Fire Breather

13.

"ABSOLUTELY not!" one general shouted across the field as I laid on a bed in the little medical station that had been set up at the end of the bleachers for riders, the cut on my arm and ribs now stitched up after I passed out.

"I still can't believe you bonded with two dragons," I said to Violet beside me. "Not one but two."

Violet laughed, looking over at me. "And you bonded with a purple dragon. You should've heard everyone while you were passed out. No one can seem to understand it."

"No one's ever bonded with two dragons or a purple dragon," Professor Kaori said quietly, tightening the straps around Violet's ankle. "You'll be focused on strengthening your bonds and riding in the next couple of months."

"Do you know who made it back?" I asked, worrying for Rhia, Ridoc, and even Sawyer.

"I haven't seen Trina or Tynan," Professor Kaori answered slowly.

"Tynan won't be coming back," I said firmly, not even feeling guilty for his death.

"That boy was going to die sooner than later," Nim said with a growl.

"I see," Professor Kaori murmured.

"What the hell do you mean you think it needs surgery?" Jack bellowed from my left. The jackass had come back with an orange dragon, somehow, despite that he literally ran away from a fight, proving he wasn't rider material.

"I mean, it looks like the weapon severed a couple of ligaments, but we'll have to get you to the healers to be sure," the other instructor said.

I smirked as Violet looked straight at Jack. It was good to know that after today, she didn't seem afraid of him anymore. No one should be afraid of that little bitch who runs away from a fight.

Rage mottled his cheeks in the light, and he swung his feet over the end of his table and charged toward her. "You!"

I quickly got off the bed, holding back a hiss as I put myself in front of Violet who slipped off the end of her table. "I what?" Violet asked.

"Back the fuck off," I warned him, palming a dagger in my hand. Even with pain coursing through my body, I refused to back down. "I'm not afraid to add another body to my count."

But Professor Kaori stepped in front of me, throwing his palm out at Jack. "I wouldn't get any closer."

"Hiding behind our instructors and Riorson now, Sorrengail?" Jack's uninjured fist curled.

"I didn't hide out there, and I'm not hiding here." Violet raised her chin, stepping up to my side. "I'm not the one who ran."

"And last I checked, she got you damn good," I added with a smirk.

"They don't need to hide behind anyone when they bonded to the most powerful dragons of your year," Professor Kaori warned Jack. "Your orange is a good choice, Barlowe. Baide, right? He's had four other riders before you." Jack nodded and Professor Kaori looked back over his shoulder at the line of dragons. "As aggressive as Baide might be, from the way Tairn and Nim are looking at you, they'll have no problem scorching your bones into the earth if you take another step toward their riders."

"I'm positive you won't need me to put that one in the ground," Nim's voice entered my mind.

"I'm tempted to kill him where he stands," I replied back before looking at Violet. "I'm going back to my dragon before I kill him."

Violet snorted but nodded and I walked past her with a small limp, heading toward Nim as heads followed my every step, watching me as if they hoped I would drop dead so they could claim Nim.