Page 68 of Talon

She gave me a sideways look, a smile and a faint blush creeping over her cheeks. “Hey, Riley.” Her voice was soft, nearly lost in the waves lapping against the posts. “Thanks for meeting me again. I’m sure you have other things you could be doing.”

Like getting ready for an attack? Like leaving town with two hatchlings before St. George breaks down our door?“Not really. But I’d always make time for you.” I half turned, grinning as her blush deepened. “So, what’s wrong this time?” I asked, keeping my voice light. “Is your trainer giving you more grief? Did they start using rubber bullets instead of paint?”

“No.” She picked at the wood with her fingernails, chipping away a splinter. “I...just found out where they’re putting me. What I’ll be doing...for the rest of my life.”

“Ah. Faction placement. Yeah, that’s always an eye-opener. I was certain they were going to stick me with the Gilas, with all the combat training I was getting.” She picked at the wood again, not really listening, and I lowered my voice. “So, where did they put you, Firebrand? Monitor or Basilisk? No offense, but you’re kinda on the small side to become a Gila.”

Ember bit her lip, her eyes darkening. “Viper,” she muttered. “They put me with the Vipers.”

Viper.

My heart nearly stopped. There was a Viper in town. Had been here all along. Dammit, why hadn’t I asked Ember this before, when we were talking about her training yesterday? If I’d known Talon had pegged her to be a Viper...

I swore and tried not to panic. Ember blinked, looking up at me in confusion. “Riley?”

“Ember, your trainer,” I rasped, leaning forward as she gave me a half wary, half bewildered look but held her ground. “What’s her name? What does she look like?”

“I don’t know her name,” Ember said, still frowning. “She never told me. But she’s tall. She has long blond hair, and green eyes—”

“Kiss-ass fighter?”

“Yes.”

“Sadistic as hell?”

“Oh, yeah.” Ember’s eyes widened. “Do you know her?”

I raked a hand through my hair, a lump of ice settling in my stomach. “Lilith,” I growled, forcing myself to stay calm, to not look over my shoulder in case she was watching us right now. “Lilith has been your trainer this whole time?”

“Who’s Lilith?”

I ignored that question. “Were you followed?” I demanded, and when she frowned, I grabbed her wrist, making her jump. “Ember, did you tell anyone where you were going? Does anyone know where you are?”

“No!” Ember twisted her arm a certain way and yanked out of my grasp, surprising me, but only for a moment. Of course she had Lilith for a trainer. What did I expect? “Riley, what’s going on? WhoisLilith?”

I took another furtive breath, leaning back against the railing in a show of nonchalance, like nothing was wrong. Casually, I scanned the pier again, searching for the other dragon, though I knew it was useless. If Lilith didn’t want to be seen, I’d never catch a glimpse of her. “We can’t talk here,” I said quietly, hoping Ember would follow my lead and not let on that I knew. “If you want to know who Lilith is, what she really does for Talon, come with me right now. I’ll take you somewhere safe. But I need your word that you won’t tellanyonewhat you’ve seen or heard. Do you understand?” I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, my voice turning steely. “Lives depend on it, Ember. This isn’t a game anymore. Promise me you won’t tell anyone—not your brother, not your guardians andespeciallynot your trainer.” Briefly, I closed my eyes, hoping it wasn’t too late. “If she doesn’t already know I’m here.”

Ember’s face was pale, but she nodded. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

I gave a brisk nod. “All right. Follow me, and try to act normal.”

She sniffed. “You’re the one acting like a weirdo.”

Without answering, I strode back down the pier, pretending to be casual while on high alert. If Lilith was here, we had to get out of town, fast. Hanging around when St. George could be on the way was risky enough, but staying when there was a known Viper in the area was suicidal. Especially if that Viper was Lilith.

My only hope was that Lilith didn’t know about us yet. That she was in Crescent Beach just to train Ember, and hadn’t come specifically for me. If that was the case, then we had a chance. There was still time. I could still get everyone out safely.

And hopefully, when we did leave town, my naive little Firebrand—Lilith’s protégé, of all things—would be coming with us.

Ember

Mental note: Addriding a motorcycleto the Almost as Good as Flying list.

Riley’s bike tore up the streets, weaving in and around traffic, blasting through stale yellow lights, whipping around corners at top speed. Wind tore at my hair and clothes, stinging the corners of my eyes, the roar of the engine and the occasional honk from an irate motorist echoing in my ears. Riley never slowed down. I think he was making certain that we couldn’t be followed, which was probably smart, given my trainer had already confirmed that she liked to “keep tabs on me.” I clung tightly to his waist, my cheek pressed to his leather jacket, and watched the world flash by in a blur.

Finally, we cruised up a fairly steep road cut into the side of a cliff, where you could see the ocean and nearly all of Crescent Beach spread out below you. As I raised my head from Riley’s back, wondering where we were going, he suddenly turned down a long, gated driveway and pulled to a stop in front of a house.

My mouth fell open. House? More like a mansion. The place was huge, sprawling, much bigger than Uncle Liam’s villa or even Kristin’s beach house. I gaped at it, then Riley, who smirked back at me, as if expecting my reaction.

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