Page 35 of Dragon’s Rebel

Chapter 16

Rebel slept fitfully after Thorne left. Her dreams were jumbled and disturbing: running from danger she couldn’t see; searching for things she couldn’t find. Trying to save someone—something—but never able to get there in time.

Suddenly she came awake with a start, with that awful feeling in the pit of her stomach like she’d forgotten something vital, or something terrible was about to happen.

Thorne was going to take the serum.

She knew it, as surely as if he’d told her. The bracelet wasn’t just an ‘in case.’ The bracelet was a ‘goodbye’ from his dragon.

He was going to do it now, tonight, while everyone was asleep and there was no one there to help him.

Stupid, stubborn dragon.

She got up and pulled on a pair of sweatpants underneath the oversized t-shirt she wore to sleep in. Her mind was racing. Where would Thorne go? His lair? The roof? Somewhere else?

How would she find him? He might already have taken the serum. He might need help.

She picked up Thorne’s bracelet from her bedside table, hesitated, then slipped it on. It still felt warm, and it molded to her wrist.

Thorne?

There was no answer. Maybe he was too far away to hear her. Or he didn’t feel like talking. Or he was unconscious.

Maybe worse.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and concentrated.

The roof. Rebel raced out onto the balcony and leaned her back against the railing, looking upward. It was raining—a light misting rain typical of Portland. It felt cool on her skin.

Three floors above her, she could see the electric blue glow of dragon eyes. She knew it was Thorne. And whatever he was going to do, he hadn’t done it yet.

Thorne? she called again. You might as well answer. I know you’re up there—I can see your eyes glowing.

You only wanted to know where I am. Now you do. Go back to sleep.

Are you okay?

Of course.

Bullshit. He was lonely and sad and scared—she could feel it.

I’m coming up, she said.

I told you, I’m fine. Can’t a person look at the view in peace?

The view was spectacular—the glittering lights of downtown Portland, with its seven bridges across the Willamette River. A million people probably lived within her sight, but right now they felt removed, unreal.

They had no idea what might be coming. They had no idea that dragons had given their lives to protect them all these decades and centuries.

That one dragon might be giving its life so that its human side could help save them all.

That thought gave her a hollow ache in her chest. Thorne shouldn’t have to do this. He shouldn’t have to even think about doing it.

But he did have to. He was up there right now, working himself up to it. He was going to take the serum, and he’d do it tonight, while everyone was asleep and no one could talk him out of it.

She couldn’t let him do it alone.

She stared up at him for a long moment. Then she went inside, pulled on her boots and a jacket, and went up to the roof.