Archive of Our Own ^beta

What the fuck is he up do?

It’s the only thought running through his head as Garrick watches his best friend of 20 years up on the dais, careful not to look too closely - but he knows him enough to know that the cold, calculating look on his face before he leans in to whisper something isn’t necessarily a good look. He’s planning, plotting, strategizing. 

And when it’s announced a few moments later that two squads will switch places, Garrick curses under his breath. Fuck, this definitely isn’t good. 

What the fuck is he thinking? 

He understands some of the reasons why Violet Sorrengail - the daughter of the woman who dragged their families - his family - to death - is now under Xaden’s command. He has no idea what she looks like, but she’s here, in the crowd. She was bound for the scribes, what the fuck is she doing here? 

On the outside, Xaden’s intentions are clear enough for everyone who knows even an ounce of Navarrian history. The son of the Great Betrayer, moving his greatest enemy’s daughter into his wing, where he can do whatever he pleases with her. He can kill her for no reason whatsoever. 

And Xaden would. Garrick has seen him kill, knows how fucking ruthless he is, not to mention that terrifying fucking dragon of his. 

But that look. The plotting, the calculating. Not to mention what Garrick knows. Who he knows. Garrick isn’t entirely sure why Violet Sorrengail is suddenly under his command - if it’s because his Wingleader and best friend wants to kill her, or because it’s a small, small favor to the man more than a thousand miles away, the man everyone believes to be dead, the man currently living in the house no one knows still exists. 

No matter the reason, Garrick knows there’s more to this than the outside would suggest. There’s something Xaden hasn’t told him. And he’s going to find out what he can. With a quick glance in Bodhi’s direction, he receives a small nod - an agreement to an unspoken question. And he knows that Bodhi has questions too. 

They get their answer later that night, far away from spying eyes, their three dragons perched in a meadow not too far away from the death college they’re forced to attend. Forced, because it was their only chance of survival. Not counting their long friendship, that alone is reason enough for Garrick to stay calm as he folds his arms and cocks a brow in Xaden’s direction. 

“What’s your plan with Sorrengail?” 

“Don’t know yet,” Xaden responds, his tone hard and clipped and clearly annoyed. 

“You didn’t put her into your wing out of the goodness of your heart. And if you kill her, he’ll kill you,” Bodhi shoots back before Garrick can say something along the same lines. 

Xaden clenches his jaw, looking away from them, clearly deep in thought. “He wouldn’t dare.” 

Even this far away from leadership, from possible spies, no one dares say the name. But they all know who he means. Brennan. The older brother, the mender who probably wouldn’t hesitate if he found out his sister had died at the hands of Xaden. No matter his potential titles, no matter how important he is to the rebellion. 

They all know how much family means when there’s so little left. 

Before either Garrick or Bodhi has the opportunity to say anything, Xaden drags a hand through his hair and then slides his hands into his pockets, his entire demeanor dripping with boredom. Then he looks between Garrick and Bodhi, ignoring the low snarl from the blue daggertail behind him - the one that has both Bodhi and Garrick taking a step back. 

“I should probably tell you about the rest of the deal I made with the General.” 

✦ ✦ ✦

There’s something in that fucking tree that Xaden doesn’t want the rest of them to know about. Whatever, or whoever, can’t be too much of a threat because Xaden would never allow this conversation to happen if that were the case. And despite the darkness, Garrick is fairly sure he saw some shadows carefully snake around the trunk of the tree, sliding upwards in order to hide something. Or someone. 

And Garrick has a sneaking suspicion he knows exactly who that someone is. 

After their meeting with Brennan - Aisereigh - the other day, where they delivered the news of his little sister being in the Rider’s Quadrant, Garrick is fairly sure she’s not a spy. Not from what he told them, but from the pure shock and surprise and dread that floated across his face before he hauled it all in. And that was enough for Garrick, because he has never once seen that man scared before. 

He’s not so sure that Xaden is convinced, still running through every scenario in his head over and over and over again. Always plotting, always scheming, always going through every possible outcome in order to be prepared for anything. Even though he promised the General to keep her daughter alive the first year, it’s clear that doesn’t mean he trusts the youngest Sorrengail. Brennan insisting she couldn’t possibly be a spy for their mother doesn’t really mean anything either. Not to Xaden. 

It’s still only Garrick and Bodhi who knows about that particular little tidbit, both of them initially pissed they hadn’t been told, Xaden just barking back at them that he had it handled and they didn’t need to know at all. He had the word spread that the youngest Sorrengail was his to handle, and that had been that. No one was stupid enough to go against him. Not counting Cardulo, but she always had a mind of her own and knew enough to know that Xaden wouldn’t actually kill her for killing the daughter of their enemy. Or, try to kill. Oh, he had been pissed though. It had been a while since Garrick had seen him so thoroughly angry, shadows curling around his boots, his fingers, the walls as he reminded Imogen of her place. 

