“That’swhyI’m worried,” he said, looking pointedly at her fully stocked and obviously well used medical station. “This has to stop, Chelsie. You can’t keep acting like Mother’s secret police. It’s not right, it’s not good for the clan, and it’s not good for you.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she said through clenched teeth as Fredrick tied off the last stitch in her arm. “Go tell it to Bethesda.”
“I intend to,” he said. “Right afteryoutell me what she’s using to keep you obedient.”
Chelsie’s answer to that was a long, silent stare. It was the same stare she always gave him when he pried, and Julius was sick of it. “Why won’t you tell me?” he demanded. “I’m trying tohelpyou, here! I know how much you hate being the clan boogieman. You don’t even like hurting dragons, do you?”
“That depends on the dragon,” Chelsie said casually. “Sometimes I enjoy my job a lot.”
“But you still hate having to do it.”
She looked away, which was answer enough. “If you hate it, why are you keeping Mother’s secrets?” Julius demanded. “Why won’t you help me help you?”
“Because you already had your chance,” Chelsie snapped, whirling back around. “You had Bethesda on her knees. Do you know how long I’ve dreamed of that moment? Of what I’ddoto her when I finally got the upper hand?”
Just like on the night they’d overthrown Bethesda, the hate in his sister’s voice sent a chill down Julius’s spine. “I know,” he said. “But I couldn’t. What she’s done to you—to all of us—is terrible, but I couldn’t kill her. Not if I actually wanted things to change. You can’t stop the cycle of violence with more violence, Chelsie.”
“Spoken like a dragon who’s never truly had his back against the wall,” she growled, sliding off the table. “Go back to Brohomir, Julius. Enjoy the future he’s made for you while it lasts. But don’t come down here pretending you want to help me when we both know you’ve already made your choice.”
“I’m notpretending,” Julius said, insulted. “You act like the only way to help you is to kill Bethesda!”
“That’s because it is,” Chelsie said as she limped over to grab a clean armored coat from her closet. “You asked me how you could help, I told you. If you’re ready to do something about it, we’ll talk. Otherwise, get out.”
“I’m not leaving,” he said stubbornly. “Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“What’swrongis that I’m stuck with a stupid baby dragon who won’t leave!” she snarled, working her injured arm into the sleeve. “I was patient with you last night because you’re an earnest kid and I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I’m all tapped out today. Even whelps have to grow up and face reality sometime, Julius.”
“You’re the one not being realistic,” Julius argued. “Being overly pessimistic is just as wrong as being overly optimistic. I know you’ve been grinding away at this for a long time now, but things are already changing, and they’re about to change even more. You signed that paper with the rest of us. You knowthe new Council will have all of Bethesda’s power. Once that third seat is filled, the three of us willbethe Heartstriker. When that happens, what’s to stop me from just voting you and the Fs free?”
He could already see how it would go. Bethesda would obviously vote no, but the rest of the clan feared and hated Chelsie for all the years she’d threatened them. No matter who won the final seat, they’d almost certainly side with Julius to set Chelsie free if only to get rid of her. It was practically a done deal.
“There’s nothing,” he said, grinning wide. “No one has to die, because we’ve alreadywon.”
“He’s right,” Fredrick agreed, looking at their sister with the wild-eyed hope that only came from years of repression. “It would work. If we can just get to the vote, Julius could—”
“Fredrick,” Chelsie said coldly. “Leave.”
The F recoiled as though she’d struck him. “What?”
“Go,” she growled, glaring at him. “And don’t let anyone else in. I need to speak with Julius alone.”
For a moment, the tall dragon looked truly hurt, and then he pulled himself together, leaving the room with a silent, professional anger that scared Julius even more than Chelsie’s.
“Why did you—”
“This way,” Chelsie said, cutting him off as she turned on her heel and vanished down her badger tunnel of a hallway. “I’ve taken care of the Fs all their lives. Fredrick’s as loyal as they come, but he has sharp ears and a bad habit of pressing them against doors.”
With a final glance over his shoulder, Julius hurried after her, stomach fluttering in anticipation. From the purposeful way she was walking, he hoped Chelsie was leading him to some kind of secret chamber where everything would be revealed. Instead, she pulled him into her tiny cell of a bedroom, locking the door and pressing her back against it, hiding the watercolor painting that hung from it with her body.
“This is the most secure room in the mountain,” she said. “It’s still not absolute, but we’ll have to settle for what we’ve got. Give me your phone.”
Julius obeyed, handing the device over. The moment Chelsie had it, she opened her door again just enough to toss it into the hall. He couldn’t help wincing as the shiny black plastic bounced off the stone walls, but he didn’t say a word as Chelsie relocked the door, turning on him with a determined look that he could only hope meant he was about to finally get some answers. A hope that proved to be short lived the moment his sister opened her mouth.
“You can’t free me or F-clutch.”
Julius gaped at her. “That’s what you brought me in here to say?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t say it front of Fredrick. He’s pinned all of his hopes on you, and he’s convinced the rest of his clutch to do the same. He’s the oldest. The others have always followed his lead. Now, he’s got them all thinking you’re their ticket out from under Bethesda’s boot, but it’s a pipe dream. We can never be free.”
