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A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead.
“You shouted and carried me out of there like I mean something to you.”
“You do mean something to me.”
“Let me guess, you could smell my perfume. Isn’t that what always gives the heroine away in books?” He scoffs. “I command shadows, but sure, it was your perfume that gave you away.”
“I’m more dangerous than you think,” I flat-out bluster. “So I see. I’m quaking in my boots.”
“Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”
“And not all strength is physical, Violet.”
“Going for blood today, are we, Violence?” he whispers. Metal hits the mat again and he kicks it past my head and out of my reach. He’s not taking my daggers to use against me; he’s disarming me just to prove he can. My blood boils. “My name is Violet,” I seethe. “I think my version fits you better.” He releases my wrist and stands, offering me a hand. “We’re not done yet.”
“And be denied the pleasure of your company?” he mocks. “I fucking hate you.”
“Nope. Defenseless women have never been my type. We’re done for today.”
“I just need to know what my chances are here.” My hands curl into fists. The ass has the nerve to smile. “That’s the oddest way I’ve ever been hit on—”
“Killing you wouldn’t be any trouble, Violence. It’s leaving you alive that seems to cause the majority of my trouble.”
You want to know why you’re still alive? Because you’re the scale I currently judge myself against every night. Every day I let you live, I get to convince myself that there’s still a part of me that’s a decent person. So if you want to quit, then please, spare me the temptation and fucking quit. But if you want to do something, then do it.”
I block out all the pain, lock it behind a wall like I’ve done my entire life,
“That’s the thing about having weak joints,” I say, palming another blade. “You know exactly where to strike.”
“I’m used to functioning in pain, asshole. Are you?”
“You are the smartest of your year. The most cunning.” I gulp at the compliment, brushing it off. I was trained as a scribe, not a rider. “You defended the smallest with ferocity. And strength of courage is more important than physical strength. Since you apparently need to know before we land.”
I’m tethered to Xaden Riorson.
I belong to Tairn and Andarna…and, in some really fucked-up way…Xaden.
“It’s hard to love a second home as much as the first.” I swallow. “It’s easy when the second home is the right one.”
“Pull your shit together and tell me where you’re hurt.”
“I should have killed him slower.” “I’m fine.” I’m not. His focus snaps back to my eyes. “Never lie to me.”
“I’m freakishly flexible. It’s part of the whole bones-snapping, joints-tearing thing,”
This feeling is why I haven’t wanted anyone…else. Because I want him.
“Touch me without permission, and you’ll spend the rest of your life regretting it.”
There is nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice, nothing I wouldn’t give to have one unguarded moment with this man I’m going to be tethered to for the rest of our lives.
“Have you always been this tall?” I blurt the first thing that comes to mind. “No. I was a child at some point.”
“Ask me nicely, Violence,” he whispers. “Or I’m gone.”
“Say please.” “Are you always this difficult?” “Only when I know I have something you need. What can I say, I like making you squirm. It’s like a sweet little slice of payback for what you’ve put me through these last couple of months.”
Xaden?” I smile sweetly up at him and inch a little closer. “Would you pretty, pretty please teach me how to shield before I accidentally climb you like a tree and we both wake up with regrets?”
“And since you asked so nicely.” He adjusts his stance and brings both his hands up to my cheeks, cradling my face before sliding them back to hold my head. “Close your eyes.” “It requires touching me?” My eyes flutter shut at the sensation of his skin against mine. “Not at all. Just one of the perks of not thinking too clearly. You have incredibly touchable skin.”
“You are astonishing.” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t do that for weeks.” “Guess I have a superior teacher.”
“Damn it. Touching you was a bad idea.” “The worst,” I agree,
“Kissing you would be a cataclysmic mistake.” “Calamitous.”
“We’ll both regret it.”
“Naturally,”
“Fuck it.”
One second he’s out of reach and the next his mouth is on mine, hot and insistent.
I know I’ll do anything to keep him here with me. I want to feel his mouth everywhere.
I want him. Only him. Here. Now. Anywhere. Whenever.
Never wanted someone the way I do him. It’s exhilarating and terrifying at the same time because I know that in this moment, he has the power to break me. And I’d let him.
“And I refuse to act on desire that isn’t yours. So you have to walk back up those steps. Now.”
“But I want—” Everything.
“This isn’t you...
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“That’s the fucking problem. And I can’t leave you out here on your own, so have just a l...
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What if underneath the brittle bones and frail ligaments, there was just more weakness? Only this time, I wouldn’t be able to blame my body.”
“You turned oranges into a weapon, Violence?”
“Apparently I can’t trust Liam to report deadly situations or Rhiannon to train you on the mat, seeing how easily Barlowe had you pinned, so as of this moment, I’m taking over.”
“Taking over what?” My eyes narrow. “Everything when it comes to you.”
Little does he know, I’m almost always in pain. It’s pretty much my comfort zone.
