Liam
Wood curls at the edge of my father’s penknife, then falls to the forest floor as I finish the pull stroke along what will become the future figurine’s left horn. I didn’t quite nail the pattern from Kaori’s cards on either of my last two attempts, so I’ll leave them rough for now.
By the end of the day, I’ll be able to do all of him justice.
For the third time in the last hour, someone screams in the distance.
I stop carving and look up from my piece.
None of the trees around me move, and once I’m sure whatever danger has found my nameless year-mate isn’t headed in my direction, I get to work again.
Unlike the rest of my squadmates, fear didn’t plague me while walking into the forest, and the only anxiety I feel revolves around whether or not the other marked ones in my year survive the day.
My squadmates, too. Most of them are all right.
I’ve been out here near the center of the valley for a couple of hours, led by an undeniable tug that was replaced by an instinct to sit tight the moment I reached this tree.
So I’m sitting tight under the shade of a sprawling Polylepis tree, because who am I to deny the first request my future dragon has made of me?
Reds have tempers. I have patience. We’ll be a good match.
The Polylepis tree is pretty ironic, though.
I haven’t seen one since leaving Tyrrendor.
My thumb presses against the flat edge of my knife’s blade as I start on the second horn, taking it slow like Dad taught me. The dappled shade on the ground to my right moves opposite to the breeze, and a corner of my mouth lifts.
“Going to have to get better than that to sneak up on me.” I finish the stop cut, and another shaving falls to the ground. “I’ve been trained by the best, you know.”
“If I was trying to sneak, you’d never know it.” Xaden walks out from behind a nearby tree, a smile making a brief and rare appearance on his face. “Because yes, I am the best,” he says with the casual arrogance he presents to the majority of the world.
As the most powerful rider of our generation, he’s more than earned the arrogance and the fear he incites in every cadet who doesn’t wear a rebellion relic on their arm.
But not only do I possess said relic, I know him better than most people.
We spent the darkest days of our lives together, learning to survive as foster brothers after our parents were executed in Calldyr.
I respect the hell out of him and love him like a brother. I’ve never been scared of him.
“Is this your Threshing plan?” He leans back against the trunk beside me and glances at the dragon emerging from the chunk of balsa wood in my hand.
“Linger under a tree and hope the first dragon that comes across you is yours? I have to say, you didn’t choose a particularly secure location to break out the arts and crafts.
” His eyes all but roll in my direction.
“I’m lingering exactly where I was told to. My dragon will find me.”
“Everyone I’ve observed so far is running around out there getting into fights, bonding, or becoming scorch marks, and you’re whittling.”
“Is my wingleader disappointed in me?” I grin and return to carving the horns.
“Never. I respect your tranquility.” He grimaces.
“Scratch that. I will be disappointed if you get burned alive by some disgruntled orange because you can’t be bothered to hold a more defensible position.
But I checked the list of willing dragons, and none of them this year had riders killed in the apostasy, so you shouldn’t have any seeking you out personally.
If you get roasted, it won’t be a revenge kill. ”
My eyebrows rise. That was a scenario I hadn’t thought about. Our parents’ rebellion took out more than a few riders. “Do you check every year?”
Xaden nods as he scans our surroundings. I swear, he never lets his guard down, but I get it. Countless riders would love to be known as the one who killed Fen Riorson’s son. “Bodhi will still be here to help, but you’ll need to take over that duty once I graduate in July.”
“Consider it done.” There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, and not just because we were fostered together.
He bears one hundred and seven scars that gave every marked one a chance to survive, and while entering the quadrant comes with a high chance of death, his sacrifice saves us from a certainty of it.
If one of us proves disloyal to Navarre, his life is forfeit, so my loyalty to him will never come into question.
Odd to think the very children the Navarrian forces wanted to slaughter as punishment for our parents’ crimes will be serving in their wings next year.
“You still thinking it’s the Red Daggertail coming for you?
Sgaeyl usually tells me which dragons are interested in marked ones, but she’s annoyingly silent about you.
” He folds his arms across his chest and continues sweeping the perimeter with his eyes.
Pretty sure those shadows spreading out from the tree on the left are his, too.
“Can’t lie. I hoped her mate might be ready to bond this year. ”
“In hopes the second-biggest dragon on the Continent would bond me?” I can’t help the laugh that rumbles through my chest. As if that was ever going to happen.
