Page 73 of Inferno
“Don’t worry about that,” I told him, waving an airy hand. “I had the Archivist do a thorough check. No cameras in the Elder Wyrm’s office, no security devices, and the walls are completely soundproof. What the president of Talon does in her private chambers is no one’s business but her own.”
His smile widened. “Good to know,” he said, and closed the distance between us. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he slipped his around my waist, pressing us close. As his lips met mine, I closed my eyes, breathing him in, savoring the moment as long as I could. With all the changes to Talon and the upheaval within the organization and St. George, I hadn’t seen Garret in over a week, and I’d missed him more than I’d thought possible. It had killed me a few short minutes ago, glimpsing him over the table, knowing I couldn’t go over and hug him or even talk to him like I wanted to. No, I was the CEO of Talon now, and I had to behave accordingly, even among my closest friends.
Pulling back, Garret regarded me with solemn eyes, his pupils contracted until they were thin black lines against the gray. My heart sped up, and Garret must’ve sensed it, for his brow furrowed, and he gently stroked my cheek. “What’s wrong?” he murmured.
I shook myself. “Nothing,” I replied, seeing my reflection in those silvery irises. “It’s just…hard to believe that we’re here. That we’re alive, and together, at the end of everything.” He bent forward and kissed me again, long and lingering, and I sank into his touch.
Several minutes passed, and the windows along the wall were in danger of fogging up, before I forced myself to pull away.
“Garret, wait. There’s something I have to show you. I didn’t call you in here just for…this.” He cocked his head, looking puzzled, and I felt color creep up my face. “Not that I’m complaining, at all, and what the CEO does in her own office is not anyone’s business but her own, but… I’m going to stop talking now, because the CEO of Talon does not stutter like a vapid teenager.” I frowned at the grinning soldier. “And you will tell no one what transpired here, especially the Archivist.”
Garret chuckled and released me. “Of course not, Madam President,” he said, looking far too innocent as he stepped back. “The CEO of Talon and the commander of St. George are nothing but professional. In public.”
Firmly telling myself not to blush, I walked around my desk, pulled open a drawer and withdrew a large manila envelope.
“These are the results of the tests you wanted,” I told him, sliding the envelope across the desk. “I had our scientists run a thorough examination of your blood, and you were right.” I paused, swallowing hard, as Garret picked up the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. “There is a large percentage of dragon DNA in your blood,” I told him, “and traces of it throughout your body. From the tissue samples they took, the scientists were able to conclude that your cells regenerate at an amazing speed, almost identical to a dragon’s healing capabilities. They’ve never seen anything like it before. A couple of them wanted to know your identity so they could ‘detain’ you for further study. I told them absolutely not, your identity would not be revealed, and I would eat them if they asked me again.”
Garret smiled at this, still studying the documents. “But you’re in no danger of this killing you, Garret,” I continued. “Quite the opposite, in fact. The scientists noted that the dragon DNA continuously regenerates and heals the human tissue, to the point where it actually seems to prevent normal human aging.”
Garret blinked and looked up, a frown crossing his face. “What does that mean?”
“They’re not sure exactly,” I admitted. “It’s all theory at this point. But they’ve posited that you could have a longer lifespan than an average human. Much…longer.”
Garret’s voice was quietly awed. “As long as a dragon’s?”
“Maybe.” I took a breath, trying to control both the fear and wonder that had been hovering inside ever since I’d heard the news. “Like I said, they’re not really certain. They would have to run more tests, but it will likely be years before they have any sort of real answer. But I did want you to know that there is the possibility of you living…for a very long time, Garret. Maybe as long as a dragon.”
Garret didn’t answer right away. He stared back down at the papers with an unreadable look on his face. “I hope this doesn’t come as too much of a shock,” I said at last, wondering what was going through his head. “And I hope this won’t threaten the truce between Talon and St. George. The Order might get suspicious if they notice that the commander never seems to age.”
He gave his head a little shake and tossed the envelope back on the desk. “I’m sure the Order will have a few questions,” he stated softly before giving me a faint smile. “In a decade or two.”
I cocked my head at his nonchalance. “You’re not worried about this?”
“About spending a few centuries with you? I think I’m okay with that.” The faint smile turned into a full-blown grin that lit up the room. “Though Riley might have something to say about it.”
My heart swelled like a balloon, even as a lump caught in my throat. Turning, I walked to the enormous windows lining my office wall, and gazed out at the sky. Far below, the city glittered with a million blinking lights, but I looked toward the distant horizon and the final sliver of sunlight sinking into the dark.
“Everything is changing,” I murmured, feeling Garret slip his arms around me from behind. “There’s so much to do, and we’ll both be so busy. I have to lead Talon, and you’re the commander of St. George. I don’t know what’s going to happen to us.”
“I don’t, either.” Garret bent close, resting his head on my shoulder, as we both gazed out over the city. “But I spent the last year thinking that I was going to die. Now that the war is finally over and we’re both still alive, I don’t want to waste a single moment of the time we’ve been granted. Especially now.” His arms tightened around my waist, his breath warm on my cheek. “I love you, Ember,” he whispered. “No matter what happens, I’ll be here. And who knows? Maybe it will be longer than we thought. Maybe it’ll be forever.”
“Forever,” I mused, as the last sliver of sunlight finally vanished into the dark. “Forever sounds good. Let’s go for forever.”