I haven’t even said anything about you and Garret.”

I jerked, startled. “How—?”

“Lexi told me.” Dante’s voice was grim. “And it sucked, having to hear it from her and not you. You used to tell me everything.”

He sounded genuinely hurt, and my anger wavered. Maybe I was being unfair. As far as I could tell, Dante hadn’t informed Talon that Riley was back. He had covered for me at the party, and he’d never breathed a word about my illegal midnight flight with Cobalt.

Maybe he was just scared. Maybe he was looking out for me the only way he knew how.

“You accuse me of keeping secrets,” Dante went on angrily, “but you’re the one who’s hiding things. I don’t care what you do with the humans, Ember. We’re supposed to fit in and learn their ways, make them think that we’re one of them. As long as we remember that we’re not. And someday, all humans will know it.”

I jerked up. “Is that what your trainer told you?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

I turned on him, narrowing my eyes. “Where did they put you?”

I demanded. I was tired of beating around the bush, tired of secrets, from both sides. I needed answers, and I hoped I could still count on my twin to come through for me. Dante blinked, confused, and I pressed the advantage. “Faction, Dante. What are you? Where did Talon decide to put you?”

He paused, and for a second I thought he wouldn’t answer, stating that he couldn’t talk about it. But, after a moment, he leaned against the counter with a sigh.

“Chameleon.”

I slumped. “Yeah, I thought so. It suits you.” I could see Dante in a business suit, smiling and talking to people of power, completely in his element. “You’re sure to fit right in.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Dante said, frowning. “It’s an important calling.” His green eyes flashed as he stared at me. “Why, where did they put you? Monitor? Gila? Somewhere that hot temper won’t burn everyone around you?”

“Viper.”

The blood drained from his face. His eyes widened, and he took a step back, his red hair a sudden shocking contrast to his white face.

“Viper?” he almost whispered, making my heart skip a beat. “They put you with the Vipers?”

I nodded, a chill going down my spine. Of all the possible reactions, I hadn’t expected that. “My trainer told me this morning,” I said. “I’ve been thinking about it all day.” Or at least, the times I wasn’t with Garret. I snorted and crossed my arms, trying to hide my growing fear. “Of course, they never asked me what I wanted, if I even wanted to become a Viper. Why should they decide what’s best for me? If this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life, shouldn’t I get some sort of say in it?”

Dante was still staring at me with a faint look of horror on his face, and my resolve grew. “There has to be a mistake,” I insisted.

“They must’ve analyzed me wrong, screwed up the system or something. I don’t want to become a Viper. I don’t want to hunt down our own kind and drag them back to Talon. Because that’s what they do, right? If I were to run—” Dante’s horrified look intensified “—they would send a Viper to bring me back.”

My twin still wasn’t answering. I slumped to the counter, feeling cool marble against my heated skin, and closed my eyes. “I can’t do it,” I growled. “This is all wrong.” Opening my eyes, I gave Dante a pleading look, willing him to understand, to be my brother again.

“Dante, what am I going to do?”

“Ember. Listen to me.” Dante came around the counter and took my upper arms. His emerald eyes were intense, fingers digging into my skin. “You are going to become a Viper,” he said in a low, firm voice, “because that’s what Talon has decided. You can’t fight them.

If you try…” He trailed off, looking angry, as I stared at him, appalled.

“Don’t fight them,” he finished. “Just accept the fact that you’re going to be a Viper, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Once you accept that, everything will get a lot easier, I promise.”

I tore myself free and backed away from him, shaking my head.

He didn’t follow; just continued to watch me with sad, worried eyes.

“This is for the best,” he insisted. “ Talon knows what they’re doing. You just have to trust them. Stop fighting so hard, sis. This is for the future, to ensure the survival of our race. If you can take out Talon’s enemies, that’s more than enough reason to become a Viper.

You should be proud.”

I couldn’t answer. I didn’t have anything left to say to him. I just turned, walked out of the kitchen, and into my room. The door shut behind me with a soft click, a small, insignificant noise to signal the end of a bond that should’ve been unbreakable. I didn’t know my brother anymore. Talon had taken him away from me.

Sitting on my bed, I pulled out my phone again. This time, I didn’t hesitate. Dante knew something about the Vipers; I could see it on his face, in the brief flash of horror and fear when I first said the word.

But he was a stranger now, someone I didn’t know. And if he wouldn’t give me answers, then I would go to the one person left who could.

I need to talk to you, I texted, trying to ignore the excited flutters in my stomach, my dragon squirming in joy. Right now. It’s important.