“Yes,” Wes answered, hefting the bag to his shoulder before glaring at Remy. “If the little blighters don’t drop me, that is.”
“Good.” Riley ignored that last part. “Don’t stop until you’ve reached the fallback point. I’ve stashed money and supplies in the cave. If you can get to it, it’ll give you a head start. Wait for me there, but if I don’t make it, stay together and get as far away from here as you can, understand?”
They nodded. Nettle seemed on the verge of panic, but Remy was calmer now. Riley looked at Wes, who waited solemnly with the book bag over his shoulder. “Get them out of here. I’ll try to give you a head start, keep the bastards from shooting you out of the air. If we get lucky, I’ll see you at the rendezvous.”
Wes nodded gravely. “Be careful, Riley. Don’t get dead.”
Riley jerked his head at me as the human and the two hatchlings raced off down the hall. “Ember, you, too. Go with Wes and the others.”
“No,” I shot back, my heart hammering against my ribs. Doggedly, I followed him into the hall, toward the living room, though my instincts were screaming at me to go the other way. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Dammit, Ember!” He spun, grabbing my arm. “This isn’t one of your training sessions. This is St. George, and they will kill you!”
A crash shattered the tense silence, the sound of breaking glass, as something small came hurtling through the window, followed by a blinding flash of light. A second later, a massive boom rocked the house, and a wave of energy slammed into me, knocking me away from Riley. At the same time, the front door flew inward, and a trio of armed, masked soldiers spilled into the room, sweeping their guns toward us.
Garret
In combat, everything slows down and speeds up at the same time.
The door exploded inward with the force of my kick, and we lunged inside, the muzzles of our M-4s leading the way. I took in the room in a split-second glance—bright, airy, expensive looking—before movement to the right demanded my attention.
A body dove behind the kitchen counter, and we opened fire. The M-4s chattered in sharp, three-round bursts, filling the room with noise and smoke, shattering glass and tearing chunks out of the marble. Rubble flew everywhere, ceramics exploded and wood splintered as we edged toward the kitchen, concentrating fire on our target.
“No!”
The scream came from the hall, from someone at the edge of the living room. I whirled, sweeping my gun up and sighting down the muzzle, my finger tightening around the trigger.
I froze.
Ember’s small frame filled my sights, green eyes wide with horror and fear as she stared at me. For a single heartbeat, I faltered, unwilling to believe, and the gun wavered. For a split second, I hesitated...
...and watched as the girl I had kissed, who had taught me to surf and play video games and laugh at myself, shifted and reared up with a roar, her body exploding into wings and talons and crimson scales. I realized my mistake and brought the weapon up again, too late. The dragon’s jaws opened, and a blast of flame seared toward us, engulfing the floor and setting the furniture ablaze.
I dove away from the roaring dragonfire, feeling the scalding heat even through my armor. Rolling behind a sofa, which was now completely engulfed in flames, I leveled myself to a knee and returned fire. The red dragon gave a defiant screech and ducked back into the hall as a bullet storm peppered the entryway, tearing chunks out of the walls.
There was another roar, and a second dragon, even bigger than the first, rose up from behind the counter and sent his own blast of flame into the fray. The once-pristine living room swiftly became a roaring inferno, tongues of fire licking the walls and floor, as the blue dragon whipped his head back and forth, catching everything ablaze. The heat was incredible, and smoke stung my eyes and mouth, making it hard to see. Squinting through flames and smoke, I caught a gleam of scales through the firestorm, ducked out of cover and fired several rounds at the dragon-shaped blur.
There was a screech of pain over the bark of gunfire, followed by an angry roar. I couldn’t tell which dragon it came from, but the smaller red one suddenly reared up, jaws gaping, and sent a fireball streaking for the couch. As I ducked behind cover to avoid the fiery explosion, both dragons spun and bounded for the glass doors leading to the balcony. I leaped upright, sighting the gun after the retreating targets, but the blue dragon hit the doors first in an explosion of glass, going right through the flimsy barrier with the smaller one close behind. We raced after them, knowing that once they took flight it would be nearly impossible to catch them again. I leaped through the shattered frame, bringing up my gun, only to see the red dragon dive off the balcony into empty sky. We hurried to the railing, a few of my teammates firing after the escaping dragons, but the pair swiftly vanished around a cliff face and out of sight.