“It’s a logical conclusion. You’re the best of your year.” Xaden side-eyes me.
I shake my head. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“I would.” He glances pointedly at the Gauntlet patch on my uniform. “Fastest at the Gauntlet. Formidable on the mat. Excellent academics—”
Now I’m the one scoffing. “Next thing I know, you’ll be keeping track of the women I take to bed.”
“Elodie Praxedes was an interesting choice.” He lifts his dark brows at me. “I’m all for fucking with leadership, but you really went and fucked your leadership.”
My jaw drops. “How could you possibly know that?”
“Bodhi told me.” He shrugs. “Not that I’m judging.”
“You clearly are.” I tilt my head at him.
Though I know he means well, having Xaden’s cousin as the executive officer of my section is officially annoying.
Damn it. I thought we’d been discreet. “It was just the one time. Neither of us has feelings or anything. And you’re one to talk.
You think I don’t see the way you stare at the general’s daughter when you think no one is looking?
The one who happens to be in your chain of command? ”
His head whips forward and a muscle in his jaw flexes again. “If you catch me staring at Sorrengail, it’s because I’m fantasizing about killing her.”
Yeah, right. He’s got it so bad he can’t even see it.
A smile erupts on my face. “Oh, you’re fantasizing about something, and let’s not pretend it’s murder.
You’re a good liar, but you can’t fool me.
Garrick’s probably caught on, too, but I bet you’ve successfully kept it from Bodhi, right?
” I’d never dream of giving him shit in front of others, but it’s just the two of us out here, which means he’s fair game for teasing.
“Stop poking at things you know nothing about.” He unfolds his arms and slides his hands into his pockets. From the way the shadows at the edges of the trees sharpen, I know I struck a chord.
“That’s the definition of what little brothers do.” My smile deepens. “Besides, we both know you can’t kill her, and even if you could…you wouldn’t.”
“You grossly underestimate my hatred of her mother.” His face hardens.
“I underestimate almost nothing when it comes to you. I know what you’re capable of.” My smile falls. “But you of all people know it’s wrong to punish someone for their parent’s actions. From what I hear, she’s a good person. I don’t know her personally, but I bet I’d like her if I did.”
“You like everyone, which is probably why everyone likes you.” He sighs so deeply that I know it’s time to move on from this topic.
“Back to the point. You don’t have to keep tabs on me.” I carve away another shaving near the wooden dragon’s head. “I’m holding my own.”
“That’s the definition of what big brothers do. It’s our sacred duty. An honor, really.” He smirks. “Wait until Sloane gets here next year and we’ll see how you feel about keeping tabs on siblings.”
Shit. He’s right. I stare toward the south, wishing I could cut the distance like a knife to see how my little sister is doing.
Our communications were severed when I crossed the parapet, but I’ve been writing and stashing away letters to give her once she gets here so she knows she hasn’t been forgotten.
The anticipation of seeing her again threatens to crack my chest wide open.
I haven’t been able to hug her, to assure her that we’ll get through this, since the day we were snatched out of our home after watching both our parents die within twelve hours, then sent to be fostered at separate estates.
I was lucky to end up at Tirvainne with Xaden and Duke Lindell, who’d successfully hidden his loyalty to the rebellion from King Tauri, but Sloane wasn’t as fortunate.
Another distant scream sounds, this time from the north, but neither of us bothers to look. The sound came from far enough away that we aren’t in any direct danger.
Xaden looks over at my figurine. “Is that him? Your Red Daggertail?”
I nod. “It’s Deigh, and to answer your earlier question, I’m certain I’m his.
” My thumb presses against the blade gently as I start the more delicate features of his snarling face.
I took one look at him during Presentation and felt it.
“You didn’t feel the same certainty about Sgaeyl at Presentation? ”
Xaden scoffs. “Sgaeyl didn’t bother showing up to Presentation. She’d never be so banal as to conform to quadrant expectations.”
“I can see that.” That Blue Daggertail he’s bonded to is as vicious as they come, a fitting match for her equally vicious rider. “Any last words of advice before Deigh shows up?”
“If he’s a red, then his temper is probably worse than Sgaeyl’s, so don’t piss him off.”
My hands pause on the wood. “No dragon in this world has a temper worse than yours.”