And no matter his own complicated feelings for Cardulo, Xaden was right. No matter how much Imogen wanted that kill, it wasn’t hers to make. In the end, it was Xaden’s call. And it would be his hand that dealt the deathblow, did he decide to strike it. But Garrick knew that he wouldn’t. At least not this year. And probably not the next either, when both he and Garrick would finally be rid of these walls. 

But that doesn’t mean Xaden won’t have to give his order more than once. And now that most of them are gathered - especially the first years, who will actually get their chance to kill her on the mats - Xaden has the opportunity to put emphasis. 

“The youngest Sorrengail is mine, and I’ll handle her when the time is right,” his best friends points out, and Garrick almost rolls his eyes, wondering how much is pointed at Imogen and how much is pointed toward the shadows in that three above him, the words used to scare the shit out of the tiny woman hiding up there. Is she even aware who the shadows cloaking her belong to? Garrick doubts it. 

Bodhi comes in with quiet support for his cousin, the words casual and pointed to Imogen, but used in order to hide their true meaning. Both Garrick and Xaden knows it means he has Xaden’s back, that they both stand behind him. Always. 

But Imogen won’t back down. “Her mother is responsible for the execution of my mom and sister. I should have done more than snap her shoulder.” 

“Her mom is responsible for the capture of nearly all our parents,” Garrick chimes in, reminding Imogen of her place as he folds his arms over his wide chest. And for the girl up in that tree he adds, “Not her daughter. Punishing children for the sins of their parents is the Navarrian way, not the Tyrrish.” 

Imogen turns her green eyes to him, and he’s not one to back down from a fight, neither a physical one or a verbal one, and especially not with Imogen. But before they can take it too far, Xaden cuts in. “Don’t forget her brother was Brennan Sorrengail. She has just as much reason to hate us as we do her,” he says, and with a few choice words he shuts the argument down, closing the meeting and sending everyone on their way a short moment later.

Garrick is more than aware of Xaden lingering behind, and if he didn’t know that a certain Sorrengail was hiding in that tree, it would look like he was just making sure everyone left before he did. Like he stays last during every single one of these meetings. 

And as Garrick slides his hands into his pockets, his cloak wrapped around him as he walks back toward the stone walls, he wishes for a different signet, just for tonight. Just to give him the opportunity to listen in on the conversion that’s about to happen. 

Because he’s sure as hell sure it’s going to be entertaining, and that Xaden won’t tell him shit about it. 

✦ ✦ ✦

Watching Xaden spar with the tiny Sorrengail is the best entertainment he’s had all year. Fuck, it might be the best entertainment he’s had in years. 

He’s seen her spar before, careful to watch everyone under his command, but he might have put a little extra effort into watching her. And she’s won all her challenges, he’ll give her that - but it has more to do with luck than anything else. Some of those wins have been questionable, to say the least. 

And even though his best friend hasn’t told him much, or anything at all, about how he plans to ‘handle’ the youngest Sorrengail, Garrick knows that Xaden has noticed too. And he's not going to lie, he’s been waiting for the moment he’d step in and do something about it. If only to get a better sense of how much is luck and how much is something else. 

So of course Garrick watches - hell, the whole room is watching. It’s not exactly protocol for a Wingleader to step in and challenge a first-year. Or a second-year. Or anyone, willingly. Unless they want them dead. And, well, everyone knows Xaden wants this particular first-year dead. 

And from the look on most people’s faces, that’s what they think will happen. But Garrick leans back and watches with amusement more than anything else as Xaden puts the tiny woman on her ass over and over and over again. 

And when he watches his best friend guide her hands to the three spots he would never allow anyone to get even remotely close to, let alone someone he has proclaimed the enemy for anyone who listens, Garrick has to fight a laugh. He notices the whispered voices, wishing to the gods above he was close enough to hear - but he’s sure no one is close enough to hear. Xaden wouldn’t risk anyone hearing whatever it is he’s sharing. Teaching. Whatever he’s going to call it once he’s done with whatever the fuck he’s doing. 

Garrick stays in his section as Xaden pushes back up from the mat, collecting his weapons from Imogen, the pink-haired woman whispering something that he seems to ignore in favor of calling out Aetos. He probably should have done so himself, but fuck, it’s more fun when Xaden does it. 

“You in the mood to spar with first-years?” Garrick asks as Xaden comes closer, keeping pace with him. He struggles to keep the smile completely off his face. Especially when his best friend looks so pissed off. “Or just that particular first-year?” 

“Sometimes I hate how fucking observant you are,” Xaden replies and Garrick takes that as the compliment it is, but decides to push the limits of his best friend. If nothing else, but for the fact that it’s fun to push his buttons. And it could be good to figure out how much Xaden has admitted even to himself.

Garrick lowers his voice when he continues, to make sure no one can overhear them. “It’s hard to miss the way you look at her.” 

