“You’re too late.”
Those words are like a knife to her heart.
“What?!” Her eyes are wide with terror.
And some cousin he is. That fucking smirk is both a blessing and a curse. Xaden turns his head to face her, feigning innocence as he continues with, “He already made it across. You’re too late to cheer him on.” His smirk is back as he adds, “Or give him a congratulatory kiss.”
Bodhi breathes out a sigh of relief. Then, huffs, refraining from shoving him while in public—she wouldn’t want to be the cause of destruction of his perfectly ruthless reputation—by flipping him a quick middle finger. He scoffs quietly when she crosses her arms over her chest and mutters just for him to hear, “You’re an asshole.”
Xaden turns his face forward and suddenly sucks in a sharp breath that only he and his cousin hear.
Bodhi is the one smirking now after following his line of sight. “She’s pretty.” She comments as casually as possible, her gaze lingering on the silver haired woman. “Really pretty.” She bites her lip to keep from laughing when she hears him scoff again.
Bodhi takes a step back when he signs up the next potential cadet.
“Name.”
“Raina Saaj.”
Bodhi sees Xaden glancing back to the silver haired girl further down the line every now and then. Finally, as he takes a quick second to grab his water flask, she grabs the quill from him and takes his place.
A cute guy with mousy brown shaggy hair and bright blue eyes that remind her instantly of Liam steps nervously up.
Bodhi gives him a friendly smile, knowing none of the poor riders will be getting one from her darling cousin anytime soon. “Name?”
“Jason Berry.”
Bodhi leans over to write his name down on the roll of parchment. Then, she steps aside and hands the quill back to Xaden. But not without telling the kid, “Good luck.” She ignores the look her cousin gives her and gives the guy a thumbs up when he thanks her before walking away.
“You’re hovering.” Xaden says without looking up at her as he takes the next one’s name—a dark skinned woman with electric blue hair scraped back in a tight bun on top her head.
Bodhi doesn’t even bother coming up with a lie. Not with this jackass know-it-all. “Is he hurt at all?”
Xaden chuckles, sighing when he looks up to see her scowling. He holds up his finger to the next person in line before gently grabbing Bodhi’s wrist and pulling her away to talk in private.
“He’s fine. Not a scratch on him. In fact, his time is the one for the others to beat. It took him two fucking minutes and ten seconds to get across the whole thing. He didn’t even stop to breathe, the little psycho.” He ends with another chuckle, this one lighting up his eyes a little when it gets a small but proud smile from her.
Bodhi nods. “OK... Good.”
Xaden rolls his eyes, but refrains from taunting her...for the moment. “Things won’t be done here for another couple of hours.” He motions back to the long line of potential cadets still winding almost all the way back down the mountain. “Why don’t you go find him? I’ll see you both later.”
“You just want me to go away from you.” Bodhi gives him a pointed look. Though, she really isn’t arguing with his offer.
“Yes.” Xaden nods, answers plainly as always.
Fuck it, she thinks as she flips him the middle finger once again before making a swift exit, for once, we both get something out of his mean ass sending me away.
“He does that to protect you.” Cuir fills her in like she doesn’t already know.
“Doesn’t make it any less infuriating...or any less insulting.” Bodhi scoffs as she rounds the corner of the next peak to see her dragon hovering midair to the side of the narrow path she walks.
Cuir huffs out a laugh as she lowers her tail to the path. “A little nervous to see your boy, hm?”
Bodhi shoots a glare up at her before beginning her careful but quick climb up the daggertail’s sharp and spindly dagger tail. Making herself comfortable at the base of her dragon’s neck and latching tightly onto the spikes of her shoulders, Bodhi tells her, “First of all, he’s not my boy. Second of all, I haven’t seen or spoken to him for a whole year. A lot can happen in a year.”
Cuir lifts them further up into the air until all that’s in view are the clouds and the now slowly setting Sun. “I have already seen all of the moments you have ever shared. Felt them all through you as if they were my own. And in those moments, I have also noticed things you yet haven’t.”
Bodhi waits for a further explanation. When she gets none, she scoffs and asks, “Like what?”
“If I told you, then, it wouldn’t be fun and you would learn nothing.” Cuir tells her with another chuckle. She turns her long neck to throw a razor sharp grin over her shoulder before suddenly tucking her wings in to her sides and diving at full speed towards the earth.
“You’re determined to see the contents of my stomach spattered all over your nice shiny scales.” Bodhi mutters as she bears down on every muscle to keep from doing just that.
Cuir flares her wings out and beats them hard as they come to a dead stop in the sky. The clouds are now above them and when Bodhi peers down over Cuir’s neck, her eyes widen slightly.
“This is too close. Are you even allowed to show yourself yet?”
Cuir scoffs loudly as replies with a air of pompousness, “Those are human rules. I am merely not to interact with the rookies. Which includes scaring or killing them.”
Somehow, that doesn’t make Bodhi feel better. Not when she can see they are low enough for Cuir’s large shadow to be seen on the ground as the new cadets below either scatter with screams or stare up in utter awe.
Xaden is going to kill her...
Cuir lets loose a low rumbling snarl. “He would not dare. Sgaeyl has a soft spot for you. Do not worry.”
Meaning: there’s no way Cuir, three quarters of the size to her cousin’s dragon she is, would ever be able to beat her in a fight. Besides that, Sgaeyl is one of the fastest flying dragons ever to exist.
Cuir grumbles a softer, more defeated snarl. “Thank you for reminding me of my imperfections.”
Damn, she forgot how sensitive the gorgeous green dragon can be.
Cuir scoffs and snarls viciously, though, her words have way more bite when she retorts, “And the list continues! Do not use pretty words to soften the blow!”
“Ah, shut up.” Bodhi waves a dismissive hand. She grins when the dragon’s golden eyes narrow into slits. She uses the same hand to give the dragon an affectionate pat to the side of her neck.
“I could always fly you back to the duties you’re currently slacking off of if you don’t wish to see your boy.” Cuir says casually, then, sounds teasing when she adds, “Before he saw me, he looked like he was looking for someone...”
“What? Liam’s down there?” Bodhi could slap herself for being so stupid, because of course he’s down there. Where else would he be right now? Gods, she hasn’t even seen him yet and he’s already turning her brain to mush.
She can feel the dragon wants to tease her, but thankfully, Cuir takes mercy, softens slightly. “I would like to meet him, but I will not scare the poor boy on his first day.”
YOU ARE READING
The Things You See In Me ((Female Bodhi Durran/Liam Mairi))
Fanfiction"First of all, he's not my boy. Second of all, I haven't seen or spoken to him for a whole year. A lot can happen in a year."
