fourth wing xadens pov

chapter 8

Chapter 8: the Matt

Slowly, she pivots to look at me, her eyes glinting like the steel she has strapped across her chest. Streaks of silver thread through her braid, tiny tendrils of hair escaping by her neck. She narrows her eyes at me and her jaw clenches. I feel my pulse quicken at how deliciously lethal she looks.

I’ve not allowed myself to look at her too closely, always glancing from the sidelines and sneaking peeks through my shadows. Now, I can’t stop my eyes from roaming, taking in every bit of her. Her leathers cling to every curve, the silver buckles on the sheaths strapped all over her body fight for my attention.

Her gaze is trained on me too, watching me like a snake who’s about to strike.

“You’re all in for a treat,” Emmetterio says, clapping his hands together. “Xaden is one of the best fighters we have. Watch and learn.”

Violet mutters something under her breath, undoubtedly some little joke at my expense.

This is already too much fun. My lips curve up into a smirk. 

“A little out of her league, don’t you think?” Aetos challenges from the sidelines, almost spitting the words. I don’t give a shit what he thinks. He’s her squad leader and should be doing way more than he is to train her. He might be content to watch her take a few hits on the mat each week, hoping the next one that lands will be the one that finally sends her to the Scribe quadrant, but I am not.

She can be so much more than this.

I glare at him over Violet’s shoulder. “Relax, Aetos. She’ll be in one piece when I’m finished teaching her.”

He doesn’t even have the balls to look ashamed. In fact, he seems to be completely oblivious to what is expected of him in his position. Leadership isn’t just being invited to private meetings, bigger rooms, and an extra badge on your flight jacket. It comes with responsibility. You owe each of your squad your best, so they can be their best. And he is letting his personal feelings get in the way of who Violet could be.

“I hardly think it’s fair-“ Aetos squeaks.

“No one asked you to think, squad leader.” I fire back at him.

On the sidelines, Imogen barely manages to contain her grin as I eviscerate Aetos in a few words. I stride over to her, handing every weapon on my body to her until I’m completely unarmed. I need Violet to know she has nothing to fear from me.

But I also need to fire her up and push her to learn. As fun as it is to watch, she can’t poison everyone. Eventually, her luck is going to run out.

I turn back to face Violet, who skims her hands over her own blades. She raises an eyebrow at me and asks, “You don’t think you’ll need those?”

“Nope. Not when you brought enough for the both of us.” I smile, watching the taunt land as her eyes blaze, then motion her forwards with my fingers. “Let’s go.”

Don’t go for the throw, Violet. Surprise me.

But she moves into the same stance as she did all those weeks ago out in the forest. It’s entirely too predictable to catch the dagger she hurls straight at my chest.