezes, I want to know. She looked back at me, crystal-blue eyes defiant. Did you happen to catch this special humans name, Mr. Hill?
I nodded. Yes, I said, feeling a slow burn of anger in the pit of my stomach. Anger at the rogue, and St. George, and the human, for taking my sister away. At jeopardizing all my plans with Talon. I would find her, and nothing would stop me from bringing her back. His name was Garret Xavier Sebastian.
Ember
Three hours on the back of a motorcycle, the sun beating down on your shoulders and the wind whipping through your hair, though exhilarating, reminds you why flying wins every time.
You okay back there, Firebrand? Riley called over his shoulder. I peeked up from his leather jacket and caught my reflection in his dark shades. My hair whipped and snapped like a flame atop my head, too short to tie back but just long enough to be horribly tangled when we stopped. Before us, the highway stretched on, an endless strip of pavement heading east. Around us, the Mojave Desert provided much the same scenery: sand, scrub, cactus, rock and the occasional hawk or turkey vulture. The air shimmered with heat, but heat never bothered me. My kind was well adapted to dealing with blistering temperatures.
My butt has gone numb! I called back, making him smirk. My hair is going to take hours to untangle, and I think Ive eaten like four bugs. And I swear, Riley, if you tell me I should keep my mouth closed, youre going to be riding the rest of the way sidesaddle.
He grinned. Were about forty-five minutes out. Just hang on.
Sighing, I laid my chin against his back, watching the eternal sameness flash by around us, and let my mind wander.
It had been three days since we left Crescent Beach. Three days since my world had been turned upside down, since Id learned Talon was hiding things from me, since Id fought the Order of St. George and discovered that Garret wasnt who I thought he was. Three days since Id made the decision to go rogue and leave town with Riley, abandoning my family and my old life, and branding myself a traitor in the eyes of Talon.
Three days since Id last seen Garret. And Dante.
I clenched a fist in Rileys jacket, my emotions churning with anger, sadness and guilt toward them both. Anger that theyd lied, that Id trusted them, only to have them betray that trust. Garret was part of St. George; hed been sent to Crescent Beach to kill me. Dante, the brother whod promised to have my back no matter what, had turned me in to Talon when hed discovered I was going rogue. But at least Garret had redeemed himself somewhat, saving me and Riley from a Talon assassin, then warning us that his own people were on their way. It was because of him that I was here now, on the back of a motorcycle with Riley, flying across the Mojave Desert. I didnt know where my brother was, but I hoped he was okay. He mightve abandoned me to Talon, but I knew Dante. He thought he had been doing the right thing.
Idiot twin. He still didnt know the truth about the organization, the dark secrets they kept, the lies they told us. Id make him see, eventually. I would get him out of Talon soon.
After I took care of this other thing.
The sun was beginning to drop toward the horizon when Riley slowed and pulled off the highway into a large, nearly empty lot on the side of the road. A sign at the edge of the pavement cast a long shadow over us as we cruised by, making me squint as I gazed up at it.
Spanish Manor, I read, then looked at the manor in question, finding a boxy, derelict motel at the end of the nearly empty parking lot. Peeling yellow doors were placed every thirty or so feet, and ugly orange curtains hung in the darkened windows. Exactly one car, an aging white van, was parked in the spaces out front, and if not for the flickering vacancy sign in the office window, I wouldve thought the place completely abandoned.
Riley cruised up beside the van and killed the engine, and we both swung off the bike. Relieved to be able to move around again, I put my arms over my head and stretched until I felt my back pop. Gingerly, I tried running my fingers through my hair and found it hopelessly tangled, as Id feared. Wincing, I tugged at the snarls and tore loose several fiery red strands while Riley looked on in amusement. I scowled at him.
Ow. Okay, next time, I get a helmet, I said, and his grin widened even more. I rolled my eyes and continued my hopeless battle with the tangles. Of all the human beauty traditions, I found hair the most time-consuming and obnoxious. So much time was wasted washing, brushing, teasing and primping it; scales never had this problem. Where are we, anyway? I muttered, separating a stubborn knot with my fingers, trying to ignore the dragon beside me. It was hard. Lean, tall and broad-shouldered, clad in leather and chains, Riley certainly cut the figure of a perfect rebel biker boy leaning so casually against his motorcycle, the breeze tugging at his dark hair. He took off his shades and stuck them in a back pocket.
