“James,” she sighs my name like I’ve failed an assignment. But what right does she have to be disappointed in me? “She was just a dragon, your life is more important. Dragons are dangerous beasts, killers. I never wanted you, my son, anywhere near dragon racing. Every time you flew…” Her eyes clench shut as she pauses. “I thought after you almost drowned, I had proof of how we could lose you, and all because of your father’s obsession. But he didn’t stop. Ineverwanted to live like this. We need to escape him. With gold, we can.”
“Then where’s the rest of it, Mom?”
She frowns at my tone. “Rest of it?”
“The rest of the gold,” I demand, tired of playing games, or repeating my questions.
“But I heard the dragon fell in the ocean. Isn’t this all of it?” she stammers.
What?
Mom shakes her head like that’s not an issue. “This is still plenty. It’s enough to start a new life, James. We can finally leave!” She’d sounded excited on the phone last night. Hopeful. Now, I know why.
My eyes flicker to Farren and my heart stops at her expression. She’s guarded, bending into a stance like she’s willing to fight me for it. “I can’t let you. The hatchlings need it,” she breathes.
“Hatchlings? What hatchlings?” Mom asks.
“The dragon you killed had three six-week-olds,” I answer.
Mom inhales. But with a little shake of her head she wipes that fact away.
My mother was always cold, unhappy, but I’ve never seen the woman who raised me as callous as my father. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention. But when he broke my arm, I think her worldview shattered. He crossed what she’d assumed was a firm boundary. Being slapped or spanked could be justified as strict lessons. Crushing my arm until I collapsed from pain, however? He couldn’t continue to claim he had my best interests at heart after that.
“How did you do this? Those men wereDad’sscalers.”
“I had help,” she confirms. “I—”
Help as in those poachers? “Do you have any idea how vicious those men are? What they did? And you let them come for Farren, for the Walshes, for good people. You let them kill her.”
“I didn’t want that dragon dead. Believe me.” Her tone edges into exasperation.
“As if your intentions matter now. She’s gone. She’s GONE!” My voice shakes. “And you allowed it. Allowed them to butcher her.”
“Careful. You’re sounding like your father, son,” a voice says behind us. We all turn at the intruder. Dr. Burke stands in the doorway with steely gray eyes.
“We should get going as soon as possible,” Dr. Burke says. “Ready, Aine?”
“John… he refused to leave when you called. He could tell. So, I said I was going to Hardsill for a few days, but…” Mom’s words fade and my eyes jolt to that fresh hole in the wall. But then I freeze when Mom slips into Dr. Burke’s arms.
“I know. Let’s get out of here now.”
She nods like she trusts him. Like they aretogether.I stagger backward, like I’ve been punched.
“I know this is all quite sudden and you have a lot of questions.” Dr. Burke presses his lips together like he can’t quite say the rest. “But I’m here to help your mother, son. I’m here to help you.”
I had help.This was his mother’s help? This is who sent those poachers? Art’s words ring again in memory.This is all for you. For your own good.
But… But Dr. Burke is nice. I’ve known him almost my entire life. He wouldn’t have sent those poachers. He’s the opposite of a killer.
“How? How did youhelp?” I want to hear him admit it.
“Come outside,” Dr. Burke says. “I’ll explain.”
Farren raises her hand, a blade of gold extending outward like a threat. “I don’t want explanations and I don’t need them. Take us to the rest of the gold. Now.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SIXWHEN DEALING WITH MONSTERS
FARREN
