“I don’t know what you want from me,” I hurried on, knowing this would be the only time I’d have the guts to actually say it, “or what you feel for the soldier, but I’m letting you know right now… I’m done fighting this. From now on, I’ll be fighting for both of us.”

“Riley,” Ember said again, her voice almost a whisper, “I can’t… I mean. This isn’t…” She broke off, and her voice dropped even further, becoming nearly inaudible. “I can’t promise anything,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I feel.”

“That’s fine, Firebrand.” I looked up as headlights pierced the darkness, and a taxi pulled to the curb. “But when you figure it out, when you remember that you’re still a dragon, I’ll be right here. I’m not going anywhere, that’s my promise.”

The cab window lowered, and Wes’s shaggy head poked out, thin arms gesturing frantically. I grinned and started toward the cab, surprised at how relieved I was to see him. “I’m heading your way now,” I told Ember, sliding into the backseat, ignoring Wes’s I-told-you-so glare. “Hang tight, we’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Riley?”

I paused, stopping myself from clicking off the phone. “Yeah?”

“I’m glad you’re all right.” The voice on the other end sounded defiantly embarrassed. “You scared us there for a while. Don’t do that again.”

“You mean don’t get captured and interrogated by Talon’s double agents? No promises, but I’ll do my best.” I smiled, hearing her snort into the phone. “See you soon.”

“Well,” Wes commented as I hung up. “Don’t you look like hell.”

Cobalt

Cobalt

Twelve years ago

I don’t know how he tracked me down, but he did.

A human was waiting for me in the latest dump I’d rented for the night, sitting at the desk in the corner, watching as I came through the door. I tensed, going for the gun I always carried now, and he quickly held up his hands.

“Relax, mate! I’m not here for trouble. Just hear me out.”

I recognized him then. The kid who had been in that meeting with Roth and the Chief Basilisk, so long ago, it seemed. His brown hair stuck out in every direction, hanging in his eyes, and his clothes looked rumpled and dirty, like he’d spent a few days in them. I racked my memory for his name, then realized it had never been given.

“Okay.” I did not lower the gun, keeping it aimed at the kid’s scrawny middle. He might’ve been human, and unarmed as far as I could tell, but I’d had a hell of a week and wasn’t going to be taking any chances. “You have my attention. What do you want?”