His lips thinned. “Your sister, Ember Hill, has betrayed us,” he stated, making my heart sink. I’d known, of course. The moment Talon came for me that night, I’d known, and it still made me sick to my stomach. “She refused to return home with Lilith, and left town with a dangerous rogue, a former Talon operative named Cobalt. Where they are now is anyone’s guess.” He paused, gauging my reaction across the polished surface. I held my breath and waited, until he smiled.

“Ember Hill is now a rogue, a traitor in the eyes of Talon. If she will not see reason and return to the organization, she will be killed. However, the Elder Wyrm would like to avoid that if necessary.” His cold blue eyes narrowed, appraising me, even as I guessed his next words. “There-fore, Dante Hill, we would like you to be in charge of bringing her back.”