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It's been five days since the battle at Basgiath, and we’re still here, trying to figure out our next moves. Brennan has taken over command. Melgren is nowhere to be found, but no one is particularly upset about that.
The remainder of the Aretian assembly showed up two days ago and they’ve been locked away in meetings ever since.
All of them except Xaden.
He’s all but quarantined in my room until I have time to figure out a solution for him. His eyes are no longer rimmed in red, but I know he can still feel the urge to pull power from the earth again. I need that book that Viscount Tecarus gave to us, but Brennan still won’t let me see it.
For now, we’re telling anyone who asks about him that Xaden is suffering from burnout and a few different injuries, but is refusing menders because so many others have truly life threatening wounds that need attention. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the room as well, so his absence doesn’t draw too much attention. People expect us to be together.
He’s come out a few times since the red rings dissipated, and everyone can see he’s not himself, so our ruse is working so far.
I’m in the courtyard this morning with our squad, sans Sawyer, trying to figure out a solution so he can still fly with us. Bodhi and Garrick are here, too, but the fliers are nowhere to be seen. They’ve been keeping to themselves since the battle, unsure of who to trust. I can’t blame them.
Imogen is in the middle of an idea when Ridoc interrupts her with a loud whistle.
“Godsdamn! Who is that piece of infantry ass with the entourage? I’d like a piece of him!” Ridoc’s jaw might as well be on the floor.
“Stop drooling, Ridoc. Whoever he is, I’m sure he’s too uptight to fall into your bed. Infantry are too straight-laced for you anyway, trust me.” I wink at him.
Rhi’s eyes narrow as she looks over my shoulder. It’s the same look she has in history when she can’t remember something. “Does he look weirdly familiar?”
“Yeah, he does! Oh! He’s coming this way. Quick, how’s my breath?” Ridoc breathes in Rhi’s face and she starts fake retching.
I laugh at them and glance over my shoulder. Immediately my grin turns to utter shock as I lock eyes with a pair of bright green eyes.
“Oh, shit.” My heart stops. What the fuck is he doing here? What side is he on? Why is he not stopping?
Halden’s arms wrap around me before I realize what’s happening. He cradles my head to his chest like I’m precious to him.
My arms hang at my sides, not returning his embrace, but he doesn’t let me go.
“Uh, Vi. You wanna clue us in on who the fuck this guy is?” Ridoc asks.
Halden keeps a tight hold on me and starts talking, barely stopping for a breath or answer from me. “Violet, you’re alive. Gods, look at you.” He pulls back, but his hands grip my upper arms. “You look fantastic. You’re so much stronger. I’ve been terrified since I heard you joined the riders. But, thank the gods, you’re alive, you’re okay. What’s happened? Where’s Cam? I tried to get here faster, but Father refused to let me leave until he got word the battle was over.”
My senses snap back into place at the mention of the king. The king who clearly still has control over Halden.
I twist out of his hold like I would an opponent on the sparring mat. That’s what he always was: an opponent. We just used words and games, not fists.
“Cam?” Rhi says slowly. Her eyes go so wide with realization. “Ridoc, stop talking now!”
“No. This guy has hands on Vi. Who the fuck does he think he is? Riorson is going to kill him, wherever the hell he is, and I’d like to not be an accomplice in this crime!”
Rhi grabs tight onto Ridoc’s arm, “For the love of Amari. Stop. Talking!”
I can’t focus on them right now. “Tairn, tell Aaric’s dragon to warn him. His brother is here.”
“Already done. I’m on my way.” I feel a jolt of protectiveness come through his pathway in my mind.
“I’m not sure that’s entirely necessary.” The last thing I need is Halden thinking I can’t hold my own without my dragon bodyguard.
“If you refer to me as a bodyguard again, I’ll scorch you myself.” I hope he can feel my eyes roll.
“I’m coming, too!” Andarna chimes in. This should go well.
Finally, my brain and mouth connect for long enough to put a sentence together. “What are you doing here, Halden?”
Immediately, Lieutenant Duncan, correction, Major Duncan, starts murmuring about “respect” and “deference”. Of course he’s been promoted, the brown-nosing asshole. I resist the urge to flip him my middle finger. I’m really not in the mood to deal with either of them today.
“Halden, like… Halden Tauri? That Halden?” Ridoc whispers loudly. Rhi nods and puts her hand over his mouth.
Wingbeats sound behind me, more than two sets, but I don’t turn to see how many dragons are flying in. Halden’s guard, all five of them, pale as the dragons land on the outer wall. Andarna growls menacingly, and I fight the urge to smile at my fierce little dragon, who isn’t so little anymore.
