He freezes, turning slowly.Did Azar tell you that?He hated talking about it.
“I dreamed it,” I say.“I was there when it happened.”
As Gullveig?Hyperion sighs.Perhaps your dreams are real.I hope they are.But for us, as hatchlings of Odin and Freya, it was hard.
“Hard?”
To keep things simple, I’ll just say that inasmuch as the flame blessed sons of Odin fought, we banded together for one thing—defending against Odin’s children with Frigg.They hated us for our connection to their mother’s murderer.
Wow.Azar never mentioned it.“You were in danger too, as the oldest?”
Only the oldest of Freya and Odin—the first hatched after our departure.And yes, we were all in danger.Always.
“Let’s make a deal,” I say.“You promise me to bond a human as soon as we get back—the second we reach Australia.And I’ll promise that the moment I know enough, I’ll go back into that volcano and face Freya.I think she has the heart, and I think we can get it back.”
You’re trying to motivate me to live by inspiring me that I might be part of the success, not the initiator of their doom.
“I’m not inspiring you, dummy.I’m promising you.”I ball up my fist.“Don’t make me punch y?—”
Hurt your poor soft body again?
“Exactly,” I say.“Because if you do, I’ll tattle to Azar.”
We found them,Azar says.It’s happening now, live.They’re definitely hoping we’ll come.Your mom’s in Killeen, Texas, at a place called Fort Cavazos.Jean’s on the phone with Norm.
They’ll have what Hyperion needs to portal.
“Alright,” I say.“We have a new location.Round up the troops.We’re headed for Texas again.At least it’s warm.”I pause by Hyperion.“They’ll have ice spears.”
He laughs.He actually laughs.
Where are you going?I ask Azar.Where did they put the blessed?
We’re not sure,Azar says.Possibly the same place.We’re coming, too.
You are?I can’t disguise my happiness.I hate when he’s somewhere I’m not.Maybe he’s coming because he’s not mad anymore.
Wanting you to be safe isn’t the same as forgiving you.
I sigh and stand.Norm and Phileas are winging their way toward us, along with a dozen other dragons.“Where do you think all the humans who were living in Iceland went?”
Hyperion shrugs.The difference between you and me, Liz, is that I don’t care.
“Baby steps, you big jerk.”I slap his leg, but that hurts too.
You don’t learn from your mistakes.
“Shut up.”
As directed, we portal into the far east side of the base.
“Killeen’s the largest military base the United States has, geographically,” Norm says.He’s disgustingly excited about this.
“You haven’t forgotten that they’re about to kill my mom?”I arch one eyebrow.
“I’m sorry.”His shoulders droop.“I’m not trying to be a ghoul, but it’s my very first real, live quest.”
I wish it could be my last.I’m beyond tired of it all.
