Inferno (Talon #5)(102)
Mist gave me a nod as she went by, and Wes followed her with a muttered, “Drunk lizards, this should be interesting.” They filed out of the room and shut the door, until it was only me and Riley left.
“Well.” The former rogue dragon sighed and glanced out the window, where the moon hovered over the city like a glowing golden eye. “Interesting times ahead, huh, St. George? You, the leader of the Order, me heading this new branch of Talon. And Ember sitting up here as the CEO.”
“Things will definitely be different,” I agreed. “We’re all going to face some strong opposition, but the three of us should be able to handle whatever comes up.”
Riley snorted. “Compared to what we went through this past year, I say bring it on,” he muttered. “Though Talon politics are a special kind of torture that makes you want to stab forks through your eyes. I just hope Ember can handle wrangling an entire company of fickle, ambitious, backbiting dragons. We can be ruthless dicks sometimes, if you hadn’t noticed.”
“If anyone can do it, she can. And she won’t be alone.”
“Yeah.” His yellow gaze slid to me, a grin curling one side of his mouth. “Well, then, you’d better get going, Commander. Don’t want to keep the new CEO of Talon waiting.”
I extended a hand. He gripped it firmly, watching me over our clasped fingers. “See you around, Riley.”
“Later, St. George. Looking forward to actually working with the Order. That’ll be a nice change.” He turned and sauntered toward the door, but paused after a few steps. “Oh, and tell Ember that I don’t care how much the Archivist glares at me, I’m not calling her ma’am or Madam President or anything similar. If he doesn’t like it, he can suck my tail.”
“Making friends already, I see.”
“Hey, I keep things interesting. See you around, human.” With a final grin, the former rogue leader stuck his hands into his pockets and slipped out the door, leaving me alone in the room. I smiled, shook my head and turned toward the office of Talon’s CEO.
EMBER
A quiet knock echoed through the office door, and I looked up from where I was leaning against the front of my desk. “Come in.”
The door swung back without a squeak, and Garret entered the room, sending a flutter through my insides. The new commander of St. George was dressed in “civilian clothes,” as they called them—slacks and a collared shirt, as they couldn’t parade through a major city in the Order’s black-and-gray uniform without drawing attention to themselves. Strangely, in the meeting only a few minutes ago, everything about him—his posture, words, the way he acted—spoke of a person of authority. But Garret had always been a leader; even among dragons, rogues and hardened soldiers, it came naturally to him. It seemed logical that he would take over what remained of the Order. He had proved himself time and time again, and his men, the soldiers of St. George, respected that.
I hoped I would prove to be as worthy.
He smiled at me as he approached, but paused a few feet away, sweeping his gaze around the room. “I’m…not entirely sure how to address the president of Talon in her office,” he said in a low voice, as if people could be listening. “I wouldn’t want rumors to spread, especially if their president is alone with the commander of St. George.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I told him, waving an airy hand. “I had the Archivist do a thorough check. No cameras in the Elder Wyrm’s office, no security devices, and the walls are completely soundproof. What the president of Talon does in her private chambers is no one’s business but her own.”
His smile widened. “Good to know,” he said, and closed the distance between us. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he slipped his around my waist, pressing us close. As his lips met mine, I closed my eyes, breathing him in, savoring the moment as long as I could. With all the changes to Talon and the upheaval within the organization and St. George, I hadn’t seen Garret in over a week, and I’d missed him more than I’d thought possible. It had killed me a few short minutes ago, glimpsing him over the table, knowing I couldn’t go over and hug him or even talk to him like I wanted to. No, I was the CEO of Talon now, and I had to behave accordingly, even among my closest friends.
Pulling back, Garret regarded me with solemn eyes, his pupils contracted until they were thin black lines against the gray. My heart sped up, and Garret must’ve sensed it, for his brow furrowed, and he gently stroked my cheek. “What’s wrong?” he murmured.
I shook myself. “Nothing,” I replied, seeing my reflection in those silvery irises. “It’s just…hard to believe that we’re here. That we’re alive, and together, at the end of everything.” He bent forward and kissed me again, long and lingering, and I sank into his touch.
Several minutes passed, and the windows along the wall were in danger of fogging up, before I forced myself to pull away.
“Garret, wait. There’s something I have to show you. I didn’t call you in here just for…this.” He cocked his head, looking puzzled, and I felt color creep up my face. “Not that I’m complaining, at all, and what the CEO does in her own office is not anyone’s business but her own, but… I’m going to stop talking now, because the CEO of Talon does not stutter like a vapid teenager.” I frowned at the grinning soldier. “And you will tell no one what transpired here, especially the Archivist.”