Scorched by Mari Mancusi

mentioning the government. Was he from another country? That would, at least, explain the strange lilting accent and odd clothing. And possibly the paleness of his skin. But what country? And how had he known about the egg?
    “In any case, they’re the least of our worries,” Connor added in an uncomfortable voice, “now that I know the Dracken are here too. They’re a much greater threat than your government could ever be.”
    “The Dracken?” The term sounded familiar for some reason, though she had no idea why.
    “A group of dragon sympathizers,” he replied, without missing a beat, “like an animal rights group, but for dragons.”
    She raised an eyebrow. “Are you for real?”
    “Absolutely,” he shot back, giving her a grim look. “And, unfortunately, so are they. I’m not sure why they’re here. I guess they must have caught wind of my mission somehow—and sent my twin brother, Caleb, to stop me.” He scowled. “Unlike your government, Caleb knows exactly what the egg is. And what it can do.”
    Trinity had no response. Absolutely no response. Dragon animal rights groups, evil twins. She felt as if she had been dropped into the middle of some game without being taught how to play. Half of her wanted to tell Connor to get out all over again, to take his crazy stories and never come back. But at the same time, he’d been right about the men invading her house. And if she hadn’t listened to him…
    “I’m sorry, Trinity,” he added, giving her an apologetic look. “You were never supposed to be involved in any of this. If all had gone to plan, I would have gotten you and your grandpa away from here months ago. Instead, I barely had enough time to get you out of the museum.”
    Trinity finally found her voice. “Connor, you’re not making any sense,” she protested. “No one even knew this egg existed until a few days ago—when researchers dug it from the ice. And according to my grandpa, they shipped it straight to the museum.” She peered at him. “So how could you or the Dracken people know it would be here? Or that the government would try to break in and take it?”
    Connor suddenly looked nervous, as if he’d said too much.
    “Tell me,” she pressed. “What are you leaving out? How did you learn about the egg?”
    He leaned against the wall, staring out the window. At first she thought he wasn’t going to answer. But finally, he opened his mouth to speak.
    “Where I come from, everyone knows the story of the first egg.”
    “Where you come from?” Trinity repeated, a clamminess washing over her. As if somehow, some way, she knew his next words would change her life forever. “And where is it, may I ask, that you come from?”
    He gave her a hard look. “About two hundred years in the future.”

Chapter Eight
    At first, Trinity wasn’t sure she heard him right. Two hundred years in the future? Was this some sort of joke? “That’s not funny,” she said hoarsely.
    He blinked. “Do you see me laughing?”
    She took a step back, trying to will her brain to think, to cling to some sort of rationality in a conversation gone mad. And to think she almost believed him about the dragon egg. Even though that was completely ridiculous as well. Everyone knew there was no such thing as dragons. And as far as time travel…
    Her confusion veered sharply to anger. How dare he try to play her like this? She needed to get away, call the cops, find out what was really going on. And, most importantly, locate her grandpa and make sure he was okay.
    “I’ve got to go,” she stammered, realizing too late Connor had effectively barricaded the barn’s front door. Would he try to stop her if she pushed past him? And what about the egg? Was she willing to leave it behind?
    What an idiot she’d been! Hiding away from the government agents, allowing them to ransack her house. Maybe they had a good reason to be after the egg. Maybe it was a matter of national security. Or that the thing was