Page 33 of Red Marked

I fill her in on everything he told me.

She lifts her head at last. The firelight flickers in her eyes.

“Can he really be trusted, Star?”

“I think he can.”

“Think?” She watches me. “Or do you know for sure?”

“I’m going on instinct. The same instinct that has kept us alive all these years.” I hold her gaze. “He might be able to get the Draigers home. That is why he came.”

“That’s why he said he came. He could be lying.”

I frown.

Scarlet stands. “What if he brings others? What if he’s working for them? For that bastard who wanted us dead?”

“They know where we are, Scarlet. If he wanted to take this mountain, he could have come tonight, in numbers. It didn’t happen.”

“What if he…?” She stops. Her hands open and close at her sides. “I don’t know, Star. I don’t know how this Draiger could possibly help us. He can’t. We can’t go back. You know that. We can never go back home.”

Her voice breaks on the last word. I’ve never seen Scarlet like this. She’s always so steadfast.

“I have given Flint permission to return tomorrow night. Only Flint!” I say. “We need to plan so that the Draigers can go home. Koa has to go back to get the help she needs. We need to take this one step at a time.” I keep my voice quiet. “First, we get Koa and the others to safety. Then, if there’s a way home for us, I’ll find it.”

“There isn’t.” Scarlet shakes her head.

“We’ll see.”

“You’re getting your hopes up, and I don’t like it.” She looks back at me. “Be on your guard.” She grabs my hand and squeezes.

“I will. I’ll stay on my toes.”

“Okay, then.” One corner of her mouth lifts, and it’s almost a smile.

“Are we friends again?” I ask.

“We’ll always be friends.”

“Even when you’re trying to kill me?”

“I would never try to kill you, Star. Never.” She looks solemn. “I was trying to protect you. I always will.”

“Ditto.” I nod.

She leans over and pulls me into a hug, and I hold on hard.

I pray that I’m right about Flint. That I can trust him and that everything is going to be okay.

Flint

The trees come up fast, and I lower through the canopy into the clearing at the base of the north face.

Four dragons swing toward me out of the dark, and Brian’s gun comes up with them. Dane’s bark rolls across the clearing, sharp and glad, and the gun drops.

I land and shift. By the time I’m on two feet, so are they, and then Atlas has both hands on my shoulders, turning me to face him.

“You’re injured. That’s dried blood.”