Remus crosses his tattooed arms over his black T-shirt. “It means the Saint’s Order has targeted another dragon in the general population, unprovoked and on their own property. He must have concealed his ring too, or it was an initiate who didn’t have one yet.”
I nod. “Two attacks. Days apart. On either side of the country. We knew the Order stopped observing the accord the moment Donovan died, but this is bigger than that. This is war. They are actively hunting us, Remus. This will not be the last attack.”
Rubbing his jaw, Remus asks, “What do you want to do?”
I hate that it’s my call to make, but this can’t wait for another gathering of the four. “Let’s send out an alert to all registered dragons. Code red.”
Remus’s eyes flare. “You’d send the entire species into hiding?”
I square my shoulders. “What other choice do we have? After these two murders, it’s clear that any interactions our people have with humans pose a risk.”
“You’re talking about shutting down businesses. Pulling children out of schools.” Remus grabs his head. “What about the witch? Did you get her to agree to help us?”
I shake my head. “It was a false lead. She can’t perform the magic we need.”
Remus frowns. “Can’t or won’t? I could have sworn I felt her power in my head.”
“She said no, Remus.”
“What about a referral? Did you ask her for the name of another witch?” Remus’s hands land on his hips.
I become intensely interested in an imperfection in the arm of the chair. “It didn’t occur to me in the moment.”
Remus scoffs. “Maybe you can track her down again. Get inside her head. If we find out where she lives, we can enter her dreams and strongly encourage her to help us.”
It’s a completely unethical and unjustified idea. Zoe isn’t our enemy, and entering her head without consent would be wrong. Funny, Remus is usually the easiest brother to get along with, quietly intelligent and articulate. But a dragon born under the sign of Gemini is as unpredictable as an evil twin. When he’s triggered, you never know what you’re going to be up against.
I stand and stride toward him until we’re face-to-face. “You wouldn’t even use your customer files to contact her, Remus, because you felt it would cross some ethical boundary. Don’t expect me to invade her psyche without her consent and force her compliance. I won’t do it. I’m a dragon, not a monster.”
He lifts his chin in a gesture of agreement and acceptance. Silence stretches between us. “But what about the other part? Will you ask her to help us find an alternate witch?”
My dragon suddenly roils, excited for an excuse to see her again. “Yeah, I’ll ask her. That’s a good idea. The logical next step.”
He shakes his head. “I’m scared, Seb, for our families. For our futures. Do you think this is what the Oracle saw coming? Why she had Solomon step down?”
I shrug.
“What do we do now? How do we protect our people? It’s been decades since we’ve had to fight. How do we tell them they’re not safe anymore? How do we protect them all? They’re counting on us.” Remus rubs his temples.
Since the day I ascended, I’ve been proud to be a Zodiac brother, but right now, I lament my alignment. I’m the one in charge, and I have to make the call. “We have to be honest. Even if I can find a witch, it will take them time to work their magic. I know you don’t like the idea of issuing a code red, but I haven’t changed my mind about that. It’s the only way to keep everyone safe. When we leave here tonight, we need to activate the warning protocol. Get the word out that every dragon needs to go into hiding until further notice. Tell them we don’t have a way to protect them just yet.”
“That’s not a permanent solution.” Remus shakes his head. I understand his frustration. This isn’t going to be easy on any of us.
“No, but it’s the only one I’ve got.”
Chapter Seven
ZOE
My breath is coming in huffs as I drop into the chair in my cubicle at five minutes to seven Sunday morning. Made it! I’m so tired from staying up late playing my set Saturday night, and then agonizing about Sebastian and his unexpected offer, that the only thing holding me upright is caffeine and willpower. I must have smoothed out his card five hundred times before crumpling it again and throwing it away. Somehow, though, I always ended up picking it out of the trash. I don’t know why. I can’t help him. Doing so could kill me.
But I’m here, with my headset on, logged in exactly on time.
I cheerfully answer call after call, until my boss, Rachel, comes in, looking flustered. She’s an older, heavyset woman who always wears a brown cardigan, even when it’s ninety degrees out and eighty in this old building with its faulty air conditioner. She reminds me of a fifth-grade schoolteacher who’s been in the game for decades and is just riding out the years to retirement. I get the sense she doesn’t want to be here any more than I do. Her expression is always sour, and I have never once seen her short, meticulously curled hair move.
“Emergency meeting. Please log out of the system when you finish with your call,” she whispers behind each of us. I hit the button and check my watch. Midmorning. Must be a promotion announcement or other news from corporate.
As soon as everyone is off their calls, we all gather at the front of the room where Rachel raises her two brown arms and wiggles her sausage-like fingers to get our attention. “Is everyone logged out? I have a very important announcement.”
