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Chapter Text

Violet Sorrengail stared out at the land before her. All of Navarre bowed to her and her mother. The Queen of Navarre was a hostile woman with high regard for rules. Violet – the only one of her siblings who had stayed in the kingdom – was used to her mother’s harsh rejection of her. Everything from her body – and all the brokenness it entailed – to the fact that she had to ride in a saddle on Tairn left her mother angry as hell at her. Violet couldn’t say she blamed her. She also couldn’t say she didn’t aim for her mother’s love every day.

Just then, her best maiden and best friend, Rhiannon, walked up to her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Her tone was disgruntled, but Violet still heard the undertone of warmth to it. She knew that Rhiannon would do anything to protect the princess – anything at all – and that meant covering for her when she ran out of her lessons.

“You found me,” she quipped.

Easy, Silver One. She isn’t the enemy.

Violet offered an apologetic smile to Rhiannon for being short-tempered, and Rhiannon bumped her shoulder with her own. Violet worked hard not to wince. She had dislocated her shoulder in their last game of catch and release. The guards – the pigheaded, assholes that they were – had caught up to Violet and all of her friends. Ridioc, Swayer, and Rhiannon weren’t safe from the guards as much as Violet wasn’t. Queen Sorrengail had some idea that the best way to prepare for a brutal kidnapping and torture was to put her daughter and her friends through it.

The guards loved working on torturing to the best of their capabilities, but Violet never let them see her squirm. They tried to get her to open up about her innermost secrets, like why two dragons bonded with her during the three years she was at the war college.

The war college wasn’t any easier on her than her unforgiving mother. Her body was abused daily, sometimes by cadets older than her. She had become a literal punching bag for anyone who cared to make her one, and her mother had told her that it was good for toughening her up. Toughening her up. Right. She snorted indelicately and sighed, pushing the thoughts out of her mind. Rhiannon spoke up. “We need to get you down into that meeting room. Malek knows what your mother wants. Her consort is there.”

“Varrish?” Violet asked with a groan. The prick took an indecent pleasure in torturing her. Somehow, her friends never had it quite as bad as she did when he was leading the torture. She would take that for what it was worth.

“Her Majesty has someone she wants you to meet and her consort needs to be there,” Rhiannon explained hesitantly. “According to Varrish, he can get a bit…testy.”

“Compared to who? Varrish?” Violet snorted. Then she gathered her hair up in its braid, stretched out her muscles even though every bit about her body was failing her today, and she walked down the stairs leading to the castle’s indoors. She knew she had hidden away long enough. Walking down the steep staircase, she cursed her weak knees. Anything sent them into a spiral. Breathing deeply, she took the shortcut she knew to her mother’s office, Rhiannon, right next to her.

Rhiannon knocked on the door and Violet was met with an oily smile from an oily man. She repressed a shudder as she looked up into the hostile eyes of Varrish.

Never show fear, Sliver One. Tarin warned her. She felt the golden frays that was Andarna and then she heard her more feisty young one.

If he so much as looks at you, I’ll incinerate him. I’m not scared of your mother!

Violet bit back a smile, walking into the room and curtseying as low as her knee would let her. It was still tender from Varrish’s earlier practices with her this week. He hadn’t been kind. She glanced around the room, spotting three men she vaguely recognized. Waiting for her mother to address her, Violet kept her eyes off the men.  It wasn’t polite to stare.

“Hello, daughter,” Lillith Sorrengail greeted her in that icy exterior of hers. Violet smiled as much as she could and then looked at the three men once more. “Yes. Well, this is Xaden Riorson and his two loyal servants, uh…”

“I don’t call them my servants, ma’am,” Xaden replied in a steely voice. “And their names are Bodhi and Liam. They’re the men I trust most with my life.”

Violet quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. She had no idea who these men were, though Xaden looked vaguely familiar. He looked at her briefly. “And, how may I help you gentlemen?” Violet was anything if not polite.

“It’s how we can help you,” Xaden countered, and Violet looked at her mother, who’s lips were pulled downward in disapproval.

“Yes, well, there have been some threats made against your life, Violet. The people in the kingdom grow weary of our lack of expertise in the war. Tyrrendor is still rallying allies from the south and these three men have agreed to look after you.”

That’s when Violet placed it. “You General Riorson’s son.”

Xaden’s eyes blackened momentarily but he didn’t deny her. “My father’s crimes against Navarre are what have led me to want to protect you, Miss Sorrengail.”

Violet looked at him, then her mother, rotating her shoulder discreetly. “He’s my – what – bodyguard?”

“Consider me your shadow,” Xaden smiled but it was anything but polite. Violet quirked an eyebrow at him.

“No, thank you,” she replied coolly. “I don’t need a shadow.”

“I’m afraid I wasn’t asking,” her mother replied in a clipped voice, closing down the argument with one halting look. “General Riorson is quite desperate to get back in my good graces. He and his son offer up Xaden’s experience for free.”