Were about an hour from Vegas, he said, and nodded to the ramshackle Spanish Manor squatting at the edge of the lot. Wes told me to meet him here. Come on.
I followed him over the parking lot, up a rusting flight of stairs and down the second-story hall until we came to a faded yellow door near the end. The curtains were drawn over the grimy window, and the interior of the room looked dark. Riley glanced around, then knocked on the wood, three swift taps followed by two slower ones.
A pause, and then the door swung open to reveal a thin, lanky human on the other side, dark eyes peering at us beneath a scruff of messy brown hair. He scowled at me by way of greeting, then stepped back to let us in.
About time you showed up. Wes slammed the door and threw the locks as if we were in a superspy movie and there could be enemy agents lurking outside, hiding in the cactus. I thought youd be here hours ago. What happened?
Had to make a quick stop in L.A. for a few things, Riley answered, brushing by him. He did not mention the things in question, namely, a duffel bag full of ammo and firearms. Both he and Wes ignored me, so I turned to gaze around the room. A quick glance was all that was required; it was small, rumpled, unremarkable, with an unmade bed against the wall and soda cans scattered everywhere. A laptop sat open and glowing on the corner desk, nonsensical words and formulas splayed across the screen in neat rows.
Riley Wes began, a note of warning in his voice.
Where are the hatchlings? Riley asked, overriding whatever he was going to say. Are they all right? Did you find the safe house?
Theyre fine, Wes answered, sounding impatient. Theyre holed up near San Francisco with that Walter chap, with strict instructions not to poke one scale out of the house until they hear from you. Theyre bloody peachy. Were the ones we have to worry about now.
Good. Riley nodded briskly and walked across the room to the desk, then bent down to the screen. I assume this is it, then? he muttered, narrowing his eyes. Where well be going tonight? Did you get everything you needed?
Riley. Wes stalked after him. Did you hear a word I just told you, mate? Do you know how crazy this is? Are you even listening to me? The other ignored him, and with a scowl, Wes reached across the desk and slapped the laptop shut.
Riley straightened and turned to glare at the human. In the shadows, his eyes suddenly glowed a dangerous yellow, and the air went tight with the soundless, churning energy that came right before a Shift. Rileys true form hovered close to the surface, staring out at the human with angry gold eyes.
To his credit, Wes didnt back down.
Listen to yourself, Riley. The human faced the other in the dingy light, his voice solemn. Listen to what youre trying to do. This isnt stealing a hatchling away from Talon. This isnt walking up to a kid and saying, Oy, mate, your organization is corrupt as hell and if you dont leave soon youll never be free. He stabbed a finger at the laptop. This is a bloody St. George compound. With bloody St. George soldiers. One slipup, one mistake, and youll be hanging from some corporals wall. Think about what that means, mate. Wes leaned forward, his gaze intense. Without you, the underground dies. Without you, all those kids you freed from Talon will be helpless when the organization comes for them. And they will, Riley, you bloody well know they will. Do you even care about that anymore? Do you care that everything weve worked for is about to go up in flames? He gestured sharply at me. Or has this sodding kid got you so wrapped around her finger that you dont know whats important anymore?
Hey! I protested, scowling, but I might as well have shouted at a wall. Riley clenched his fists, nostrils flaring, as if he might punch the human or Shift into his true form and blast him to cinders. Wes continued to glare, chin raised, mouth pressed into a stubborn line. Both of them paid absolutely no attention to me.
What are we doing, mate? Wes asked softly, after a moment of brittle silence. This isnt our fight. This isnt what we said we would do. Riley didnt answer, and Wess tone became almost pleading. Riley, this is crazy. This is suicide, you know it as well as I do.
Riley slumped, raking a hand through his messy black hair, the tension leaving his shoulders. I know, he growled. Trust me, I know. Ive been trying to convince myself I havent completely lost my mind since we left town.
Then why
Because if I dont, Ember will go without me and get herself killed! Riley snapped, and finally looked in my direction. Those piercing gold eyes met mine across the room, the shadow of Rileys true form staring at me. I shivered as he held my gaze. Because she doesnt know St. George like I do, he went on. She hasnt seen what theyre capable of. She doesnt know what they do to our kind if were discovered. I do. And Im not going to let that happen. Even if I have to sneak into a St. George base and rescue one of the bastards myself.
