Riley
The Archivist left the conference soon after the Order. He wanted to get the paperwork delegated to Rose ASAP. And I remained alone with Ember in the creepy new conference room. Some special materials were used on walls and floor, because they remained black even where the light of lamps hit them. Well Talon had money, they could use them as they pleased, or wait not anymore it looked after today. I followed Ember to her office. She was silent in the elevator and until the doors of her office shut silently behind me. I dreaded being alone with her, it was as if the last things that reminded of the old Ember disappeared when there was no one else watching her. She have not made any move at me since our mating flight, I hated to think about it. She tricked me, pulled some draconic strings and I danced right into her trap. She stood in front of the glass corner and looked over the city lights below. "You may turn on the light Riley." I hated her tone, it was at the same time polite and not allowing any opposition. I hated her. But anytime I thought about leaving, I found myself unable to. I could barely leave the building without fretting over her safety. And I did nothing to ensure it, I refused to do anything of use for her if I could. I did not understand the strange change in Ember and felt slightly dizzy, if I thought about it for too long, but I was not going to be her willing slave either. I would let her feel the wrongness of what she was doing to me, to Autumn, to everybody.
"Are you feeling rebellious again?" She mocked me and strode to her desk to switch the lights on. The view disappeared obscured by a reflection of us standing in another monochromatic room. "Why didn't you tell Garret about Madison?" I asked her. The Archivist told us about Madison being a hacker and that she got through almost all of Talons lines of defense until she run into a tripwire. And that a quick browse of revenge revealed, that she was looking for something called "trove" in the Order's databases, and also that her father Commander Knight planned on taking the leadership of the Order from St George at nearest opportunity. "I need to think about it Cobalt. Is it our business? Maybe getting rid of Garret's leadership wouldn't be that bad?" She mused in her new utterly cold and unaffected way. Being around her gave me creeps. "What do you want from me?" I asked giving up the struggle, that opposing her cost me. I told myself, that I relented to fight another day, but with each passing day fighting her was more and more difficult. It was as if some part of me hated anything that did not only think good about her and punished me with physical sickness, anytime I opposed it. "I thought about grabbing some food before going home? Want to tag along?" She asked as if I had any choice, and smiled in a way that made me sure, that she knew I could not refuse. At least not for long.
Next morning found me waiting in the conference room for the Order to arrive. Unprecedented, the Order of St George was late! I left Ember in her office with the Archivist and Rose and enjoyed a moment of freedom, when her will was concentrated on something else. The attendants downstairs would give her a message once the Order arrived and the day two would begin. It looked as it would be about agreeing upon practicalities, as Ember was quite benevolent for the Order. Here too, I disagreed with her. I would not give these murderous bastards a daim if it was up to me, no matter how honorable the soldier was.
After a while the doors opened and Ember and the Archivist strode in and took their places. "Jade was urgently recalled home, she left last night." The Archivist said, and I pushed down a surge of hope. Have Jade understood my plea? That was very doubtful, but I hoped that Mist would act on her plan to free the expecting dragonelles once she realized, that I have abandoned them. My eyes stung and I forced myself not to think.
After a short while the doors opened and visibly displeased Commander Knight strode in with his wife following after and then... Bastard St George strode in with his arm wrapped around Madison's waist and stole a kiss from her on the threshold. I snorted and choked trying to hold back joyless laugh that have overtaken me. But it was of no use, so I stormed out of our doors to laugh on the staircase to CEO's office. My jealousy of the soldier evolved into friendship and respect, and now seeing him kissing a cobra posed to strike him I felt more kinship with the kid than ever.
I wiped my eyes and returned to the conference room, where the Archivist was informing the others about Jade's departure. I noticed that Madison lacked her laptop today. Ember was watching her with unreadable expression, that gave me ugly feeling. The Knights and the Archivist were set on continuing negotiations as if nothing was going on and they soon proceeded to discussing possible procedures for Talon's and the Order's future cooperation.
All went surprisingly smooth and before the sun set behind distant horizon a new agreement have been ready to be reviewed by both sides. When they stood up and the Archivist stepped forward to shake St George's hand, Ember leaned to me and said. "Tell Garret all, that we have learned about Madison and the Knights." And then she strode to shake his hand as well and left the room. I almost felt ashamed for the delight her obvious jealousy caused me. I should have focused on how best to use this slack on my leash.
I stood up and strode to them as the Archivist was saying his goodbyes. "Care to grab a drink St George?" I asked casually. "For sake of maintaining human - dragons relations." I smiled at him and he looked surprised with my sudden change of behavior. Me too St George, me too. "Why not." He said. "Madison has some packing to do. I will meet you at the hotel in two hours, it should be time enough to catch the flight." He said to the Knights and indicated for me to lead the way.
We found some bar and I ordered their best cognac, whole bottle, I had no idea when I had a chance to get away from Ember again. I noticed that St George was obviously meaning to share the bottle with me, but had no heart to explain to him, so I poured two glasses and lifted mine. "To human - dragon's relations." I said mockingly. I sipped my drink slowly and thought hard. As soon as I told the soldier about Knights an urge to return to Ember's side would arise, but if I stall here too long, the urge to tell could also become problematic. As usually when I was plotting against Ember headache started threatening me. I finished the rest in one slurp and poured more. St George watched me carefully. "What's wrong Riley?" He said. "You have no idea kid." I said and laughed mirthlessly. I wanted to tell him, about pregnant dragonells in the facility, about the changes in Ember about my own dreadful imprisonment, but I could not. He sat so close I could punch him without getting up, yet he was too far away for help. And now he watched me with very worried expression. "Jade told me about you and Ember now being together." He said and I forced myself not to laugh again. Did she now? I decided to try something else. Instead of resisting I could blurt out all that Ember have asked me to tell, and try to weave something from myself in between. I leaned forward and pinned him with my dragon stare. "I need you to listen very carefully, because the most important things I will not be able to repeat. Ready?" He looked alarmed but nodded. "Yesterday Madison Knight run into a tripwire while snooping around in Talon's intern network. Talon planted a file in her computer that allowed them to ransack it. The Knights are looking for something called "trove" in all of the Order's databases, that would make them rich and the daddy is looking for a way to depose you and take over. Ember is not herself..." My voice refused further cooperation. The soldier watched me. "Madison is looking to steal from the Order?" He asked. "Or help her parents to do so. And her daddy is after you big time, there were plans of different strategies to discredit you and take the leadership from your hands. One even involved you having an accident." I actually felt for him, when an expression of betrayal passed his face. We should look out for each other, males with hearts among greedy power sick females. "And Ember is not herself?" He asked slowly. "You didn't hear it from me. Gotta run, it was nice to catch up!" I blurted and left quickly, taking the bottle with me.