Riley
“Cobalt!”
Ember’s cry echoed behind me, nearly swallowed by the wind and the pounding of the surf below us. She sounded frantic, but I ignored her, concentrating on staying aloft, keeping my wings moving, beating. I couldn’t stop now because if I did, I wasn’t certain I could get off the ground again.
We followed the cliff face for a couple miles, until it dropped off and became a rocky shoreline, waves crashing against the rocks. I felt exposed out here, gliding over the water in plain sight. Thankfully, this side of the cliff wasn’t friendly to humans or tourists; there were no beaches or docks or good surfing areas, only jagged coastline and rock. Humans rarely ventured down this shore. Which was exactly why I’d chosen it.
I glided low, following the coastline, until I finally saw what I was looking for: a tiny patch of sand, too small to be called a beach, even a private one, in the shadow of a cliff face.
The second my claws hit the sand, my strength gave out and I collapsed at the edge of the water, the waves hissing over my heated scales as they returned to the sea. Blood oozed in vivid red streams from a pair of holes right above my stomach plates, bullet wounds I’d taken just before we fled. Thankfully, it was more of a graze than a direct hit, and that part of my body was well armored, but still. Seawater foamed over me as a wave rolled onto the beach, rushing into the wounds and setting them on fire. I clenched my jaw in pain, panting through my nostrils, as Ember splashed over, wings outstretched, pupils dilated in fear and alarm. The sun glinted off her metallic crimson scales, her eyes blazed emerald, and even through the pain, the sight of her real form made my blood sizzle.
“You’re shot!”
“Yeah,” I growled, digging my claws into the sand, wishing it was the face of the soldier with the gun. “One of the bastards got me. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
She stepped closer, folding her wings over her back. She didn’t Shift, but gently nudged a wing aside to peer at the wound. I watched her, my body coiled around hers, fighting the desire to reach out and drag her close, wrapping us both in my wings.
“You were incredible back there, you know,” I said quietly. “Looked St. George in the eye and didn’t back down. You would’ve made an awesome Viper.”
“Yeah, well, I was terrified the whole time, so don’t think I’ll be doing that again anytime soon.” Her voice caught, and she drew back slightly, shivering. “They were really trying to kill us,” she whispered. “Why do they hate us? We haven’t done anything to them.”
“You know the answer to that, Firebrand.” I closed my eyes as another wave flowed over us; it hurt like a mother but at least it would clean the wounds. “Talon taught you just as well as me. They hate us because we’re different, and mankind always fears what they don’t understand.” I shrugged painfully. “Course, our ancestors might’ve started that grudge with the whole burning towns and eating villagers thing. Or it might’ve started when the first slayer killed the first dragon for his treasure hoard, who knows? The point is, this war is noth
ing new. Humans and dragons have been fighting each other for centuries, and it’s not going to end anytime soon. Not until one of us destroys the other. And with all the humans on the planet, who do you think will go extinct first?”
Ember shook her head, nostrils flaring. “But it’s so pointless,” she raged, baring her fangs. “Has anyone tried talking to each other?”
I snorted a laugh, wincing as it sent a stab of pain through my ribs. “You just saw what St. George is like. If you think you can get through to them, by all means, go back tonight and try to have a conversation. But I bet you won’t get within a hundred yards before they start firing.” She scowled, and I raised my head, bringing my muzzle level to hers. “You can’t reason with fanatics, Firebrand,” I told her gently. “St. George hates us because we’re dragons, and that’s the only excuse they need to wipe us out. They see us as monsters. That’s why they want us extinct.”
She blinked, slitted green eyes gazing into my own, sending heat singing through my veins. In human form, I’d felt drawn to her, but it was nothing compared to the almost savage pull I felt now. Firmly, I shoved it back. There was no time.
