“Yeah, well...” Ember curled a lip, showing a flash of fangs. “I wasn’t about to stand there and let them attack you. In either form. Anyway, there was more to this than just stopping a fight.” She glanced at Riley, defiant. “Two dragons just stood up for a soldier of the Order—how often do you think that has happened? If we’re going to send a message, it has to be for everyone touched by the war. We have to show that dragons and St. George can actually get along, that they don’t have to fight each other.” She looked at me then, emerald gaze intense. “I’m ready to try. To show the Order who we really are, face-to-face.”

“What?” Riley straightened, his gaze turning suspicious and wary. “Hold on. Who’s going to face the Order?” he asked, a thread of warning in his voice.

I sighed; no trying to hide it now. Though he had to find out sooner or later. “We are.” I gestured to Ember and myself. “St. George needs to know about the threat that’s coming for them. Ember and I are going to meet with the Order and warn them about the clones. Before it’s too late for us all.”

Chapter 33: RILEY

RILEY

“Are you crazy?”

That was my second response. I didn’t voice my first, which went along the lines of Fuck that. Ember glared at me, ready for a fight, and St. George looked grim but determined.

“So, how long have you been planning this, St. George?” I glared at the soldier, who met my gaze calmly. “I seem to remember specifically saying we weren’t going to try to warn the Order. But you were going to ignore that no matter what I said, weren’t you? When did you contact them?”

“Last night.” The soldier’s answer was unrepentant. “I sent a message to Tristan, no one else.”

“Uh-huh.” I looked at the red dragon now, matching her glare. “And when were you two going to let me in on your little scheme?” I asked her. “Or was the idea to sneak off without saying anything and leave the rest of us high and dry?”

“You know we wouldn’t do that, Riley,” Ember returned hotly, her spines bristling. “After everything we’ve been through, you should know us better by now. Do you really not trust us at all?”

“Dammit, that’s not it, Ember.” I groaned, raking a hand over my scalp in frustration. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. Or St. George, as much as it pains me to say it. It’s just that I can’t go with you this time.” I glanced back at the farmhouse. “My first responsibility is to my underground, especially now that Talon is coming for us. I can’t leave them alone, even for a day or two.”

She sobered. “I know, Riley.”