Halden ignores Ridoc’s outburst and the dragons’ arrival. Ballsy of him, but he always was arrogant. “I came as quickly as I could. I wanted to be here for the battle, but Father wouldn’t hear of it.”
“Gods forbid you ever disobey dear old dad,” I sneer, folding my arms. “Is he here?” I ask bluntly.
Halden’s shoulders fall. I don’t know what sort of welcome he expected, but he’s clearly disappointed with the lackluster reception. “No, he didn’t follow as far as I’m aware. General Melgren and the rest of the council that were here have been given orders to head straight to Calldyr City.”
“Fucking coward.” I mutter. “Fine, then why are you here?”
“I came to fight.”
“You’re a little late. You can go back to your palace now.” I shoo him away with my hand.
Halden straightens and his hands clench in tight fists at his side. “I’m staying. This battle may be over, but the war isn’t. I’m not leaving my people to fight without me again. I’m not leaving my brother.”
“We don’t need another soldier who isn’t prepared to fall in line. You’d be a hindrance.”
“I’m familiar with how a chain of command works, Violet,” he snaps at me. Tairn snarls and Halden finally looks up to the assembly of dragons perched above us. “I understand I wouldn’t be in charge,” he says more softly.
I fold my arms again. “I’m not talking about the dragons.” I drop my voice, “You must have been told where we went after we defected from Basgiath. You wouldn’t be answering to a Navarrian general. You’d be lower in the pecking order than non-graduates, marked ones, and gryphon fliers. Your title means nothing , your birthright means nothing . You wouldn’t get a personal guard, no special treatment.”
“Do you think I’d be safe around the fliers, around the marked ones, without any security?”
“That’s not my problem,” I shrug dismissively. “Take it or leave it. The only way you’re helping in this war is to stand with us, our way.”
“Let me think about it. I want to fight, but I’d like to not be killed in my sleep, as well,” he resigns. “Can we speak in private?”
For what? A walk down memory lane? Not a chance. “No. Think quickly. Fall in line or leave by sundown,” I say and turn to leave.
“Please, Violet,” he pleads. “There are things I need to explain to you. Things you don’t know.”
I face him, but I look up at the sky, not meeting his eye. “About the war, or about us?”
“Both.”
Nope.
“Fuck off, Halden.” The pain in his eyes is obvious, but he’s too good at masking his feelings. If I’m seeing any emotion from him, it’s because he wants me to see it. He wants it to affect me. It doesn’t. I just need to get out of this conversation. I can feel questions from everyone around me, Ridoc looks like his birthday came early, and I need to see Xaden. He may be hiding out in our room, but if he hears about this from the wrong person, his temper might get the better of him.
I find Bodhi behind me. “He doesn’t leave your sight. If he chooses to fall in line, take him to Aisereigh. If not, he and all of his men need to be escorted off campus.” Bodhi nods and signals for a few others to join him. With that, I turn to leave, signaling for Garrick and the rest of them to come with me.
Halden follows after me and grabs my arm, pulling me around to look at him again. He was always annoyingly persistent. “This is important,” he starts, but it's drowned out by a deafening roar. Scratch that. Two deafening roars. Andarna might be louder than Tairn.
I snatch my arm free from Halden’s grip and Garrick steps to my side. He’s twice as wide as Halden is, and the look on his face is lethal, only rivaled by the one I’ve seen cross Xaden’s face on occasion.
“Touch her again, and you’ll be returning to your palace without a hand,” Garrick says as he grips the shortsword at his hip.
Tairn and Andarna are still snarling from their perch. Duncan steps close to Halden’s side, keeping an eye on both of them.
Duncan puts a hand on the grip of his sword and demands, “Call off the dragons, Sorrengail.”
I feel wrath push through my bond with Andarna and a rush of heat washes over us all. I look up to see her breathing scorching fire straight over our heads, just high enough to not do any damage. Tairn laughs approvingly in my mind.
“The dragons don’t answer to me, or any human. If I were you, I’d do my best not to piss them off anymore. Especially that one.” Andarna growls again, rattling off delightfully colorful threats in my head. “In fact, I’d stay inside as much as possible. Wouldn’t want to tempt her.” I smirk at him.
“No one threatens the prince, not under my watch,” Duncan doubles down, but his voice shakes.
Halden’s lips turn up in a half smile. “Don’t worry, Violet won't hurt me. I’m not worried about that.” Oh fuck this.
It takes less than a second to grab a dagger from my thigh sheathe, flip it over in my palm, and bury it to the hilt in the fleshy part of his calf. A look of pure shock crosses his face as he drops to his knees with a cry of pain. “Damn it, Violet. What the hell?” he spits out at me.