I swallowed, feeling something inside me respond, a rush of warmth spreading through my veins. My own dragon, calling to Rileys, like he was her other half.
Wes scrubbed a hand down his face. Youre both completely off your rockers, he muttered, shaking his head. And Im no better, since it seems Im going along with this lunacy. He groaned and plopped into the chair, then opened the laptop. Well, since you appear to have lost your mind, let me show you exactly what were up against.
Riley turned from me, breaking eye contact. I knew I should go see what Wes was talking about. But I could still feel the heat of Rileys gaze, feel the caress of the dragon against my skin. I needed to get away from him to clear my head, to cool the fire surging through my veins. Leaving them to talk, I slipped into the small, only slightly disgusting bathroom and locked the door behind me.
Wess and Rileys voices echoed through the wood, low and urgent, probably talking about the mission. Or, in Wess case, trying to convince Riley, once and for all, not to go through with this. I sank onto the toilet seat and ran my hands through my hair, letting the words fade into jumbled background noise.
I knew Wes was right. I knew what I planned to do was stupid and risky as hell. I knew I hadnt considered all the threats, didnt realize what I was getting into. What I was planning flew in the face of everything Id been taught, and if I voiced it out loud, it sounded insane, even to me.
Break into a compound of St. George, the ancient enemy of our race, the Order whose sole mission was to see us extinct, and rescue one of their own. Sneak into a heavily armed base full of soldiers, free a sole prisoner who could be anywhere and get out. Without getting blown to bits in the process.
It sounded crazy. It was crazy. It was downright suicidal, like Wes said. I didnt fault him, or Riley, for being reluctant. They had no stake in this, no reason to want to undergo a mission that could get us all killed. They had every right to be afraid. If I was being completely honest, it terrified me, too.
But I couldnt leave him behind.
I went to the sink to splash water on my face but paused when I caught sight of my reflection. A skinny, green-eyed girl stared back at me from the mirror, red hair standing on end, eyes ringed with dust and dark circles. I didnt look remotely Draconian. I looked tired, and dirty, and very mortal. Nothing fierce or primal lurked inside my gaze to indicate that I was anything more than I seemed.
Was that why hed hesitated that night on the cliff? When hed pointed that gun at my head, and Id finally realized what he really was? When hed ceased to be Garret and became the enemy, a soldier of St. George?
He couldve killed me. Id been in my human form, taken off guard, and had been too stunned to do anything at first. Hed had me at point-blank range, alone and trapped on a bluff miles from anywhere. All hed had to do was pull the trigger.
But he hadnt. And later, hed betrayed his own people to save me and Riley from Lilith, my sadistic trainer and Talons best Viper assassin. Lilith had come for Riley that night, and when Id refused to leave him and return to Talon, shed tried to kill me, too. Shed nearly succeeded. Wed survived only because of Garrets unexpected arrival and his help in driving off the Viper. Otherwise, Lilith wouldve torn us apart.
But, by helping us, Garret had damned himself. To aid a dragon was treason in the eyes of his Order, and the punishment for such betrayal was death. Hed told me that himself. Garret had known the Order would kill him, and hed still chosen to save us.
Why?
Id tried to follow him that night, hoping to somehow get him away from the soldiers who were now his captors. But there had been no opportunity for a rescue, and Riley had finally convinced me that falling back and planning our next move was the best option. So here we were.
I turned on the sink and splashed cold water on my face, washing away the dust and grime. When that was done, I attempted to tame the snarled birds nest atop my head, wincing as I ran my fingers through the knots and tangles, finally combing them out. I had a brush in my backpack, along with a change of clothes and other essentials, but primping seemed like a giant waste of time right now. Besides, who was around that I wanted to impress? Wes hated me, and Riley Riley was interested in my other half.
My dragon perked at this, sending a curl of warmth through my stomach, and I squashed it, and her, down. I didnt know what I was going to do about Riley, but there were other things to focus on. Hopefully, Riley and Wes had come up with a brilliant plan, because other than knowing I couldnt leave Garret with St. George, I didnt have a clue what to do.