“I don’t want it,” Violet bit out, feeling more and more of her freedom go down the toilet.

Let me incinerate him too!

Not helping, Little One.

“Well, I’m sorry but that’s just too bad,” her mother replied with finality, and Violet knew the subject was closed. Her mother was speaking once more. “Starting from this moment henceforth, Xaden will follow you everywhere, go with you on town visits, go with you when you have your duties to the people, and so forth.”

Violet grit her teeth. “May as well just have him move into my bedroom.”

“Don’t be ridiculous dear,” Lillith said flatly. “He’ll sleep across the hall.”

For fuck’s sake.

The hell he will!

Andarna!

Violet rubbed her temple, looking at the three men before her. Out of the three of them, only…Liam seemed appropriately uncomfortable by the situation but something told Violet he wouldn’t go against Xander’s orders. She blinked.

“Fine.”

“And dear?”

“Yes, mother?”

“His dragon is mated to Tairn. Do keep that in mind.”

Violet wondered what it would be like to punch the smug look off his face.

She knew Tairn was mated to Sgaeyl and that she had to undoubtedly have a rider. But Violet didn’t bother herself with the logistics of it. She turned to Xaden. “You only come when I need you.”

“Sorry, your Majesty, but no can do,” Xaden replied, staring coolly into her eyes. “From here on out, I’ll be with you everywhere. If I can’t for whatever foreseeable reason, one of my men will. From here on out, considered yourself under our protection.”

Well fuck her, thank you very much.

Chapter Text

Xaden Riorson woke up a little bit before five am and it took him a moment to gather himself. He was in a room he didn’t recognize and for a moment, he wondered if he had been drugged and kidnapped. Then it all came flooding back to him. Queen Sorrengail’s daughter. The woman he was supposed to be protecting. He sighed, pinching the bridge of the nose. What the fuck had he gotten himself into?

He stood from his bed, boxers hugging his hips. He made quick work of getting ready, and then tentatively checked the channel that held his connection with Sgaeyl.

You awake?

I am now. Xaden smiled to himself.

Tell Tairn that I’m here and will look after Sorrengail.

And if Silver One finds out who your father really is? This was Tairn, tone sharp in his mind. Xaden licked his lips as he thought about the dragon’s question. His father hadn’t been a bad man. He had been on the right side of a revolution – one that showed Navarre’s true colors. He was still trying to get the revolution going and part of the reason Xaden took on the job of bodyguard was to get a feel for Navarre’s queen. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to take his job seriously.

I’ll deal with that as it comes.

He shut off the connection, knowing damn well it would anger both Sgaeyl and Tairn. But then he was distracted by the movement he heard in the room across the hall from him. Sorrengail was awake? At five in the morning? He walked out of his room, spotting the light underneath her door. He knocked quietly. “Violet?” He heard movement, small whimpers coming from the room, and he pushed open her door.

“Damnit, I was coming!” Violet hissed, but he felt like he had the wind knocked out of him. Her face was covered in bruises, some so dark and bloodied, they looked black.

“Who the hell did this?” Xaden growled, voice low and menacing. He hurried to her, pausing just shy of her as his fingertips itched to touch her skin. She flinched, looking away from him, and he bit his lip. “May I?” She nodded. “I won’t do anything without your consent, ma’am. I have to hear express permission.”

She held up her chin defiantly, staring at him through narrowed eyes. He waited. “You may touch my face but don’t be rough. Please.”

Xaden swallowed thickly, giving a jerky nod of his head. Fingertips reached out to touch her, turning her face gently into the light. He hissed through his teeth at the discoloration of her skin. Pressing down gently on her cheekbone, he felt his stomach lurch at her wince. “I think your cheek is shattered. You need a healer.” His voice was hoarse as he took in the numerous bruises on her face, wondering where else she was hurt. “What else?”

“My knee is out of socket,” she whispered, staring resolutely at the wall. Before he even had time to ask what the hell happened, there was a knock on the door. His shadows crept up, demanding to know who was there. Violet saw them, eyes widening a bit, before she schooled her expression. “It’s just Nolon. He’s our healer.”

Half torn between wanting to stand next to her and protect her and wanting to doublecheck that she was right, Xaden eased her back down onto the bed and then went to go check out the door. There was a man standing there, waiting somewhat patiently, and he cracked the door open. “Name?”

The man blinked. “Nolon. Who the hell are you?”

“Her Majesty’s bodyguard,” he growled.

There was a smirk pulling at Nolon’s lips. “About time the Queen hired someone. Now please, let me in. I’m assuming her Majesty is in quite a bit of a pain.”

Leaving him with more questions than answers, Xaden opened the door further, granting Nolon access to the room. The man took quick steps towards Violet and Xaden shadowed him, ready to defend the moment he saw something go south. And yet, Violet smiled slightly when she saw Nolon. “Thank the gods you’re here, Nolon.”

“Ah, I see you dealt with Varrish last night,” Nolon said, staring at Violet sadly.

“Varrish?” Xaden asked sharply. “The Queen’s consort did this?”

