I didn’t like the cold. Maybe it was growing up in deserts and sunny beach communities, where much of my free time was spent outside. I liked the feel of the sun on my skin, the heat blazing down on me, seeping into my bones. I didn’t know what it was with Talon’s executives, but all their office buildings had the AC cranked up so high you could almost see your breath. Even in Reign’s opulent hotel, where the carpets were thick and gold and the leather chairs probably cost over a thousand dollars each, it was still cold enough to make my skin prickle. It certainly wasn’t my place to tell Talon how to run things, but a few degrees of warmth would make things less uncomfortable. I hoped I could get through this without my teeth clacking together. I was already nervous enough.

Beside me, Mr. Smith leaned back and rested a foot on his knee, looking perfectly comfortable and at ease. As if reading my thoughts, my trainer shot me a glance, dark eyes appraising. “Breathe, Dante,” he ordered. “It’s a good plan. It will work.”

I smiled. “I know it will.”

“Good.” Mr. Smith narrowed his gaze. “Don’t hope. Know. Hope will not bring your sister back. Hope will not impress Mr. Roth, or anyone in the organization. You must be confident of this plan, you must believe that it will work, otherwise you have wasted everyone’s time.”

“I’m aware of that, sir,” I replied, still smiling. “And Ember will return to the organization before the night is out, I swear it.”

Mr. Smith nodded and turned away, breaking eye contact as the door opened and Mr. Roth entered, followed by two more dragons. One, a slender man with slick dark hair and a goatee, I didn’t recognize. He took a seat across from me and nodded, and I ducked my head in respect, but it was the second dragon that caught my attention. Lilith seated herself beside him, crossing long legs beneath the table, and smiled at me.

“I’m looking forward to seeing your plan in action, Mr. Hill,” she said.

Her words were almost a threat. As if she, too, needed this plan to succeed, and there would be terrible repercussions if it did not. My blood chilled, but at that moment, Mr. Roth took the seat at the head of the table, facing us all.

“It is almost time,” he stated, glancing at his watch. “Mr. Hill, have your agents contacted you?”

I breathed deep and nodded, putting my phone on the table in front of me. “Yes, sir. Everything has been set up. They’re ready to move forward with the mission.”

“Excellent.” Mr. Roth leaned back, watching me with those cold dark eyes. “Then all we have to do now is wait. I look forward to seeing your success, Mr. Hill. Good luck.”