Painted Reality | Xaden Riorson x FEM!OC

Killing her

Everyone stares until Xaden keeps talking like nothing even happened and all eyes go to him

Imogen turns to me a small smile on her face "How did Sygael not kill you just then?"

"I don't know," I shrugged crossing my arms to cradle my sliced one "She just told me to fix my arm"

She hums and a cadet bolts out of Third Wing, screaming as he makes a run for the stone keep behind us. We all turn to look as he sprints for the giant arched door at the centre. The red dragon on the left opens its mouth, snapping his teeth. Fire erupts along its tongue, then shoots outward in a hot blaze toward the fleeing cadet. He's a pile of ash on the gravel before he can even make it to the shadow of the keep.

"Welp he was fucking stupid," I said absentmindedly and Imogen chuckles again. Winning.

"Anyone else feel like changing their mind?" Xaden shouts, he looked out over the crown of our wing with the same judging look as his dragon - Sgyael behind him. "No? Excellent. Roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer." The formation is silent except for a few untimely sobs from my left. "A third of you again the year after that, and the same your last year. No one "Even King Tauri's second son died during his Threshing. So tell me again: Do you feel invincible now that you've made it into the Riders Quadrant? Untouchable? Elite?"

Screams from the other wings sound around the yard and more lines of flame follow. Imogen shakes her head beside me and I can feel someone come up behind us, my hand hovers over my dagger but Imogen's hand lands on mine and she shakes her head turning around

"Bodhi," She sounds tired "She wouldv'e stabbed you, she has no morals"

"I suppose being a Sorrengail means being let off for stabbings then," I snap my neck to the side cracking it and spun to face the man - Bodhi whom is our section leader

"Do. Not. Compare me. To. My. Mother" I stood just bellow his chin looking up "Ever"

We turn back to our Wingleader who is still going on. Maybe he should learn to stop talking. A thunder clap headache made me wince, I don't know what his signet is but obviously a side effect is headache enducer.

"Because you're not untouchable or special to them." Xaden points toward Sygael and leans forward slightly, like he's letting us in on a secret as we lock eyes. "To them, you're just the prey."

~<*>~

When formation ended everyone moved towards the dormitories, Bohdi, Imogen and I stayed back to wait for the crowd to clear. They were chatting about something while I sharpened my knives. I was waiting for Rhi and my sister to walk past and just my luck I got Dain.

"For fucks sake," all three of us sighed 

"Glad to see I'm loved in this group" he deadpanned

"If you don't have anything to say," I went back to sharpening "kindly fuck off"

"Maybe I am starting to like her" Bodhi muttered

"I just wanted your help Grace," I looked up confused "to get your sister into the scribes"

I laughed humourlessly "very funny Dain," I placed my blades away

"Piss off" Imogen spoke up

"Violet is strong," I stood in front of him "and she is a hell of a lot strong enough to make it here"

 He shook his head and walked off "Your killing her, you know that?"

I felt Imogen stand on my left and Bodhi on my right and I asked "How can I become part of the rebellion and get those relics?"