Violet sighed and ignored him, leaning back into the bed as she brought a pillow up to her mouth. “Do it on three?”

“Three,” Nolon agreed.

“Wait, wha - ,” Xaden lurched forward as Nolon counted to three before popping her knee back into socket. Violet’s scream was muffled by the pillow, and Xaden stared on in horror. “Gods.”

Violet was breathing deeply, but the worst seemed to be through as Nolon checked her over. “All else is fine. The bruises will fade. I’ll see you next week?” Violet nodded, and Xander watched as Nolon walked out of the room. He turned to face Violet, a million questions on his tongue, but he saw her laying there, eyes closed as she breathed deeply.

“Your Majesty?” Xaden asked softly.

“My mother’s consort and men take me and my friends during the middle of the night. To prepare us for if we were ever kidnapped,” she breathed out.

Xaden’s stomach lurched and he turned on his channel. Does Tairn know about this?

I know more than you think. Silver One is kidnapped once a week and put through a series of torture at the request of the Queen.

What the fuck.

It’s to prepare her incase she ever gets kidnapped by the enemy. Though that dimwit, Varrish, enjoys pain a bit too much. Silver One gets cut off from Andarna and myself.

This will end now.

Best of luck.

Xaden turned off the connection, staring at Violet. “Your Majesty…”

“It’s fine, Xaden,” she murmured. “Nothing I’m not used to. Now, please step out while I get dressed. My mother expects me in the parlor room in half an hour. I cannot be late.”

Stomach plummeting, he nodded his head, stepping out of the room as he was left wondering what else happened behind closed doors.

Chapter Text

Violet winced, putting a hand to her ribs. She could feel Xaden’s eyes on her, watching her for the slightest bit of discomfort. She held up her chin a fraction of an inch higher. She wouldn’t be so weak as to show the fact that she was in pain. She listened to her mother drone on and on about having Navarre’s best interests at heart. Violet snorted. What a crock of shit. She tried to ignore all the blatant lies her mother told, knowing damn well that she did not have the country’s best interests at heart but what the hell did she know?

Silver One. She heard Tairn’s voice calling down to her through their channel.

Yes?

We’ve got a problem.

That was enough to get Violet on her feet and moving. She ignored her mother when she called out for her and kept walking, averting her gaze from everyone. She could feel Varrish’s eyes on her, following her out of the room, but she didn’t have time to check. If Tairn said there was a problem, there was a problem.

Running the length of the castle once she got out of the room, she worked hard on not popping her knee back out of socket. It liked to give her grief. Running down the sloping lawns, she felt another presence behind her and unsheathed her dagger, spinning on her heel.

Xaden’s eyes widened momentarily before he held up his hands. “Your Majesty.”

“Shit, sorry,” she sighed, dropping her defensive stance. He dropped his eyes down to her knife, then looked back up at her.

“Did you get a warning from Tairn?” Xaden asked.

“Yes,” she said slowly. “How did you – Sgaeyl.”

“Sgaeyl.” He agreed with a nod of his head, and then they were rushing across the grounds. They reached their dragons and Violet looked around, trying to assess the threat.

“What is it?” Violet demanded. “Tairn?”

We’ve got enemies coming in from the south. This evening.

What do they want?

Not sure, yet.

She and Xaden exchanged a startled look, and then she was sheathing her knife once more. “Nothing we can do about it right now.” She ran her fingertips underneath Andarna’s chin, scratching at the scales there as she released a noise that resembled a purr. She smiled at her dragon. Her feisty girl was glaring at Xaden, and she stayed between them.

He’s staring at you. I don’t like it.

Andarna, it’s okay.

If he can’t look away, I’ll incinerate him!

Violet winced, turning to Xaden. “You’re making my dragon nervous.”

Xaden stared at her, then looked at Andarna, before lowering his eyes. “My apologies.”

Violet smiled at Andarna, who was back to purring, and she could have sworn Xaden’s lip was curled up in a smile as well. Xaden spoke up just then. “How are your injuries?”

Violet blinked. She wasn’t used to people asking her how she felt. “They’re fine.”

“Woah, hey,” Xaden said quietly, holding a palm outward. “You can’t deflect like that on me. Are you in pain?”

Violet sighed. “It’s nothing unmanageable.”

It was Xaden’s turn to blink. “You speak like this isn’t the first time.”

“It isn’t,” Violet replied simply.

Xaden sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “I’ll speak to the Queen. This is not allowed.”

Violet snorted. “Don’t know how you think you’re going to get her to stop, but good luck.”

“She shouldn’t get away with torturing you,” Xaden said quietly, voice dipping dangerously low.

Violet’s frame warmed at his tone, but she pushed it away. Into her box of neat and orderly things that she never focused on. “My mom is going to keep getting away with it. She’s the Queen.”

“Tell me about Varrish?” Xanden asked quietly.

Violet sighed. “He’s my mother’s consort. Does the majority of the torturing.” She was editing.