“Yes!” Andarna cheers. “Can I eat him now?”
“Not yet,” Tairn says patiently, “but soon, perhaps.”
Duncan unsheathes his sword and steps toward me. The other four guards follow suit.
I don’t reach for another blade, just raise my right hand and open the door to the archives in my mind. A stand of Tairn’s power flows through me and sparks crackle at my fingertips. “Nuh, uh, uh. Not one more step, or you all get fried.” I feel Ridoc laughing behind me.
From the corner of my eye, I see Imogen and Bodhi close in around me next to Garrick, weapons already drawn. Ridoc and Rhi unsheathe theirs as well.
“You wouldn’t kill innocent people, Vi. I know you.”
“I’m not the same woman you knew. And no one standing behind you looks very innocent. From what I can see, they were happy to let all of us fight their battle while they waited for the king to let you off your leash.”
Duncan takes another step forward, “Insolent child!” His yell echoes across the courtyard.
“That one you can eat.” Tairn concedes to Andarna.
Before Andarna can take a bite out of him, I twitch my fingers and let a full bolt of lightning crack across the sky. “Insult me again and I’ll take you out myself.”
Halden’s breaths grow heavier with the pain, but I know where I stabbed him. He won’t die. “I can’t protect you if you continue to attack me. We have history, but I won’t be able to save you from punishment. That’s beyond my power.”
I look down at him with a condescending smile. “Oh, Halden. Neither they nor anyone else is going to touch me. Not if they want to live through this war. Let’s get some things perfectly clear. Since you’ve been hiding in your little castle, the balance of power in Navarre has shifted slightly. You might be a prince, but we’ve got another one of those. I’m the only godsdamn lightning wielder alive. And I don’t give a fuck who your father is. So, no,” I look up at the five guards, who are all staring daggers at me, “I won’t be punished by anyone, least of all your little men.” I wiggle my fingers at them menacingly, “Swords away, boys.” I raise one eyebrow in challenge. Unadulterated satisfaction rushes through my veins at the sight of their blades being re-sheathed at my command.
I look at Halden again, but I don’t see fear on his face, only pure heat. Anger and lust swirl in his bright green eyes. “Maybe it’s the blood loss, but I swear Dunne, the goddess of war, is looking down at me.”
“From unworthy to Dunne, herself.” I raise my brows at him. “Should I be flattered by your change of heart?”
His eyes bore into mine. “I have missed your smart mouth. You were always extraordinary, Little Rose.”
I lean down to his ear, making no effort to keep my voice down. “Call me that again, and I’ll cut out your tongue.” I grab my dagger and twist sharply as I pull it out of his leg. He lets loose a satisfying grunt of pain while I wipe his blood off on the arm of his infantry jacket and tuck my dagger away.
With that, I turn to leave again, trusting Tairn and Andarna to watch my back while I exit.
Halden can’t let well enough lie, and yells at my back, “If you want my tongue again, Violet, I’m happy to oblige. Ask, and it’s yours.”
Rage explodes through my chest, but I will my face to remain vacant. He’s trying to rile me, but I can’t give him the power to get under my skin. Not again.
Not dignifying him with a glance back, and as unruffled as I muster, I yell over my shoulder, “I’ll pass. You weren’t that good, Halden.”
Three hours at the throwing target hasn’t eased much of my pent up energy. I haven’t heard from Bodhi, so I don’t know what Halden has decided.
I also haven’t been able to find Xaden. He’s blocking me out, which wouldn’t normally worry me, but today it’s especially unnerving. I still sense the shadowy bond in my mind’s archives, so I know he’s alive and near, but pinning down his location has been tough. I blame the venin, but I can’t know for sure since Brennan still won’t give me that fucking book.
I fling another dagger, and it pierces the target’s heart with a gratifying thud.
Ridoc has been at my side asking me questions the entire time. I’ve been ignoring most of them. No one here knew Halden and I dated or had any history outside of a friendly couple of years when we were stationed in Calldyr. I promised Rhi I would tell her everything later.
I wasn’t intentionally keeping our past relationship a secret. I never thought it would be brought up. Two years ago, Halden made it clear we had no future. Why would I think he’d show up ready to act like we’re still the best of friends, even with Cam being in my squad? He left me. I assumed he’d ignore me.
What did he want to talk to me about? It’s not important, really, but it is nagging at my brain. His continued ability to tunnel into the deep parts of my mind and plant questions is pissing me off. I throw another dagger, harder this time, and it sinks into the target’s head, all the way to the hilt. Damn it. That’s going to be a bitch to get out.
