Cobalt. Riley. That moment on the beach, when he’d yanked me to him, still lingered in my mind. I didn’t know what to think of it, though my dragon had no such doubts. Even now, she was urging me to turn around, to fly back to Riley and never leave his side.

But there was someone else. Someone who made my chest ache at the thought of never seeing him again. Someone I’d have to leave behind. Guilt, a new, unpleasant emotion, gnawed at me as I thought of Garret. I knew our time together was already short, that he would leave at the end of the summer, but right now it felt like my heart was being torn out. And not just because of Garret, though I would miss him terribly, I realized. I would also have to say goodbye to Lexi and Calvin, to surfing and the ocean, and everything I’d come to love in Crescent Beach. My summer was truly at an end.

My throat felt tight, a strange sensation, and the corners of my eyes stung. I shook myself and jogged faster, shoving thoughts of Garret and everything else to the back of my mind. I couldn’t stay here, that much was certain. I had to fetch my brother and leave town with Riley, before St. George found us all.

The sun had set and the stars were starting to come out, when I finally staggered up the sidewalk to the villa, knowing this would be the last time. One of the cars was gone from the driveway, so hopefully I’d gotten lucky and both guardians were out of the house. Even so, I’d have to move quickly. No telling where St. George was right now, if they were scouring Crescent Beach for us, and I didn’t want to keep Riley waiting. I’d promised to meet him and the others as soon as he called with their location; that didn’t give me a lot of time.

Dante wasn’t in the living room or the kitchen, but light and music seeped out from the crack beneath his door. Relieved that he was home, I hurried down the hall and banged hard on the wood.

It opened, and my brother frowned at me over the threshold, looking perfectly normal in a sleeveless shirt and black trunks. His frown grew more confused as he saw me, barefoot and panting, in a single dark suit that covered my whole body.

“Ember?” His green eyes widened. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?

And what the hell are you wearing?”

“St. George,” I gasped, and his eyebrows immediately shot up. “St.

George is here! They’ve found us. We have to leave town, Dante.

Right now!”

“What? Whoa, slow down a second.” Dante grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside, slamming the door behind him. “What do you mean, St. George is here?” he demanded, spinning to face me.

“How do you know? Talon hasn’t said anything about possible St.

George activity, and I think that’s something they would mention.”

“No, listen to me.” I glared at him, wishing he would just trust me for once. “I’ve seen them, okay? They’re here. They shot at me! I was with Riley, and a squad of them kicked down the door—”

“Riley?” My brother’s eyes narrowed. “You were with that rogue dragon again? Dammit, Ember, what are you thinking? Why were you at a rogue’s house? No wonder St. George came for him. You’re lucky you weren’t killed!”

“I almost was!” I snapped. “We barely made it out alive. But even before that, I learned some very interesting things about Talon, and what they really want from us.”

“You can’t believe anything a rogue says. They’re traitors and criminals. They’ll lie through their teeth just to—”

“You knew the Vipers were assassins, didn’t you?” I interrupted.

Dante blinked, surprised, and I nodded. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me. Why? We’re supposed to look out for each other, isn’t that what you’ve said all this time? You’re my brother, and you didn’t think it was important to tell me I was destined to hunt down and slaughter my own kind?”

“It’s Talon’s decision to tell you when,” Dante said, crossing his arms.

“Not mine. And none of this would’ve happened if you just stopped fighting them.” He huffed and gave me a look of supreme exasperation. “Talon is only concerned about our survival, Ember, and you act like they’re the devil incarnate! They’re not the bad guys, can’t you understand that? They’re the ones keeping us safe from St. George.”

“Dante.” I scrubbed my hands over my eyes, weary and frustrated.

He wouldn’t listen; he wouldn’t hear anything I had to say about Talon and the rogues and St. George. Riley had been right.

Still, he was my brother, and I had to try. “I’m leaving,” I said softly, my voice hoarse and resigned. “Tonight. Riley offered to take me with him when he leaves town and…I’m going with him.”

Dante stared at me a moment, the blood draining from his face.

“You’re going rogue?” he whispered, his voice choked. “Ember, you can’t! They’ll hunt you down. You know what Talon does to traitors, you said so yourself.”

“That’s why I can’t stay.” I gave him a pleading look, needing him to understand. “I can’t become a Viper, Dante. Not with what I learned tonight.”

“Is this because you’re upset with your trainer? With me?”

“No!” I scrubbed both hands down my face. “It’s not about my trainer,” I whispered. “It’s not about you, or breaking the rules, or anything like that. Dante, I’m not going rogue because I’m tired of Talon telling me what to do. This isn’t about not getting to fly, or not liking training, or having the organization constantly run my life. None of that matters. I’m leaving because…I can’t stand by what Talon believes. What they expect me to do.”