And not only the way he looked at her on that mat. The way he’s been looking at her lately. He’s good at hiding it, but gods, Garrick has known him for too long not to see it. And fuck, he shouldn’t, considering who she is, what she stands for, and who he is, and what he stands for. Garrick is pretty sure Xaden won’t act on it though. 

“Like I want to kill her?” 

“Or fu-” Garrick starts, not afraid of his best friend and the potential aftermath of telling the simple truth. 

“Don’t finish that sentence when I’m in the mood to hit people,” Xaden replies harshly, and Garrick just can’t help himself when he grins. 

“Oh, would you, please?” He grins wider and puts his hand to his heart. “I need you to use those big, strong hands to show me-” 

He’s not surprised at the shove to his shoulder, or how hard it is, and it leaves him shaking his head as he swallows his laughter, his best friend walking away from him and into Claw section. Most likely to get some space. 

From him or from his not-so-accepted attraction to Sorrengail, Garrick isn’t sure. 

If nothing else, his last year at this death sentence of a college will be interesting. 

✦ ✦ ✦

She might actually not make it, Garrick thinks to himself, watching what's happening below, from where he’s standing close to Xaden. 

She’s one of those who hasn’t made it up during the training runs, and even though she’s smart and fast and agile, her small size won’t do anything to help her on the Gauntlet. The opposite, it’s most likely what will fail her in the end. Fuck, it might actually be the thing that kills her. 

And now, she’s come to a natural stop. The damn chimney. Even if she makes it past this, she’s never faced the last obstacle. It’s really not looking good. And Garrick doesn’t appreciate that he cares. But, admitting to it or not, his best friend has taken an interest in the youngest Sorrengail, and it’s moved past that initial stage of hate and murder and suspicion. So, naturally, Garrick has also taken an interest. Not just as someone in charge of the section, but actual interest. 

She had flown through the first ascent, leaping through the obstacle on sure and steady feet, her timing damn near perfect through it all. The second and third ascents were no different, really - she handled them like a fucking pro. Honestly, she damn near rivaled Mairi on some of the obstacles. 

But now she’s standing on the gravel path, wiping her hands on her sides as she looks up at that damn chimney. 

Garrick shuts out the noise around him, Matthias yelling words of encouragement, Barlowe doing the opposite. No different from any other challenges, really. Garrick notices the shadows simmering around Xaden’s fingertips at the taunt from Barlowe however, and he’s not surprised. That asshole is a fucking prick, and he’ll do no good if he bonds. 

Garrick honestly wouldn’t mind if his best friend squeezed the air out of his lungs without raising a single finger. But hopefully the dragons will take things into their own matter at Presentation in a little bit. 

Running his tongue over his teeth, Garrick tilts his head to the side a little bit as he watches Violet drag one of the ropes horizontally across the surface of the chimney, and he’s just about to wonder out loud what the fuck she’s doing when it dawns on him.

Clever, clever, girl, he thinks to himself as she starts climbing the obstacle, holding on to the rope as leverage. Not everyone thinks so however, as - to absolutely no one’s surprise - Mavis snaps “She can’t do that!” from behind them. 

Garrick nearly snorts. “She’s doing it right now.” 

He hears his best friend suck in a breath as the rope slips, but when he glances over, Xaden’s his normal, composed mask of lethal indifference. His eyes though. Garrick knows him enough to know to read the challenge in them, as if he’s daring her to make it up that chimney. 

Once she’s standing in front of that last obstacle, the ramp - the one she’s hasn’t faced yet - Garrick takes half a step closer to Xaden and lowers his voice. “Never seen it done like that before.” 

For a heartbeat, Garrick isn’t sure if his best friend will answer him, his gaze locked on Violet as she takes in the ramp, her friends cheering her on. Xaden’s eyes still focused below, he quietly murmurs: “The right way isn’t the only way.” 

And his voice might be quiet, but fuck, that’s admiration in there. And the same challenge he can still read in his eyes. And for a second, Garrick wonders. Wonders what will happen if Sorrengail doesn’t make it up that ramp, if she dies trying. He wonders what it will do to Xaden. But he pushes that away, because it doesn’t belong here - not in this death sentence of a college, not in war. People die. Even the ones you’re too stubborn to admit to having an interest in. 

As Garrick watches Violet unsheath a dagger, he can see her plan all too clearly and prepares for what’s about to happen. Because suddenly he’s sure that she will make it up that ramp, and she’s going to meet another obstacle when she does. And damn it all to hell, as he watches her propel herself up that ramp, swinging her arm up and slamming that dagger into the wood, flinging herself up, the thought that shouldn’t cross his mind does. 

We could use someone like that on our side.

He nearly winces at the primal scream that leaves her, so filled with pain, but she throws an elbow over the top of the ramp and then she’s up there with them, staggering to her feet as she sheathes her dagger again. 

As her friends erupt in cheers, Garrick catches the long exhale that leaves his best friend and for a second he’s happy. Happy that for now at least, he doesn’t have to know what her death would do to him. But there’s no time to linger in that feeling, because her friends' cheering is mixed with loud complaints. 

