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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Tension settles deep in my shoulders as I stand on the hillside with my squadmates across from where the Fourth Wing first years wait with their newly bonded dragons. I sway back and forth nervously, like a mother with a colicky newborn waiting for Sloane. Where the hell is she?
"She'll be okay little bird." Ryuu tried to calm the nerves but it was all just pointless. I'm going to worry.
"I haven't seen Sloane yet, and I need to leave to take over the watch soon." Vi states.
"She'll make it." The tension in Imogen's folded arms tells me she's not feeling quite as certain as she proclaims. I feel bad Vi, she always gets the shit end of everything, including Imogen's short temper once we told her we had spilled our secret. Of course, Quinn knows too, but she took it with grace and resolve.
"All of Flame Section is looking strong. Bodhi should be proud." Quinn says with a hopeful smile. My heart flutters just at the mention of his name.
"I'm proud of you." I send through our bond, letting his golden shimmer wrap around me in a caress.
"What for?" His voice practically sounds like he's fighting back a giant smile.
"Look what you've done as a section leader. You should be proud, they look strong."
"You know how to make a guy blush." He jokes but I know he's feeling that proud excitement. It was practically overwhelming our bond.
"Look at me dating the hottest and greatest section leader of all time."
"Are you buttering me up for something?" He teases.
"Nope just making a statement."
"Visia bonded a brown daggertail." Rhi says, nodding across the field to where the first year stands in front of her dragon, stealing my attention. "Avalynn, Lynx, and Baylor all made it, too. But I don't see Aaric or Mischa." She glances towards Vi. "She's the one who's always biting her nails."
"Oh right." She answers her looking guilty for not taking the time to get to know the first years. I understand why, but I don't agree it's the right thing to do.
Wingbeats fill the air again, and we all look to the right as a blue clubtail approaches with sapphire hued scales that contrast the changing colors of the sunset sky, and he is beauitful.I watch the blue land in the field directly in front of the dais where leadership watches.
"I'll be damned." Rhiannon mutters as Aaric dismounts from the blue clubtail like he's been doing it for years, with an ease that reminds me of Liam. My heart squeezes painfully as memories of him float through my mind for a brief moment. My Liam.
"How am I not surprised he bonded a beauitful dragon?" I mutter just before my eyes landed on a figure flying toward the end of the field. A midsize red the shade of a strawberry flies in, whipping her daggertail behind her when she lands in the middle of the field. Relief fills my entire chest when Sloane clumsily dismounts, clutching her shoulder. "Just like her brother." I whisper with tears in my eyes. I look up to the sky knowing he would be so damn proud of her. Sawyer wraps an arm around my shoulder in comfort.
