Dante wasn’t in the living room or the kitchen, but light and music seeped out from the crack beneath his door. Relieved that he was home, I hurried down the hall and banged hard on the wood.
It opened, and my brother frowned at me over the threshold, looking perfectly normal in a sleeveless shirt and black trunks. His frown grew more confused as he saw me, barefoot and panting, in a single dark suit that covered my whole body.
“Ember?” His green eyes widened. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? And what the hell are you wearing?”
“St. George,” I gasped, and his eyebrows immediately shot up. “St. George is here! They’ve found us. We have to leave town, Dante. Right now!”
“What? Whoa, slow down a second.” Dante grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside, slamming the door behind him. “What do you mean, St. George is here?” he demanded, spinning to face me. “How do you know? Talon hasn’t said anything about possible St. George activity, and I think that’s something they would mention.”
“No, listen to me.” I glared at him, wishing he would just trust me for once. “I’ve seen them, okay? They’re here. They shot at me! I was with Riley, and a squad of them kicked down the door—”
“Riley?” My brother’s eyes narrowed. “You were with that rogue dragon again? Dammit, Ember, what are you thinking? Why were you at a rogue’s house? No wonder St. George came for him. You’re lucky you weren’t killed!”
“I almost was!” I snapped. “We barely made it out alive. But even before that, I learned some very interesting things about Talon, and what they really want from us.”
“You can’t believe anything a rogue says. They’re traitors and criminals. They’ll lie through their teeth just to—”
“You knew the Vipers were assassins, didn’t you?” I interrupted. Dante blinked, surprised, and I nodded. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me. Why? We’re supposed to look out for each other, isn’t that what you’ve said all this time? You’re my brother, and you didn’t think it was important to tell me I was destined to hunt down and slaughter my own kind?”
“It’s Talon’s decision to tell you when,” Dante said, crossing his arms. “Not mine. And none of this would’ve happened if you just stopped fighting them.” He huffed and gave me a look of supreme exasperation. “Talon is only concerned about our survival, Ember, and you act like they’re the devil incarnate! They’re not the bad guys, can’t you understand that? They’re the ones keeping us safe from St. George.”
“Dante.” I scrubbed my hands over my eyes, weary and frustrated. He wouldn’t listen; he wouldn’t hear anything I had to say about Talon and the rogues and St. George. Riley had been right.
Still, he was my brother, and I had to try. “I’m leaving,” I said softly, my voice hoarse and resigned. “Tonight. Riley offered to take me with him when he leaves town and...I’m going with him.”
Dante stared at me a moment, the blood draining from his face. “You’re going rogue?” he whispered, his voice choked. “Ember, you can’t! They’ll hunt you down. You know what Talon does to traitors, you said so yourself.”
“That’s why I can’t stay.” I gave him a pleading look, needing him to understand. “I can’t become a Viper. Not with what I learned tonight.”
“Is this because you’re upset with your trainer? With me?”
“No!” I scrubbed both hands down my face again. “It’s not about my trainer,” I whispered. “It’s not about you, or breaking the rules, or anything like that. Dante, I’m not going rogue because I’m tired of Talon telling me what to do. This isn’t about not getting to fly, or not liking training, or having the organization constantly run my life. None of that matters. I’m leaving because...I can’t stand by what Talon believes. What they expect me to do.”
Dante sank to the bed, running his hands through his hair. I watched him a moment, then said, “I’m going. I don’t expect you to understand. Not yet. But Riley and the others are waiting for me and I...I want you to come with us, too. You’ll see, Dante. Once you meet them, you’ll see why we have to go.”
Dante closed his eyes. For a moment, he sat there, head and shoulders bowed, thinking.
“If I don’t come,” he said at last, his voice low and grim, “you’ll go without me, won’t you?”
I bit my lip. I really, really didn’t want to leave my brother. We’d been through everything together. But I couldn’t stay and let Talon change me into something I was not, something I didn’t want to be. Dante would be safe here; St. George wasn’t after him, they wanted Riley and the other rogues. And me.
“Yes,” I answered, though that one word was the hardest thing I’d ever said. Dante flinched, as if he, too, wasn’t expecting it.
“And nothing I say will change your mind.”
It was a statement, not a question, but I shook my head all the same. “No,” I managed. “I’m leaving. With or without you.”
“All right.” The words were so soft, I barely caught them. With a shaky breath, he let out a long sigh and looked up at me. “I’ll come,” he murmured, making my heart leap to my throat. “I don’t like it, and I think this is a huge mistake but...you’re my sister. I can’t leave you to face this alone. I’m coming, too.”
The breath exploded from my lungs in a rush. I’d hoped he would come, that he would choose family over Talon, but until this moment, I hadn’t been certain. Crossing the room, I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. He held me a moment before gently pushing me away, looking embarrassed, anxious and slightly guilty all at once.
“Where are we meeting this rogue?”
“I don’t know. He said he would call me later.”
Dante nodded. “Better get packed, then,” he said, averting his gaze. “I assume we’ll want to take a few things before we’re hunted all over creation.”
