She never meant to become a Rider. But when dragons choose sides and secrets ignite, Elaenor Cardulo finds herself caught between duty, rebellion-and the boy with fire in his eyes who was never supposed to notice her. At Basgiath, love is a risk. And falling for him might just cost her everything. Dain Aetos x OC Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own character and storyline.

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.

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 rhysa aetos crosses the parapet into the riders quadrant despite her fathers orders and her training of five years to enter the healers quadrant. alongside her friend violet sorrengail, they must face the challenges of life or death that test their strength and intelligence. rhysa is left questioning herself and her life after she meets xaden riorson, a marked one who holds the burden of his fathers loss in the war of aretia where he led a rebellion against navarre. he and the other marked ones were sent to basgiath war college under strict orders to either live as a rider or die as a cadet. things take a turn when she bonds with a night fury, the rarest black dragon of them all. the pressure is on now, especially when she and xaden form a bond themselves and things are revealed. secrets that have been erased by the officers of navarre. there was a war happening but not just on the outside, but the inside too. xaden riorson x oc fourth wing started; 8/26/25 finished; 12/28/25 cover by @-moonsdxst