And as fucking Mavis calls her a cheater, Garrick bites back the urge to hit a woman. Instead, he steps forward, planting himself in her path as she charges toward him and Xaden, and Violet behind them. “Back the hell up, Mavis.” 

That’s not going to work, and he’s surprised he thought it would. “The cheater clearly used foreign materials not once but twice,” Mavis screeches, the sound of her voice no more than noise in his ears. “It’s not to be tolerated! We live by the rules or we die by them!” 

Garrick knows by now that Violet is too fucking smart to not have thought about this, figures she has some kind of a plan or speech ready, and she can more than handle herself, but gods does he hate the woman in front of him. 

He warns Amber, moving to the side to let Xaden, as wingleader, take over, and Garrick nearly laughs at the look of blatant defiance on Violet’s face as she faces Amber. At how she manages to look down on someone taller than her. And as Violet starts quoting the Codex to Amber Mavis, Garrick sees it. He sees it so fucking clearly. 

This woman is a fucking force to be reckoned with. She’s going to bond - and she’ll probably bond someone strong, someone just as fierce as she is. This tiny woman - called brittle and broken and so many bad things - will most likely make it out of this quadrant and she’ll fight in this war. 

Fuck, she’ll probably make a difference in this war. 

And gods above, he understands what Xaden sees in her. Even if his best friend won’t admit to it. 

“The right way isn’t the only way,” Violet states, looking up at his best friend and Garrick shakes his head, the words mirroring Xaden’s earlier ones. The bastard gave her fucking advice before today. He wouldn’t have told her exactly what to do, but he helped her. 

As the others around them scatter, Xaden dismissing Sorrengail with an order to patch up her wound, Garrick finally allows himself to grin. And he grins wider when he notes that Xaden’s eyes linger a little too long on the young woman with silver-tipped hair. 

And he hopes, more than anything, that Violet will prove herself smart enough to fight on the right side of this war. Next to them. 

Next to Xaden. 

✦ ✦ ✦

He would probably be impressed by the cursewords his brain conjures up, a lot more imaginative than usual, if he wasn't also fucking terrified. 

How can he not be? He was impressed for a second, when he heard the massive flaps of wings and saw that black behemoth of a dragon fly toward them. Impressed for a single second, until he understood who that dragon was. Until he recognized the tiny rider on top of him. 

He knew that Violet would bond, had no doubts that she’d bond strong, but this… this changes everything.

Because that's Tairn, and Tairn is mated to Sgaeyl, and Sgaeyl is bonded to Xaden. Which means that Violet is now bonded to Xaden. 

There's already a hundred different reasons for why riders want her dead. And now that she's bonded to the second strongest war dragon on the fucking Continent, second only to Melgren’s fucking dragon? She's going to be the biggest target, every single one of the unbonded will try to kill her to get to him now that he's back in play. 

And if she dies… 

Garrick doesn't even want to think about that. What the mating bond between Tairn and Sgaeyl now means for the survival of his best friend. 

Chradh is unusually quiet in his head as his thoughts keep spinning, as he tries to single out the best way to keep Xaden and Violet alive, and he realizes it's most likely because his own dragon is unsure what Tairn being back means. He wasn't at Presentation, he had shown no signs of wanting to bond again. 

What the fuck happened out there? 

Garrick is so lost in his thoughts he barely registers that Violet bonded not only Tairn, but the golden feathertail as well. He's too wrapped up in his plans to even find it in him to be surprised. 

He needs to find Xaden. Needs to find out what the fuck happened, how this happened, how they need to proceed. Garrick sees him across the field after a few moments of looking, but Xaden meets his eyes and shakes his head quickly. 

Later. 

He considers finding Bodhi, finding Imogen, to discuss this, to at least form a plan when it comes to the marked ones. But even though he's Xaden’s closest, his second, he knows he can't do much without him. Without more information. So he stays where he is, and Xaden finds him shortly after the dragons have returned from whenever the fuck they went to discuss the matter of Sorrengail bonding two dragons. 

Garrick doesn't let himself think about that. He's fairly sure Tairn will get his way, he's too respected not to. 

As Xaden approaches, the look on his face tells Garrick to lay low with all the questions. His tense shoulders, his deadly glare… he's more than aware of the shit he’s in. Garrick doesn't want to remind him further. 

So, despite the fact that he needs to know, he pushes aside his own questions and leans into his humor, into the lighter side of this. Anything to distract his best friend, if only for a second. 

They can talk and plan and strategize later. 

So he lifts his eyebrows. “So, you and the General’s daughter…” 

“Not funny,” Xaden replies, and fuck, despite wanting to distract him, Garrick also needs to know. 

“Is this going to be a problem?”

“No.” 

Garrick lets his tone drip with sarcasm. “Right.” 

