Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It took about five minutes for Amber Mavis to be replaced. Years of Amber’s reputation crumbled to nothing in about... 300 seconds. Lamani Zohar, the executive officer, was officially named the wingleader of the Third Wing. Just another reminder that Malek is always looming around the corner, waiting for you to fuck up since there's no such thing as second chances. 

“You’re supposed to be my oldest friend, Dain. My best friend. There’s a reason I didn’t tell you .”

I rested my back on the stone walls and closed my eyes for a quick second. I couldn't sleep more than 30 minutes at night these days. Violet’s words haunted me as much as Amber’s death did, but I had to eventually talk to her. I couldn’t just avoid this forever. 

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Violet and Rhiannon. I pushed myself from the wall and picked up my pace to catch up to Violet. 

“Vi, can we talk?” I asked when I caught up to her. My eyes traced hers as she looked away from Riorson. I mentally sighed. 

“Now?”

I frowned and rubbed my hand behind my neck. “I tried to catch you after formation, but you disappeared pretty quickly, and after what happened last night, I figure now is better than later.” To be fair, I didn’t try to catch up to her. I was avoiding her. When she didn’t want to show me her memory, I knew there was something seriously wrong between us. 

“It might be convenient for you to want to walk after weeks of ignoring me, but I have class right now.” She gripped her satchel, signaling to me that she didn’t want to talk. I know I was pushing this on her, but I needed to talk to her. 

“We have a couple of minutes,” I pleaded. “Please.”

Rhiannon glared at me. Assuming Violet shares secrets with her, I probably deserved whatever that was. After a short pause and what felt like minutes of glaring later, Rhiannon headed off to class first and I led Violet to a quiet place along the wall out of everyone’s way. I took a glance, making sure Riorson wasn't around, and I turned to face Violet. 

“You let Tairn share your memory with everyone instead of just showing me yourself,” I blurt out what I’ve been wanting to say since the Amber incident. 

“I’m sorry?” Violet asked.

“When all that shit went down with Amber, I asked you to show me what happened, and you refused.” She watched me cautiously and I continued. “I didn’t believe you, and that part is on me. I should have believed you, but I couldn’t reconcile the woman I know with what you were saying, and you didn’t come to find me after the attack, either.” 

My hand was over my heart, telling her I was speaking from it. “I had to hear about it in formation, Vi. Regardless of the fight we had on the flight field, you’re still... you to me. And my best friend had been viciously attacked, nearly killed, and you didn’t say a single word about it.”

Word vomiting to Violet made me realize that everything that bothered me stemmed from this. No matter how many times I thought it over and over, she was keeping things from me. She always came to me before Riorson, but now, we could even pass as strangers. She was not only slipping between my fingers, but she was growing closer to Riorson. The last person she needed to get closer to. 

“You didn’t ask,” she said softly. “You reached for my head like you were entitled to my memory after blatantly telling me you didn’t believe me, and you demanded I show you,”

“I didn’t ask?” I was taken aback. Did I not ask her?

“You didn’t ask.” Violet shook her head. She continued, telling me that she knew I wouldn’t believe her. She didn’t want to tell Riorson who it was either, because she was sure he wouldn’t believe her. But, he did. Riorson believed her without proof, but I didn’t. 

“You trust him more than you trust me,” I flinched at the realization. The signs were all there. I was blind clearly. 

“That’s not it.” Those were the words that came out of Violet's lips, but the words didn't match her expression. She didn't want to hurt me. “I just… have to trust him, Dain. Not with everything, of course.” I hated everything about the situation we were in, but it was hard to escape the fact that Tairn and Sgaeyl were mated dragons. I didn’t encounter much research on mated dragons, but I assumed at the very least you shared thoughts and feelings. It was a new normal I had to get accustomed to. 

“Fuck.” And I didn’t want to.

“I know you just want to keep me safe, Dain.” Violet whispered. “But keeping me safe is keeping me from growing, too.”

I didn’t realize my overbearing need to protect was stopping her from growing. This place challenged her in every way possible and my only answer was to take away the challenge or take her away from the challenge. How else was I supposed to protect her? Despite the argument, for the first time in a while... I felt close to her.

“You’ve never been weak to me, Vi-” I started and Vi shook her head.

“Don’t you get it?” Vi interrupted. “It doesn’t matter what you think - it only matters what I think. And you were right. But the Riders Quadrant stripped away the fear and even the anger about being thrown into this quadrant, and it revealed who I really am. At my core, Dain, I’m a rider. Train knew it. Andarna knew it. It’s why they chose me. And until you can stop looking for ways to keep me in a glass cage, we aren’t going to get past this, no matter how many years of friendship we have between us.”

She threw me a friend ultimatum. Why did it bother her that I was doing the same thing Riorson was doing? I prodded her about Riorson’s control issues and she made a good point about how her death would result in his death because mated dragon things. 

“Look, you don’t know everything there is to know about Xaden, Vi. I have a higher clearance due to my signet, and you need to be careful. Xaden has secrets, reasons to never forgive your mother, and I don’t want him to use you to get his revenge.” I warned Violet and the change in her facial expression confirmed that she knew this deep down as well.

