Liam sank back into his chair, all the pink in his cheeks draining away until I could count his freckles. "This can't be happening."

"Well, it is." Galleytrot returned to his place between us, sticking his huge head in Liam's space. "And you must listen now, Liam O'Dane. The fate of the world is in your hands."

Liam shook, but too his credit he didn't pull away. And as Galleytrot breathed on him I understood why. His hand reached out, slowly, fingers sliding into the ...