Inferno (Talon #5)(56)

“No,” I replied. “Thank you, Dr. Olsen.”

The scientist nodded briskly, and the screen went dark.

I sat there, dazed. Dr. Olsen had confirmed what the letter told me, that Ember was intended to be the Elder Wyrm’s vessel. That she had been created specifically for the leader of Talon. Which meant that, as her brother and twin, I, too, was a clone of the Elder Wyrm.

My computer chimed, indicating new email.

My hand shook as it touched the keyboard, and I took a steadying breath. Did I really want to see this? Would it shake the very foundations of what I thought I knew? And if it did, what was I prepared to do about it?

I opened my email to find that the new file had come in. Project Nephilim, the attachment read, making my stomach dance and curl in on itself like a nest of snakes. The arrow hovered over the file as I struggled with my decision. I could delete the email, destroy it and erase any knowledge about the project and what it could mean for Ember and myself. I could continue rising in Talon, always pushing upward, toward the summit. I was so close. Just one more step to the top, and then everything would be mine for the taking. I would finally be free.

But then, I might never know the truth. And this wasn’t just about me; it was about Ember. Even now, when we had grown so different that we were almost strangers, she was still my sibling, my twin, and my family. I had always looked out for her, no matter what.

I clicked the button.





GARRET




The semi’s front wheels bounced as I turned onto the narrow gravel road, making me wince. Not for myself, but I hoped it wouldn’t jostle my very sensitive cargo in the back. Five female dragons—four pregnant and one who was still healing from a broken wing. Dragons recovered quickly and, according to Riley, any injury to their wings healed especially fast, as they were essential to a dragon’s survival. Ember had recovered enough for her to be able to Shift back, but it had been a strained few days from the North Atlantic Ocean back to the States. And the lack of heavy-duty painkillers was not helping.

I worried for her. She put up a good front, but I knew she was in pain and was trying to hide it as best she could. I wished I could comfort her, stay by her side, but there were so many things that required my attention. Both Lieutenant Martin and Lieutenant Ward wanted my report about what happened at the facility, and Martin required me to act as a liaison between the Order and the rogues, as Ember could not and Riley was insanely busy taking care of more than two dozen frightened female dragons.

Thankfully, the journey was almost done. I knew I wasn’t the only one who would be relieved to be on solid ground again.

Ahead of me, the first semi came to a stop with a squeaking of brakes and a billow of dust. Beyond it, I could see the familiar blue roof of the farmhouse, two stories high, with numerous rooms and enough space, inside and out, to host a large group of renegade dragons. In normal times. With a few hundred acres of privately owned farmland surrounding it, this was the safest place for us to hide from Talon and the rest of the world. But there were already twelve hatchlings on the property, all of them rogues Riley had gotten out of Talon. Now we were arriving with twenty-six more. Things were going to be very cramped the next few days. And that didn’t even count the dozen or so soldiers of St. George who would be arriving, as well.

I suppressed a grimace. With everything that had happened on the island, and with a reprisal from Talon almost a certainty, it had been decided that the alliance between the rogues and the Order of St. George would continue, at least for now. None of us were particularly happy about it, especially Riley and Lieutenant Ward. But even they recognized the advantage in numbers, that we were stronger as allies than enemies. If Talon did send their vessels after us again, at least together we stood a fighting chance.

Glancing in my rearview mirror, I saw the van that had been trailing behind me pull around and roll up the drive. Lieutenant Martin was in the driver’s seat, with Ward sitting beside him with his usual scowl on his face. I cast a nervous glance at the front porch, where several faces peered curiously out the windows, watching the convoy pull into the yard. Riley had sent word ahead, warning Jade and the others that the Order of St. George were coming, instructing them not to panic when the soldiers arrived. Hopefully, no one would.

The van pulled to a stop beside my door, and the passenger’s side window buzzed down. “Sebastian.” Martin gazed at me, his voice tired. “Where do they want us?”

“The farmhouse is full,” I answered, which was putting it mildly. With the arrival of the dragonells, the total number of rogues in the farmhouse now totaled thirty-four, and that wasn’t counting Ember, Riley, Mist and Jade. It was a big house, but every available room, couch and pullout bed would be taken over by dragons. Dragons who were exhausted, shaken, confused and still understandably terrified of the Order. Adding a dozen soldiers of St. George to a crowded, already volatile situation was asking for trouble. “There’s a bunkhouse around back,” I told Martin, who gave a solemn nod. “According to the owner, it hasn’t been used for years, and all the bedding has been taken by the rogues, but it’ll be a roof over your heads at least.”

“We’ll make do.” Martin glanced behind him at the soldiers waiting quietly, and sighed. “This isn’t the worst we’ve endured.”

“Not a very defensible position, Sebastian,” Ward remarked. Glancing at the farmhouse, his eyes narrowed in disdain. “If Talon attacks us here, we’ll be at a severe disadvantage. What measures have the lizards taken to ensure we won’t be overrun in the night?”