“You’re editing,” Xaden accused, eyes narrowing.

Damn he was good. “I can’t tell you much about him. Honestly.”

He studied her carefully, making sure she was telling the truth before he sighed. “Okay. Okay.”

She looked away from him, feeling the intensity of his look burn her. She didn’t necessarily like lying to her bodyguard but what choice did she have? Varrish was a monster. He’d hurt Xaden if he ever found out she talked to him. Violet spent the majority of her life protecting those around her. She wasn’t going to stop now. “What do you think the threat from the south is?”

“I’m not sure,” Xaden admitted with a furrowed brow. “It could be anything. Do me a favor?”

She looked at him, nodding as she wondered if she’d actually be able to do it. “Sure.”

“Don’t go anywhere on your own tonight,” he said, staring out at the horizon before them. Violet looked at Xaden for a moment, before acquiescing to his wishes.

“I can do that,” she murmured. She looked back at Tairn as she thought about his words. She wondered what the threat from the south was. She knew that whatever it was, it wasn’t good for her kingdom. She was certain her mother knew, however, and was doing whatever she deemed necessary to protect the people of Navarre. She may not have their best interests at heart but she always did protect them. She was grateful for that at least.

Sighing softly, she tucked her hair behind her ear. It was out of its braid and blowing in her face. She didn’t know why she didn’t just braid it this morning but here she was. “That sigh sounded like it had the weight of the world behind it.”

She looked at Xaden. She knew her bodyguard was trying to get to know her but the less amount of friends she dragged into her battles, the better. “It’s nothing.”

Her tone was final, much in the same way her mother’s could be. Xaden nodded, dropping the subject, and she stared back out at the landscape before her. How could one princess have the weight of the world on her shoulders? And, what was she supposed to do about lessening it?

Chapter Text

Xaden wondered at Sgaeyl’s warning to him. He knew that she wasn’t saying the warning lightly, that there really was a threat coming from the south. The only question was, was what it was? Who were the enemies that were coming? He expelled a soft sigh, sitting across from Violet as she studied her notes. He watched as the princess wrote down notes for the day’s lesson, trying to engrave them into her mind. He knew she worked hard, that much was clear by itself. What he didn’t know, however, was how determined she was to take on the responsibility of the kingdom.

It seemed like Queen Sorrengail had raised her daughter to believe that every infraction against them was her fault. It made his ire light up. He wanted to yell at the Queen for putting that type of pressure onto her daughter. However, he knew that would cause more problems than necessary, and decided against it. It wasn’t worth the pain that it would undoubtedly inflict on Violet.

Are you growing soft?

Sgaeyl, you know me better than that.

Just double-checking, Xaden.

He snorted to himself quietly as the door to the room they were in opened and Varrish walked in. He was already on his feet, moving towards Violet without a second thought. Varrish stared at him for a moment, sneering at his presence. Game fucking on, dick. “The princess is working on her studies.”

Varrish leered at him. “I can see that. I need her for an hour.”

“Then I’ll go with you,” Xaden replied firmly. He glanced at Violet, who was shaking her head as she stood to her feet.

“It’s fine, Xaden,” she said as she walked towards them. He saw the way she bent and stretched her fingers and wondered at it. Was she hurt?

“I’m supposed to be with you at all times,” he grit out, not trusting Varrish as far as he could throw him.

Just then, the door to the parlor room opened again and in walked Queen Sorrengail. She’d be on his side. “My daughter needs to be alone with my consort for an hour.” Or not.

“Your Highness, how am I supposed to do my job of protecting her if I’m not allowed to be next to her?” Xaden’s teeth were so gritted, they could pulverize granite.

Queen Sorrengail looked at him, then turned to Varrish. “An hour, at most Varrish.”

“Yes, your Majesty,” he replied, grinning in such a way that caused Xaden’s stomach to plummet. Xaden watched on, wondering how much more he could take

Violet sighed in resignation, nodding her head once. “The field?”

“The field,”  Varrish agreed with a slimy smile that set Xaden’s teeth on edge. He connected to Sgaeyl and Tairn.

What the hell is happening and why can’t I go with her?

They do this once a week.

Do what?

Tairn hissed. Practice her signet.

Xaden was surprised. He knew that Violet would have a signet. Of course she would. But he didn’t know what it was. He licked his lips, moistening them as he watched Varrish led Violet out of the room. “Your Highness…”

The Queen interrupted him. “Now, Xaden. Has Sgaeyl told you about the threat from the south?”

Xaden grit his teeth but nodded his head all the same. “She did.”

“I’m not sure who’s visiting us,” Queen Sorrengail said. “Perhaps someone from Tyrrendor.”

Xaden thought that highly unlikely. His father would have told him if he planned to visit Navarre so soon since he became Violet’s bodyguard, but he kept that particular thought to himself. Best not show the Majesty his cards. “Perhaps.”

“Is that going to be a conflict of interest for you?” Queen Sorrengail asked, staring down her nose at Xaden.

He grinned ruthlessly. “Of course not.”

