I knew I should help my former brothers. I wanted to stand with them again—not to eliminate dragons, but to defend my old home from the army that would tear it apart. Martin, Tristan, all the soldiers I had grown up with...it made me sick, knowing they might die. Martin was right; I was still loyal, if not to St. George’s ideals, then to the people who had been my family once. They didn’t know what was coming. I didn’t want to abandon them to Talon and its soulless dragon army.

But I had another family now. Another group who had my loyalty and my friendship, and one girl in particular who had more than that. Much as I wanted to accept Martin’s offer, to return to St. George as a voice for dragonkind, there was no way I would leave Ember behind.

“I’m sorry, sir,” I murmured, and Martin’s jaw tightened. “But I can’t go back with you. The Order isn’t the only one Talon intends to wipe out. My place is here.”

Martin’s voice was cold. “With the dragons.”

“Yes.”

“I see.” Martin drew back, his posture stiff as he prepared to leave. “If that’s your decision, then goodbye, Sebastian.”

“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?”