Page 28 of The Timeless Vigilante

“But we create peace!” Hiker argued.

“And too much peace would kill this planet,” Papa Creola stated. “The people on this Earth are human. They are flawed. And if they aren’t allowed to be that, then this place would spiral into a black hole. The Dragon Elite are good at ending wars. But what the world needs most are those who allow people to be people who are flawed.”

Sophia nodded, stepping forward, a noble look in her eyes. “The Rogue Riders are critical in keeping a lid on the pressure cooker of humanity. As a Dragon Elite, we only seek to fix problems, but they are meant to work with them—knowing that they can’t be erased. It only makes sense that the leader of dragons and his rider was a Rogue Rider.”

Hiker shook his head, seeming to still wrestle with this idea. He couldn’t look at Gen, probably unnerved by her presence. “I just don’t get how this happened.”

“She is a twin, son,” Mama Jamba pointed out. “Why didn’t you see this coming? You know that one is always pure and the other always rebellious. You, yourself were a Dragon Elite and Thad, your twin, was a?—”

“Criminal,” Hiker growled. “My brother tried to destroy this world.”

“That’s because there wasn’t a place for him, sir,” Sophia said. “We used to shun our demon dragonriders, not giving them a place. You know, as Dragon Elite, as angel riders, we have a lot to learn about tolerance. We’re part of the problem. And maybe if we were a bit more accepting of those different from us, then a lot of battles wouldn’t need to be fought.”

Mama Jamba smiled proudly at Sophia, nudging Papa Creola beside her. “I made that one.”

“You made them all, dear,” he countered.

“I know, but I gave her a little something extra,” Mama Jamba chimed.

“And what did you give this one?” Hiker asked, pointing at Gen, looking at her for the first time.

“I gave her something that would make her timeless and unique,” Mama Jamba answered. “I gave her something that would ensure she could rule over this world, but I also gave her a challenge unlike any of you have ever had to face.”

Hiker stiffened. Looked down at Mama Jamba. Clutched his fists. “What is coming, Mama?”

“The very worst,” the old woman said. Then she directed a finger at Gen. “And only she can save us from it. But only if we all believe in her. You know better than anyone that a leader needs support. So, what do you say?”

Hiker gritted his teeth. Glared at Gen. Then directed his gaze to Mama Jamba. “I trust you. If this is the way you want it.”

“It’s the only way…” Mama Jamba said and then smiled sweetly at Gen. “So, what do you say? Are you up for what comes next?”

Gen blinked at the strange entity. “What comes next?”

“Well, you move out,” Mama Jamba answered. “You like it here at the Gullington, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Gen answered. “It’s like home, in a way. Scotland feels rustic and like what I’m used to.”

“Well, that won’t do at all,” Mama Jamba stated. “You need to go somewhere that will shape you and Emperor. You need something that takes you out of your comfort zone and makes you into the warrior who can fix this world.”

“What?” Gen asked, looking around the room at the various faces. “Where’s that?”

Sophia gave her a sympathetic smile. “You’re going to Beverly Hills…”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

FROM HIGHLANDS TO HIGH SOCIETY

Grounds, Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States

“Why did you keep your deep, dark, dirty secret from me?” Gen asked when she and Emperor stepped through the portal Sophia had opened from the Gullington. Now she stood in a place much different from old-world Scotland. She was back in Los Angeles, California where everything was too loud and smelled strange and was manicured in unnatural ways.

The purple dragon with a hint of gold on his chest and glowing in his eyes glared down at her. He towered over the woman, but that didn’t intimidate her in the least. Just as Sophia had explained, Gen felt like Emperor’s equal. She felt that she knew him without knowing him. But then, of course, she was learning that there was much she didn’t know.

“Being a demon dragon should have been no secret,” Emperor replied, his voice low and melodic. “Nor was it deep, dark or dirty. It would have been like telling you that you have blonde hair—you should have already known it.”

She rolled her eyes at the dragon. “You surprised everyone at the Gullington. No one saw it coming.”

“What did you do when those boys made fun of your sister on the streets of London when you two were eight years old?” Emperor questioned.

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