“I’m fine,” Xaden replies, not looking at him. Mostly likely scanning the field for what first-years survived Threshing. He could just ask. Garrick has already double and triple checked. 

“I’ve seen corpses more fine than you.”

“Of course corpses are fine. They have nothing to worry about.”

And the biggest thing to worry about… 

As Xaden holds up a finger in the general direction of where Sorrengail is standing, Garrick mutters: “Guess we’ll need to keep her alive.” 

We because this is no longer about Xaden fulfilling his favor to the General. Now it's about keeping Xaden alive. 

His best friend agrees, and definitely doesn't seem pleased about it. Garrick follows his gaze to Mairi, now bonded to a red Daggertail. He’s not entirely surprised at the next words that come out of Xaden’s mouth.  “Maybe I should move Liam into her squad.” 

Xaden continues to argue about why it would be a wise move, and Garrick wonders for a second who he’s trying to convince. 

All valid points though, but… Garrick folds his arms across his chest and glances at Xaden, knowing his next words will work more as a reminder than anything else. “Or you could give her a chance to make it on her own first.” 

Because both Garrick and Xaden know she has what it takes. She has the brains, if nothing else. With the right training, she’ll be more than fine. 

Xaden doesn't look reminded though so Garrick loosens a breath, going about this another way. “But if that’s the route you choose, everyone likes Liam, so hopefully she will, too. It will make it easier for him to guard her.” 

“She’ll like him.” 

Garrick can't help but grin at the look on Xaden’s face, at the strain in his voice. Gods above, how he hasn't realized he's actually interested in Sorrengail yet, Garrick will never know. “Don’t worry. He won’t fuck her.”

Xaden’s eyes narrow and Garrick almost rolls his eyes in response.  “Why would I care if he…” 

But he trails off and Garrick follows his gaze to where Sorrengail and Aetos are standing some distance away. Garrick fights his laughter at the look on Xaden’s face, at the shadows unfurling around his fingertips, as his best friend watches Aetos take in her relic. Amari above, if looks could kill, Aetos would have died a painful death right then and there.

Garrick grins wider. “Relax, he’s lacing her back up. See? She’s already turning around. Nothing to…” Garrick's voice fades to a whisper as Aetos does the thing not even Garrick had expected. “Oh shit.” 

Garrick quickly looks at his best friend, sees the shadows practically spasm around him, and he fights his laughter. He shouldn't laugh. He really fucking shouldn't. He's more than aware of how complicated things would get if anything were ever to happen between Xaden and Violet. Even more so now, with their dragons mated. 

But gods, it's also kind of hilarious. 

Garrick's not stupid enough to tell his best friend he’s stupid, even though he clearly is, so instead he asks if he’s alright. He doesn't get an answer, Xaden trailing off after the first word, and by the look in his eyes, he's having a conversation with his dragon. 

But the rest - from the way he's breathing, the way he's tense, the way he looks like he wants nothing more than to stride over and knock Aetos out for even daring to look at Sorrengail… 

He laughs, because he can't help himself. Damn plans and a greater risk of his best friend dying. That can all wait until tomorrow. For now, he needs to revel in this. “You're looking a little green.”

A little green is an understatement. His best friend is actually struggling to breathe. 

Garrick has known Xaden for twenty years, and has seen every damn side of him. But this is a first. He claps a hand on Xaden’s shoulder, not even bothering to fight his grin anymore. “In twenty years, I don't think I've ever seen you jealous before. This is amazing.” 

And despite everything, he's so fucking happy he's here to see it. 

✦ ✦ ✦

After a couple of hours on dragonback in the cold, dark night, Garrick is more than ready for the comfort of his own bed. But as he watches the twinkling magelights from Basgiath come closer, he spends a couple of seconds wondering if he should give up ten minutes of much needed sleep for a warm shower. 

He doesn’t have the time to decide before the massive, dark shape of Sgaeyl suddenly banks left and dives, picking up speed. A lot of speed. 

Something’s wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong, based on the feeling of dread suddenly coursing through him. His first thought is Cardulo, but he quickly dismisses that. Imogen is more than capable, and it’s the middle of the night. She’s not stupid. She’s definitely sleeping. Besides, he’s not sure Sgaeyl and Xaden would take off that fast for her. 

Bodhi, then.

Maybe Mairi. 

Chradh has picked up speed without Garrick having ushered him to, but still Sgaeyl is already gone, disappeared under the dark of night and growing distance. “Chradh?”  

His dragon doesn’t respond, and after a few heartbeats of silence through the bond, Garrick grows impatient. It hasn’t been more than thirty seconds since Sgaeyl took off, but it’s too long without knowing what’s wrong. 

“Be patient, Impatient One,” his dragon grumbles in his head, and Garrick swallows the urge to flip him off, growing more impatient by the millisecond. He values his head too much for that. As his dragon dives toward Basgiath, they meet Sgaeyl, flying towards them - toward the Vale - riderless. He can’t see Xaden, already disappeared somewhere into the school. His headstart is several minutes long, so he’s not surprised. 