The Queen nodded after studying him for a moment. “You’re free to go.”

He turned on his heel, striding out of the room as he checked the connection.

Sgaeyl, where is she?

We’re never sure where Varrish takes her.

How can you not know?

Tairn growled. Because, he cuts her off from me.

She’s cut off from you right now?

That would be correct.

Xaden cut off the connection, feeling a panic swirl low in his stomach. If Varrish cut off Violet from her dragons, then Tairn and Andarna would have no idea where she was. Meaning he had no idea where she was. He wouldn’t be so alarmed if it wasn’t his job to protect her. And if Varrish hadn’t beat her black and blue the night before. He sighed, thinking for a moment. He’d try the field outside of the castle.

Hurrying along the hallways of the castle, Xaden ran the length of the castle, looking for any sign of Varrish and Violet. He hurried his steps once he reached outside, full on sprinting the length of the sloping lawns. He was worried, this much he couldn’t deny himself. He knew that Varrish was a ruthless man. One that was close to the Queen at that. So, Xaden had no doubt that he would annihilate Violet the first chance he got.

Sprinting down the lawns, he came to a stop in the field he was trying to reach. Glancing alongside every edge of it, he found Varrish and Violet in the far left corner. Picking up his pace once more, he sprinted towards them, sliding to a steady stop next to them. “Your Majesty, are you okay?”

Violet blinked at him, nodding her head the next moment. “I’m fine, Xaden.”

“Yes, Xaden,” Varrish hissed. “She’s fine.”

Varrish leveled a glare at him, one that Xaden returned with interest. It seemed like Varrish didn’t like him, and he could only imagine why. He nodded his head, shoving his hands into his pockets as he took a protective stance. “I’ll just stay here.”

“You will do no such thing,” Violet snapped.

He smiled a deadly smile. “Sorry, your Majesty, but you are under my protection. You are my responsibility. I will not leave you alone.”

Violet blinked, perhaps surprised at the fact that Xaden was willing to defy her and he reached out to her channel.

Trust me, your Majesty. It’s the only way.

She blinked once more, but other than that, showed no sign that she had heard him in her mind. She definitely wasn’t going to reply, and he knew this. What Violet most likely didn’t know was the fact that since Sgaeyl and Tairn were mated, it meant he was connected to her on a significant level. He watched as Varrish curled his lip over his teeth, snarling at him.

“Very well, Xavier,” he snapped.

“It’s Xaden.”

“I know what I said,” Varrish smiled at him, more like a leer, and Xaden snorted. Of course he did. Then Varrish turned on his heel. “Again.”

Xaden watched on as Violet conjured lightening from her hands, shooting it forward. He knew that Tairn could channel power to her through her lightening bolts, but to see her actually wield one? That was amazing. He watched for a solid hour as Violet threw lightning bolt after lightning bolt, body growing more and more tired. Xaden didn’t interrupt, solely for the fear that he thought Varrish would take it out on Violet in their next hostage round, but he did watch her carefully. Eventually, Varrish waved his hand, signaling her to stop. “That’s enough for now.”

Xaden breathed a sigh of relief as Violet rotated her shoulder. He briefly wondered if she was in pain but knew better than to ask. Varrish smirked at him before turning on his heel and striding away. Glaring at his retreating back, he turned to Violet, softening his expression when he saw her sitting on the ground. Crouching down low next to her, he spoke in a soft timbre. “Your Majesty?”

“You cannot do that again,” she said quietly. “Varrish is a man of power. He is someone my mother trusts inexplicably. If you anger him, it’ll only anger the Queen. And the Queen is not someone you want to anger.”

Xaden listened to the words she had to say but didn’t agree with them. “I acknowledge what you’re saying. I don’t agree with it, respectfully, but I do acknowledge it.” They stared at each other for a moment before Xaden spoke again. “Now, do you need help getting to the castle?”

“I can do it,” she snapped impatiently, standing to her feet. The next moment, she had fallen into Xaden’s side, and he caught her, steadying her carefully with gentle hands. She sighed. “We can’t go to the castle, but I do need to speak Tairn.”

“Then, I’ll take you to him,” Xaden promised. They made their way to where their dragons were. Tairn and Sgaeyl were standing there, ready for them, and Violet reached out and petted Tairn’s snout.

He chuffed, stretching his head further into the palm of her hand. “I’m all right. Didn’t cause burnout this time.”

“This time?” Xaden asked in a dangerously low voice. Violet looked at him, eyebrows arched upward in surprise.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said quietly, calmly.

The hell it didn’t.

Deal with it at a later time, Xaden.

Sgaeyl, what the hell is happening here at this castle?

Things Tairn knows about. You have to trust him to keep Silver One safe.

Xaden didn’t even know why he cared, not really. Except for the fact that he didn’t agree with torture on any level. And it seemed like Varrish had an affinity for it. The man seemed to relish the fact that he could hurt Violet. And that was where the problem lied. Sure, Xaden had taken on the job of bodyguard with ulterior motives, but he had still sworn to protect the princess. He hadn’t forgotten that. And he wasn’t going to any time soon. So he knew that there was a very real chance he’d be murdering Varrish in his sleep sometime soon.

