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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

Trying not to disturb the hatchlings, they made a nest between their bodies and laid them in it. Joe curved his body in a semicircle on one side; Winter did the same on the other. Then the four of them fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Joe woke in total darkness. For a long blank moment, he didn’t know where he was, one cheek pressed into a cool sandy floor, an intense ache across both shoulders. Then he remembered: Ren!

His hands fluttered around, feeling for her little body, trying not to squash her.

‘Mrrt?’ Ren squirmed, nestled against his stomach, tell­ing him he’d disturbed her sleep.

Joe listened carefully, holding his breath, till he was sure he heard Winter’s steady breathing and Fidell’s answering growl. ‘Morning,’ he greeted Ren, her claws needling up his arm as she climbed onto his shoulder. His mouth felt sticky and sour, his head pounding. He shook the water bottle and found it almost empty, so he took only a small swig, saving the rest for Winter.

Next, he felt around for the backpack. It took him a few moments to fish out the fire-makings and another candle, 184longer to squeeze out enough tiny sparks to ignite some kindling and light the taper.

Ren watched it all with great interest, leaning forwards. Her massive eyes reflected the flame: deep gold and so wise. Her head was flatter than a typical dragon, with larger triangular ears, pricked forward now. Her scales were irides­cent purple, larger on the top of her head, tiny on her legs. Her neck was elegant and strong; her body neat; her wings unbelievably fine, silken and shiny. She was perfect.

Winter stirred then. Joe saw the moment she came to wakefulness and a wide smile lit up her whole face as she reached for Fidell.

‘Morning. We need food – for us and for them. And more water,’ he said, passing the flask.

Winter greeted her hatchling tenderly, and then stretched, with a loud yawn.

‘I’ll go,’ she offered. ‘You’re injured.’

‘Take more of the gold coins,’ he reminded her, ‘so we can get lots of food. Maybe that’s why it’s there – to provide for them.’

‘I’ll be quick,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to be away a moment longer than I have to. Will you guard him for me?’

‘With my life,’ Joe said.

She bent her head to the little green hatchling, talking to Fidell in a soft whisper. His shiny head drooped, showing he’d understood.

Joe held out his hands to him. ‘Will you stay with me and Ren?’ Still perched on Joe’s shoulder, Ren let out a stream of eager aark aark noises, welcoming Fidell. The green dragon 185walked from Winter’s hands onto Joe’s, climbed up oppo­site Ren and flopped down heavily. Joe sat very still, hardly daring to move, realising he was responsible for both hatch­lings now.