Scorched

know he’d done it. And the world would finally be free.

Come on, you coward. This is what you trained for!

It was his father’s voice he heard jeering in his head—taunting him, torturing him, reminding him of how far he’d strayed from his mission. He’d come here to save the world, his father reminded him. So why had he just gone and saved the one girl who was destined to destroy it instead?

She’s not like that. She wouldn’t do it. She doesn’t deserve to die.

Are you so sure about that? his father demanded. Are you willing to bet the world on it? ’Cause that’s what you’re doing by allowing her and her dragon to live: risking millions of lives. My life. You already killed me once, Connor. Are you prepared to make that same mistake again?

Connor hung his head as memories of that day swam through his mind—the dragon blasting his father; his father falling to the ground, engulfed in flames; the realization that it was all his fault.

He’d promised Trinity he’d find another way. But that was before he’d seen how easily things could spiral out of control. If he hadn’t gotten there in time today—if he hadn’t been able to rally the troops to raid—Emmy would now be in the hands of the Dracken and Trinity would be dead anyway. And once again, it would be his fault.

He could do it now and no one would know it was him. They’d assume it was one of the Dracken. Or one of the soldiers. And the world would be safe forever.

Sacrifice one to save the world. It had been his mission from the start.

He stared down at Trinity’s unconscious body, her mouth set in a determined frown, as if daring him to do the deed. She was so stubborn. Even at the edge of death she was so damned stubborn and strong—not to mention selfless. Back in the courtyard she could have easily run by the Potentials, left them to their delusions. But she’d tried to help them instead. Tried to get them to see the truth—to save their lives—and it had almost cost her her own life.

But it hadn’t. Because Emmy had come. The violent, rage-filled creature who should have acted on character, letting loose a mighty holocaust across the entire hall, had somehow, some way resisted millions of years of instinct. She’d acted rationally. Peacefully. Almost human in her analysis of the situation. She’d taken what had happened the last time and used it to guide her actions this time around.

Which meant she could be taught. She could be trained.

But was it worth the risk?

“It’s worth it. And she’s worth it too.”

Connor whirled around to find his brother had silently stepped into the room. Caleb didn’t appear armed, but the look on his face told Connor he was ready for a fight. Of course that wouldn’t stop the Hunter from pulling the trigger first. All along he’d known there was the possibility he’d have to give his own life to the cause. That didn’t scare him.

But, he realized, glancing over at the Fire Kissed, a world without Trinity did.

“Don’t worry, I can’t do it,” he said with a long, slow sigh, partially to her, partially to his brother, but mostly to himself. “Even if I wanted to. Even if I knew for sure that the apocalypse would come.” He dropped his gun to the ground, then sank to his knees, scrubbing his face with his hands. “I’m sorry, Dad. Once again I’ve let you down.”

Caleb stared down at the gun, then over at his brother, an unreadable look on his face. He reached for the weapon, wrapping his fingers around the hilt. Connor gritted his teeth, readying himself for the pain that he knew would come. He only prayed his brother would act quickly, cleanly, and not make him suffer.

Instead, his brother stuffed the gun into the waistband of his pants. “Did you ever go back and read the autopsy report?” he asked slowly, surprising Connor with the question. “The one they did on the dragon that killed our father?”

What? What did that have to do with anything? Connor shook his head, puzzled. “No. Uh, why, did you?” What was his brother trying to get at?

“I did. Two years ago. Just before I agreed to go back in time with the Dracken. The Council keeps detailed reports on every kill, you know, and it’s all public record, not that many people bother to check them out.” He paused, then added, “I don’t know why I did it. Maybe I was trying to talk myself out of going. To convince myself that you were doing the right thing by destroying the egg. That dragons actually were evil and that I shouldn’t try to stop you from wiping them out.”

“So what did it say?” Connor asked, curious despite himself. “What could it have possibly said to convince you that dragons were worth saving?”

“That she was pregnant.”

“Wait, what?” Connor shook his head. “No. That’s impossible. If she was pregnant, she would have been nesting. She wouldn’t have been flying over the Strata in the first place.”

“She wasn’t. At least not until Dad drew her out with his Hunter’s song. He was a very powerful Hunter, as you know. He pushed her, convinced her to leave the safety of her nest—all so he could kill her.”

“But that’s illegal,” Connor protested weakly, feeling as if his world was sliding out from under him. His father—his hero father—why would he do such a thing? It was Dragon Hunting 101; you never lured a dragon into a populated area on purpose. It was far too risky. “Why would Dad do that?”

“He needed the silver,” Caleb replied. “Our family was hungry. Mom was sick.”

“So he was trying to protect his children then.”

“Just as the dragon was trying to protect hers,” Caleb concluded. His eyes pierced his brother’s. “So now, Connor, tell me this. Was the dragon who killed our father an evil creature consumed by blood lust? Or a desperate mother, doing whatever she could to save her babies from an evil man who was trying to kill them?”

Connor hung his head. “I don’t know,” he said quietly. “I just don’t know anymore.” He stared down at his hands, thoughts whirling madly.

“In any case,” Caleb declared after a moment, “you can relax. I’m not going to kill you.” He glanced over at Trinity. “For one thing, she wouldn’t want me to.”

Connor looked up. “She should,” he said with a grimace. “She’d be safer if I were gone.”

His twin shrugged. “She sees good in you,” he said simply. “And judging from the fact that you didn’t kill her when you had the chance makes me think she might be right.” He gave his brother a rueful look. “I should have listened to you about the Dracken,” he admitted. “Deep down, I suppose, I always knew they were too good to be true.” He sighed. “I guess I just wanted a chance to be noticed for once. To be a hero.” He rolled his eyes. “What a duffer, right?”

“No.” Connor shook his head. “You fought for what you believed in—risked your life for it, even. And the fact that the people you trusted didn’t prove worthy of that trust doesn’t take away from what you tried to do.” He gave his brother a crooked smile. “I guess in a way we both came back in time on the same mission, you know? To save the world. Sadly, neither one of us had any real idea how to do it.”

Caleb seemed to consider this. “Maybe we’ve been thinking too big,” he declared after a pause. “Maybe instead of saving the world, we should just concentrate on saving one girl. And one dragon, of course.” He grinned. “What do you think? Think we can manage something like that between the two of us?”

Connor laughed despite himself. “Why not?” he said. “I mean, two of us, two of them? How hard could it be?”

Chapter Forty-Four

Lyria sank to a quiet landing on the side of the cliff, lowering her wing and allowing Trinity to slide off her back and onto the ground. She nodded her head in the direction of a small cave, cut into the side of the cliff. You will find your mother there, she said in a throaty voice. I hope she can give you the answers you’re looking for.

Trinity reached out, her heart overflowing as she stroked the dragon’s nose. “How can I ever thank you?” she asked. “I never would have made it without you.”