No more time to think, to consider what I'd done raising my son with this sense of purpose and duty. Not when Max carried us into the veil on his broad back. Gabriel's joy radiated from him, and I allowed myself to embrace that-the simple yet profound happiness of a boy riding a dragon.

Cool, yes. And enough to hold my heart together, at least for now. If this worked out, maybe forever. I hugged my son and leaned with Max as he banked and passed ...