[Xaden x Y/n] Love on the Parapet

Chapter 53

Y/n's pov

You open your eyes, the birds chirping as you stand on the ground in the forest, Violet also next to you. However annoyed you were at the situation, you kept your promise with Xaden to practice guarding your head against people especially when you and Violet both had too much you could give out. Violet sighs as she flops down to sit on the ground, ignoring the mud and moss that grow below the trees. 

'Is Varrish still annoying you?' Violet asks. The whole college knew that Varrish was always behind you, waiting for you to fail at something. 

'I hope that bastard dies.' You reply instead, and Violet flinches at the tone. You stare at her in challenge, to which she immediately grows flustered. 

'You should be careful. He is already wishing for any excuse to make you suffer.' She says, looking in Basgiath's direction. You both fall silent looking at the large grey stone castle of Basgiath, a few dragons flying in the air roaring into the equally cloudy sky. 'Especially when we are being targeted.' She adds, and you shudder at the fact that everyone who went to Resson was being targeted for assassination. There were a few new cadets, or rather, those assassins disguised as new cadets trying to attack your group. 

'Xaden freaked out when he heard about Varrish checking your things every day. And of course about us getting targeted. Everyone had to stop him from flying over here the second I told him that. He also seemed deflated when I told him you didn't say anything about the flower he left you. You could have told me about it before I went to Samara.' Violet adds to resolve the silence, almost reporting about Xaden to you, although your mood only dries even more sour at the mention of Xaden.

'It's just a flower.' You reply, simple words betraying the warm flutter you felt when you saw the flower on your desk in the morning a week ago. But it was true, the heartbreak he put you through wouldn't be mended by just leaving a sweet gift on your desk. Violet retracts slightly, swallowing. You almost see her cogs turning to try to put your relationship back together, but you and Xaden both knew nobody else could do the job instead of you two. Violet glances at you to glean any sense of emotions, but if the marked ones were good at one thing, it was masking their feelings. 

'We should go back. It'll be the flight lesson soon-' Violet starts, but before she can finish her sentence, you feel someone's hand holding a piece of fabric wrap around your mouth from behind. Violet yelps as you see another pair of hands, gripping around her mouth. You look up to see the attacker, only for your eyes to close on itself and fall into the darkness. 

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'Welcome to your first class of RSC. You will be given a map, a bottle of water, and a piece of biscuit until you find the exact location positioned on the map.' You open your eyes, a group of infantry cadets are also in front of you with their professor. One of them rolls their eyes at Violet, to which she only looks away. 

'Hwad?' You ask into the bond, the hollowness of the dark pit in your mental space becoming more present as you sit up. You feel the wall between you and your red daggertail, even though you can sense it is not Hwad putting it on, neither did you. Violet looks at Rhiannon nervously, sharing a glance that tells you they are feeling the same emptiness. 

'And do not worry. Your bond is only temporarily blocked by our newly developed medicine. It will come back after a few hours.' Professor Grady says, the riders looking around themselves confusedly among the smug infantry students. You fight the urge to say a rude word to one of them grinning at you for losing the privilege of having dragons on your side. 

'That's not fair, the dragons chose us, and you have no right to take that away from us.' Ridoc complains, as he always does, never reading the room. But you stay quiet since you and the others all want the answer to the exact question. Grady clears her throat, turning toward the group of riders. 

'Only the riders would respect the fact. Your enemy is only interested in killing you, and them.' She says, and you feel Violet beside you swallow. Ridoc rolls his eyes, stepping to stand still next to you. Grady turns back to face the small crowd, opening her mouth again. 

'Try to get along with each other. In the case of attack, being held behind enemy lines or even getting lost in enemy territory, you are all on the same side. Try to support each other.' She says, and the riders groan at the faces of infantry cadets looking lividly excited to take the riders to the ground with them. One of the guys in the infantry raises his brows at you, causing you to mouth a swear word at him. You feel your fist square as he grins, Violet being the only one to stop you from charging over and swinging your fist across his face. 

'I warned two seconds ago, Cadet L/n, Cadet Rigulus.' Grady scolds as she watches you glare at the infantry cadet.

Xaden's pov

'That is bullshit.' I say to Sgaeyl as she watches me with wide yellow eyes. 'That is not part of their course. It shouldn't be.' I argue, the blue dragon only scoffing into the air. 

'But they changed it. A shitty rule, but if they could make such medicine, the enemies could. I would be happy if my mate knew what could be coming for him in a safe space. Well. A safer space.'  Sgaeyl says, tending to her scales after dropping a bomb on me about the Basgiath RSC course including cutting the riders off from their riders. Tairn from Violet, Hwad from Y/n. 

Gods.

It's not that I don't think Y/n can manage on her own, especially when they are in their squads, but the fact that Varrish was roaming the entire college free and they had the power to take her signet, bond, and dragon from... I shudder at the thought, especially when those who went to Resson were being targeted in Basgiath. 

Ever since I heard of the news, I'd been holding my breath whenever Sgaeyl had gotten any updates from Tairn on Basgiath, waiting for Sgaeyl to say Y/n's name on the death roll, or in the infirmary, or-

'I said she's fine.' Sgaeyl says, rolling her eyes even though I know she can tell that I'm worried about the fact that Y/n had been cut off from her dragon, and thus also indirectly me, and it could happen anytime again. 

'I need to go see what's going on.' I reply, pulling the zip of my flight jacket on, the faint yet intense scent of Y/n still lingering on the fabric. 

'No.' Sgaeyl argues as I whip my head toward her. 'You will wait. She is alive. Tairn confirmed.' She says again, pressing me backward with her nose. Before I say another word, Sgaeyl turns away from me, her wide blue wings spreading into the air. 

Author's note: it's been a while! I've moved into my new place :) I'll try to update once a week once school starts :))