“Two dragons block the pass?” I glance incredulously to the map splayed out before me in the Imperial’s home, the front room of which also doubles as the War Room with a multitude of weapons lining the walls and a table with a detailed map near the back center, where I very first met this bear of a man after his daughter and son kidnapped me despite my rescue of Zephora's little girl.

And yet, I can't quite bring myself to hold it against the pride of Were as they helped me bring Barry back... many Were even gave their lives as we fought the jingoist. My heart still hurts knowing I left Ma and Jed behind in the Empire's clutches, but I will return for them. Plans are already spinning in my mind between thoughts of the dragons I made a pesky promise to assist with. Why did I do such a thing?

Because you are a bleeding heart with a hero complex.

Shut up.

The black bear behind the desk glares at my back with beady eyes, but I’ve learned to ignore the stuffed thing.

The Imperium, a bear of a man himself, tugs on his graying beard as bushy eyebrows lower to cover his dark brown gaze. “They be nasty beasts, too. Half the size of my village and black as night.”

“Why are they not attacking you directly? Or the villages?”

There are at least three or four other small towns in this region, not counting Videlia, the little town I left behind when the Were kidnapped me. The little city is faring decently well according to the Imperial, the Empire's might focused on the mages at the southeastern border instead of the rebellion in his borders.

My worry for the small town and the people there remains strong. I doubt the Emperor will let the city away with their insurrection for much longer, but for now... I've done all I can.

My thoughts return to the Imperial as he paces before me, thinking through my words. My brows furrow. Two dragons could overrun this small city in a matter of seconds, much less the tiny timber villages around here.

His eyes shadow, and he turns a glare to the mountains. “I’m not sure. Whatever holds them back, it is not us. We fight better than the best of your people, but dragons.” His beard swishes on the metal breastplate as he shakes his head, the sound of hair scraping metal easing past the sounds of Berserk bellowing in the distance, the grind of carts in the snow, and the crunching footsteps of Were going about their days. “Even our Berserks couldn’t hold off two of the beasts for long.”

I stare at the map. Why would my cousin—who is currently playing at being king since I am out of the picture—not raze this little city to the ground if he knew of it? It would be unlike him to leave any stone unturned; much less a full town of what could cause him a mega load of trouble.

Perhaps my cousin does not command these dragons. But that leaves the question… who or what does?

“Have any of your people returned?” I ask, puzzled at the mystery before us.

“I have sent many into the pass. None return.” His voice is hollow. He likely lost friends known for many years trying to subdue the dragons.

“I will do what I can.”

“You should not risk yourself, boy. I will not force you to help with this problem. Not now. You are too valuable to risk.” His brows furrow on his head, eyes watching me with the gaze of a master predator. And yet, what I see in his keen gaze is not that of predator to prey, but of respect from one leader to another.

Quite frankly, it makes me uncomfortable. I’m no leader.

“I have given my word and I intend to keep it. If one can not trust my word, what have I left?”

He grins, beard parting to reveal stark white teeth. “I was hoping you’d say that. We will approach over the ridge here.” He points to a place up over where the dragons are said to be living in a cave system. “Better to be above than below. This trip we will scout it. See if there is anything you can do from a distance.”

I silently agree with him, knowing this should be a simple trip. Why then do I have such a bad feeling about this?

~~~

“Why must you go, Roland?”

I grimace, the pout in Barry's voice making my heart ache. It makes my soul hurt to be leaving him once more, but I need him to understand.

I bend down on a knee, ruffling his straw-blond hair and meeting his solemn blue eyes. His cheeks are finally feeling out and getting some color back into them, the gaunt faced prisoner looking more and more like the brother I remember… except for the eyes. He’s missing the twinkle, the childlike enthusiasm of the boy I knew. He’s changed.

Then again, so have I. Such things would change anyone.

But it’s the brave face he gives despite the fear I smell that has me wrapping my arms around him. A whimper comes from his shaking frame, and I almost say then and there I’m not going anywhere—ever. But a promise is a promise, and I need him to know that.

“Barry, I promised to help these people. I can’t go back on that.”

He nods into my shoulder; the salty drops I can scent on the air soaks into my tunic.

“If I don’t go… I would break my promise.”

“But what about your promise to never leave me?” he says, emotions shaking his voice.

My heart clinches. He’s… he’s right. I did promise—on a night when his parents had to leave to go to check a sickness that spread over Whitecastle—to never leave them when they needed me most, and now… I’m leaving after only a few days of him being safe?

“You’re right,” I whisper, unsure what in all the worlds to do now.

I don't like this. At all. My little brother is asking me to stay, to watch over him, to not run off again so soon after saving him… especially since I left Ma and Jed behind.

I ruffle his hair again, letting him cry into my shoulder and unsure what the answer is. I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, dependent on pleasing the Imperial who gave me the means to rescue my little brother, or making sure Barry feels safe and loved…. not abandoned.

