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“Asshole!” Ridoc shouts, and I pivot to see him plow his fist into the cook’s face. “I have four uniforms, but only one fucking flight jacket, and I”—punch—“hate”—punch—“sewing!”
Omg i looooooove ridoc
Understanding softens his eyes, and he wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a quick but gentle hug. “Yeah, I love you, too.”
Im not crying youre crying
Aotrom lifts his head, then sprays water through his teeth, completely soaking Ridoc from the tips of his hair to the toes of his boots.
I need an Aotrom novella
We didn’t find the irids; they found us.
“You were left behind as the criterion. The measurement of their growth, their ability to choose tranquility and harmony with all living things. We’d hoped you would return to tell us the humans had evolved, that they had blossomed under the wardstones and no longer used magic as a weapon, but instead you have shown us the opposite.”
“And you”—the male lowers his gaze to Andarna—“our very hope, have handed this human something far more dangerous to wield, haven’t you?”
What?! Tell us tell us
“It is not a trade,” the female lectures. “The soul is not kept by the earth as dark wielders steal its magic. The power exchange kills the soul one piece at a time, and death has no cure.”
“Oh, and just so we’re clear, that strike up there wasn’t”—he gestures between us—“you know. Us.” He flinches. “I mean, it was us because I pissed her off, but it wasn’t us…us, if you know what I’m saying.”
L O L
“Suniva was only supposed to be a distribution site. Drifts were set to take the crates to other cities in the morning,” Kiandra answers. Shit. The venin knew about the shipment. That’s the only logical explanation. “How many people knew the distribution schedule?” I ask. “Right there.” Devera points at me. “The answer is too many. We have traitors in our ranks.”
“I can direct my strikes within a cloud just like I did during the battle here in December,” I continue. “Which means I could theoretically control the natural strikes and move a riot within a thunderstorm with relative safety…after about twenty years of practice.” I abandon my pen on my notebook. Theophanie. “She was with them—their lightning wielder. I’d guess that’s how the textile fire started, and probably what took out the other dragons.”
“Kind of wish you were a gryphon so we could have sat this one out.” “Kind of wish I’d sat out Threshing two years ago,” he counters.
Lol the attitude is unmatched
Or I can always join you in the Assembly chamber. You do some of your best work on that throne.
Ohhh we know
“Ooh, he used the wingleader voice,” Ridoc says under his breath.
“You are a prince, not the prince. Bring your troops into Tyrrendor, and Aaric will suddenly find himself first in line for the throne.”
FUUUUUUUUCK
“I don’t understand. You’re our generation’s shadow wielder.” “Not anymore. Magic knows.” Xaden’s shoulders dip as he turns slowly to face me, his brow scrunching in apology before he schools his features. “He’s the balance.”
This makes me sooo sad
“Does their bond survive you turning? Does ours? You and I are tethered for life, Xaden Riorson. Am I expected to turn with you? Is that the only way to keep our dragons alive if you give up?”
No no noooo
“But you never had to lower yourself before me, did you? Not for Naolin, or—” “We do not speak of the one who came before.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I raised a blade to you.”
I am the weapon.”
“There is if you’re a dream-walker.” He nods thoughtfully, and my heart pounds as I guess what he’s about to say. “It must be your second signet—the one being bonded to Andarna gives you. It would make sense. Her kind are peaceful, and the ability itself would be passive, even a gift in a culture like that.”
“It’s absolutely more dangerous than lightning. It’s a form of inntinnsic,” he ends on a whisper. “I don’t read minds. That can’t be right.” I shake my head. “You don’t read them. You walk straight into them when unconscious.”
“Which is what makes you exceptionally dangerous.” His jaw flexes twice. “I can only read someone while they’re awake, and I’m limited by their ability to shield. No one can shield while they’re sleeping. You could potentially walk straight into Melgren’s own dreams and he couldn’t stop you. Probably wouldn’t even know.” His face twists for a heartbeat before he quickly masks it. “Violet, they’ll kill you if they find out. It won’t matter that you’re the best weapon they have against the venin—against me. They’ll snap your neck and call it self-defense.”
“It’s how you save Tyrrendor.” Aaric’s voice drops to a whisper.
Is this hus signet? Seeing the future or the oytcome of battles like Melgren??
“It’s been ages since I’ve honored the color of my scale in such a manner,”
“The prince said to protect Dunne’s temple!”
“It seemed necessary to fire your wardstone,” Leothan says.