I didn’t know if she knew about the 107 scars General Sorrengail had the pleasure of marking all over his back, but I decided that was best to keep to myself right now. Violet had more than enough on her plate.

Violet narrowed her gaze at me. “Wait, did you keep begging me to leave Basigath because you didn’t think I could survive here - or because you were trying to get me away from Xaden?”

Well, I mean if she wanted to open a can of worms-

Before I could begin to speak, she quickly shook her head. “You know what? It’s irrelevant. You only want to keep me safe. I appreciate that. But it stops now, Dain. Xaden is tied to me because of Sgaeyl. Nothing more. I do not need protection, and if I do- I’ve got two badass dragons who have my back. Can you respect that?”

The way that she referred to her dragons as a source of her strength... maybe she was destined to be a rider after all. Rider black suited her better than the beige robes anyway. I reached my hand up and cupped her cheek. Her eyes brought me the same comfort and warmth from all those years in the past. I needed to do better as a friend. 

“All right, Vi.” I gave her a soft smile. “How can I argue with someone who has two badass dragons ?”

She grinned and I felt like I could breathe again. I sucked in the fresh air and savored it. I was taking all of this for granted. 

“Exactly.” She beamed. 

“I’m sorry for not asking for the memory,” I apologized as my hand fell to her shoulder. That was on me, I should have asked. “You better get to class.” I squeezed her shoulder softly before walking away. My body felt like a feather after that conversation.

I think I can finally get some sleep tonight. 

❈ ❈ ❈

- Several Days Later -

“Come in,” a familiar voice from behind the dark, polished wooden door called. 

I waved my hand over the door knob and after a quick flick motion with my hands, the door unlocked. Father, I mean- Colonel Aetos, was sitting in his chair with his hands together, tucked under his chin reviewing a document. His thick, dark eyebrows furrowed as he scanned the document in front of him. 

“You called for me?” I asked, standing across his desk. There was a chair next to me, but I knew better than to sit down. He wasn’t the kind to have friendly chats. Not even with his son. 

“How are things with you and Violet?” He asked in his usual monotone, his eyes still pressed to the document. 

“Fine,” I replied. Now, I realized why Violet said that word so often. It was just easier this way. 

“I hear she’s spending a lot of time with that Riorson kid,” he continued. “You of all people should know how dangerous that is.” 

I pressed my lips. “Their dragons are mated. It is not my place to-”

Father pulled away from the document and shifted his weight against the chair. His warm brown eyes stared back at me. “So, when General Sorrengail loses another child to a Riorson, are you going to tell her it wasn’t your place?”

I flinched at the thought of Violet…dead. “No, sir.” 

“I have intel that Riorson and a few rebellion relic kids are involved in questionable activities that may threaten the safety of the civilians,” he continued. “Most importantly, he could be using Violet to finish what his father started. You already know what General Sorrengail did to him. That heartless woman. Now, little Violet is a target.” 

I swallowed hard, trying to absorb the information he shared with me. Violet was always a target since she joined and not just with Riorson, so that wasn't news to me. But... Violet helping Riorson and putting civilians' lives at risk? Were we talking about the same Violet? Yes, she was spending a lot of time with Riorson, but how does that endanger civilians? 

“Sir,” I started. “I am the Squad Leader supervising Violet Sorrengail and she has not exhibited any behavior that supports this intel.”

He gave me a half smile. “Has it occurred to you that she could be keeping secrets from you? You’ve always been too gullible, Squad Leader Aetos.” 

I clenched my jaw. What else did he know that I didn’t know? Could she be keeping a secret like that from me? Harming civilians? Violet wanted to be a scribe growing up for fuck sake and that was hardly a rebellion-seeking thrill. Unless it was Riorson's doing.

“This is an order, Squad Leader Aetos. I order you to read her memory,” Father stated. “You will need to do it secretly of course. She might shield you from the ones that matter.” 

“Touch me without permission, and you’ll spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

Violet’s words echoed in my head as a warning. It was wrong to steal her memories. I didn’t want to do it. “Sir, I don’t think-”

He narrowed his eyes at me as he frowned at my objection. “Since when did you question an order? I’m not asking for your opinion.”

I clenched my jaws and looked down. “Yes, sir.”

“Report your findings directly to me. You’re dismissed.” He said and went back to reviewing the document as if I had never entered his office in the first place. I stood there staring at the top of his head for a second and then turned to leave.

"Shit," I muttered to myself, reaching my hand over the back of my neck when I heard the door close behind me.

❈ ❈ ❈

Montserrat

Fucking Riorson.

I clenched and unclenched my jaw uncontrollably any time he was in my field of vision. Montserrat was never supposed to be on the wingleader’s agenda but surprise, here he was. Mated dragon problems clearly. Besides my shit attitude, Violet had a 180-degree personality change from when she first arrived here. Her body was always with Mira and her eyes were busy chasing Riorson. She was happy.