~~~

After Barry’s snores filter through his room in the Imperial’s home, I sneak out into the night. As usual, I have a tail.

“Flash, if you’re going to follow me around, at least be more quiet about it,” I say over my shoulder, climbing up the first branch I find and leaning against its trunk some five feet above ground. The snow on the branch soaks through my pants, but I ignore it, just as I’d like to ignore the Were following my footsteps through the snow.

“You do realize I’m loud for a reason,” Flash says, eyes flashing gold as snow crunches beneath his feet.

“So I’ll be more annoyed? I’d rather be left in peace.”

He huffs a laugh, sitting at the tree beneath me and drawing out a blade to whittle on a large chunk of wood.

“What has a stick in your crawl? I was just letting you know who was following tonight. Figured you’d like to know it was your favorite babysitter.”

It’s my turn to huff a sarcastic bark of laughter. “Favorite?”

He looks up at me with a crooked grin, eyes flashing in the moonlight. “Course. I’m the handsomest.”

I’m tempted to roll my eyes. “It does not make up for your humble personality.”

“So what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Come on, kinko. I can sense your angst from here.”

A smile tips at my lips even as annoyance flares through me at the use of a Shifter term of endearment for siblings. “Angst?”

He chuffs, pausing his whittling for a moment. “You’re like an angsty teenager with vast mood swings. Who else but me would put up with you for so long?” he says with a sigh as his shoulders slump.

“You are a glutton for punishment?”

“I ain’t the one who fights four full grown Were with a death wish.”

I tilt my head in acquiescence. “Fair enough.”

Silence descends, the silence almost uncomfortable except for the fact that his whittling fills the air with an almost musical rhythm. Slice, hiss, thump, repeat.

“I’m not sure I can leave Barry.”

“Then take the cub with us.”

I run a hand through my hair. “No. I won’t put him in that kind of danger.”

“Seems to me anyone around you is going to be in the midst of danger. He should get used to it with you at his side.”

“Thanks.” My eyes roll heavenward, but at least no one can see me acting like a child despite my age. “But no. I see what you’re saying, but he isn’t even a Shifter. He’s human, Flash. The danger of taking a human at his age? It’s much different than we were at that age. Humans are not like us.”

He tilts his head back against the tree, his eyes glowing as he looks up at me. “Yes, but that only means he needs to learn… sooner rather than later, preferably. I doubt trouble is going to stop finding you anytime soon. A scouting trip will be good for him.”

His words sting because they’re true. He probably doesn’t realize just how much it hurts. Because I know I’m the reason they were taken. The reason the spark is absent from my brother’s eyes.

If I’d never been born, Barry would be home with his brother and parents, content and living the good life without my interference.

You keep forgetting, idiot. You saved Barry’s life from the Brawler. You saved Frida from the mobster. Without you, it’s unlikely they’d be here at all.

That… is actually helpful. Has this world ended?

You’re welcome, the smug voice says.

Doesn’t mean I like you.

Somehow, the smug contentment from Cynic makes my heart brighten in a brief flare of annoyed amusement. He and Flash would get along splendidly.

“You're right… but what if—” I begin.

“You can’t live your life on what ifs, Roland. If you do, you’ll starve from inaction.”

That was surprisingly wise. I peer at him suspiciously. “What did you do with Flash?”

He looks up, eyes narrowing. “What?”

“Those words were not Flash. Much too wise. What did you do with the annoying cat?”

He barks a laugh, then seems surprised at his response. “Looky there, the droll wolf has a sense of humor.”

“I have a sense of humor,” I reply, slightly indignant.

He chuffs. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe.”

I glance down at him, finding a smug smirk on his face that makes me wary. “What secret?”

The mischievous grin should be my warning. “You actually do like me.”

“I didn’t say I did,” I say carefully.

“Of course, you wouldn’t recognize our bromance. Heather called it weeks ago.”

I hiss out a breath and almost fall out of the tree.

“WHAT?”

“You were so sheltered… no time for friends.”

“I had friends,” I say defensively, still scrambling to stay on the branch.

He only looks at me with mock compassion in his flashing, humor filled eyes that slit like a lizard for a moment.

“Really!” I say.

He just tisks, and I crawl further up the tree to get away from the annoying cat.