Wren never expected her life to change the moment she set foot in the Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College. But everything shifted when she met Liam Mairi. Loving him was effortless, bright, and full of promise. Losing him was shattering.
His dea...
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I let out a breath of relief when I listen to Kaori tell Varrish that Vi has been cleared of all charges. He doesn't win this time. I can't believe how delusional he truly is, claiming he doesn't bow to the whims of his dragon, that he influences his. My stomach knots with an overwhelming feeling of dread. I've never wanted to be afraid of another man in my life, coming here even though I didn't have a choice. Throwing myself into training, was my way of gaining control over my life again. And yet now I'm scared of what Varrish wants from me. Scared that he is going to use his power to taking everything away from me. Because what does a man so greedy for power do? Destroys. Takes. Ruins.
"He's not going to lay a finger on you ever again." Ryuu snaps.
"You can't promise that. No one can promise that." I argue earning a huff of annoyance. "I'm not safe here."
"I can promise you, little bird. He will not touch you without becoming ashes himself."
"And what about Bodhi? Nuri? My friends? He won't stop until he gets what he wants and even you can't stop it." I tell him, my ear up against the door listening to a few sets of feet leaving. Once I hear Kaori leave I open my door to see Rhi telling Violet to get in her room yanking her from her spot in the hall. "I'm calling a family meeting right now."
Ridoc and Sawyer rise from their seats at the window closing their physics books. Ridoc already pulling me into his side in a hug. "I didn't want you caught up in..." Vi begins before Rhiannon holds up a metal alloy dagger, the kind Liam had once given me. My breath catches as I look between the two of them. "Holy shit!" Vi's jaw drops, then rises in an awestruck smile. "You just pulled that through the wall! I thought you couldn't do that yet!"
"I can't!" She rebuts. "Well, couldn't, I guess. Not until right now. Not until I thought whatever this is had a chance of getting you killed from the look you gave me."
She has no idea just how right she was.
"You're incredible!" Vi states glancing over at the guys and me. "She is, right?"
"Enough about the signet!" Her voice rises with tension. "What is this? And why did you need them not to find it?"
"Oh right." Vi steps forward grabbing the dagger from her. She looks at me, the exhaustion from keeping this all a secret flashing across her eyes. She wants to tell them the truth. There was something in her eyes, a pleading. Bodhi and Riorson are going to be livid when they find out. But I agree, telling them would save them. I need them all to know, the weight of feeling like I'm living on borrowed time seeps into my chest. Protecting them, protecting everyone I love is my only priority.
"Violet?" She pleads looking at our friend. I take a deep breath trying to swallow the lump in my throat.
"It's for killing venin." She states. From there we both take turns telling them everything. Every moment that transpired from the minute we made the decision to leave our squad with Xaden for War Games to the second she fell from Tairn's back after being stabbed. The truth about Liam's death, the way I almost burnt out from using my signet. The only thing we silently agreed on was not revealing the truth about Aretia. That was a secret neither of us were willing to say out loud. It was too dangerous, not only for them but for every life in Aretia.
