The Breakers Ultimatum (YA Urban Fantasy) (Fixed Points Book 3) by Conner Kressley

death’s door. But what could I do? I had to know. I just had to.
    ‘They have him, Royce. The Breakers have him. They could be doing anything!”
    “Look,” he threw a hand up to stop me. “You know how I feel about this whole thing. The Dragon is bad news, and sooner or later, he’ll bite you. But if this is what it’ll take, knowing what’s happening with him, to maybe help you get over it, then I’ll do it. But make no mistake, Cresta. The people who have him aren’t Breakers. He ain’t either.” It was the only time I could remember Royce actually using my name, which let me know he meant business. “Those people, the way of life their living, that’s got nothing to do with real Breakers. They’re nothing but shadows of what they used to be. An abomination is what they are. The people who sent me here, they’re real Breakers. The people on the inside, risking their lives to get us Intel, they’re real Breakers. The man in that bed who’s too proud to let some snot nosed kid spoon feed him, he’s a real Breaker. So, I’ll find out what you want to know, and then I’ll find out what we need to know…under one condition.”
    He glared at me for a moment. I was unsure whether it was anger or amusement that flickered across his bright eyes. This is what I hated about Royce; that smugness that seeped into everything he did. Was he mad at me for being concerned about Owen, or was he secretly laughing at me for being stupid enough to still hold on to this hope? Is this who I was to him; some lovelorn little girl who didn’t know what was best for her? Who didn’t know enough to stop touching the fire after she’d been burned?
    “What is it?” I asked, my narrowed eyes studying him cautiously. “What’s your condition?”
    A big, infuriating smile spread across his face. God, I hated him. He walked, almost skipped over to a nearby tree. His arms flexed as he pulled at one of the low hanging branches. Still smiling at me, he broke it over his knee, snapping it into two three foot pieces.
    Before I could ask what he was doing, he threw one of the branches at me. Without time to think, instinct took over and I grabbed it. It wasn’t that long ago when I was the ‘duck from flying objects’ sort of girl. Turned out Breakers and circumstance had changed that.
    “What is this?” I asked, letting the branch sit heavy in my hands. The bark was thick and rough, but it didn’t feel as foreign as it should. And, with the threat of the Blood Moon still very much alive in my mind, something about that made me uneasy.
    “It’s a duel, Sweetheart,” he grinned. “I’m sure it’s high noon somewhere.”
    “You’re not a cowboy,” I scoffed.
    “Don’t look like I'm'ma have to be one to take you out. You barely know how to hold that thing.” He nodded it at me cockily. “Here are the rules, you knock this out of my hand and I’ll find out anything you want to know about your little boy toy.”
    ‘And if you win?” I asked, adjusting the wood in my hands.
    “Then you gotta kiss me.’ His grin exploded into the most absurd of smiles.
    I glared at hm. “Why would you-“
    “Those are my conditions, Sweetheart. Take ‘em or leave ‘em.”
    “Fine,” I muttered, and tightened my grip.
    Before I had even had a chance to ready myself, Royce was rushing toward me. He was fast, faster than fast; faster than Owen even. The branch lifted over his head as he neared me. He wasn’t going to really do this, was he? He wouldn’t really hit me?
    The answer came as Royce swung the branch down at me. I threw mine up, letting his collide with it. My hands shook hard as the pieces made contact.
    “Didn’t think I’d do it, did ya?” He asked, spinning around me. I turned, suddenly tense. My blood was pumping, my body was alert. “Why’s that? Cause your boyfriend wouldn’t?” He swung at me again, but this time I ducked away. “Well, I ain’t your boyfriend, Sweetheart. And the truth of the matter