The turret perched above the drawbridge had always been one of Cassius’ favorite spots in the castle. Once upon a time, it had served as a lookout spot for the enemy, but over the years, it had simply become a stunning vantage point from which one could take in the beauty of the north English countryside.

They had just spent Christmas Day pouring over his father’s twisted plan, examining maps, debating strategy, and detecting weaknesses in their enemy.

Cassius was exhausted, the need to escape almost insurmountable, but he knew their discussions were far from over. It seemed that the longer they talked, the more excited the group became, and Cassius fully understood mob mentality in those hours. On the other hand, he couldn’t focus on anything other than what Ruby had said.

I am faced with an impossible task, he thought, his head swimming. Where could I ever find him a baby dragon?

It seemed so farfetched, and yet Cassius could see the method in Ruby’s counsel. The kind had always needed someone to regard him as such. Who better than an innocent to do so? It would keep his father entertained for a few years, at least until the child was of age to think for himself.

But how?

He remembered Ruby’s parting words.

“I would not have mentioned it if it was not within the realm of possibility,” she had told him.

It was not until Cassius was back on his private island, deep in the Coral Sea, that he had remembered he had not learned how they could be killed. He had considered going back before thinking better of it. Maybe he didn’t really want to know. After all, would he really have it in him to kill another? Especially one who shared his blood?

That would have to be some sort of Plan D. Now Cassius needed to figure out Plans B and C, since he didn’t have any convenient dragon grandchildren in hand.

“I thought I might find you up here,” Anders sighed as he poked his head up around the winding staircase. “It seems to be the only place not overrun with madness.”

“I don’t know,” Cassius replied hotly. “You’re here now, so I can’t see that as being true.”

His brother winced. “Cassius—”

“Spare me the sanctimony,” Cassius spat. “I’m not in the mood.”

“I wasn’t going to give you any rhetoric,” Anders said shortly.

“I would prefer you leave me in peace. I’d rather not sit with the unabashedly cruel unnecessarily.”

Anders snorted and strode toward him, his arms folding against his chest.

“Why are you here, then?” he demanded. “You are just as bad as any one of us.”

“I am forced to be here!” Cassius snarled. “Why else do you think I’m here?”

“Then I am right,” Anders said quietly. “You are in the same boat as the rest of us.”

Cassius stared at him, and for a minute, his heart stopped.

“Indeed,” he murmured.

Anders glanced back at him suspiciously. “What are you thinking? I don’t like the expression on your face.”

“If we all leave, he won’t go through with it,” Cassius said, his voice growing excited. “We all need to walk out and go back to our lives.”

Anders raised an eyebrow.

“That was the original plan,” he reminded his brother. “And it didn’t work out too well.”

“That’s because we didn’t stand firm,” Cassius replied, a new sense of resolve filling him. “If Father thinks that we are going against him, he won’t attack America.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” Anders pointed out. “He and the others seem pretty enthusiastic about going through with this.”

“At what cost?” Cassius asked. “We all have businesses and people we care about—” He abruptly stopped talking, realizing he had said too much. Unfortunately, his words were not lost on Anders.

“You have someone you care about?” he asked softly. “A mortal?”

Cassius clenched his jaw as he thought about Brooklyn. As soon as he had the clearance, he would fly to Los Angeles and warn her, even if she had married that cheating bastard. Even though his stomach bubbled with the idea of her being in someone else’s arms, he still cared about her, and he wanted her to be happy.

We gave ourselves one night, he reminded himself, and we honored that.

“It doesn’t matter, does it?” he asked sourly. “The world as we know it will be flipped upside down, and we still don’t know what will kill us.”

Anders ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, Cass…”

“You would rather go to war than stand up to Father?” Cassius asked incredulously, and Anders hung his head in shame.

“No,” he agreed. “Of course not. If you lead, I will follow you.”

Cassius exhaled, almost overcome with relief.

“Good,” he said, rising from his spot at the window. It was bitterly cold, with the December wind whipping through the stone walls. Cassius knew that he couldn’t fly himself to California in such weather—he would need to take his private jet. But first, he needed to end this charade once and for all.

“You swear you will back me,” he said to Anders, and his brother nodded earnestly.

“Yes,” he promised.

“And you’re certain that the others are only indulging Father’s whims?” Anders nodded again.

“I believe so,” he replied. “As you say, all of us have our own reasons for wanting to keep our secret well hidden. Something like this will only ruin different aspects of our lives.”

Cassius felt a surge of hope, his brother’s assurances giving him a renewed sense of faith.

“Come on,” he said urgently, heading back down the slate steps toward the grand hall. “Let’s put an end to this once and for all.”

Cassius flew as fast as his wings could carry him, his heart hammering wildly as he fought against the harsh winter winds. Despite his enormous frame, he was being blown back in several different directions, and no matter how hard he tried to steady himself, he could not keep his bearings.

I must make it back home, he thought, panic overwhelming him, but he forced himself to remain calm, his scaly form diving lower as to not be caught in the swirling turbulence of the clouds. Fly, dammit! Fly!

He pushed himself faster, trying to escape the scene he had left behind, a mass of baleful eyes watching him leave as he refused to partake in the impending war.

Anders had enough decency to lower his gaze, but Cassius had felt his betrayal all the same.

“If you do not join us,” Rui had bellowed, “you will be destroyed! One way or another, we you are a prisoner of war!”

“I imagine you’ll have to find a cage strong enough to hold me,” Cassius had retorted.

It was too late to back out, his mind made up as he bolted from the castle, sprinting into his majestic beastly formation and leaving Misty Woods in his wake. All he knew was that he had to find Brooklyn and bring her to safety before the next world war exploded on Earth.

As he crossed down the equator, the temperatures rose, and the winds settled, but he did not slow his belting wings, steering himself toward the remote hideaway of Pendulum Island. He landed gracefully on the north dock, his reptilian legs becoming well-shaped calves as he bolted toward the estate.

“Mr. Williams!” Kirra gasped when he ran through the rear of the house, his eyes wild with panic. “I—”

“Tell Miro to get the plane ready!” Cassius gasped, running his hand across his sweating face. “We’re leaving immediately.”

“Mr. Williams, there’s—”

“Now, Kirra, now!” he screamed, his tone clearly startling her. After all, he rarely raised his voice, and never to his staff. “It’s an emergency!”

Kirra stared at him, her lips parting to protest again, but Cassius was already running through the halls, yelling for his staff. They gathered at the sound of his voice, their expressions all equally worried.

“Gather your families and valuables,” he told them. “Get somewhere safe and hidden. Find caves, find deep forests, find any place that cannot be easily spotted from above. You don’t have much time, but you must trust me.” A loud murmur erupted through the crowd as they began to discuss what he had said. “Where is Miro?” he demanded, looking from face to face.

He needed to find Brooklyn and get her to safety. Only then could he return to deal with his father.

“Mr. Williams!” Kirra yelled, and he whirled to stare at her.

“This is a matter of life and death for you!” he told her. “Listen to what I am saying!”

“Cass?”

He spun again, his head growing weak as he saw the woman he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about standing before him, as clearly as he had the night on the dock.

“Brooklyn?”

Brooklyn nodded her head, her eyes widening in disbelief. Cassius took a step forward, and he would’ve run to her if he hadn’t been suddenly overcome by the exhaustion and emotion, falling to his knees.

“Cass!” Brooklyn yelled, rushing toward him. “Cass, look at me!”

But Cassius had already fallen unconscious.