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.’”

I winced. She was right; seeing that army of vicious, mindless dragon clones would not help our cause to convince St. George that the creatures they were fighting didn’t deserve to die. “One step at a time,” I muttered. “We’ll take care of the Order first, and then we’ll worry about Talon.”