A chill ran up my back. I could remember the school—the cluster of long cement buildings in the center of an eternal wasteland. I remembered my brother and myself growing up: the isolation, the long hours of study, the endless boredom. But...there were blanks in my memory, places in time that skipped, entire interactions and scenes I was missing. How much had been taken from me? Weeks of memories?

Years?

I shuddered and pushed those thoughts away. My brain was still too fractured to deal with them now. Later, when everything died down and I had a chance to think, I’d try to piece together what was gone and what I remembered. “All right,” I said, turning to Garret. “So, now we need to find a tornado shelter. Any idea where that would be? Maybe around the back of the house?”

“Wait.” Garret stepped close and took my hand. “Before we look for Riley,” he said, “I need to talk to you about something. In private.”

Chapter 32: GARRET

GARRET

Ember stopped and looked at me. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” I answered. “Well, maybe.”

“Maybe?”

I grimaced and took a step backward, pulling her with me. “Come on,” I said, glancing through the front window at the crowded living room full of dragons. “Not here. I don’t want anyone else to hear this.”

Looking puzzled and wary, she followed me down the steps and across the yard, toward the faded, sagging barn at the edge of the field. Bypassing the barn doors, I led her around the side of the structure, out of sight of the farmhouse. “Okay.” Ember turned to me, bemused. “This is kind of mysterious—”

Her words were cut off as I stepped forward and kissed her, pressing her into the wall. The action startled her, and in truth, it surprised me, too. I hadn’t been planning it; this was not my sole purpose of bringing her back here. But the opportunity was there, and I discovered I didn’t want to let her go just yet. She gave a startled gasp, her hands going to my shoulders before she slid them around my neck and kissed me back.

“Sorry.” Pulling away, I offered a rueful smile. “Couldn’t help myself. We sort of got interrupted, and with how crowded everything is now, I figured I would take advantage of the quiet.” Plus, we might not have much time left.

“What’s gotten into you, soldier boy?” Ember ran her fingers down the side of my face, and I closed my eyes. “Not that I mind, but this isn’t like you.”