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Xaden walks up the steps first, his gaze sweeping the floor, the chairs, the table, and even the place settings before he reaches back with a hand. It’s unnecessary but sweet, so I take it and walk up after him. “It’s Sorrengail,” he corrects Blue Sash.
“They’re all fucking dead.”
my fav fucking trope besties !
“They hurt you,” he whispers without apology. “They were going to kill you.”
He keeps his head low but opens his eyes to look at me. “I’m not sorry, but I am.”
“Hey, Bodhi?” I whisper so only the two of us can hear. “Hey, Violet?” he answers, looking up.
“So we fuck the rules.” I raise my voice, and everyone quiets. Cat throws a practice disk onto the map, and I recognize the sound-shield rune she’s tempered into it.
i’m starting to like cat
“I would like to try an Unnbrish horse,” Andarna muses. “No,” Tairn and I answer simultaneously. Andarna sighs down the bond. “One day I’m going to stop asking nicely.”
cock my head to the side and flip my dagger to pinch its tip as Tairn growls at my back, low and mean. Just the way I like him.
“It must be the same for all three,” the silver-uniformed commander says to Xaden, eyeing me with pity. “Then it’s daggers,” Xaden says. My head whips at Xaden. “Your swords are your best—” “Daggers,” Xaden tells the commander, earning a smile from our trio of opponents. “Agreed,” Dain chimes in.
“What I need is for Xaden to be all right. If that means setting this house on fire and leaving without accomplishing anything else on this isle, then I’ll hand him a torch.”
“The pain. The mess. Give it to me. I’ll hold it. I know that sounds ludicrous, but I’ll find a way.” I lace our fingers. “I will hold everything you don’t want to feel because I love every part of you.”
“You already hold my soul and now you want my pain? Getting greedy, Violence.”
“We could have the legalities performed in the morning at temple, and then hear what will, no doubt, be a plea for our assistance in their war tomorrow afternoon.” Wood creaks behind me. “Draw up the papers,” Xaden says, gripping my chair.
“My last name is tied to the title, but we could take yours,” Xaden offers, and his eyes soften just slightly when they lock on mine. “You could hyphenate,” Garrick suggests. “Or combine? Riorgail? Sorrenson?”
“You may question our knowledge, test our honor or dedication as riders and fliers. Serve up riddles, fake scenarios, chess games for all I care. But if you think I’m going to leave the only woman I’ve ever loved to contract marriage with a woman I do not get along with, then the lack of wisdom is yours, not mine.”
“Violet is the only choice I’ve made for myself. I won’t sacrifice her for three years. Not for a single day. You would know that if you hadn’t abandoned me, if you knew me at all.”
“Don’t mind them.” Ridoc’s tone sings. “They’re back to doing…whatever it is they do when they ignore everyone around them and pretend they’re the only people in existence.”
I think I started falling for you that night in the tree when I watched you with the marked ones, but I began tumbling the day you gave me Tairn’s saddle. You’ll give some self-serving excuse, but the truth is you’re kinder than you want people to know. Maybe kinder than you know. —Recovered Correspondence of Cadet Violet Sorrengail to His Grace, Lieutenant Xaden Riorson, Sixteenth Duke of Tyrrendor
“He’s my cousin,” Xaden replies, locking eyes with me. “Of course he’s exceptional.” “Hmmm. Just like you, but without the arrogance.” I cock my head to the side. “Maybe I fell for the wrong—” “It would be a shame to kill my last living relative.”
His gaze snaps to mine. “Ask me nicely.”
“Harder. Rougher. I can do that.” I nod, then reach into my Archives and yank a strand of Tairn’s power loose. “I’m sure you can, considering who you’re sleeping with,” Ridoc teases.
“She stands at my side.” Xaden’s voice drops into that lethally calm wingleader tone, and he places his warm hand over mine. “Remember that.”
“Starting to understand the consort missive,” Brennan mutters under his breath,
Because you will choose everyone over yourself, and he will choose you over everyone.”
“Now that the Duke of Angst is gone,” Bodhi says,
“If I leave, everything falls apart. Dragonkind protects its own, even above a bonded rider,” I remind him. His eyes narrow, and steam billows from his nostrils. “Do not lecture me on the laws of my kind or you will learn how comfortable I am breaking them.”
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. —Recovered Correspondence of High Priestess Deservee to His Royal Highness, Cadet Aaric Graycastle, Prince Camlaen of Navarre
He’s terrifyingly powerful with Sgaeyl, but not like this. This is the kind of force that ends worlds. And it’s almost here. “I love you,” I whisper down the bond, and the ice cracks, but it’s not enough to halt the approaching wave of darkness.
Shadow throws Theophanie to the ground a second before it rushes over me, whisper soft against my cheeks, tossing us into pitch-black night.
The bond between Violence and me is the kind of magic that has no explanation.
