“Lieutenant,” Ember said before he could spin on a heel and stride away. “Wait. Just a moment, please.”
Puzzled, I turned to her. She wasn’t looking at either of us but stared at her hands on the tabletop, her eyes dark and conflicted. Concerned, I brushed her leg, which made her close her eyes. “Ember? Are you all right?”
“Garret...” She took a quiet breath, opened her eyes and turned to face me. There was something new in her gaze now, a somber determination that almost overshadowed the fear and reluctance. “You should go with him,” she said, making my stomach drop. “Go back to the Order and tell them about us, about the rogues and the dragons outside of Talon. They’ll listen to you.”
“No.” Desperation flickered, and I shook my head. “What about Riley and everyone else? Talon is coming for them, too.”
“We’ll join you,” Ember replied firmly. “I’ll go back and convince Riley that we need to face Talon together. All of us. Rogues and St. George alike, fighting as one. It’s the only way we can stand against that army.”
Ember gripped my arm, her gaze intense. “So you have to go back and tell them we’re coming, Garret. Make sure they know we’re there to help. And I’ll try to gather as many on our side as I can. Provided St. George doesn’t kill us on the spot.” She looked up at Martin. “If a group of dragons arrives at the gates of the Western chapterhouse to join you in fighting off Talon, can you promise your soldiers won’t shoot them full of holes as soon as they see them?”
Martin looked stunned. “Dragons helping the Order?” he repeated, as if the very idea was impossible. “It would never stand. The rest of St. George—”
“Is going to be attacked by Talon soon,” Ember interrupted. “Along with every dragon not aligned with the organization. We’re not helping you—we’re joining forces so that both our sides aren’t completely wiped out.” She shook her head. “Don’t tell me you don’t need our help. You’re alone, Lieutenant. St. George has been broken. You need allies, otherwise Talon is going to win.”
“Ember...” I began, and she turned on me, her gaze intent.
“No, Garret,” she said firmly. “We have to do this. We can’t hide anymore. Talon is just going to keep coming. If they destroy the Order, the rest of us will be next.”
“I know,” I said, taking her hand. “I’m not arguing. I’ll go back to St. George, and I’ll tell them everything I know. Everything I’ve learned while I’ve been with you and the rogues. And hopefully, they’ll listen to me this time. But...” I trapped her hand in both of mine, gazing into her eyes. “I don’t know if you can get Riley to agree. Think of what you’re asking him to do. If our plan is to fight that army, not all of us are going to make it, Ember. Some of us are going to be killed. You have to accept that.” Her face tightened, and I squeezed her hand. “You can be sure Riley knows that. And you’ve seen how protective he is when it comes to his underground. What if you can’t convince him to let the hatchlings fight? We can’t force any of them into battle, and they’ve all been hunted by St. George, or have seen friends die. Like Kain. What if they refuse to help the Order?”
“Then I’ll come alone,” Ember replied. “And I’ll help you fight. I’m not leaving you, Garret.” She held my gaze, green eyes flashing. “I won’t let you face Talon without me. Even if no one else comes, you’ll have at least one dragon fighting at your side, I promise.”
Martin cleared his throat, sounding uncomfortable. “If we’re going to leave, Sebastian, we should go now,” he said. “It seems as though there is not much time, and we have a lot of work to do.”
“Yes, sir,” I answered automatically, but when he stepped away, added, “I just need a moment.”
He frowned and seemed about to say something, perhaps to reprimand a soldier for contradicting his officer, something I had never done while I was in St. George, only to remember that I wasn’t one of his any longer. “Very well,” he said, nodding. “I’ll be outside.”
With one final glance at Ember, he spun on a heel and strode away. I waited until he was truly out of sight before turning to the dragon beside me.
She gave me a sad smile. “Well, that certainly didn’t go how we expected, did it?”
I shook my head. “I was hoping we would leave together for once.”
“I know.” With a sigh, she leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder. “We can’t seem to catch a break, can we? Since the moment we met, it seems that all we’ve done is been forced apart for one reason or another. It would be nice to have one uninterrupted block of time together, like normal people.”
“We’re not exactly normal, are we?”
“No,” she whispered back, and turned her face into my shoulder, closing her eyes. “I hate to do this, Garret,” she murmured. “Every time we leave, I’m terrified that I might not ever see you again. What if I don’t make it back in time? What if the Night of Fang and Fire comes tonight, and by the time we get there, the Order has been completely destroyed?” She paused, her next words barely audible. “I just figured out this whole being-in-love thing,” she murmured into my shirt, making my heart turn over. “I can’t lose you now.”
“We’re soldiers,” I told her softly. “It doesn’t matter which side we’re on. As long as the war continues, we have to fight. Or watch everything around us burn.” She pressed closer, the heat of her body pulsing against my side as I reached down and took her hand. “Someday,” I murmured, lacing our fingers together. “Someday the war will end, and the fighting will stop. That’s why we’re doing this. To make St. George understand that not all dragons are monsters. They’re starting to listen, Ember. A year ago, even a month ago, Martin would never have considered meeting with a dragon and an ex-soldier like this. We’re changing things.” I gently squeezed her hand. “You’re changing things. Just by being here, being willing to talk to St. George, you’re challenging everything they know.” Like you did with me.
“What about Talon?” Ember wondered darkly. “And the Elder Wyrm? The Order believes dragons are ruthless creatures who want to take over the world. She’s certainly not doing anything to change their minds. And after they see the clones...” She shivered. “No one can look at those things and not think ‘soulless monster.’”