The door to the sparring gym swings open, and everyone’s eyes fly to Brennan who is coming at me like his ass is on fire.
I ignore him and go to retrieve my daggers. I walk back to the throwing line and start again, keeping my back to my big brother. Today is truly not the day.
After a minute of me pretending he’s not glaring at the back of my head, he loses his patience and clears his throat.
“Come to give me that book?” I still don’t face him.
“Why am I getting word in the middle of an assembly meeting that you attempted to kill the crown prince of Navarre?”
I throw my head back with a laugh. “Attempted to kill him? It was barely a scratch!”
“I had to mend him, Violet!” He throws his arms out to the sides as if I’m the one being unreasonable here.
I shrug, “He’s alive, then? I knew I didn’t hit anything vital. No harm done.”
“You stabbed a prince! No harm done?” Brennan’s turning purple. He looks like mom. That thought causes an ache in my chest that I’m not ready to come face to face with, so I shove it away.
Cam strolls in like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Who’s stabbing princes?”
“Violet, apparently!” Brennan pinches his nose.
Ridoc claps him on the shoulder. “Chill, B. Take a breath. Count to ten or something. Plus, it sounds like he stabbed her first, if you know what I mean.” If looks could kill, Ridoc would be meeting Malek right about now. “Woah! Maybe count to a hundred.”
Rhi pulls Ridoc away before Brennan can strangle him.
Cam shakes his head. “Anything I should be concerned about? Have I mentioned you look stunning today? The silver in your hair is particularly shiny.” He smiles shamelessly at me.
I roll my eyes and fight a smile at his blatant flattery. “Halden is here. And I may or may not have stored a dagger in his leg temporarily,” I lilt, playing with said dagger.
“I heard. I’m sure he deserved it.”
“Thank you!” I look at Brennan. “See!”
“Wait, what?” Brennan’s eyes bounce between Cam and I for a few seconds. “What do you mean he deserved it? Did he hurt you?”
Cam sighs, “I don’t know exactly how things ended with you two, but I knew he screwed something up when I saw him after. And when he got word you’d crossed the parapet,” he rubs the back of his neck, “I thought he was going to lose it. Whatever he did to you, it's been eating at him ever since.” Good. It should be.
Brennan’s eyes flare, “‘How things ended’? What do you mean ‘things’?”
“Dude, what do you think I meant when I said he stabbed her first?” Ridoc whispers behind his hand.
“Violet,” Brennan is deathly calm, “explain to me why it sounds like you had a relationship with someone almost four years older than you.” Huh. Totally would have thought he’d be mad about the prince thing, not the age. He’s not that much older. Only a year older than Xaden.
I shrug unapologetically. “We dated.” He doesn’t respond so I continue, “He was in the infantry quadrant when I was studying in the archives.”
“You didn’t think that was pertinent information to share with the assembly? With your brother? Does Mira know?”
“It was a long time ago. You were dead.” I shrug again. “And, no, Mira doesn’t know. Jesinia is the only one who knew at the time. It surprises me that Cam knew, honestly.”
“Amari help us. Does Riorson know?”
“He does now.” Xaden’s deep voice is lethal as he leans against the doorway, flanked by Garrick.
The anger emanating from him pisses me off even more. “Oh no, don’t look at me like that. I tried to find you as soon as I could, and need I remind you, you didn’t want to know about any of my exes.” His jaw ticks, but he stays silent. “Now,” I turn to Brennan, “is he staying?”
My brother nods, “For now, he said he agrees to your terms, but he’s concerned about his safety. I’m working on a solution.”
The hold on Xaden’s tongue dissolves. “You told him he could stay?!” he roars.
“He wants to fight. We need bodies. It’s a win-win, and considering I buried a dagger in his leg and insulted his ability to please a woman, I don’t think he’ll be looking for my company anytime soon.”
Xaden’s eyes roll as he shakes his head at me. “So violent.”
I walk to him and raise up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “That’s why you love me,” I tease. “Come on, I’m tired. Let’s go lay down.”
“You go on, I’ll meet you there.”
I stroke his arm as I walk through the door. I’m halfway down the hall when Catriona falls into step with me, her full lips turned up in a smile.
“Can I help you?” I ask hesitantly. We had a moment of camaraderie during the battle, but we’re far from friends.
One of her shoulders rises and falls indifferently. “I should get to know you better. You’re much more interesting than I gave you credit for.”
I laugh at her veiled insult, but keep pace with her. I’d much rather her on my side than against me. “We're more likely to kill each other than be friends,” I say with a grin.
“Maybe, but it was getting boring around here, anyway.”