“Tairn’s rider is in danger,” Chradh tells him as Garrick checks his weapons, making sure they’re fully sheathed so that they don’t pierce him during his upcoming rolling dismount. At his dragon’s words, fury builds in Garrick, warming his blood in an instant. If Sorrengail’s in danger, then Xaden is in danger. He allows for half a second of disbelief, that he’s stupid enough not to have figured it out earlier. To not count that as one of the possibilities behind Sgaeyl and Xaden taking off so quickly. 

A single name travels through the bond, but it’s a command, and his dragon knows it. “Bodhi.” 

If Xaden is in danger, he needs Bodhi. He has no idea what’s waiting, but he knows it’s not good. But he doesn’t let himself think about that, Chradh’s wings flapping just enough to slow down so that Garrick can dismount, running before he’s even really hit the ground. He taps into some of Chradh’s power, letting the magic speed him up as he runs into the school. 

At this time of night, he has his suspicions on where he needs to run and he’s halfway up the stairs to the first-year dormitories when his dragon confirms what he already suspects. 

“Six unbonded in her bedroom. Cuir’s rider is on his way.” 

Good, but he doesn’t have time to wait for him. With the speed Xaden took off in, he doesn’t doubt he’s already in place, but there’s no telling exactly what’s waiting for him. Xaden can more than take care of himself, Garrick knows that, but if Sorrengail is wounded, if she’s dead… 

Fuck. 

He taps into his dragon’s power, not caring if anyone is close by. Unsheathing his sword, he pushes himself impossibly faster and takes one quick look around himself. No one’s here, no one’s awake. And knowing Xaden’s in danger, he does what he’s sure will earn him a scolding later. He taps deeper into Chradh’s powers, and he walks. One second, he’s on the stairs, the next he’s in the first-year dormitories, running at full speed toward Sorrengail’s room. 

Xaden can’t have been more than seconds ahead of him, but as Garrick stops at the door to Violet’s room, it turns out he didn’t need more. There’s a heap of bodies on the floor, seemingly unharmed. Except for the dagger, lodged deep into a shoulder. Violet obviously fought back, but Xaden wouldn’t have needed much to strangle the air out of their throats once he got here. But Seifert has his throat slit, warm blood still pooling, dripping off of the dagger in his best friend’s hand. 

“Damn, Xaden,” Garrick says as he strides into the room, trying to break some of the lethal tension. “No time for questioning?” 

Not that it’s fucking needed. Not with unbonded breaking the fucking Codex. How the fuck did they even get into her room? Sheathing his sword, Garrick tries to push down the rage, instead assessing the situation. The danger has clearly been dealt with, so instead his eyes find Violet. 

Fuck. 

“No need for it,” Xaden grits out and Garrick has to agree.

From the look of it, they came damn fucking close to killing her. There’s blood caked on her hands, under her nails, but she looks mostly unharmed. Not counting the massive, gaping hole in her fucking nightgown. 

A new wave of rage courses through Garrick at the fact that she’s in her nightgown, in her room, at night. The one fucking place that’s supposed to be safe in this fucking place. He doesn’t have time to assess her more than that before Bodhi comes into the room, clearly awake when everything happened based on how quickly he arrived. Probably waiting for Xaden and Garrick to come back. He assesses the room, the situation, and then Violet, most likely checking her for injuries, just as Garrick had done. 

The sound of hysterical laughter breaks some of the tension, three sets of eyes locking on Violet. She’s clearly in shock. Bodhi takes that as a sign to take some kind of lead, and next thing Garrick knows, he’s lugging a dead body out of Sorrengail’s room, leaving Xaden and Violet alone. 

Xaden will have questions. Garrick and Bodhi definitely have questions. And after bringing in help, after clearing Sorrengail’s room of bodies, the two friends take a look at each other and nod in agreement. They’re the only two who can walk through the wards of Xaden’s room, and they settle in silence after quickly washing off. 

Garrick wakes again at the first sign of light in Xaden’s room, and after scanning the room it’s clear his best friend still isn’t back. He’s just reaching out to tap Bodhi’s foot, to wake him from where he’s asleep by Xaden’s desk, when the bedroom door opens. 

Xaden looks exhausted, his shoulders tense and his hair a mess. Like he’s run his hands through it, fingers pulling and tugging. He’s cleaned up, but it’s clear he hasn’t slept. Garrick has no idea what took the rest of the night, but he doesn’t waste any time as he sits up on Xaden’s bed. 

“You were right,” he says just as Xaden closes the door behind him. “You need to move Mairi, after tonight we need eyes on her. This can’t be allowed to happen again.” 

In response, his best friend leans against the door, folding his arms across his chest, closing his eyes. “Already set that in motion,” he sighs, and then winces slightly before he continues, as if the words are hard to get out. “We have another problem to deal with first. Solution might get me killed but I need you to back me.” 