A corner of his mouth rises. “You might be right. But while Sgaeyl is ruthless, she has enviable control of where that temper is unleashed. Pinpoint accuracy with lethal consequences. Reds tend to act on the rage and think about it later.”
“So don’t make him angry. Got it.” I nod. “Anything else?”
“All that bullshit Kaori feeds you about approach techniques is just that—bullshit.” He turns to face me, bracing his shoulder on the trunk of the tree.
“Yes, those rules will keep you from getting torched by other dragons, but none of them really matter to the one that’s chosen you.
They know everything—the best and worst of you—before they deign to speak to you.
So if you don’t have manners, they already know and accept that about you. ”
“Enjoyable thought. Someone knowing everything about you and accepting you anyway.” I won’t have to explain the relic, or my parents’ loyalties, because he already knows.
“It’s the strongest relationship you’ll ever have.
And don’t worry about whether he’ll side with us when it comes to what’s happening beyond the border.
If he’s chosen you, he already has.” Xaden straightens.
“Trust me. There’s nothing you can do to change his mind, except maybe run or refuse to mount. ”
“So I shouldn’t lower my eyes?” I ask.
“Oh, no. Lower your fucking eyes just in case another dragon—” He tilts his head to the side and stares off into the distance, which usually means he’s talking to Sgaeyl. “Godsdamn it. I have to go.” He pulls me into a hug, thumping my back with his fist. “Be careful.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask as he lets go of me.
“Two words as usual this year. Violet. Fucking. Sorrengail. Five-foot-nothing pain in my ass just got herself involved with Sgaeyl’s pet. I’ll see you on the flight field, Liam.” He strides away, disappearing into the trees to the west.
“That’s three words,” I whisper with a smile, damn well knowing he can’t hear me as I begin carving the figurine’s snout.
Funny, I’ve never seen him so obviously obsessed over a woman.
He’s never been one for attachments, and he barely tolerated Cat during the times I’d seen them together last year.
Thank the gods that arrangement fell through, because it looks like my brother might have finally met his match.
Good. He needs someone to crack open the impossibly thick walls he’s built—
Deigh’s head appears in front of the lowest tree branch ahead of me, and I startle. One second the space was empty, and in the next, he’s simply there, dark red scales and all. My knife slips off the figurine and slices into my forefinger just deep enough to draw blood.
“Shit,” I mutter and shove the carving into my pocket with one hand and sheathe the penknife with the other, somehow not managing to fumble, considering I have a pair of golden eyes assessing every move I make.
“Your last attempts were poor.” His voice is higher than I expected, more human-sounding than monstrous. “Is this the closer look you need to be accurate?”
Joy erupts behind my rib cage, and I grin. He’s really here. I’m really his. He will be the one thing in this world no one can take away from me. “I’ll get it right this time.”
“See that you do. I have not avoided holes in my wings and scars through my scales to be misrepresented by a slip of your knife.” He sniffs loudly, rustling the leaves at my feet. “And your blood is a shade too dark for my scales.”
“I don’t usually wound myself.” I test the cut, happy to see it’s already scabbing.
“Good.” He lifts his head to stare down at me. “You enjoy the tree. Good. I chose it on purpose. I have seen them in your memories of your home. You favor the ones on the southern hillside, do you not? I find them cumbersome to hunting, but humans seem to like them.”
“You’ve been to Mairghdelle?” Not sure why I’m surprised. Dragons fly all over Tyrrendor, and though it’s not an outpost, my family’s isolated estate is no exception. Though it now belongs to a Navarrian noble. The thought is almost enough to steal my joy. Almost.
“Of course. You are not my first rider,” he chides. “And those in my line have always favored those in yours. Are you ready to become a rider, Liam Mairi, son of Rune Master Celadine?”
My heart clenches at my mother’s name, at the mention of her unmatched skill with runes. Our enemies may have taken her ancestral home and burned her belongings, but she isn’t forgotten.
“I am.”
“Good. Then let us begin. You and I will take on the evil that plagues this Continent.”
Xaden’s right. Some of the dragons know and they’re choosing to do something about it. Determination swells in my chest, and for the first time since Sloane was snatched away from me, I have a purpose beyond myself. Beyond protecting Xaden’s back while he stands in front of us all.
“I’m ready.” I nod.
“You’re not. But we will be.”
I mount and begin the next—and last—chapter of my life as Deigh’s rider.