Wild and Out of Control

|chapter twelve|

"It is therefore only natural that the more powerful the dragon, the more powerful the signet its rider manifests. One should beware of a strong rider who bonds a smaller dragon, but even warier of the unbonded cadet, who will stop at nothing to seize a chance to bond."

- MAJOR AFRENDA'S GUIDE TO THE RIDERS QUADRANT (UNAUTHORIZED EDITION)

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|danica|

Becoming a rider has its perks, and one of my favorites is that I no longer have to share a room with anyone else. I have a room all to myself.

     I'm up before I'm supposed to, restless from the Thresing that happened yesterday. I couldn't sleep, not after learning that I'm now tethered to Xaden Riorson for the rest of my life, however short it may be. Having a room to myself is nice, but I miss having Violet waking up in the bed next to mine.

     Climbing out of bed, I pull on my leathers and exit my room, all but yawning. Rhiannon's door, the one across from Violet and mine, opens and I see Sawyer's tall, lean frame sneak out. He runs his fingers through his wild and curly hair, and when he sees me, his eyebrows rise and he freezes—his cheeks as red as his freckles.

     I don a shit-eating grin as I wiggle my eyebrows, and he glances away. "I would say morning, but it must be a good morning for you."

     "Danica." He forces an awkward smile and walks off, heading toward the main hallway of the First-year dormitory.

     I can't stop smiling as I go a few doors down until I reach the one I'm looking for. I tap my fist against the door in a rhythm. 

   Dun. Du-du-dun. Dun. Dun Dun. 

     The door flings open and I'm met with a smiling Ridoc leaning against the doorframe. "Yes, Hawthorne?" he draws. "Anything you need? Perhaps a handsome young rider?" He purses his lips and makes kissing sounds.

     "That kiss was a one-time thing, Ridoc," I remind him as I pull him out into the hallway. "I only agreed to it because I didn't actually think you'd survive."

     He places his hand over his heart. "You wound me." We laugh in unison, causing a couple exiting out of a room to look at us funny. "Did you get a relic from your dragon? It must be big since Azare is gigantic."

     "I did," I answer. "How about you?"

     "Yeah." He lifts the sleeve of his shirt and shows the relic of his Brown Swordtail. "Where's yours?"

     "On my back. It's the only place on my body big enough for the relic."

     "Well," he starts, pointing to my chest. "There's always on your chest. Wouldn't it be cool if it was between your breasts? You could get so many lovers—"

     "Don't finish that sentence." I slap a hand over his mouth, only for him to lick my palm. I snatch my hand back, rubbing it on his sleeve. "Disgusting. But anyway, I could get any lover I wanted."

     Exiting out of the last room in the dormitory is Liam. He spots us walking, but I narrow my eyes when he tries to talk. He gives me a sad look that comes out of nowhere. It's not like we lost a friendship or anything. Ridoc looks between us with a confused expression, but he keeps going when I give him a look.

     "So...was he one of those lovers you were talking about?" he asks once we're far enough and out of earshot.

     I slap him in the arm. "What? No! What would even make you think that?" Me with Liam? Never. Not that he isn't handsome or anything, it's just that he's too close with those who want me dead. I prefer self-preservation over a good night.