In the Shadow of the Dragon King by J. Keller Ford

boy has a name. It’s David, and I won’t allow you to put his life in further danger by using him as bait. My answer stands. He stays in Havendale.”
    Mangus pulled a rolled parchment from inside his coat. “Jared thought you would feel this way. He said to give you this. All the Council members signed it. I’m sorry.”
    Lily stared at it, wide-eyed. Her voice fell to a whisper. “Put it away.”
    She stood before the window, her slender body silhouetted by the moonlight. After several moments she said, “I don’t believe this is happening.” She turned to face him. “When must he leave?”
    “In the next few hours—at sunrise.”
    David pressed his back to the baseboard, his head spinning. What the—
    “Will I be allowed to say goodbye?” Lily asked.
    What? I thought you said you’d fight for me, Lily! You said I wasn’t going anywhere!
    “Do you think it wise?”
    “I don’t know.” She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “All I know is I love him. How am I to let him go, knowing what faces him? I can’t bear the thought. It breaks my heart.”
    David’s temper flared in his gut. This is how you love me, by betraying me? Lying to me?
    Mangus took her in his arms. “If it is any consolation, he will be well protected.”
    “That is little relief. How will he ever forgive me? He already knows I’ve lied to him about his parents’ deaths, and now I am to walk away without fighting for him?”
    “Time has a way of healing all pains, and you are fighting for him, in ways not even you cannot fathom. Now, I must ask—is the book secure?”
    “Yes. It’s in my room. I couldn’t risk David finding it.”
    “Good. Keep it safe. I feel certain the enemy will come for it.”
    She nodded. “I understand.”
    Mangus glanced at his pocket watch. “I must go.” He pulled on his gloves and coat and opened the door. Lily escorted him from the room. Moments later, the front door closed and the house fell silent.
    David lay still, his breathing shallow. Fear merged with anger as he cast aside his first instinct to storm out of the room and confront Lily. Instead, he wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans and hurried out of the library’s secondary door. With utmost silence, he dashed his way through the house to the servants’ stairs in the kitchen. Back in his room, he shuffled around in the dark shoving clothes into his rucksack . I can’t believe she gave in! I can’t believe I have to run away from everything!
    The hall light flicked on, its glow visible beneath the door.
    Crap!
    He dove into bed and shut his eyes. The door opened, and Lily’s nightgown rustled as she moved toward him. She set something on the nightstand and kissed his temple.
    “I’m so sorry, honey. Please forgive me.” A tear dripped onto his skin. “I love you.”
    Seconds later, she was gone.
    David sat up and wiped her tear from his face as if it were poison. He glanced at the glass of ice water on the nightstand and guzzled it, his throat parched.
    Instant dizziness crept into his brain. His mouth felt numb. Dry. His thoughts blurred.
    You idiot! What were you thinking? What did she give me?
    The glass clunked to the floor. He collapsed on his bed.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Charlotte’s voice filtered through the daze. “David! Get up!”
    David turned over and groaned. His head ached as if pressed in a vise. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
    “Why didn’t you answer your phone? I’ve been calling for the past half hour, ever since Lily hauled butt down the street in your car. I was worried out of my freaking mind.”
    David struggled to sit up. “Lily left in my car?”
    “Yeah, she was driving like a lunatic, too. Why isn’t she driving her car?”
    “The heater isn’t working.” David combed his fingers through his hair. “What time is it?”
    Charlotte propped some pillows behind him. “A little after seven.”
    David hugged his knees, his head resting on them. “Ugh.”
    “Seriously? What’s wrong with