“From their message, it doesn’t sound like things have gotten much better,” she said. “Something about saving the world and bringing back the one true king. They claimed they created the dome to keep us from interfering, but if we did what they said, they’d release Oppenheimer and everyone else they’ve got. We just have to meet their demands.”
Fort felt a chill go down his spine. “And what were their demands?” he whispered.
She turned back to stare him dead in the eye. “Why do you think I’m here, Fitzgerald? They want you. You, Jia, and that Rachel girl. Now get some clothes on. You’ve got your first military briefing in five minutes.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Huh. So a bunch of students who can see the future have decided to hold a country hostage, demanding Fort, Jia, and Rachel. That sounds ominous. But hey, at least Fort found his father, right?
Though if his dad is okay, why hasn’t he woken up yet…?
Ah well, I’m sure it’ll all end happily.
Hahahah, it totally won’t. I feel so bad for Fort, knowing what’s coming!
But you know what I feel good about? How many people have given their all to get this book into your hands. I run everything by my wife, Corinne, first, but from there, Michael Bourret, my agent, helped shepherd every one of these books from start to finish. Of course, none of these would even exist if not for Liesa Mignogna, my editor at Aladdin; every book I’ve written has been made immeasurably better by her. If the books are batarangs, she’s sharpened each one to a fine point.
I can’t thank my publisher at Aladdin, Mara Anastas, enough, for always supporting me and my little stories. Aladdin’s marketing team including Caitlin Sweeny, Alissa Nigro, and Anna Jarzab have been just killing it with these, as has Cassie Malmo, my publicist; Elizabeth Mims and Sara Berko; Laura DiSiena, who designed the book; Michelle Leo and the education/library team; Stephanie Voros and the subrights group; Gary Urda, Christina Pecorale, Jerry Jensen, Christine Foye, Victor Iannone, and everyone else in sales; and the ever fantastic Vivienne To, who I wish could draw dragons on every cover of mine.
And one last thank you to you, the reader. I’m so, so sorry for what you’re going to go through in the next book. I hope you’re not too attached to anyone!
More from this Series
The Future King
Book 3
The Revenge of Magic
Book 1
More from the Author
Pick the Plot
Secret Origins
The Stolen Chapters
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author photograph by Maarten de Boer
JAMES RILEY is the New York Times bestselling author of the Story Thieves and Half Upon a Time series. Contrary to what his Story Thieves biography suggests, this really is James. Note to future authors: If you pretend you’re not real, you’ll get lots of questions.
ALADDIN
SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
VISIT US AT SIMONANDSCHUSTER.COM/KIDS
www.SimonandSchuster.com/Authors/James-Riley
ALSO BY JAMES RILEY
The Revenge of Magic series
The Revenge of Magic
The Half Upon a Time series
Half Upon a Time
Twice Upon a Time
The Story Thieves series
Story Thieves
The Stolen Chapters
Secret Origins
Pick the Plot
Worlds Apart
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Aladdin hardcover edition October 2019
Text copyright © 2019 by James Riley
Jacket illustration copyright © 2019 by Vivienne To
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
ALADDIN and related logo are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Jacket designed by Heather Palisi
Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia
The text of this book was set in Adobe Garamond Pro.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Riley, James, 1977- author.
Title: The last dragon / by James Riley.
Description: First Aladdin hardcover edition. | New York : Aladdin, 2019. | Sequel to: The revenge of magic. | Summary: With help from his friends, Fort tries to find and bring the last dragon to the Old Ones in exchange for releasing Fort’s father, while they continue to seek the books of magic.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018048918 (print) | LCCN 2018053151 (eBook) | ISBN 9781534425743 (eBook) | ISBN 9781534425729 (hardcover)
Subjects: | CYAC: Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction. | Healers—Fiction. | Monsters—Fiction. | Dragons—Fiction. | Books—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.R55 (eBook) | LCC PZ7.1.R55 Las 2019 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018048918