“How do you know?” I challenged. “You haven’t even met any rogues besides me. All you know is what Talon preaches at you.” He gave me an exasperated look, as if I were the unreasonable one, and it made me want to pull my hair out. “Dammit, open your eyes, Dante. Talon doesn’t have our best interests at heart. They’re not who they say they are.”

“Ugh, we’re having the same argument we had in Crescent Beach,” Dante said, making a hopeless gesture. “And nothing has changed. Look, sis, just...come with me, all right?” His expression became hopeful, pleading. “There’s someone you have to meet. When you do, you’ll see why we belong with Talon. You’ll see why we’re special.” He took a step back, holding out a hand. “No more arguing. Just come with me. Please.”

“Do I have a choice?”

I thought that might irritate him, but he only shook his head. “No,” he murmured, almost sadly. “You don’t.” He took a short breath, as if he were nervous on my behalf. “The Elder Wyrm has called for you, Ember. It’s time you met the leader of Talon, face-to-face.”

* * *

The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slid open.

Dante stepped out, followed by his bodyguards, and glanced back at me. “Come on, sis,” he urged as I hung back in the box. The elevator had opened onto a short hall with a pair of massive wooden doors at the end. “We’re expected. You don’t want to keep the Elder Wyrm waiting.”

I took a furtive breath and stepped through the frame to join Dante in the hallway. Another pair of guards stood at the entrance, and they gave Dante short nods as they pulled back the doors. I followed my brother into a massive office, stark and cold for all its elegance, everything colored in black, white and gray. A chill hung in the air that had nothing to do with the air-conditioning, and I shivered.

The desk was empty, but a figure stood at the windows, gazing out on the city below. When she turned, it was like watching a giant—a mountain—turn to stare at you, crushing you under the weight of its gaze. The breath left my lungs in a rush, and I suddenly couldn’t move, frozen like a mouse under the stare of the most powerful dragon in the world.

“Ember Hill.” The Elder Wyrm smiled, and it was somehow even more terrifying than if she’d roared and spit fire at me. “We meet at last.