Gritting my teeth, I planted my claws and pushed myself upright, hissing at the sharp lance of pain. Ember quickly stepped forward and leaned into me, bracing herself as she took some of my weight.
“Cobalt, don’t. What are you doing?”
“We can’t stay here and risk St. George finding us. I have to get to Wes and the others, but I don’t think I can fly very far.” Setting my jaw, I limped up the beach, cursing as my talons sank into the sand, slowing me down. Ember stayed with me, walking close, her shoulder touching mine to steady us. “Fortunately, I come fully prepared for these kinds of circumstances.”
We reached the rock face, where a pile of branches and driftwood sat in the sand against the cliff wall. At my nod, Ember raked the pile aside with her claws, until she revealed the plastic crate beneath. Inside was a single change of clothes, a new wallet with duplicate fake identities, money, a burner phone and a small first-aid kit.
I grinned at her astonishment. “Like I said, I’ve been doing this awhile, Firebrand. And the first thing you learn when you go rogue is that you always have a backup plan.” I might’ve said more, but at that moment, I shifted my weight the wrong way and my leg gave out from under me. I caught myself with a hiss, but it seemed so much easier to slump into the cool, dry sand, so I did.
Ember was beside me in an instant, eyes worried as she leaned in. Beautiful, dangerous, the other half of me. And the urges within became too strong to ignore.
My wings swept down, wrapping around us both, drawing her against my body. She reared back, startled, but I hooked my talons into her scales and pulled her close. Ember resisted for a moment, then gave a low growl and pressed forward, twining her neck with mine. Flames roared through me, a fire exploding through my core, consuming and intense. I closed my eyes, wanting her closer, wanting to twist and writhe and coil in the sand, tails and wings thrashing, until we had become one.
With a start, Ember hissed and pulled back, breaking from my embrace and the cocoon of wings. Her entire stance—wings flared, pupils dilated, nostrils flaring—spoke of desire and alarm. Shaking her head, she backed away, looking like she might launch herself into the air and flee.
“Cobalt, I don’t—”
“No,” I interrupted, half rising. “Don’t say anything. Don’t fight it, Firebrand. We belong together, you know it as well as me. Say you’ll come with me. Tonight.”
“We just met.” Ember sounded very human then, like she was trying to convince herself. “I don’t even know you, really.”
“So what? We’re not human. We don’t play by the same rules.” I switched to Draconic, my voice low and soothing. “This is instinct, plain and simple. Human emotion has nothing to do with it. Stop fighting it. Stop fighting me.”
She wavered, still wary and uncertain, and I growled, clenching my talons in the sand. The moment was gone, but I still needed her to leave with us. I’d have all the time in the world to convince her then. “Firebrand—” I nodded toward the ocean and the sun, sinking into the horizon “—you can’t stay here, not with St. George sniffing around. They’ll be looking for us, and the bastards are stupidly persistent. You’ll be in danger if you stay here, and so will that twin of yours.”
Ember blinked, her gaze darkening at the mention of St. George and Dante, and backed away. “Dante,” she muttered, as if just remembering. “He still doesn’t know St. George is in the area. I have to go.” She looked at me, pleading. “I have to go home and convince him to come with us. I can’t leave him, not now.”
I sighed out a curl of smoke and nodded. She was still planning to leave with us, that was all that mattered. “Go on, then,” I murmured, jerking my head toward the ocean. “Do what you have to. Get your brother, meet us at the rendezvous point later tonight and let’s get the hell out of Dodge.”
“Where will we meet you?”
“I’ll call you later with the location.” At her betrayed look, I softened my voice. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Firebrand. But if I’m caught, I don’t want them surprising you at the meeting place. It’s safer if you don’t know where it is. I promise I’ll call you when the time comes. Just focus on being ready to go when I do.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry.” I smirked and flicked my tail at the crate that held the burner phone. “I’ll call Wes, and he’ll come and pick me up, provided he and the hatchlings got to the bolt hole safely.”
