“Do you really think you can do it, Rorik?” Charon asked hopefully, sucking me back into the conversation.
“I have no choice,” I stated. “I have to.”
For the first time, the two looked uneasy. I hadn’t exactly said ‘yes.’ But I couldn’t predict the future. Despite my strength, the dragonscouldkill me. That was a sacrifice I was willing to make, if only for the opportunity to claw a dragon’s eyes out, or sink my fangs into one of their necks...
My pelt rippled with determination. “Iwilldo it,” I asserted. “If I can kill a single dragon, I’ll die happy.”
Charon and Sorrel brightened, their moment of anxiety gone.
“You’re going to be on that show, right? I wish we could watch you on the TV box,” Sorrel said under his breath.
Charon nudged him hard, muttering, “Shh. Don’t talk so loud. We’re happy without it, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
I bunched my shoulders, squeezing into my cramped bed. It definitely wasn’t sized for an adult male polar bear, but I’d freeze to death in human form.
“Go to sleep,” I told the others. “I need rest to be fit.”
The gaggle of omegas scurried away, but Charon and Sorrel lingered behind.
“Come find us before you leave so we can see you off,” Charon said quietly.
“Sure. I don’t know when exactly that will be, but I’ll say goodbye,” I promised.
Pleased with my answer, Charon and Sorrel left for their own bunks. When I heard everyone settle into their beds, I flicked off the light, plunging the cold room into darkness.
I didn’t dream.
A hard jabin my shoulder woke me.
I bolted upright, my eyes snapping open as I readied to fight an intruder. But it was only Sheba.
“Get up. It’s time for your mission,” she said.
Confusion washed over me as the information sank in. How could I leave so soon? I’d only received my task last night. Wouldn’t I receive any more information about my enemies? Would my years of battle training be enough?
I pushed my doubts aside. If Sheba and Knox said I was ready, that was all that mattered.
“All right,” I said, pushing my huge body out of the bed. “I’ll say goodbye to—”
“No,” Sheba interrupted sharply, already turning to leave. “We leave right now. The snowmobile is wasting gas. Don’t dawdle.”
Her command left no room for argument. Not that I’d dare argue with her.
I dropped to all four paws to follow Sheba, then cast a quick glance over my shoulder. Charon and Sorrel were asleep in their beds, unaware that they’d wake up to my absence. My stomach swirled with a thread of guilt.
I didn’t get to say goodbye after all.
2
Saffron
“Wake up, wake up, wake up!”I cried.
Aurum’s eyes snapped open. Before he sat up, he instinctively threw a protective arm across Mylo’s chest.
“What? What is it?” Aurum demanded, ready to kick someone’s ass.
