“Yes, sir,” I replied, and my voice was calm. Steady. The soldier Benedict would have wanted. “I understand. Am I dismissed?”

He nodded. “The Headmaster has freed you from the rest of your classes today. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to pick you up. I assume you want to attend the funeral.” He rose heavily and placed a hand on my shoulder. “The Order has lost a great man,” he murmured, regarding me with somber black eyes. “But the war isn’t over. And the dragons haven’t destroyed him completely. At least, not yet.”

And he was gone.

Numb, I returned to my quarters. Monks and teachers saw me in the halls, clearly heading away from my scheduled classes, but no one asked where I was going. Peter Matthews passed me in the courtyard and threw out a jeer, smug and challenging. I ignored him. He was not important, not anymore. I kept walking, head high and expression neutral, until I reached my quarters at the very end of the hall and slipped inside.

Only when I was alone in my tiny chambers and the door had shut firmly behind me did I sink onto the cot, pull my knees to my chest and let the tears come. No one would see me cry, and I knew he wouldn’t want me to cry, but I couldn’t help myself. Even though the shame of my tears burned nearly as bright as the sorrow. Another life the dragons had taken from me, one more they had stolen without a thought. I wouldn’t let them get away with it. I’d pay my last respects to my mentor, thank him for everything he’d taught me, and then I would return to my training with renewed purpose. Our enemies—my enemies—wouldn’t win. The demon lizards had hurt me for the last time. Now, they had a new foe, and I would make sure they remembered my name when I destroyed them on the battlefield.

I would work hard.

I would excel.

I would become the perfect soldier.

GARRET

“Gunfire,” Jade murmured beside me.

I clenched my jaw, feeling the tension in my shoulders spread to all parts of my body. We’d been driving all day, setting a frantic, exhausting pace toward our destination, and those were the first words Jade had spoken for several hours. Since departing England, the Asian dragon had been a quiet but efficient travel companion, content to hang back and follow my lead in an unfamiliar country. She had ordered her two monks to stay in London, to keep an eye on the Order and the Patriarch, and inform her if there were any changes. Jade herself was so still and quiet, I’d almost forgotten she was there. Of course, I wasn’t in the clearest state of mind, either. Since landing, I had only one thing on my mind: getting to Ember before the Order did. I didn’t know how much time I had to warn them, if they were being shot down even as I sped down the highway, helpless to do anything else. I couldn’t even call them. Not for the first time, I wished I had Ember’s number, or even Riley’s. Cutting myself off from my dragon comrades had been a terrible mistake; I would happily call Riley and endure his mockery and disdain if it meant I could warn Ember.

Ember, I thought, staring at the highway through the windshield. Please be all right. Let me get to you in time.

A distant report echoed over the buildings, slicing through me like a knife and making my heart skip. Immediately, I slowed and pulled the car to the side of the narrow private road, as several weaker but undeniable pops joined the first, coming from the buildings beyond the chain-link fence that surrounded the abandoned industrial park.

“We’re too late,” Jade murmured, her voice unnaturally calm. “The Order is already here.”

No. I jumped from my seat and hurried to the trunk to wrench it open, revealing the duffel bag of personal items I’d hidden away before leaving for England. As Jade stepped up beside me, I reached into the bag and pulled out a Kevlar vest, then slipped it on over my shirt. From behind the duffel I drew out an M4, checked the chamber for rounds and slung the strap over my shoulder.

The Asian dragon’s dark eyes burned into the side of my head. “You realize this is very risky,” she commented, watching as I slid a Glock into the holster at my side. “We are only two bodies. Even if St. George doesn’t expect us, the odds of everyone making it out alive are slim.”

“I know,” I muttered. “But I’m getting them out. I have to try. Ember would do the same for me.” As a matter of fact, she already did. “I won’t ask you to help me if you’re afraid,” I told the dragon, who regarded me solemnly, “but I’m going ahead, with or without you. So decide. Are you with me, or not?”

She sighed. “I gave my word that I would help, and a shen-lung is nothing if she does not keep her promises. Even if it means wading into a war zone full of armed human maniacs.” Shaking her head, she gave a wry smile. “So, lead on. I am right behind you.”