I, on the other hand, wanted to take Riorson’s unwelcome ass outside and ask Cath to give him a little welcome toast. 

"I could go for an afternoon human toast snack," Cath replied playing along. 

Fuck, I wanted that bad. 

We ran through Battle Brief exercises with Mira leading the squad and I didn’t care much for it. All I could think about was how Riorson needed to keep tabs on every little thing Violet was involved in. I still needed to provide Colonel Aetos an update on Violet and he wasn’t helping my case at all. Maybe they could be involved in something. Maybe he was right and I was too gullible to see anything. 

Mira stands back and looks around the room. “Who is in command?” She glanced at Quinn and added. “And let’s pretend that I don’t have three years of seniority on even the highest-ranked of you.”

I sat up straight, looking at Mira. “Then I’m in command.”

“Our wingleader is here,” Liam pointed at Riorson. “I would say that puts him in command.”

Gods, can Liam go suck Riorson’s dick anywhere else?

“We can pretend I’m not here, just for the sake of the exercise.” Xaden lounged back, moving his arm across the back of Violet’s arm. I gritted my teeth as I glared back. “Give Aetos here the position we all know he craves.” 

My sight catches Violet swinging her head over at Riorson’s face like he said something to her, but no one else was speaking. It was dead silent around the table. Riorson looked to meet Violet’s eyes, winked at her, and turned back to the table. He fucking winked at her? I was going to fucking puke all over this table. Violet’s eyes held on to his face like she was asking herself the same thing.

“You’re. The. Wingleader.” I spat out through my clenched teeth.

“I’m not even supposed to be here.” Xaden shrugged. “But if it makes you feel better, for the purpose of War Games, you’d be getting your orders from your section leader, Garrick Tavis, which he’d get from me. You’ll be carrying out your maneuvers as a squad for the good of the wing. Just pretend I’m another member of your squad and use me as you wish, Aetos.” 

I had enough of his shit. “Why are you even here?” I asked. “No offense, sir, but we weren’t exactly expecting senior leadership on this trip.”

Xaden looked at me with his arms crossed. “You’re more than aware that Sgaeyl and Tairn are mated.” 

So mated dragons couldn't stay away for three fucking days? “Three days?” I fired back, leaning over the table closer to him. “You couldn’t make it three days?” That has to be bullshit. 

“It has nothing to do with him,” Violet added, trying to break the tension. “That’s up to Tairn and Sgaeyl.” Silence filled the space around us, but not for Violet and Riorson. Violet jabbed Xaden as if he said something. Something was up between them. 

“Of course, you rush to defend him.” I looked at Violet with hurt and frustration. “Though how you can forget that this guy wanted to kill you six months ago is beyond me.” 

“I cannot believe you went there,” Violet blurted out.

“Good job remaining professional, Aetos," Xaden added. “Really shows those leadership qualities to their best advantage.” 

I feel my entire body overheating as I try to contain my anger. Was I fucking crazy or did we all miss how Riorson was actively trying to kill Violet?

From across the table, one of the riders whistles low. “Do you boys just want to whip it out and measure?” It would be faster.” 

“Enough!” A loud thud echoed as Mira slammed her hands on the table. I broke my stare from Riorson and looked at Mira. I needed to clear my head. After Mira’s interruption, we were able to start a semi-productive conversation with a side of Violet’s snide remarks at me from my comment earlier. Unable to discuss my signet and ignoring Riorson and his signet in the planning process left me with no other ideas. 

“Any ideas?” I asked around the table with a sigh.

“Sure.” Violet picked up Xaden’s dragon and moved it towards the keep. “You stop ignoring that you have an incredibly powerful shadow wielder at your disposal and ask him to black out the area so no one sees you land.” 

“She’s not wrong,” Mira agreed. I clench my jaw because I know she’s not wrong too. 

“You can do that?” I looked over at Riorson.

“Are you seriously asking?” 

And… he’s back to pissing me off. “Just wasn’t sure you could cover an area that-”

When Xaden lifted his hand a few inches from the table, the shadows started to pour out from underneath our seats, filling the room and turning it dark as midnight. I saw nothing else in my sight. Not even a speck of light. The table, dragon figures, Riorson, and Violet… I was suspended in darkness. 

“I have intel that Riorson and a few rebellion relic kids are involved in questionable activities that may threaten the safety of the civilians.” 

I heard my Father’s voice in my head. Fear stroked me in the darkness as I realized how strong he was.

“I can surround this entire outpost, but I think that might freak some people out,” Xaden spoke plainly and his shadows retreated under the table. The entire outpost? Did I hear that correctly? I glanced over at Mira first and I read the expression from her face. We both stared at Xaden for what he always was... a threat. 

The hypothetical operation came to a close and Mira stood at the head of the table and cleared her throat. “Good job,” she said. 

Get me the fuck out of here. I was about to stand up from the seat when I heard my name.

“Aetos, Riorson, and Sorrengail, I want to see you in the hallway. The rest of you are dismissed.”