“Always,” Garrick is quick to reply, always having his best friend’s back, but Bodhi is more hesitant, always wanting every side of the situation to be able to properly assess. “What’s going on?” 

And then Xaden opens his eyes and says the words that change nothing and everything at the same time.

✦ ✦ ✦

Stifling his laughter, Garrick presses his lips together and looks around the room. Then he folds his arms across his chest and looks to his best friend, who is already glaring daggers at Mairi. If Garrick were to guess, Xaden would have preferred it to be just Garrick - but Mairi had just gotten out of the infirmary and on his way to his own room when Garrick and Xaden put down the new armoire in the hallway. 

Where Violet was, Garrick wasn’t entirely sure. But from the look on Xaden’s face, it was probably best that the tiny woman wasn’t here. 

“Was there another attack?” Mairi deadpans, peering into Violet’s room with a raised brow and Garrick nearly chokes on his laughter. Mairi damn well knows there wasn’t an attack. Xaden had been in a particularly good mood yesterday morning, despite the rather loud thunderstorm the night before. Coincidentally the same night Sorrengail tapped into her powers as a fucking lightning wielder, and the same night Xaden had gone to “check on her” after killing Barlowe.

Garrick wasn’t stupid. He could put two and two together, and so could Mairi. It was about fucking time too, given the amount of tension between them lately. But despite the fact leadership had to dispatch a couple of water wielders to stop the forest fire they evidently started, something had gone wrong between yesterday morning and now. 

Very wrong, based on Xaden’s mood. 

Before Xaden can say anything, Garrick collects himself and snorts, looking between his two friends. “Not unless you count an attack on-”

“Finish that sentence and I will break your nose,” Xaden warns, and the look he sends him is enough to cause Garrick to back off. A little bit, at least.

“Seriously though, were you fucking or fighting?” he muses, taking in the wreckage of Violet’s old armoire. Then he raises a brow and grins wickedly. “Or both?” 

Xaden grumbles something Garrick can’t hear, looking a fuck lot like he’s regretting asking him to help with this. Garrick grins wider. “I’m sorry, what was that?” 

In response, a tendril of shadow unfurls from Xaden and swipes at Garrick’s feet, but he sees it coming and quickly evades landing on his ass by stepping to the side. “I said, shut the fuck up and help me, or leave.” 

Mairi chuckles, his eyes shining with mirth. “No wonder she kicked you out yesterday.” At the questioning look from Garrick, he shrugs. “What, I hear things.”

Xaden looks almost pained, and Garrick rolls his eyes. “Relax, we’ll help you. I already lugged this thing through half the school. Can I offer some advice, though?” At the look Xaden gives him, that’s a no, but Garrick ignores that as he strides into the room and starts picking up some debris. “You really should manage your stress better. Sex is great for that. Hey, Liam, you think Vi-”

He doesn’t have time to finish his sentence, too busy dodging the fist that’s coming right at him. 

Between the three of them, with the help of Xaden’s shadows and Garrick’s wind manipulation, it doesn’t take long to clear the room of any remaining debris, and to haul the broken armoire out into the hallway. They’re just fitting the new one into the corner when the inhabitant of the room comes back. 

And by the look on her face - all lethal and dangerous - when she looks and finds Xaden, Liam and Garrick don't hesitate to scramble out of the room. Garrick winks at Violet on his way out, something she ignores, and he hears Mairi quietly tell her something he can’t make out. 

“What the fuck did he do?” Garrick muses as Liam catches up to him, hands in his pockets. 

“Nothing good,” Liam replies, shaking his head. “My guess is one of them is ready to talk and the other isn't.”

“You're probably not wrong,” Garrick agrees, knowing a little too well how emotionally constipated his best friend can be. Especially when it comes to Violet Sorrengail. Well, girls in general. Or, everything, actually. 

They don’t go far, leaning against the wall not too far down into the hallway. Which gives both of them a perfect view of Xaden walking out of the room with his tail between his legs. At the sound of the door slamming shut behind him, both burst out laughing. 

At the middle finger that’s raised half-heartedly in their direction, they both double over. 

✦ ✦ ✦

Even as they fly over Aretia, Garrick isn’t completely sure they’re doing the right thing. Still, he knows this is probably the best chance they have at Sorrengail surviving. The best shot at Xaden surviving. Gods, there had been so much blood. 

Black blood. 

Garrick has seen more blood than he ever should have, but it’s never been black. 

Gods above, how is she supposed to survive this, even if they get her to Brennan in time? He still can’t wrap his head around Soleil, and Mairi… Fuck, Liam is dead. Liam, the best of them. He’ll never hear him make a bad joke again, never spar with him, never hear his laugh. 

Fuck. 

Garrick thought he was used to death, and now one of his best friends is dead and his best friend - his brother - is hanging on by a fucking thread. Literally. Even if he and Sorrengail weren’t tied together, Garrick isn’t entirely sure his best friend will survive her death. 

