‘We’ve all got skin in the game, Marquis,’ Serena spits.‘Did you know Wyvernmire made sure my parents died by dragonfire? She forced an imprisoned rebel dragon to set our estate alight, just to add insult to injury.’
Marquis falls silent, his cheeks burning as she turns her icy stare to me.
‘I’m sure cousin Vivvy will befine.’
Atlas’s hand comes down on my wrist. ‘You make a good rebel, Featherswallow, but there’s a fine line between being good and being reckless.’
‘Yet another insult, King. I’m beginning to think you don’t like me.’ I meet his gaze. ‘I’m doing it. And you’re not going to stop me.’
He glares back at me, his mouth twitching.
‘It’s the best idea we have, Atlas,’ Gideon says.
Marquis swears and Atlas turns back to the beach, but his hand is still on mine.
‘Fine, but there’s no point all of us getting caught. I’ll sneak into the tent once Viv has distracted Ralph. You three –’ Atlas glances at Marquis, Serena and Gideon – ‘should go and find Soresten or Chumana, so we can fly to Eigg as soon as we’ve released the dragon in the tent.’
‘You agree, then?’ I say. ‘That theremustbe a back-up plan? That Hollingsworth’s intention was never to exploit the wyvern echolocation?’
‘Whatever her plan was, all that matters now is that the rebels are ready for the next battle. Have you seen how many Bulgarian dragons are on the beach? If we can’t pull out all the stops, things are going to get bad.’ He grimaces and points to another newspaper sticking out of his pocket.‘The Bolgoriths have taken London. A portion of the French dragon army came to the rebels’ aid in the battle for the city, but we lost. And Ignacia’s troops have retreated. More than half of Britannia’s dragon population is in hiding.’
I reel like I’ve been slapped.
‘Half?’ Marquis echoes.
‘Fancy being the Dragon Queen and failing to fight for your own country,’ Gideon says. ‘If she joined the rebels, we might stand a chance.’
‘The wyverns would never have been able to help us, then,’ I say. ‘There aren’t enough of them, not if they can’t use their . . .’
I trail off as Atlas’s eyes dart to mine. I see the truth staring back at me and my heart sinks. He still believes the answer has something to do with echolocation. He’s still going to try and convince me. That’s why he’s sending the others away.
‘Go,’ I tell Marquis.
He nods, then pulls my head towards him and plants a kiss on my hair.
‘Don’t get caught, cousin,’ he says. He glances at Atlas. ‘And don’t die this time, King.’
Atlas grins. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it.’
Serena winks at me and the three of them climb back up the cliff and disappear across the top. I return my gaze to Ralph, who is picking at his nails in front of the tent.
‘I should go.’
‘Wait,’ Atlas says.
I turn to look at him.
‘I’m sorry about what I said in the graveyard. And forbeing so . . . distant.’
‘You mean cold,’ I say.
‘Distracted,’ Atlas says.
‘Uninterested,’ I correct. ‘Inattentive, agitated, completely unlike yourself.’
‘Since we left Bletchley, I’ve been questioning everything,’ Atlas says. ‘My role in this war, on this island, in this life.’
‘This is about the priesthood, isn’t it?’
