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Dragons don’t bond fragile women. They incinerate them.
Then she surprises me by doing the most sentimental thing ever—telling me to sit between her knees so she can braid my hair into a crown.
A dragon without its rider is a tragedy. A rider without their dragon is dead. Once bonded, riders can’t live without their dragons, but most dragons can live just fine after us. It’s why they choose carefully, so they’re not humiliated by picking a coward, not that a dragon would ever admit to making a mistake.
“Sgaeyl is a Blue Daggertail, and she’s…vicious.” He swallows. “Don’t get me wrong. Cath is a nasty piece of work when he gets riled—all Red Swordtails are—but even most dragons steer clear of Sgaeyl.”
Some riders have the same signets. Fire wielding, ice wielding, and water wielding are just a few of the most common signet powers, all useful in battle. Then there are the signets that make a rider extraordinary. My mother can wield the power of storms. Melgren can see the outcome of battles.
“It is the duty of the scribes not only to study and master the past but to relay and record the present,”
Sadness fills his gaze as he meets mine. “Yes. He died trying to save your brother, but Brennan was too far gone.”
“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.”
You are not attracted to toxic men, I remind myself, and yet, here I am, getting all attracted. I have been since the first second I saw him, if I feel like being honest.
Fire races along my skin at the feel of his fingers lacing with mine. Toxic. Dangerous. Wants to kill you. Nope, doesn’t matter. My pulse still skitters like a teenager.
Never look a red in the eye. Never back down from a green. If you show trepidation to a brown…well, just don’t.
“I would strongly recommend you rethink your actions,” a voice—his voice—demands
In the six centuries of recorded history of dragon and rider, 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.
“My name is Tairneanach, son of Murtcuideam and Fiaclanfuil, descended from the cunning Dubhmadinn line.”
“I know exactly who and what you are, Violet Sorrengail.”
“You are the smartest of your year. The most cunning.”
“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.”
“And Andarnaurram,”
“She doesn’t need to hide behind me when she’s bonded to the most powerful dragon of your year,”
“They’re a mated pair, Tairn and Sgaeyl. The strongest bonded pair in centuries.”
“It’s hard to love a second home as much as the first.”
“Jeremiah was an inntinnsic.” Xaden’s voice lowers. “A mind reader is a capital offense. You know that.”
“Turns out, about three days is their max.” Xaden steps out of the shadows.
That was his voice…in my fucking head.
“You’re staring. It’s going to get awkward in about thirty seconds if you don’t stop.”
“You never considered that it was you I couldn’t stay away from?”
“Leave for me, Violet.”
“Andarna is my favorite.” Tairn snorts.
“Does it even matter when, as long as it changed between us?” “Don’t do that,” I whisper, and he lifts his head again to hold my gaze. “Don’t do what? Tell you I can’t get you out of my head? Or speak directly into yours?”
“Chocolate cake. Stop being weird.”
“I’m proud you’re mine.” Andarna’s voice wavers, the blinks of her eyes becoming slower. “Even if I need a bath.”
Finding a jar on my nightstand with a handful of spring violets? My heart swells. I’m in so much fucking trouble.
There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.”
As for the 107 innocents, the children of the executed officers, they now carry what shall be known as the rebellion relic, transferred by the dragon who carried out the king’s justice. And to show the mercy of our great king, they will all be conscripted into the prestigious Riders Quadrant at Basgiath, so they may prove their loyalty to our kingdom with their service or with their death.
“There is no me without you,”
