Ruthless 🗡️/ Fourth Wing

Chapter ~14

The tension in the air was suffocating. The sun had barely risen, and already the weight of the day pressed heavily on my shoulders. Everyone was on edge. A hum of nervous excitement buzzed through the mess hall, but I couldn't bring myself to participate in the small talk. Instead, I stared out the window, watching the water rush by in the distance. The sunlight glinted off the river's surface, peaceful and serene. Yet inside, my stomach churned with a mixture of dread and anticipation.

Today was Threshing day. The dragons would choose their riders, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for that. I wasn't sure anyone was.

"Best of luck," Xaden's voice echoed through the mess hall, his words directed at all of us as we gathered outside, ready to face the unknown. He was standing at the entrance of the college, his eyes searching the horizon. He gave one last look at the group before disappearing into the distance, his purpose clear.

And just like that, we were standing in the valley, ready to face the dragons. I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders, trying to shake off the nerves. But as the group scattered in search of their dragons, a sense of foreboding hung over me.

I walked through the valley, every step feeling heavier. The dragons, massive and imposing, watched us as we moved, their eyes unwavering and calculating. But every dragon I passed... every single one... lowered its head to me. It wasn't an ordinary greeting—it was a gesture of respect. And every time, my heart pounded in my chest, but I refused to falter. There was something different here, something powerful, but I didn't know what it meant yet.

And then, as if some invisible force were guiding me, I felt a pull—an undeniable tug toward the woods. It wasn't something I could explain. My feet moved instinctively, and as I entered the trees, the sounds of the valley faded into the background. The only thing I could focus on was the voice in my head that told me to keep going.

I stumbled through the underbrush, my arms covered in scratches from the sharp edges of branches and vines. The air was thick with the scent of moss and earth, but something wasn't right. A muffled sound reached my ears, followed by the unmistakable cry of Violet's voice. My stomach flipped, and without a second thought, I broke into a sprint.

Sweat poured down my face as I ran through the woods, pushing aside branches, my breath ragged and desperate. I was getting closer. My pulse quickened when I heard Violet scream again, the fear in her voice clear. I couldn't just stand by.

I broke through the tree line, and what I saw made my blood boil.

There, in a small clearing, a fight was unfolding. Jack, the snarky bastard, was standing off to the side, arms crossed and an arrogant smirk on his face. But what drew my attention was the dragon sitting nearby, watching the scene unfold. It was Sagely, the blue dragon from the parapet, her vibrant scales glowing in the sunlight, her eyes narrowing as she observed the chaos as she observed me.

Jack's voice rang out, breaking the tension in the air.

"Well, Riorson, you can't get involved. You're a wing leader, you would break the rules to save the girl who scorched your father."

The snark in his voice was impossible to miss, but what caught me was the muffled growl that followed. The voice that spoke was calm, deadly calm. A voice that could only belong to one person.

"You're right," Xaden's voice rang out, and I felt the chill of his words cut through the clearing. "But just because I can't get involved doesn't mean she can't."

My heart stopped, my fists clenching. It was a challenge, and Xaden knew I wouldn't back down.

I took a step forward as Violet backed up, my daggers slipping into my hands with ease, my fingers wrapping around the cold steel. Blood smeared my arms from the scratches, my corset soaked with the sweat and the grime of the forest, but I didn't care.