“You’re still hurt.” Ember’s gaze went to my still-oozing ribs. “I don’t want to leave you.”
I ignored the way my heart leaped at that statement. “Firebrand, I’ll be fine. Trust me, this isn’t the worst situation I’ve been in. My surly hacker friend has patched me up many times before. Only bad part is listening to him bitch the whole time he’s doing it.” I clenched my jaw and struggled to my feet with a grimace, splaying my legs to remain upright, panting. “But we need to leave, and we need to leave soon. I’ll wait for you both as long as I can, but if you and Dante don’t meet us by midnight...we’ll have to go without you.”
Ember nodded. “We’ll be there.” Looking at the sun, she nodded grimly, nostrils flaring. “I’ll see you in a couple hours, at most. Be careful, Cobalt.”
I staggered forward and pressed my muzzle beneath her chin, closing my eyes. “You, too,” I whispered.
She gave me an unreadable look as I pulled back, then turned and padded gracefully away. I watched her go, feeling a part of myself leave with her, until she paused at the edge of the ocean, silhouetted against the sun. Her wings cast a dark shadow over the beach as they unfurled, and I felt an almost painful longing to go with her, to spring forward and follow the red hatchling into the sunset, but I kept myself grounded and under control. Ember’s wings flapped twice, sending up whirlwinds of sand and foam, as she launched herself skyward. Still, I watched as the crimson dragon climbed rapidly into the air, scales glinting in the evening sun, until she soared over the cliff face and disappeared into the blue.
Ember
I didn’t fly far. Just to the top of the cliff, where I found the road back to town, and quickly Shifted back to human form behind a pile of large rocks. I was barefoot, phoneless, penniless, dressed in what appeared to be a black wetsuit and nothing else and several miles from any place familiar. I wished I could just fly home, but of course that wasn’t an option. Especially now that St. George was in town and on the warpath. I couldn’t linger in any place for long. At least one of those soldiers had seen me right before I’d changed, and knew what I looked like in human form. If they spotted me now, I was dead meat.
A car came down the road, a white Camry with tinted windows and music blasting from inside. Halfheartedly, I stuck out a thumb, and the vehicle cruised right on by wit
hout slowing down, giving me a honk as they zipped away. I stuck my tongue out as it passed, tossing dust in its wake, and fantasized about meeting them with a flat tire on the side of the road. Glancing at the last sliver of red peeking over the ocean, I sighed.
Well, looks like I’m hoofing it.
With limited options, I began jogging down the road toward home. Away from the cliff, and the beach, and Cobalt.
Cobalt. Riley. That moment on the beach, when he’d yanked me to him, still lingered in my mind. I didn’t know what to think of it, though my dragon had no such doubts. Even now, she was urging me to turn around, to fly back to Riley and never leave his side.
But there was someone else. Someone who made my chest ache at the thought of never seeing him again. Someone I’d have to leave behind. Guilt, a new, unpleasant emotion, gnawed at me as I thought of Garret. I knew our time together was already short, that he would leave at the end of the summer, but right now it felt like my heart was being torn out. And not just because of Garret, though I would miss him terribly, I realized. I would also have to say goodbye to Lexi and Calvin, to surfing and the ocean, and everything I’d come to love in Crescent Beach. My summer was truly at an end.
My throat felt tight, a strange sensation, and the corners of my eyes stung. I shook myself and jogged faster, shoving thoughts of Garret and everything else to the back of my mind. I couldn’t stay here, that much was certain. I had to fetch my brother and leave town with Riley, before St. George found us all.
The sun had set and the stars were starting to come out when I finally staggered up the sidewalk to the villa, knowing this would be the last time. One of the cars was gone from the driveway, so hopefully I’d gotten lucky and both guardians were out of the house. Even so, I’d have to move quickly. No telling where St. George was right now, if they were scouring Crescent Beach for us, and I didn’t want to keep Riley waiting. I’d promised to meet him and the others as soon as he called with their location; that didn’t give me a lot of time.