Hell yeah fucking right
Asher returned today. Gods help us if anyone finds out. I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive him for what he’s done to her. —Journal of Captain Lilith Sorrengail
UHM WHAT?!?
Tairn snarls, and I reach down the bond, but there’s a stronger shield than his blocking us. Leothan. It’s oddly similar to the effects of the serum they dosed us with during RSC.
“Dad thought you were perfect, and he said that parents used to dedicate their infants to a particular deity’s service when they thought the touch of a god would help that child—” He quickly shuts his mouth. My stomach hollows. “They tried to fix me by giving me to Dunne?”
“She said the heart that beat for you—or within you—would do the wrong thing for the right reason, reach for unspeakable power, and turn dark.”
Xaden
“Starting to understand the consort missive,” Brennan mutters under his breath,
Heheheheehe
“Theophanie knows you’ll try to save everyone like you did in Resson, or at Dunne’s temple, or Basgiath before Mom…” He swallows. “That’s why we’ll fail. Because you will choose everyone over yourself, and he will choose you over everyone.”
Weird. There’s no mark at the back of his neck like he carries on his palm. There hadn’t been one on Dain’s wrist, either.
THATS BECAUSE NAOLIN PULLED FROM THE SOURCE TO SAVE HIM!!!!
“I was wrong. She’s not a lightning wielder.” It had struck in both battles, and I’d conflated its presence with hers when it was simply a byproduct of her true signet. She hadn’t controlled the lightning during their assault on Suniva. She’d controlled the very thing causing it. “Of course I’m not.” Theophanie flicks a finger, and the clouds above us begin to rotate. “There is only one exception to the rule, Violet Sorrengail. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be you. If it was going to be one of her daughters, I’d have bet on your sister.”
“She’s their answer to my mother.”
“Your mother knew at your age that she was no match for me. That’s why she hid behind those wards. Perhaps you should have followed her example.”
“Tairn.” “Not quite.” Rain bombards navy-blue scales. “Sgaeyl?” “You are an inconvenience for which there is no adequate measurement,” she snarls, flying west as the clouds churn above us, darkening with an abysmal quickness. “But you have done an excellent job keeping the Maven occupied.”
omgomgomg
Fuck you. My daughter and I will meet Malek with clean consciences. Will you and your daughters be able to say the same when they come for you? —The last words of Tracila Cardulo (redacted)
A gift from one servant of Dunne to another. I must warn you—only those touched by the gods should wield their wrath. I will pray to Her that she need not use it to avoid reacquainting herself with the other who curries her favor. Her path is still not set.
Shadow spreads like a ripple on a lake, devouring the field in the fury of an onyx storm and sweeping toward us at a speed that squeezes the hope from my chest, then outright shatters my heart. The pain hits like a physical blow to the center of my chest.
Wait. Strike in the darkness. That’s what Aaric’s note said… Like he knew this would happen. I gasp as all the pieces click in one overwhelming heartbeat. The reinforcements. Telling me to guard Dunne’s temple. Yanking Lynx out of the way before the doors even opened to the great hall. He knew. He’s been manifesting this entire time. “He’s a fucking precog,”
BITCH IVE BEEN FUCKING TELLING YOU THIS
I glance past Berwyn, past Sgaeyl and the venin, to my new brother and the unconscious dragon lying in the valley beyond the canyon, guarded by seven wyvern. How could he do this? Choose this after watching me stumble and fall over the last five months. How could he willingly walk the path I’ve fought like hell to leave? He’s the last person I ever would have expected to turn, and yet here we are.
Did Bidhi turn??
“This is not what we agreed to!” Panchek shouts, stumbling backward toward his own shrieking, netted dragon. I don’t bother looking in their direction. Fucker deserves to suffer for selling us out. Whatever the Sage—what Berwyn—does is of no consequence to me. How much information has he sold to the enemy? Certainly enough to lure us all to Draithus. How many times did he give them Violet’s location?
Oh shit.. Should have known
“Put those away. We both know you’re not going to hurt me.” Panchek reaches for the net over his dragon. “I’m the only one who can give you access to your son.”
Who is Berwyns son???
My left arm is splinted, and a beautiful gold ring with an emerald the size of my thumbnail sits on my hand. Oh gods, I know that stone. It matches the others from the Blade of Aretia upstairs on Xaden’s nightstand. Is it the missing one?
“It’s an official blessing of your legal, binding marriage,”
AHHHHHHHH