Numb with relief, I nodded and walked toward the door, but his voice stopped me at the frame. “Ember,” he said very somberly, and I turned. His eyes were troubled as they met mine. “You know what we’re doing, right? How serious this is? This isn’t like breaking curfew, or forgetting to call when we’ll be late. This is treason. Once we go rogue, there’s no turning back.”
“I know,” I said. “But we have to do this, Dante. If we don’t go now, we’ll never be free.”
He didn’t say anything to that, just turned away without a word, and I hurried to my room.
I threw on pants and a shirt over my ninja suit, not knowing if I would need to Shift and wanting to be ready if I did. Digging a backpack out of my closet, I began stuffing it with clothes. I threw in my hidden roll of cash and my little box of treasures, then noticed my phone sitting on the dresser, where I’d left it before going to see Riley. It blinked at me, indicating new messages had come through. I picked it up and switched on the screen.
Eight missed calls. All in the past twenty minutes. All from Garret.
My stomach turned over. After tonight, I wouldn’t see him again. I wouldn’t see any of my friends again. Lexi I’d planned to call later tonight, when we were well away from Crescent Beach, just to tell her goodbye, and to thank her for everything. For teaching me to surf, for encouraging me to pursue a boy I liked, for being a friend. I’d miss her, and I knew that a phone call was a sucky way to end things, but there was nothing else to be done.
But Garret...
I hit his name and held the phone to my ear. After two rings, someone picked up. “Hello.”
I swallowed. “Hey, you.”
There was a very long pause on his end, so long I thought we’d lost the connection or he’d hung up. “You still there?” I prodded.
“Where are you?”
His voice sounded strange, dull and flat. Had something happened with his dad? Was he upset that I hadn’t been here when he called? “Home,” I answered. “I was hanging out wit
h a couple friends this evening and didn’t bring my phone. Sorry.”
“I need to talk to you,” he went on, as if I hadn’t said anything. “Will you meet me somewhere?” Another pause, and he added in an even softer voice, “It’s important.”
Now I hesitated. I had to meet Riley later tonight; as soon as he called to let us know where he was, we would leave Crescent Beach and not look back. But...this was the last time I would see Garret. I didn’t want to just disappear on him, with no explanation of where I had gone. I wanted to say goodbye, at least.
And right then, standing in my room, listening to the voice that could make my heart soar, ache, jump and melt, a small part of me wished I was normal. If I was normal, if I was human, I could be with Garret. I wouldn’t have dragonslayers kicking down my door, wanting to kill me. I wouldn’t be standing here, feeling like the ground was opening under my feet, and I was seconds from plummeting into the void.
“I don’t know, Garret,” I whispered, my throat suddenly tight. “Now isn’t really the best time.”
“Please.” His voice didn’t change, but I caught a hint of desperation beneath the quiet surface. “It won’t take long. Meet me at Lover’s Bluff in twenty minutes. I just...I have to talk to you, tonight.”
My phone buzzed before I could reply. I glanced quickly at the screen, my skin prickling as I saw an unfamiliar number. Riley.
“Ember?”
“All right,” I said, putting the phone back to my ear. “Lover’s Bluff, twenty minutes. I’ll be there.”
“Good.” It was almost a whisper. “See you then.”
I ended the call with Garret, and switched to the one coming in. “Riley?”
“Hey, Firebrand.” The voice on the other end sounded tired. “We made it. Still planning to leave with us?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yes. And Dante is coming, as well.”
“Oh, well, color me shocked. I didn’t think you’d be able to convince him.” Riley sounded reluctantly impressed and disappointed at the same time. “We’re at Lone Rock Cove right now, back in the cave. Had to scare a couple potheads off the beach, but its empty now. Wes has a car waiting. We leave as soon as you and Dante get here.”
“Give us an hour,” I told him, ignoring the sudden gnawing guilt, the feeling that I was betraying him. “I...I want to say goodbye to a couple people first. It’ll be fast.”
“We can’t wait too long, Firebrand,” Riley said. “We’ll be here, but come as quickly as you can.”
“I will. See you soon.”
Dante was standing in the doorway when I hung up and turned around. His backpack hung from his shoulders, a baseball cap perched on his head, and his face was solemn as he eyed the phone in my hand.
“Was that the rogue?”
I nodded. “They’re at Lone Rock,” I said, lowering my arm. “We have to meet up with them soon, but...”
Dante frowned. “But...?”
“Garret called.” I slipped the phone into my jeans pocket. “He wants to meet with me, said that it was important. I said that I would meet him at Lover’s Bluff in twenty minutes.” I chewed my lip, torn in two directions. “We shouldn’t keep Riley waiting, not with St. George still out there,” I murmured. “I just wish I could see Garret one more time, say goodbye.”
“Why don’t you do that?” Dante said, surprising me. I blinked at him, and he shrugged. “The rogue isn’t going anywhere,” he said casually. “I’ll go ahead to the cove, let him know that you’re on the way. You should go talk to Garret.”
“Dante.” Still stunned, I could only stare at him. “I...are you sure?”
“Take the car,” Dante insisted. “You’ll get there faster. Don’t worry about me—I’ll catch a cab or have Calvin drive me up. But you should go.” He shrugged, and a tiny smile crossed his face. “I know you liked that human. If it will make you feel less guilty, you should tell him goodbye.”
