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Hundreds of them have been preparing for the Riders Quadrant, the chance to become one of the elite, since birth. I’ve had exactly six months.
She might be here to say her goodbyes, but I’m just glad to see my sister for the first time in years.
“Your mother captured my father and oversaw his execution.”
“Your father killed my older brother. Seems like we’re even.”
“I figured, since you were the one birdcalling me.” I grin, shaking my head. He’s been using that signal since we were kids
My mother can wield the power of storms.
I just put my hands on someone’s
temples, and I can see what they saw.
gryphons don’t tolerate altitude nearly as well as dragons, probably due to the fact that they’re half-lion, half-eagle
His gaze locks onto the length of my braid where it falls over my shoulder, and I could swear he stops breathing for a heartbeat
“He hasn’t agreed to bond since his previous and only rider was killed during the uprising,
I wonder what the circular patch on their upper right arm with water and floating spheres means. I know the triangular patch to the left of that one, with the longsword, means they’re not to be messed with on the mat.
October first is always Threshing.
“I’m telling you, I think I saw it headed this way.” It’s a cocky voice I immediately recognize as Tynan.
“I would strongly recommend you rethink your actions,”
there have been hundreds of known cases where a dragon simply cannot emotionally recover from the loss of their bonded rider. This happens when the bond is particularly strong and, in three documented cases, has even caused the untimely death of the dragon.
“Behind you!” Xaden shouts.
It’s Xaden. And rules be damned, he steps forward as though he intends to stop Tynan from killing me.
“One does not live a century without being well aware of the space one takes up.
“I know exactly who and what you are, Violet Sorrengail.”
“I didn’t think I would, either, so we have that in common.”
“You defended the smallest with ferocity. And strength of courage is more important than physical strength.
Betrayer. His father was directly responsible for Brennan’s death. “And even if I had.” Xaden moves toward Dain, towering over him. “Would you really level that accusation knowing it would have been what saved the woman you call your best friend?”
Dain swallows, his eyes slamming shut. “No. I wouldn’t have.”
I’m looking at my own back through…Andarna’s eyes. A back that has a glistening black relic of a dragon mid-flight stretching from shoulder to shoulder and, in the center, the silhouette of a shimmering golden one.
“Tell him if he harms you, I’ll scorch the ground where he stands.”
Everyone in this room is frozen in place…except me.
“You’re all fucking dead.” His voice is eerily calm and all the scarier for it.
I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m alive. I repeat the mantra in my head
“Yes. You’re alive.”
“I should have killed him slower.”
I nod, lifting my foot. Then he robs me of every logical thought by putting on my boots and lacing them one at a time.
He wraps my cloak around my shoulders and buttons it at my collar like I’m something precious.
“Jeremiah was an inntinnsic.” Xaden’s voice lowers. “A mind reader is a capital offense. You know that.”
Accusing a wingleader of wrongdoing is the most dangerous of all accusations.
fumble my quill and it falls to the ground, but before I can lean over, the shadows beneath the arm of my desk lift the instrument like an offering. I pluck it out of the shadows and look back at Xaden.
He’s locked in conversation with Garrick, not paying me a speck of attention. Except, apparently, he is.
“I am annoyingly aware of everything you do.”
“Fuck it.”
My gaze locks on the history textbook on the left-hand side of the desk. A minute passes, but I don’t look away. Then the thing vanishes.
Ridoc can wield ice,
Sawyer’s metallurgy powers grow every day. Liam can see a single tree miles away.
The blade itself is clearly honed to lethal perfection. “It’s spectacular.”
“I had it made for you.”
The ease with which he has me on my back is simultaneously appalling and…ridiculously hot, especially with the weight of his hips settled between my thighs.
He puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me out of the crowd.
He opens the door to the dormitory for me, and I walk inside.
“Turns out, about three days is their max.” Xaden steps out of the shadows.
Xaden sets his dragon on the table and leans back in his chair, draping his arm across the back of mine, a move that makes Dain grit his teeth.
“If you don’t use it, I’ll take personal offense.” He folds his arms across his chest and studies the rigging. “Considering I had it made for you and just about got myself burned alive in the process of trying to get it on him.” He lifts a brow at Tairn. “Even though he helped design it, I might add.”