Violet spoke up just then. “You’re angry.”

“You’re not?” Xaden challenged.

“No point in getting angry,” she replied calmly. “My mother has always done things her way. It’s why my siblings left.”

He knew that she had siblings and the fact that they were gone. He didn’t think they had been exiled but they had definitely turned their backs on the Queen. He wondered at how angry that made her Majesty. And no, he wasn’t talking about the Queen. “I’m sorry about that.”

Violet shrugged a shoulder indifferently. “They had every right to leave. This life – it isn’t easy.”

“I didn’t expect it was,” he replied quietly.

She nodded her head once, staring out at the land before them. Xaden wondered at the challenges she faced each day, marveling at the fact that she seemed to rise up and above them. He noted her stretching out her fingers and wincing. “Are your joints causing you grief?”

She tilted her chin a fraction of an inch. “Nothing I cannot handle.”

Right. She didn’t like to show weakness. He laughed underneath his breath, smiling slightly the next moment. “I recommend a hot bath, your Majesty.”

She blinked, looking at him in surprise the next moment. “Noted.”

He nodded his head, smiling out at the landscape before them. He knew that Violet Sorrengail was as stubborn as they came, but it caused him great pleasure to know that she was willing to agree with him. That was something he was going to have to explore at a later date.

Don’t get cocky.

I won’t, Sgaeyl.

He could promise his dragon this much. He looked at Violet out of the corner of his eye, noting the way she set her shoulders and jaw. She was preparing for a battle. That led him to believe she hadn’t forgotten about the threat coming from the south. He hadn’t either. Together. They would handle it together. It was his job to protect her and he wouldn’t fall down on it. This much he knew without an iota of a doubt.

Chapter Text

Violet stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was covered head-to-foot in bruises – Varrish had her again the night before – and Rhiannon wasn’t faring much better. Ridioc got off easy and Swayer had a broken set of fingers for his involvement. And yet, Varrish hadn’t been able to break them. He had demanded to know how Violet had gotten two dragons on Threshing day but not one of her friends or herself had yielded to his interrogation. And they all had the battle marks to prove it.

He had shattered her elbow and she was carefully pulling on her dresses that the queen expected her to wear. Any movement ignited pain in her arm, and she grit her teeth, fighting against the impulse to throw up. Her body hated Varrish and she hated him right along with it. The man was a torturer, no other way to put it, and the pain she underwent for the safety of the kingdom damn near tore her apart some days.

Strongest person I know, Silver One.

The strongest! You’ll kick Varrish’s ass!

The vote of confidence from Tairn and Andarna left her undeniably grateful. It was too much to think that she was surviving on her merit alone. Her dragons and friends protected her the same way she protected them.

Just then, there was a knock on her bedroom door. “Your Majesty?”

That was Xaden, the only one nice enough to knock. Varrish and her mother just walked in any time that they pleased, never mind the fact that she might be changing or something else equally as private. She walked to her door and opened it, watching as Xaden did a doubletake at all the bruises littering her skin. He hissed. “It’s fine, Xaden.”

“I don’t know where you learned the definition of ‘fine’,  your Majesty, but I can assure you, this is not it.”

She smiled at him placatingly. “Varrish got to us again last night.”

“That man needs to be stopped,” Xaden hissed.

Violet sighed warily. “He’s having us undergo torture for the betterment of the kingdom. Imagine if I was ever actually kidnapped. I’d need to be able to withstand the most grueling of torture.”

Xaden quirked an eyebrow. ‘At what cost? Your broken bones?”

Violet shrugged a shoulder. “If that’s what it takes to protect my kingdom. You haven’t seen it yet, Mr. Riorson, and that’s fine, but there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for Navarre.”

A shadow crossed his face; he opened and closed his mouth again, before setting his jaw firmly and nodding once. “Very well.”

She sighed in relief, thinking he’d put up more of a fight. “Thank you.”

“I’ll just sit through the torture with you,” he smirked, and Violet felt her stomach bottom out.

“Never,” she hissed, heart thrumming loudly in her ears. “And that’s an order.”

Xaden cocked his head to the side, muscle twitching in his jaw, before he eventually nodded. “As you wish, your Highness.”

There was a snarky undertone to his biting words, and Violet knew that he wasn’t through with this discussion. Fine. Game on, Xaden. “I need to go throw some daggers.”

“I know your name is Violet, but perhaps Violence is a better fit,” he smirked, and Violet snickered. She hadn’t had an inside joke with someone since she was a little girl and Brennan was still around.

“If you start calling me that, I’ll take out your tongue,” she warned.

“Definitely violent of you, Violence,” he laughed.

Violet laughed in spite of herself, wincing when it twinged her bruised cheek. Xaden frowned in sympathy and held out his hand to her. “What?”

