The tracks arced through a long curve, and the stock car where Myth slept was visible trundling along behind us. Beneath the fear still thrumming inside me, there was a pulsing contentment. I’d missed it until this moment, with all the hanging off moving train cars and having a pistol waved in my face. I knew what I was feeling was from Myth, considering how starkly it contrasted with everything that had just taken place.
Prescott popped out of the door to the engine. “I heard a gunshot, so I stopped the train!”
Rush and I looked at each other.
“Fairfax was here. He…” I trailed off, rubbing my face. “He’s gone now.”
“He’s dead?” Prescott barked in alarm.
Rush shook his head. “No. Unfortunately.” His arm was propped beside my shoulder in the tight space. He slipped his pistol back in his shoulder holster. “Now we wait until Myth wakes up. Think you and the others can get us to Chesson?”
Prescott smiled. “Sure. The fireman’s a decent fellow. Been telling me all about his family. Didn’t seem to care that I knockedout the other guy.” He shrugged. “And there’s no brakemen tonight. Just me.” He lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers. “To Chesson,” he announced as he marched back inside the cab of the engine.
Myth woke as pale light painted the eastern sky with the promise of a new day. He broke the door clean off the stock car and bolted for the sky, only to shoot downward again and snort in my face. To my surprise, Prescott indeed got us to Chesson Station, or nearly. We stopped between rows of cars in the shunting yard. Hidden from view to all but the signalman, who was likely confused about the arrival of an unexpected train.
“I know,” I said, reaching for Myth. “I’m so sorry.” I threw my arms around his neck and relished his warmth.
When Myth flattened himself on the gravel of the train yard, I climbed on his back without a saddle and hung on tightly to the long spikes at the base of his neck. We only had a short distance to fly this time. It was time to go back to Cardan Lott, and while I was grateful I was reunited with my dragon, I sensed the trouble was only just beginning.
Cold wind scraped at my eyes and ears, but the panic of riding without a saddle kept my blood hot as we rose over the bleak train yard. Instantly, the walls of Cardan Lott came into view. We sailed past the stone walls, not as imposing from above, and landed outside the lair, where Myth lowered himself to his belly so I could dismount.
A contented swell flooded my heart, the same feeling I got when I’d entered my apartment over winter break and seen Evie. Myth was happy to be here, to be home.
But this was even more a cage now than it had been when I’d first entered, thinking I had no part in this life or their ancient traditions. Now, I had to play a new game, a deadly one.
I walked back to the school, the only sound my boots crunching snow that had hardened overnight. I glanced at the ground below the steps. Our footprints were still there.
I walked straight to Vaughan’s office. We all did.
When Headmaster Vaughan saw us, windswept and dressed like a small gang, still armed, he dipped his head and stepped aside, allowing us to enter.
“I expect you have a good reason for this?”
“Sir, she passed the bond test and my father erased the evidence,” Rush began as the headmaster closed the door behind us.
“We have Myth and I want to be readmitted, sir,” I added.
Clarence’s father looked at each of us in turn, landing on his son with a surprised look that quickly melted into genuine pride. “You helped?”
Clarence dropped his chin and coughed. “Yes, sir.”
Our headmaster crossed his arms, not in an angry way, but in a contented way. “Well done, son. It’s time you started deciding what mattered to you.”
Clarence’s head snapped up. “Thank you, sir.”
His father walked to his desk but did not sit. He sighed. “I believe you.”
I tilted my head.That was easy.
“I’m sure my father will be here within the hour,” Rush said. “He’ll know his train was robbed and that we have Myth. Tell him Merlon Fairfax knows the truth.”
Headmaster Vaughan tilted his head. “Actually, your father telephoned a bit ago. He was the one who alerted me that Miss Mireaux was on her way with her dragon. He also said he would be arriving shortly after with documentation regarding her bond, as well as some interesting paperwork regarding her heritage.”
“My heritage?” I asked, shooting Rush a puzzled look.
“Yes,” came a low, commanding voice from behind us.
We whirled to face Duke Covington as he strode into the headmaster’s office, followed by two men in stiff coats with matching frowns.