He’s never seen Xaden scared before today. Not like this. Xaden isn’t scared of dying, but holding Sorrengail, all that black blood surrounding them, he was terrified. Begging her to live. 

And Garrick isn’t entirely sure what to do about that, more than follow him wherever he goes. 

His mind is still in a daze as they reach Riorson House, and he can’t even take in the stone fortress properly, the place that he grew up in, the place that he’s always called home, because all he can focus on is getting Violet to her not-so-dead brother, so he can hopefully mend her and make sure that his best friend doesn’t die. Doesn’t die, like Soleil and Liam, the latter flying home in Bodhi’s arms. 

Home. 

Gods, they’re home and he can’t even fucking marvel at that because he’s terrified. 

She saved them, most of them, and now that might cost them everything. 

He’s still in a daze when they land, when he takes his place at Xaden’s back next to Bodhi and Imogen, when they burst through the doors and through the corridors, following Xaden wherever he’s going. Garrick isn’t entirely sure where they’re going, but they don’t make it there before Brennan rushes to meet them, demanding to know what the fuck is going on, most likely wondering about the commotion of their dragons landing on the courtyard. 

He shuts up when he sees the limp body in Xaden’s arm, when he hears Xaden beg him to save her. Garrick doesn’t fully hear the spoken words until he realizes Brennan is fighting Xaden to hand her over, Xaden refusing to let her go. After so many hours holding her, Garrick isn’t entirely sure he can. 

“She’s my fucking sister,” Brennan argues when Garrick snaps back into it, watching Xaden take half a step back to keep him from reaching her. Xaden knows he needs to hand her over, commanding them all to fly here, risking everything. 

For her. 

But he won’t let her go.

That half step back is enough for Garrick to take a step forward, putting a hand between them. “She’s just his,” he cuts in softly, but not gently, parroting the words Violet spoke before she stepped out on that parapet. Gods, how was it just a few days ago? It feels like a lifetime ago. 

At the flash of anger that appears on Brennan’s face, it was probably the wrong thing to say but Garrick can’t regret it. So he pushes Brennan back a bit and even though he’s in no position to do it, he commands him to back the fuck off and let Xaden carry her wherever they need to go, so they can focus on saving her. 

They can both argue later. 

Xaden finally hands her over to her brother when they’re in the infirmary, Brennan working quickly, asking questions about what the fuck happened that they can’t really answer. Then Xaden turns around and leaves, his stride determined. He’s about to do something stupid, Garrick has no doubt.

He knows Xaden.

“You don’t fucking leave,” he commands Imogen and Bodhi, running after Xaden but he’s not at all surprised at hearing footsteps behind him. A quick look over his shoulder tells him Bodhi followed. He doesn’t slow down, but Bodhi catches up to him and together they follow Xaden through the house, ending up in the Assembly Hall. 

It takes a second for him to catch up on what’s happening over all the screaming and yelling, part of the Assembly already gathered, asking questions and demanding answers and talking over each other. It’s not until Xaden pulls out a dagger that Garrick truly understands what must have happened in the short seconds they missed before they caught up with him. 

Bodhi must realize it at the same time, because they both take a step forward. 

“Him or me,” Garrick demands, causing his best friend to look at him. His hands are caked with black blood, his shoulders square, his face as serious as he’s ever seen it. “It’s him or me, you decide, but they don’t fucking touch you.” 

Bodhi barks something he can’t fully hear when someone behind them starts to argue, and the room falls deathly quiet. And when Xaden nods and hands him the dagger, he’s not surprised. Because Bodhi is his heir, and Garrick his second, and in every situation, Xaden will spare his cousin what he can. It’s not much, but right now he will spare him participating in this brutal custom of theirs. 

“You know you don’t have to,” Garrick murmurs and the meaning is left unsaid. He doesn’t have to do this because Violet might not survive this. Xaden might not survive this. There’s really no reason to do this now, until they know for sure. But Xaden just gives him a look and Garrick nods. “Where?” 

In answer, Xaden strips out of his flight jacket, and then pulls his tunic over his head, leaving him barechested. Garrick knows that he bears the scars of a hundred and seven souls on his back, and he knows that’s not where this new mark will be. 

Garrick wasn’t entirely sure before today. But he knows now. Knows it’s not just insane attraction or the case of his best friend liking a girl. It’s not that simple. It was never that simple. Xaden is in love with Violet Sorrengail - he loves the daughter of their enemy, the daughter of the woman that had all their parents killed. And he’s about to take responsibility for her. 

“Above the heart,” Xaden orders quietly and as Garrick raises the dagger to cut into the skin of his best friend, he prays to all the gods that the woman that saved their lives today will live to prove to them all that she’s worth the risk. 

He prays that she will survive, so that his best friend doesn’t have to lose another person that he loves. 

Xaden doesn’t even wince as the blade cuts through his skin, deep enough to scar.