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Contents ( 50)
  1. CONTENTS
  2. PROLOGUE
  3. CHAPTER ONE
  4. CHAPTER TWO
  5. CHAPTER THREE
  6. CHAPTER FOUR
  7. CHAPTER FIVE
  8. CHAPTER SIX
  9. CHAPTER SEVEN
  10. CHAPTER EIGHT
  11. CHAPTER NINE
  12. CHAPTER TEN
  13. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  14. CHAPTER TWELVE
  15. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  16. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  17. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  18. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  19. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  20. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  21. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  22. CHAPTER TWENTY
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  32. CHAPTER THIRTY
  33. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  42. CHAPTER FORTY
  43. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  44. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  47. EPILOGUE
  48. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  49. Also by Liz Flanagan:
  50. COPYRIGHT

‘Yes, and we’ll need all our dragons to join in, sunset tonight.’ He explained their plan.

‘Aye.’ Simeon nodded once. ‘I’ll just unload this catch. Since this lot crept out of the gutter, they take it all off me, no payment. That’s reason enough to go straight back out, and I’ll go direct to your brother.’

‘Here, for your trouble. And in case anyone needs per­suading to join us.’ Joe put the gold coins on the stone slab and walked away, just as a new group of black-clad men came to seize Simeon’s catch.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Simeon’s hand shoot out, grab the coins and return to unloading his crates, with­out a break in the rhythm.

He trusted Simeon, and he trusted Isak and Luca, but he had no way of knowing if they’d be able to reach them in time.

No, Joe and his friends were alone, putting all their faith in a man who wore the old duke’s black uniform. He prayed that his plans would work. His sister’s life depended on it. And the duke’s. And their child’s.

249

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

As the day wore on, the strange unreal feeling grew stronger, a mixture of dread and fear and determina­tion. They had to do this, Joe was certain. But he also knew the risks. This could be his last day with Ren, so he spent as much of it as possible talking to her, soothing her, telling her what they planned.

‘We’re going to free the duke’s soldiers,’ Joe whispered to Ren. ‘So they can fight back.’

With her deep purple scales, she blended into the dark­ness, but her eyes were like little mirrors, reflecting the lamplight, and they widened as she listened.

‘It’s going to be dangerous, but I can’t see there’s any other choice.’

The cavern felt warmer than usual. Its air was muggy and full of murmuring anticipation as the children prepared them­selves to leave, covering their clothes with the black fabric that Amina had brought from home to help them stay hidden. 250

Winter came over to speak to Joe. Her face was composed and serious. ‘Joe, I’m sorry, about before. You were right. I was just so scared, and I couldn’t lose Fidell, not after …’

‘It’s all right,’ he said. ‘I understand. You’re braver than anyone I know, risking this, after everything.’

‘I still haven’t decided about today,’ Winter told Joe next. ‘I don’t want to take Fidell up there, in case he gets hurt, but … but … I don’t want to leave him either!’

Before Joe could answer, Ren made her feelings clear. She nipped his hand – not quite drawing blood – blocked his way, then burrowed her head under his jacket.

‘Ow, Ren! What did you do that for?’ Joe was hurt.

‘Hmm. I don’t think she wants to be left behind again, Joe,’ Conor said, seeing what had happened. Ariel was already positioned next to him, ready to leave.