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“Just wanted to make sure you were…getting some sleep,” she calls back as they turn the corner and disappear. Bodhi. Garrick. Imogen. My stomach tightens. They were checking to make sure Xaden hadn’t killed me.
“Simple question: Did you tell them over your dead body is our sister flying through what’s likely enemy-controlled, wyvern-filled territory on a fool’s errand?”
“They should worry more about what will happen when we do find them,” Tairn growls. “If a den of our kind chose to leave—chose to hide—they will not welcome our intrusion.”
“You don’t know that.” Hurt laces Andar...
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“You are naive to assume otherwise.” His tone sharpens, and Andarna slams our pathways shut. “She needs to prepare herself,” he says. “And so do you. There...
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“Given the rate they’re diminishing, I calculate six months before total collapse if we’re lucky. Finding Andarna’s kind could take decades. By the time she finds them—if she finds them—Aretia’s gone. You’d be risking Violet’s life for nothing.”
“Sacrificing members of our family for what’s considered the greater good is a weapon straight out of Mom’s arsenal.”
“Not sure I’d brag about being in the wing that produced Jack Barlowe!” Ridoc counters.
“The Dark One cannot unite what he broke.” “Stop calling him that.”
Rebel’ is so…outdated. We prefer the term ‘revolutionary,’” I inform Aura, taking a measured step in her direction and welcoming the crackle of sizzling power in my fingertips. “And if you’re going to wield, then it’s me you’ll be dealing with.”
Never turn your back on a rider. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)
“You see, Dain’s too honorable to wield in a challenge, but you’ll find that my sense of morality has learned to…waver.” I retrieve another dagger and shake it in her direction. “You lift your hand against him again, and the next one goes through it. He’s the reason you’re alive. The reason you’re all alive!”
“Shh, it’s more fun when she blows shit up,” Ridoc whispers.
“The only reason you survived the attack is because we gained access to the knowledge Navarre purposely hid from us. We stole it. We translated it. We saved your ass.” Warmth streaks down my arm, the conduit beginning to hum. “And yes, we expect you to recognize that we need this alliance to survive what’s coming for us!”
“The riders who came before us failed to protect the innocent just because they were on the other side of our border,” I argue. “They lied and hid. They were the cowards! But we don’t have to be. We can choose to stand together and fight. Leadership is locked behind doors right now trying to forge a treaty.” My gaze skims over the riders who stayed when we fled for Aretia three months ago. “But they’re failing, just like every generation before us has failed, and if we do the same…” I shake my head, fumbling for words. “You’ve seen what’s out there. Either this alliance begins right here with
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“I like our odds. The last time a shadow and lightning wielder fought side by side, they managed to drive the venin back into the Barrens for a few hundred years. We’ll figure out how to do it again.”
“Thanks for stepping in. Thought she was going to torch me there for a second.” “Thanks for coming without hesitation when I said we needed you.”
“I’ve been trying to think of a way out of it for the last hour. The king sanctioned both Lindell and Lewellen for their roles in hiding Aretia—just like they predicted this morning—so they’re not options. And I can’t reject the agreement, or everyone will know something is wrong.” His tortured gaze finds mine, and my heart clenches. “The only solution I can think of is you. You’ll be the first to sense when I lose the rest of what makes me…me.”
will. This morning showed me it’s just a matter of time and reason.” He nods with a certainty that sours my stomach. “It’s not fair, and you might hate me for it later, but I need you to make me a promise.” His warm hand cups the back of my neck as his eyes search mine. “Swear you’ll sound the alarm if I go too far, that you’ll keep it safe, even if it’s from me.”
“I love you.” Xaden kisses me hard and fast, and it’s over before I can even process it’s actually happened.
“He gave me back my title and the seat in the Senarium.”
“Not just Aretia, either…he gave me Tyrrendor,”
“Now, I love you like a brother, and I get that you lost your leg, and we respect however you’re feeling about that, but you’re still one of us. You’re still a rider, with all the benefits and shit that come with wearing black. So with all the love in my heart, put your fucking uniform on, because we need you.”
