ember

Ember was mine. The other half of me. And I would fight Talon, St George, and the entire d world to keep her safe.

Riley took a deep breath. "Yeah," he said, nodding. "You're right. We can't stop. We can't let this continue. The organization will do horrible things to their hatchlings and undesirables even if there are no rogues to take the fall. If I don't keep fighting Talon, who will? "I will," I said softly. He chuckled. "I don't know, Firebrand. Think you can handle a dozen hormonal teenage dragons if I go down someday? " I lived with an obnoxious twin brother for years," I responded. " I think I could manage." He arched a dubious eyebrow, and I sobered. " But that's not going to happen, Riley, because you're not going to die. This work, what your doing now, is too important. Someone has to stand against Talon, to show our kind what the organization is really like. And your not the only one who has a chance." I raised my chin, my voice firm. " You can't let them win. We can't let them win. And I'm going to do whatever it takes for us to succeed." Riley was motionless, watching me with gold eyes, and I held his stare. " I'm not walking away from this," I told him. " Or you. I'll keep fighting, however long it takes.

There was no way I was going to let him die. He was my other half; without him, I felt incomplete. I wasn't sure if this was my dragon talking or me,but I couldn't imagine a world without Riley.

Secrets are foolish creatures, I have learned. No longer do I wish to play with fools.

Uh_I__e seen you around here a couple of times,_ he said again, staring at the book I held. ___ had come face to face with some one whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself.___ stared. __hat?__is lopsided grin spread into a full one, and it felt like someone had socked me in the chest. __t__ a quote from Oscar Wilde__ Dorian Gray. It__ one of my favorite books.__ot and smart. And apparently he was a real-life boy.

You worry about hurting me, but you never seem to worry about me hurting you. And I__ the one with the killer touch.