Fire Breather

74.

   IT turned out that I wouldn't bother to argue with my family or Garrick again over trying to go to Cordyn when Violet and Mira showed up at my door this morning after Xaden and Garrick left to look for more Navarrian deserters, the sisters dropping a wild plan on me.

And of course I agreed.

"Are you sure about this?" Mira asked as we entered the valley under the moon. Every blade of grass was coated with predawn frost, reminding us of how close winter was.

"'Sure' is a relative term," Violet answered, her arm linked with mine.

"How relative?" Mira lifted a brow. "Because what we're about to do could have some pretty major consequences."

"I'm sure this is the only way we'll be able to make the weapons we need," Violet stated. "And I'm sure that if we stay on task, we can be back in two days max. I'm definitely sure that this will stop the gryphon attacks on Navarrian outposts. But am I sure that we won't fail or end up permanent guests of Viscount Tecarus? No."

"Don't even stress about the old man," I hummed. "It'll only take me a second to melt his brain if need be."

"Well, I'm sure Xaden is going to lose his shit when he finds out you two went behind his back," Mira lectured as we made our way to our dragons.

"Yeah, well, Xaden will forgive us as soon as he realizes we're back in the venin-slaying business. I'm only doing it this way because he refuses to do what needs to be done in the name of protecting me."

"Just so you know, I'm only doing this because doing everything you ever ask for the rest of our lives still wouldn't make up for me not believing you. I happen to like protective Xaden. Makes me worry about you less."

"Well, I'm doing this because I enjoy riling up my brother and Tavis," I mused, a small smirk on my face. "Plus, things have been bland around here since we stopped doing challenges."

"And I'm only doing this to make sure none of you die," Brennan chimed in from the right.

"Please." Mira scoffed. "You're only here because of the rank on your uniform."

"None of you can negotiate an arms deal on behalf of the Assembly. You three know this could go very badly, right?" He shoved his hands in the pockets of his flight leathers.

"Honestly, I think I might have a better chance at convincing Tecarus than any of you could," I muttered, looking over at a curious Brennan. "I was my father's soft spot, which meant he took me everywhere, including to Viscount Tecarus's palace and, well, let's just say that man always had an eye on teenage me."

Mira scrunched her face up. "That's fucking disgusting," she hissed, shaking her head. "Remind me to carve out his eyes for looking at younger you."

"It's probably a good thing Xade isn't with us," I admitted, unlinking my arm with Violet's. "The last time we were in the same room with Tecarus, I swore my brother was going to throttle him."

"So, is there a risk?" Violet nodded her head. "Yes. But he wants to see us wield for a luminary. Even Xaden said the biggest threat is him keeping us, not killing us."

"Feel free to stay in the place you've called home for six years," Mira challenged Brennan, then shrugged a shoulder. "I've always been better than you with a sword, anyway. I'll bring Violet and Blaine home without a scratch."

"No." Violet glanced between them. "We're not fighting the entire way there, and we sure as hell can't fight once we get there. This is dangerous enough as it is. Pull yourselves together and quit squabbling."