“And you’re willing to risk the wards our mother gave her life to power to keep your word?” She lifts her eyebrow.
“You really fucked with the wards?” “Someone once told me the right way isn’t the only way.”
I’ll save everyone the fuss of organizing a trial and execution.” I point to the patch I cut off my uniform last night. “That’s mine. I was the one who orchestrated altering the wardstone. I’m the reason that the fliers can wield and that you now have a clear path to negotiate an alliance. You’re welcome.”
“What do we even do with that?” “Nothing,” Xaden answers, watching me like I’m the only one in the room. “Cadet Sorrengail, and whomever she acted with, committed the crime last night, and as of this morning, every single one of you and our king signed their pardons.”
“Viscount Tecarus spoke of the deal you made. You truly risked your king’s wrath, your kingdom’s defenses, all to keep my fliers here?” “Yes.” My stomach clenches. “It was the right thing to do.”
“Tell me you didn’t do this for me.”
“Your threats are just threats. I’m no longer the scared first-year, unsure if I’d survive Threshing or be capable of wielding.” I take a single step in his direction. “One of my dragons is among the most powerful on the Continent, and the other is the rarest. I didn’t realize it last year or even a few months ago, but I do now: you can’t afford to kill me.”
“You can’t afford to lose either of my dragons, let alone my signet, and you sure as Malek can’t afford to lose Lieutenant Riorson’s—or should I call him the Duke of Tyrrendor?” I hold out both arms at my sides, exposing my torso. “Do your worst, but we both know I’m now beyond your reach, General.”
Calling cadets into active service in times of war may only be authorized by the Commanding General of Basgiath. —Article Eight, Section One The Dragon Rider’s Codex
“They really gave command of Basgiath to Aetos?”
“All in favor—” Every hand goes up, including hers. She sighs. “Well, Degrensi did tell us to make ourselves useful. Let’s go be of use.”
“Ahead.” “Yes, I, too, have eyes. We’re five minutes out.”
“If you remove that belt, I will unseat you over the river and let your meager gods sort you out,” Tairn warns,
She looks toward us, lifts her hand, and wiggles her fingers as if waving. A sick feeling squeezes my stomach. “I think…she was expecting us.” This is a trap.
“Chradh,” Tairn explains as the wyvern falls from the dragon’s grip. “What the fuck is Garrick—”
The bond goes dark. NO. “Tairn!” I scream,
“Tairn!” I try again, mentally grasping for him, but there’s…nothing. “Violet,” Andarna cries. “I can’t feel him!”
“Stay with me,” she pleads, her voice breaking. “You both have to stay.”
“Come on, Violet. Trust me.”
“Good. Hate to damage the other side of my perfect face,” he jokes. “Don’t worry about me. It’s nothing a couple of stitches won’t fix.”
“That’s why I’m here. You’re supposed to be with Xaden.” There’s no point confirming what he already knows. “Eight hours away.”
“Yeah, well, the second he heard you were charging off into danger, he became…unreasonable.”
“I’ve never seen him like that.” Garrick shoots a worried look my way. “Ever. I don’t even want to think about what he would have done if he’d been out here beyond the wards, because I thought he was going to rip the stones from the wall. He’s always prided himself on control—he has to when he wields that much power—and I’m telling you, he lost it when he heard you were crossing the border, Violet. He’s…not himself.”
“He knew I was crossing the border? Maise.” I end on a whisper, staring up at the side of Garrick’s face. “How did you get here?”
“It’s not important.”
“Maise saw us leave maybe forty minutes ago, and you’re already here. You’re a wind wielder, and there’s no fucking way you pushed a hundreds-of-miles-an-hour t...
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“Damn, Sorrengail, you didn’t have to—” he starts. “I didn’t.” I shake my head. “I did.” Our heads whip right, and the silver-haired venin walks toward us, her purple robes billowing in the breeze.
