The Riders Quadrant at Basgiath War College is the most boasted quadrant of them all. Also the most deadly. Kathrine Riorson has known for five years that this is where she'd end up, thanks to a desperate bargain made by her older brother the day their father was executed. Thrust into this new world where brutality and strength reign supreme right along side the giant fire-breathing dragons, Kitt will have to navigate through Conscription Day and Threshing. Through old memories and still-healing wounds. Through new friendships and new love. All the while an evil lurks just beneath the surface, threatening to destroy everything she has come to cherish. Kitt will be faced with demons both in the flesh and within her own mind. But Kitt is a Riorson. And she will not break easily. _____ "Anyone else feel like changing their mind?" Xaden shouts, casting his gaze out over the remaining cadets. "No? Excellent. Roughly half of you will be dead by this time next summer. A third of you again the year after that. And the same your last year." He briefly catches my gaze before moving on. "No one cares who your mommy or daddy is here." Unless your mommy or daddy sided with my father, then everyone cares. "Even King Tauri's second son died during his Threshing. So tell me again: Do you feel invincible now that you've made it into the Riders Quadrant? Untouchable? Elite?" This time no one cheers. "Because you're not untouchable or special to them." Xaden points a finger at the navy-blue dragon behind him and leans forward slightly, and says, deadly calm, "To them, you're just the prey." I swallow the lump in my throat. He's trying to scare us, they all are, so the dragons know who to pick off. But I will not let any of them win. I may not have had a choice in coming to the Riders Quadrant, but now that I'm here, the only way I'm leaving is on the back of a dragon.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 ⨟ ongoing (slow updates) iron flame ── onyx storm ── ... ✧. ┊female!oc 𝒙 cam/aaric © amilliondreamzz

Kathleen is so far, and yet so close to her home. Kathleen's secret is out and miraculously, she isn't dead. Xaden Riorson hasn't killed her, but he isn't the biggest threat to her life. Not anymore. Her past chases her every move and shadows follow her every footstep. Her newly-discovered signet might be able to get her the revenge she wants, but it isn't as easy as it sounds. As she uncovers the truth of the past, she lies to herself about the present. She's lost, tangled, and scared. Her dragon isn't exactly a big help. This is the second "book" to The Secrets We Hide from the Dark. This story is written in first person and present tense. A fanfiction based on Rebecca Yarros's novel and series Fourth Wing/Iron Flame from the Empyrean series. Most characters and the world are by Rebecca Yarros, but a couple of characters are created by me. It is recommended that you read Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Onyx Storm before reading this, but this may also be read without reading those books. Some theories might be incorrect and not align with the Empyrean Series. Nevertheless, enjoy! Also available on AO3(Archive of Our Own)