Back in my room, I turned on my computer and went into my email account. The cursor blinked in the address bar, waiting, as I sat there, trying to decide what to do. Finally, I put my fingers on the keys and typed in the one address I was supposed to use only in an emergency. The one my teachers had given me, and only me, because they knew I would inform Talon if anything was amiss in the area. Because they knew I would take my mission seriously.

Even if it meant we might be pulled out.

I hesitated a moment more, typed Rogue in Crescent Beach into the subject line, then began composing a brief, to-the-point message. I didn’t know what this meant for us once Talon received the information. I knew what would happen to the rogue, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in town when the Vipers came for him. I did know this was my duty, not only to Talon but to my sister. I would protect her, and our future with the organization, from any and all threats.

Even if the greatest threat was from Ember herself.

Chapter 14: EMBER

EMBER

Dante froze, his eyes going wide as he stared at me. As soon as the door closed and the locks engaged, a shout came through the tinted windows as something slammed into his bodyguard outside. Dante jumped, his attention going to the window, where Garret had just hit the guard from behind. There were brief scuffles on both sides of the car as Riley emerged from the darkness and tackled the second guard, making the vehicle rock as the dragon slammed into it. It didn’t last long; we had the element of surprise on our side, and the guards had been caught with their figurative pants down. After a few more grunts, shouts and bodies being slammed into metal and glass, the fight was over, and silence descended once more.

Dante slowly turned back to me as Garret and Riley dragged the bodies into the darkness. His eyes glinted angrily as he faced me down over the gun barrel. “Ember,” he said, his voice calm. “How did you get in here?”

“Wasn’t hard.” I was relieved when my voice came out mostly steady. “We saw you arrive this morning and made note of the car’s license plate. When the car came back a few minutes ago, I knew you were coming down. This place only has one security guard.” I jerked my head toward the garage entrance, though I kept the gun trained on Dante. “Once we got past him, the rest was easy.”