[Xaden x Y/n] Love on the Parapet

Chapter 52

Y/n's pov

Xaden was called back to his outpost after a not-so-fruitful time at Basgiath, the only time you talked to him properly was when he was double-strengthening the wards in your door. He had called Violet to the woods along with you on Sunday to your dismay. He insisted that you both learn how to shield your own heads, and you complied despite silently complaining about Xaden not telling you whatever he was promising you just then and there.

Xaden had told you and Violet about what has been going on to the villages being attacked by venins, and Violet had promised to look into the ways to guard them better. She had disagreed with the method to supply stolen weapons, which you almost bit her head off for. There was not much else the revolution could do when the Navarrean forces did everything to stop helping those people. And revolution aside, Xaden had approved for Violet to go off and put her nose in a book in a library searching for the perfect way to solve all the problems the revolution had been looking for for years. You had scoffed at her for thinking she was so better and smarter than everyone else, and Xaden had done everything else to make you feel better but the bitterness never left.

You roll your eyes as you walk toward the classroom remembering the bright red poppy flower he had given you a few days ago before he left. Stupidly, you still watered the small red flower and stared at its bright petals even this morning. Before you can reach the classroom, Varrish appears in the hallway, gesturing at you.

'Bag?' Varrish says, malicious anticipation in his eyes. He'd been checking your belongings every single day and night for the past few days, as if to catch you in possession of something illegal. It was as if he wished to get any excuse to punish you, although you always made sure you got away. Your runed dagger that Xaden gifted you was safely tucked in the drawer of your room, and the metal arrows... they did not know what the metal was from just looking or touching, so Varrish always had to leave you alone.

'...' You silently hand over your bag, Varrish snatching it from your fingers eagerly and spilling all the contents onto the floor. The other cadets stare at the loud clanking sounds of your things hitting the stone floor, and you cross your arms as Varrish's malicious smile fades. You look down at Varrish, wildly looking through your parchment papers and quills, almost confused as to why all the belongings you have are normal. The view of Varrish's back head pokes the urge to hit it as hard as you can, but you aren't sure if you'd survive that.

'You may go. For now.' Varrish says coldly, and you angrily shove everything back into the leather satchel, walking past him toward the Navarrean history class. You feel his gaze following you, sending cold sweat roll down your back.

Xaden's pov

'Yes, she's mad at you still. Yes, she's practicing how to shield herself. And yes, for the last time, she's fine.' Sgaeyl says what Tairn and Hwad had told her through the dragons' bonds for the fourth time today. I feel her roll her eyes at me, even as I petrol the assigned area for any gryphons.

'Now stop asking and get to work. You'll see her in a few days.' Sgaeyl says, growling irritatedly. I sigh, focusing back on the battle report in front of me and dipping the quill into the inkpot.

'Seven days.' I correct, Sgaeyl huffing audibly into the bond and disappearing. I had heard back from Tairn, technically, that Varrish keeps going through Y/n's things. Not that any of the marked ones had something illegal on us. It was like Varrish just liked harassing Y/n, living off of in the joy of making her uncomfortable. Violet had assured me that she would tell me instantly if he did anything more, but the fact that I would only be too late by that point made my skin crawl.

'Hurry up.' Sgaeyl complains, waiting for me to finish the report so we can go on a flight. I sigh, scribbling on the parchment paper mechanically although my mind wanders elsewhere.

Violet had said nothing about Y/n reacting in any way to the flower I left her, and that deflated my heart instantly. I had hoped that it would lift her mood even just a little, but clearly Y/n either didn't care or didn't show it to anyone. Y/n had insisted to know what I had to tell her then and there, but I couldn't risk everything when Dain fucking Aetos could steal her memories again any time.

I shudder thinking of that bastard, regretting letting him live past what he did. Y/n had been admittedly frustrated at me going the long way to teach her and Violet how to shield mentally, but followed nonetheless. That is, before Violet volunteered to search for information in the Archives for the revolution. I thought we should do anything we can to make things better for the innocents in the attacked villages, however much I agreed with Y/n for thinking that the answer to this would be in the carefully restricted library at Basgiath. Perhaps I should have tols Violet to-

'Xaden!' Sgaeyl growls again at me slipping my mind elsewhere once more, her growing impatient. I irritatedly turn the parchment over, starting scribble again.

Author's note: a bit short but here it is!