“Why do they hate us? We haven’t done anything to them.”

“You know the answer to that, Firebrand.” I closed my eyes as another waved flowed over us; it hurt like a mother but at least it would clean the wounds. “Talon taught you just as well as me. They hate us because we’re different, and mankind always fears what they don’t understand.” I shrugged, painfully. “Course, our ancestors might’ve started that grudge with the whole burning towns and eating villag-ers thing. Or, it might’ve started when the first slayer killed the first dragon for his treasure hoard, who knows? The point is, this war is nothing new. Humans and dragons have been fighting each other for centuries, and it’s not going to end anytime soon. Not until one of us destroys the other. And with all the humans on the planet, who do you think will go extinct first?”

Ember shook her head, nostrils flaring. “But, it’s so pointless,” she growled, baring her fangs. “Has anyone tried talking to each other?”

I snorted a laugh, wincing as it sent a stab of pain through my ribs. “You just saw what St. George is like. If you think you can get through to them, by all means, go back tonight and try to have a conversation. But I bet you won’t get within a hundred yards before they start firing.” She scowled, and I raised my head, bringing my muzzle level to hers. “You can’t reason with fanatics, Firebrand,” I told her gently. “St. George hates us because we’re dragons, and that’s the only excuse they need to wipe us out. They see us as monsters.

That’s why they want us extinct.”

She blinked, slitted green eyes gazing into my own, sending heat singing through my veins. In human form, I’d felt drawn to her, but it was nothing compared to the almost savage pull I felt now. Firmly, I shoved it back. There was no time.

Gritting my teeth, I planted my claws and pushed myself upright, hissing at the sharp lance of pain. Ember quickly stepped forward and leaned into me, bracing herself as she took some of my weight.

“Cobalt, don’t. What are you doing?”

“We can’t stay here and risk St. George finding us. I have to get to Wes and the others, but I don’t think I can fly very far.” Setting my jaw, I limped up the beach, cursing as my talons sank into the sand, slowing me down. Ember stayed with me, walking close, her shoulder touching mine to mine to steady us. “Fortunately, I come fully prepared for these kind of circumstances.”

We reached the rock face, where a pile of branches and driftwood sat against the cliff wall in the sand. At my nod, Ember stripped them away, raking it aside with her claws, until she revealed the plastic crate beneath. Inside was a single change of clothes, a new wallet with duplicate fake identities, money, a burner phone, and a small first aid kit.

I grinned at her astonishment. “Like I said, I’ve been doing this awhile, Firebrand. And the first thing you learn when you go rogue is that you always have a backup plan.” I might’ve said more, but at that moment, I shifted my weight the wrong way and my leg gave out from under me. I caught myself with a hiss, but it seemed so much easier to slump into the cool, dry sand, so I did.

Ember was beside me in an instant, eyes worried as she leaned in. Beautiful, dangerous, the other half of me. And the urges within became too strong to ignore.

My wings swept down, wrapping around us both, drawing her against my body. She reared back, startled, but I hooked my talons into her scales and pulled her close. Ember resisted for a moment, then gave a low growl and pressed forward, twining her neck with mine. Flames roared through me, a fire exploding through my core, consuming and intense. I closed my eyes, wanting her closer, wanting to twist and writhe and coil in the sand, tails and wings thrashing, until we had become one.

With a start, Ember hissed and pulled back, breaking from my embrace and the cocoon of wings. Her entire stance—wings flared, pupils dilated, nostrils flaring—spoke of desire and alarm. Shaking her head, she backed away, looking like she might launch herself into the air and flee.

“Cobalt, I don’t—”

“No,” I interrupted, half rising. “Don’t say anything. Don’t fight it, Firebrand. We belong together, you know it as well as me. Say you’ll come with me. Tonight.”

“We just met.” Ember sounded very human then, like she was trying to convince herself. “I don’t even know you, really.”

“So what? We’re not human. We don’t play by the same rules.” I switched to Draconic, my voice low and soothing. “This is instinct, plain and simple. Human emotion has nothing to do with it. stop fighting it. Stop fighting me.”

She wavered, still wary and uncertain, and I growled, clenching my talons in the sand. The moment was gone, but I still needed her to leave with us. I’d have all the time in the world to convince her, then. “Firebrand,” I nodded toward the ocean and the sun, sinking into the horizon, “you can’t stay here, not with St. George sniffing around. They’ll be looking for us, and the bastards are stupidly per-sistent. You’ll be in danger if you stay here, and so will that twin of yours.”

Ember blinked, her gaze darkening at the mention of St. George and Dante, and backed away. “Dante,” she muttered, as if just remembering. “He still doesn’t know St. George is in the area. I have to go.” She looked at me, pleading. “I have to go home and convince him to come with us. I can’t leave him, not now.”

I sighed out a curl of smoke and nodded. She was still planning to leave with us, that was all that mattered. “Go on, then,” I murmured, jerking my head toward the ocean. “Do what you have to. Get your brother, meet us at the rendezvous point later tonight, and let’s get the hell out of Dodge.”

“Where will we meet you?”

“I’ll call you later with the location.” At her betrayed look, I softened my voice. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Firebrand. But if I’m caught, I don’t want them surprising you at the meeting place. It’s safer if you don’t know where it is. I promise I’ll call you when the time comes. Just focus on being ready to go when I do.”

“What about you?”

“Don’t worry.” I smirked and flicked my tail at the crate that held the burner phone. “I’ll call Wes, and he’ll come and pick me up, provided he and the hatchlings got to the bolt hole safely.”

“You’re still hurt.” Ember’s gaze went to my still oozing ribs. “I don’t want to leave you.”