I wanted to hug him again but didn’t this time. Instead, I snatched my keys from where they sat on my desk, threw my pack over one shoulder and gave Dante one last, uncertain look.
“You’re sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes. I’m fine.”
“And you’ll be at the cove when I get there, right?”
“Ember.” Now he sounded impatient, though he wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Just get going. I’ll see you soon, I promise.”
I nodded. “Tell Riley I won’t be long.”
Brushing past him, I hurried down the hall, out the front door and sprinted to the sedan waiting in the driveway. Tossing the backpack to the front seat, I hopped in and turned the key in the ignition, bringing the car to life. It had been a while since I’d driven, but I remembered how it worked, more or less.
Backing onto the road, I caught sight of Dante, watching me from the window, right before I hit the gas and sped off toward the bluff and Garret.
* * *
The tiny parking lot close to the bluff was deserted, except for a single black Jeep that I instantly recognized. By now, the sun had set, and a shimmering full moon was climbing into the sky. It was very quiet as I climbed out of the car, looking around for Garret. I didn’t see him, but the sign pointing up the steps to Lover’s Bluff was easily visible in the darkness.
My stomach fluttered. It wasn’t long ago that I’d snuck out to meet Cobalt here and spent the night flying the waves with him. So much had happened since. Meeting Garret. Training with Lilith. Discovering things about the Vipers and Talon I wished I’d known earlier. Facing down St. George. Deciding to go rogue, leave everything I knew behind and not look back. Who could’ve guessed that one fateful meeting would lead to this?
Now, there was just one more thing I had to let go of. One last goodbye.
Taking a deep breath, I started up the narrow, twisty path to Lover’s Bluff.
He was leaning against the railing with his back to the sky, the moonlight blazing down on him, as I climbed that final step. Silvery light glinted off his pale hair and washed over his lean form, dressed head to toe in black. His arms were crossed and his head was bowed, but I saw the gleam of gunmetal eyes as he spotted me and pushed himself off the railing.
A warning tickled the back of my brain as I crossed the flat rock toward the lone figure waiting at the edge of the cliff. Something about him seemed...wrong. This wasn’t the same Garret I’d met before, the boy I’d kissed in the ocean, whose smile could turn my insides to mush. This was a cold, remote stranger, and my heart began to crash in my chest.
“Garret?” I asked softly, peering into his face as I got closer. His expression was blank, completely closed off. “I’m here. Are you all right?”
He didn’t answer, but a flicker of anguish went through his eyes as he looked at me. He looked completely lost, then, like something horrible had happened, and he didn’t know what to do. Worried, I stepped closer, and he stiffened, almost like he was...afraid of me. “Garret.” Confused, I tried again, wanting him to talk, to tell me what was going on. We didn’t have a lot of time. Seeing him now, even though he was acting so strange, made my throat ache with longing. He could never come with us; he could never be part of my world. And no matter my feelings, I knew better than to bring him into it. He would return to Chicago and live a normal life, free of genocidal dragon killers, shady organizations and Viper assassins hunting him down. The best thing I could do for him...was to let him go.
I just wished he would tell me what was going on.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I offered, feeling time slip further away from us. “I’m glad we could meet like this, because I have something to tell you, and I wanted to do it face-to-face.” He continued to watch me, metallic eyes glimmering in the darkness, still giving nothing away. “I’m leaving,” I said, and a tiny furrow creased his brow. Well, at least that got through to
him. “Something came up,” I continued, “and I have to get out of town. Tonight. Please don’t ask what’s going on, I can’t tell you that. I just...I wanted to say goodbye.”
Garret’s expression went hard and cold. Without warning, he raised his arm, and pointed a dull black pistol at my face. The click of metal echoed loudly in the looming silence.
“You’re not going anywhere.”
Garret
The raid that evening had been disastrous.
Not only had our targets escaped, they had left chaos behind them. By the time the fire department arrived, the mansion had burned nearly to the ground, billowing black smoke into the evening sky. Of course, we’d vacated the premises long before anyone knew something was wrong, and no one had seen us enter or leave. But now, a smoldering ruin sat where a multimillion-dollar house once stood, three of my teammates had suffered major burns and there were two escaped dragons who could be anywhere at the moment.
And all of it could have been avoided, if I had done my job.
Because I’d hesitated. I’d seen Ember in the lair of my enemy, and I’d faltered, instead of gunning her down like I’d been taught. I’d seen her change and shift before my eyes, turn from the girl I’d known into one of the monsters. And, like all her kind, she was at her most dangerous cornered and trapped, and responded as all dragons would. With fire and savagery, giving her and her companion time to escape. Surprise was always our best weapon; now that the dragons knew we were here, they would become even harder to track down. We could lose our quarry forever.
And it was all on me.
No one said anything about my failure on the ride back. Stunned, wounded, furious soldiers filled the van, smelling of smoke and burned armor, but no one blamed me. When our livid commander demanded to know what had happened, we took the blame and the dressing-down as a unit. Not even Tristan, whom we met back at the safe house, could guess the truth.