“Do you trust me, Violet?” Xaden asked.

That was a tough question. She knew she was supposed to trust him off principal alone. She knew that he was her bodyguard and out of everyone, she was supposed to trust him. But Violet had trust issues. Deep-seeded trust issues. She had since a little girl. She sighed softly, feeling his eyes trace her. “I want to trust you, Mr. Riorson. I do. But I don’t know you well enough to say that I do.”

“Good answer, Violence,” he smiled softly, then held out his hand. “You don’t have to trust me with your innermost secrets, but please trust the fact that I don’t want you in pain. Let me get some ice for your bruises.”

Violet had never had someone offer to take care of her. She didn’t know what to do with that. Since being chronically sick since birth, no one had ever stuck around long enough to prove that they wanted to take care of her. Brennan and Mira both left as soon as they could, and her mother didn’t have the patience for her ailments. She quirked an eyebrow, but followed Xaden, nonetheless.

Xaden walked her through the back passages of the castle, leading Violet to believe that he had been exploring the castle in the two weeks that he had been there. He led her through a hallway that served as a shortcut to the kitchen basement and walked down the stairs towards the room. Violet followed after him, letting him lead her to the table the servants ate it. “Just take a seat at the table.”

She followed his instructions and sat down at the table, watching as he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and tied the ends, making a makeshift pocket in his hands. Then he filled it with ice from the bin, walking back to her the next moment. With gentle ministrations, Xaden placed it against her cheek, and Violet couldn’t help but to sigh in relief. Her eyelids fluttered closed as he held the ice against her cheek. It was almost…tender, the way he held the fabric against her skin, and she just let herself enjoy this for the time being. “Thank you.” It felt like there was a lump clogging her throat.

“Say the word and I’ll kill him, Violence,” he whispered.

“You will not go to jail because of me,” she murmured, eyes burning.

“No body, no crime,” he said quietly, and she couldn’t help it, she laughed.

Chapter Text

Xaden stared at the letter from his father that he had received two weeks prior. That was the threat from the south, the fact that Navarre was gaining enemies from every angle. It wasn’t like the Queen was doing anything for the betterment of her kingdom. Liam and Bodhi had intercepted the letter because Xaden had been assigned to stand outside of Violet’s room. The Queen had locked her in there, with explicit instructions not to let her out until her consort cleared the threat. Of course, Xaden’s shadows had unlocked the door, but he never stopped standing guard.

Eyes reading over the letter in his hand, he noted that his father was sending men from Tyrrendor to come speak to the Queen on his behalf. That was what Sgaeyl and Tairn had meant by a threat. Violet was going to receive a less than hospitable entrance from General Riorson’s men, and there wasn’t a damn thing Xaden could do about it.

He knew that they were taking tentative steps towards…well, towards liking each other. She trusted him a bit more than she first did, especially when he proved himself and didn’t kill Varrish. Though, how he wanted to. He hated that man. Deplored him.

It’s okay to say you’ve grown to care about the Sorrengail girl.

I don’t have time to care, Sgaeyl, and stay out of my head.

She huffed out a chuffing snort, and Xaden knew she was laughing. Just then, a distraction walked by in the shape of Liam, and his brother stopped next to him. Well, brother in everything but blood. “Is Violet locked in there?” Her mother had had her locked back into her room when she had some guests from the village visiting. She didn’t want her daughter to appear sickly or weak in front of them.

“I unlocked the door but she’s in there, yes,” he murmured, keeping his tone low. It wouldn’t do well to anger anyone on the Queen’s payroll who didn’t like him. Then again, he didn’t answer those people – namely Varrish – and he’d have a hell of a time reminding them of that.

“Did you read the letter from your father?” Liam asked quietly, eyes falling down on the thick parchment in his clutch.

“He’s bringing men here,” he said equally as quiet. “He had Bodhi give me this letter. The Queen has one too, but this one is more – ah – sentimental.”

His father loved Xaden, that much Xaden knew. It wasn’t that he didn’t. But when planning a revolution against the Kingdom of Navarre, Xaden knew he focused on his priorities and not his son. “Is that the threat Sgaeyl warned you about?”

“The men coming? Yes,” he murmured. “They’ll be here in a fortnight. So, technically we had two threats coming to us that day. The men delivering the letter and the letter itself, announcing the arrival of my father’s men.”

Liam ran a hand down his stubbled chin just as the Queen’s consort walked towards him. “Her Highness is allowed to come out now.”

Xaden bit back a growl at the way Varrish’s voice sneered on her title. He’d do better at remembering his place in the kingdom. His fingers itched to unsheathe the knife at his ribs and plunge it into his shoulder, but he refrained himself. Xaden stared Varrish down until the other man sighed and walked off. He knew he wanted a chance to see Violet, but Xaden would never allow that. Once Varrish was around the corner, Xaden tapped on the door. “Your Majesty? You can come out now. It’s safe.” Xaden only added that sentence when he knew Varrish was well and truly away from them.

