Black Sapphire | Xaden Riorson | S/H

LVI

・・・　・・・　・・・

     The hall is alight with chatter as we all rush out. I can't help my anxious eyes darting around. There's too much to be wary of, especially without my mom watching my back.
     Colonel Aetos is nearby, I'm wearing a satchel I shouldn't have, and it contains a notebook with enough information to get me executed. That doesn't even touch on the buzz of energy under my skin that marks me as a target of murder at every turn or Xaden's jacket stuffed between all of mine just in case someone breaks in through my window again.

     I've never seen the flight field so full. Magelights hover in perfect order, an easy to follow grid trying to box in dragons of all different sizes and colors. They seem anxious, too, if they're sneering lips mean anything.
     Tairn has never been hard to spot. He's not tonight, but only because he's busy tracking a magelight that's situated right next to his gleaming golden eye. I flick my wrist as I near him and it flames out, making his gaze turn to me.
     "Seemed annoying." He chuffs in a response that tells me it definitely was. All of the dragons are in the same formation we take up, minus Tairn very evidently parking himself halfway into where Cath is supposed to be. The green on his other side is not appreciating his encroaching. Dain is glaring at me like I had any say in the matter but I don't dignify him with the fear I give his father.

     "Tell me I'll see you out here," I say toward that proverbial sky in my head. I can feel Xaden's presence moving about. He's nearby enough, which is reassuring to a degree. I don't know what I'll do if he leaves for combat without a least checking in for a moment.
     "You will." His response is terse but uplifting anyhow. I press a hand to Tairn's scales like that'll help calm my nerves at all. My back feels colder than usual, probably only because it's missing a liner layer, but it doesn't make me feel any better, that's for sure.
     Tairn snaps his teeth when Cath gets too close which has the red swordtail walking a few steps back. I lean back against his leg while Dain finishes his head count of the squad. He narrows his eyes at me once more but gives it up.

     "Second Squad!" Our attention all pull to Dain yelling for it. "Prepare for a four-hour first leg of our flight. We'll need to keep a tight formation for the first fifteen minutes as the squads disperse. We need to all stay together." He looks my way with a pointed look, I'm sure from Tairn's regular antics to fly ahead of everyone else.
     "It is not in my nature to follow those slower or weaker than me." I almost chuckle at his response and especially at Dain's snarky expression slowly falling as he looks over my shoulder.
     "I appreciate it. We don't have time to wait on them." I feel the puff of steam he releases is something of justified pride that I agreed with him.
     "Wingleader?"

     I turn my head back to see Xaden striding forward with eager steps. Twin swords gleam in the moonlight from over his shoulders and his eyes are fixated on me.
     "How can I help you?" Dain spits out, but Xaden still doesn't look away.
     "I need you," he tells me.
     "I'm sorry?" Dain sounds like he's almost choking but I don't have the mind to wish he is as Xaden comes to stop before me.
     "I'm constructing my headquarters squad and you're coming with me. So are Liam and Imogen." He finally looks away to the two mentioned. I nod.
     "The fuck you are," Dain barks. I furrow my brows and turn to see he's taken a step forward, his other knee already bent to take another. "A first-year? Beyond the wards?"
     "Is there an issue?" Xaden takes matches his pace and his arm brushes my shoulder.
     "You can't take..." Dain pauses to sneer and then dramatically throws up a hand in my direction. "Her with you."