Dante’s serene expression didn’t change. “Think about it, Ember,” he continued. “Our agents are stretched thin as it is. We don’t have the numbers for the type of operation you’re talking about, even if we wanted to expose ourselves like that. What you saw was Talon trying to cover its tracks, and the evidence was sent here, to me, before it goes on to the Vault.”

“Well,” Riley broke in. “Wouldn’t I feel silly...if that wasn’t the biggest line of bullshit I’ve ever heard.” He leveled the pistol at Dante’s face. “Did you forget who you were talking to, hatchling? I was a Basilisk, remember? I know what’s left behind after a large explosion.” He narrowed his eyes, staring Dante down. “We went to that site. There was no plane. No debris. No crash. Nothing exploded in that town, but things did mysteriously catch fire. And, funniest thing, there were these odd gouges in the floors that looked exactly like dragon claws. So cut the crap. I’ve heard your shit before, and you’re not fooling anyone.”

Dante regarded the rogue with a patient, almost amused look that suggested Riley was being unreasonable, but didn’t dispute his claims. He was lying, I realized. He had just lied right to my face, and I’d considered believing him. Angry now, I clenched a fist on my leg. Dante was a Chameleon, I reminded myself. I couldn’t trust anything he said.

“Stop lying to us,” I growled. “What really happened there, Dante? We know Talon is planning something, and you’re a part of it. What’s going on?”

“Even if I did know,” Dante answered coolly, “what makes you think I would tell you anything?”

“Because if you don’t,” Riley said in a tone of dark warning, “we’re going for a little ride. We’re going to spend some quality time together, the four of us, and you’re not going back to Talon until you tell us what we want to know. How long it takes doesn’t matter. I can be very patient.” Riley smiled, raising the gun very slightly off the chair back. “So decide, Chameleon. You can tell us now, or later. Your choice.”

Dante paled. Just a little; he hid it well, but his skin turned ashen all the same. “Look, I don’t know what happened at the crash site,” he insisted. “The evidence and the reports came in late this afternoon, but I haven’t had the chance to look at them yet.”

“And where are these reports?” Riley asked.

“Back in my office.” Dante crossed his arms. “But you’ll never get there, not without tripping the alarms or running into security. If you try to force your way in, you’ll have the police swarming this place in a matter of minutes.”