The door opened and Violet walked out, head held high. “Thank you, for unlocking my door.”

“I’m not going to hold you captive, Violence,” Xaden said, smirk pulling at his lips. He glanced over his shoulder at Liam, who was taking in the faded bruises on Violet’s skin.

“I knew Varrish tortured you,” Liam whispered, “but I had hoped Xaden was exaggerating.”

Xaden bit his tongue. He wanted to kill Varrish. Incinerate him the way Andarna wanted to. Violet merely shrugged a shoulder, turning to Xaden. “Are the villagers gone?”

“Yes,” Xaden said, brow furrowing at the disappointment coloring Violet’s irises. “Why does that disappoint you?”

“Mother never lets me talk to the villagers when they visit for business,” she said, tone desolate. “It’d be quite interesting to see people my age once again.”

“You saw them at the war college?” Xaden asked, and she nodded.

“Yes, but they wanted me dead as badly as the villagers want me dead. Well, the adult villagers. I’m sure the ones my age are probably indifferent to the rules of the olden way,” she replied.

The olden way. It was the reason they’re going for a revolution. The magic and Venin that had been in a storybook meant for children existed in their world. Queen Sorrengail knew and yet did nothing to aid the people at the southern borders. Tyrrendor wasn’t protected. Xaden itched to speak about it with Violet, but knew that the less she knew, the better. For both of their safety.

When are you going to tell her about the bond? Tairn’s voice interrupted his thoughts, angry and loud. That was the other thing. Because their two dragons were mated, it meant Xaden and Violet were mated by default. But – well – she could never love him that way and it was his job to protect her. And start a revolution. With his father. Shit fuck. When had life gotten so complicated? “I’m sure you’re right, Violence.”

And, he stood by those words. He didn’t necessarily believe that Violet believed in the olden ways. Just that she did everything her mother told her to. He’d have to work on getting her to break that particular habit if they had a chance at survival. Liam nodded once. “I think you’ll do best with Xaden. I’ve got to go speak to Bodhi about that thorn in his side.” The thorn in his side was Varrish. Xaden snorted.

When it was just Violet and Xaden, he looked at her. “Are you hungry? You look a bit pale.” And the shadows underneath her eyes weren’t doing her any favors to her parlor. She stretched out her joints, wincing for a moment, before she nodded. “I could eat something.”

He pushed off the wall, tucking the letter away into his vest as he led her down the hallway to the shortcut for the kitchen. He had time to come up with what he would say to his father’s men. For now, he had a princess to feed.

Chapter Text

WHACK!

Violet spit out a mouthful of blood as she had her jaw broken. Tasting pennies on the back of her tongue, she mustered as much hatred as she could in the glare she sent to Varrish and General Aetos. She could see Rhiannon struggling against the chains that bound her to the chair, yanking on them, as Ridioc and Swayer screamed for her. It was Varrish’s doing. He wanted her to hurt the same way that he hurt over the fact that not one but two dragons bonded with her. “I’ll only ask this one more time: how did you get two dragons?”

She was confused as to why it mattered. And, having been force-fed the serum that cut her off from Andarna and Tairn, Violet couldn’t very well reach out to them. She smiled blithely at Varrish. “Well, if I knew, I wouldn’t very well tell you, now would I?”

His elbow slammed into her nose in frustration, shattering it, and she felt blood pour out of both nostrils. “Violet!” Rhiannan screamed at her.

“Leave her alone!” Swayer yelled in panic, trying to crawl to her, but she shook her head sharply.

“Stay there, Swayer! That’s an order,” Violet said assertively, tone firm, if not a bit garbled by the blood pouring into her mouth. Varrish leveled a leer at her that made her skin crawl. Hand coming to touch her skin at the dip in her dress, Violet stiffened. She wouldn’t bow to this man’s whim.

“I have other means,” Varrish whispered, eyes alight with an energy she didn’t think she ever wanted to see again. He brushed his fingers along her jaw, before smacking her, and sending her head snapping in the other direction. Then he squeezed her breast.

“That’s enough,” General Aetos barked. “We agreed to break her so she’d tell us what we need to know. We did not, however, agree to assault her.”

“What does it matter how I get the information, as long as I do?” Varrish snapped.

“Not like this,” Aetos said with a finality that Violet appreciated. Varrish sighed but dropped his hand. He backed up and nodded at the two guards.

“Unchain them,” he said in a clipped voice, taking care to kick Violet as hard as he could in the ankle. She screamed as stars burst behind her eyelids. Dipping in and out of consciousness, she didn’t know how much time had passed before soft hands cupped her cheek.

“Violence?” Xaden asked softly, voice distraught. Then he turned and spoke to someone next to him. “Help me lift her, Liam.”

Liam was here too? “Are my friends…”

“They’re safe,” Xaden said quietly. “Now, save your strength, Violence.”

He nodded at Liam, who stood down by her ankles. “It’s broken.”

Liam looked aghast at that proclamation, and Xaden hissed through his teeth. “Fucking Varrish. