Cobalt/Riley

## Biography

Cobalt is a Rogue dragon, the deuteragonist of the entire franchise, and a former Basilisk (Talon's saboteurs). The *Salith'tahn* made Cobalt believe he loved Ember Hill, and was bitterly hurt when she chose Garret instead of him. He and Garret are rivals, mainly due the the fact that he's an ex-member of St. George. As he said so himself, Garret and the other soldiers killed dragons because they believed that dragons were evil. Although Garret had changed his beliefs, Cobalt is still certain that the order are heartless killers. In human form, his alias is Riley. It is also mentioned that he has other nicknames, but they were not shown. Cobalt is highly intelligent and very protective of his underground. However, he can be immature even for a dragon his age, although a human his age acts more maturely since they age quicker. He is also known to be cocky, overconfident and stubborn, and he is hostile to those who threaten his friends or the underground community.

### Early Life

He was trained as a Basilisk by Talon. He was one of the Chief Basilisks brightest students, however when Talon noticed that Cobalt became more questioning of the organization, they sent him on a mission intending for him to be killed. However, after realizing that he would be killing an innocent little girl, he went back to the bomb he planted to shut it off, where he realized that it was ticking down twice as fast as it should. After this Riley decided to go Rogue, and is Talon's most wanted criminal.

### Tracking Down Ember

Upon hearing that Talon was placing dragons posing as humans in Crescent Beach, he mysteriously appeared there, hoping to meet the dragons and tell them the truth about Talon and pull them out of the organization.

While Ember, Dante, and their human friends were hanging out a smoothie place, Ember and Dante glimpsed Riley. Lexi and Kristen, Ember's friends, said that they had code-named Riley "Gorgeous Biker Boy" and mentioned that he had shown up a few weeks ago, looking for something, but never stopped to talk. They said that upon seeing Ember, he had "found what he was looking for." Dante, however, was angry and his pupils contracted into dragon-like slits until Ember kicked him in the shin. Dante told the group that he and Ember had to leave, however Ember was intrigued.

Upon talking to him, he offered to tell her more about Talon. She later snuck out of the house she was staying in to fly with Riley. He revealed his real name, Cobalt, and they flew across Lover's Bluff for the night. At one of Ember's friends parties, she ran into Riley, who gave her his number. She left afterwards when Garret, Dante and Riley were confronted by Colin and his friends, who had made another appearance.

Later, Ember spoke with Riley at the pier, but he had to leave when he got a call from Wes. Lilith taught Ember how to disarm someone with a gun, and when the young dragon finally mastered the technique, Lilith gave her a suit and a job as one of the Vipers, Talon's assassins. Ember told Dante that she was a Viper, but realized she couldn't trust him anymore, and texted Riley to meet.

When she confessed that Lilith had made her a Viper, Riley told her that Lilith was Talon's best assassin. He also revealed his past as a Basilisk, and why he went rogue. Riley took Ember to his Safe House, introducing him to his hacker and ally, Wesley Higgins, and two hatchlings, Nettle and Remy.

Before they could leave, St. George attacked their house. Ember accidentally revealed to Garret that she was a dragon as she and Riley escaped, but the rogue was badly injured. She tried to get Dante to leave with her, confessing that she was going rogue, and he apparently agreed.

Garret called her to meet at Lover's Bluff, and pulled his gun on her. But when he hesitated, Ember disarmed him and pinned him down, but spared his life. She left him at the Bluff and returned to Riley, telling him what had happened. But they were interrupted by Lilith, who told her that Dante informed the Viper what Ember was planning.

Ember refused to return to Talon, and Lilith replied by Shifting and beginning her attack. During the fight, Riley was knocked out by Lilith's ferocious assault, and Ember had to retreat. She gained a slight advantage by jumping on the Viper's back, but was quickly pinned down. Before Lilith could finish her off, Garret opened fire on the green dragon. Lilith finally retreated when Riley recovered, and Ember stopped the blue rogue from killing Garret. They fled before the rest of his squad arrived. She watched the soldiers take Garret into custody, and convinced Riley to help her rescue her friend.

### Life Alongside Ember

When he meets Ember, his life is completely changed. For the better or worse? You decide.

### New Era for Dragons

After the rogues defeated the Elder Wyrm, Ember was made CEO of Talon and Riley the head of a new branch of Talon, the Free Dragons[confirmation needed]. He is evidently currently in love with Mist Anderson, another ex-Basilisk. He was last seen challenging the group to a drinking contest.

## Trivia

* Cobalt originally held a prejudice for Asian dragons (shown in Soldier), though he gained respect for them after seeing Jade's dedication for her cause.
* He used to be in love with Ember as well, mostly due to the fact that she is his *Sallith'tahn*, meaning "life mate."
* He and Garret fought to win Ember's heart.
* He was the Chief Basilisk's brightest student - he was supposedly going to make Cobalt his second in command (before the Chief Basilisk decided to send him on a suicide mission because of his disloyalty).
* He's not the size of a full grown dragon yet.
* He is navy blue in dragon form and has golden eyes and is described as a sleek dragon.
* He is named after the color of cobalt-blue and the element Cobalt.
* He is shown to be overprotective of people/dragons he cares about.
* He shows to have a great experience with swimming, implying he had done this before his time a rogue.
* He doesn't completely trust humans, even the ones in his network, except for Wes.
* Cobalt can be too trusting of certain resources when it's about a hatchling in danger.
* During his time as a Basilisk, he discovered the Vault.
* He is currently the most dangerous rogue dragon in the eyes of Talon.
* He constantly wears a leather jacket until the third book, Soldier, which he loses it during a St. George raid.
* He believes Ember is "too human" for her own good.
* Cobalt often refers to Ember as "Firebrand”.
* Cobalt doesn't like being stared at like a zoo animal.
* Cobalt is known to often be sarcastic.
* Talon sent the Order after his underground community.
* He went rogue 13 years before the book Talon takes place.
* Cobalt mostly speaks in a low and mocking voice.
* He has a habit of smirking.
* He relies a lot on Wes, though at first he was disdainful of the human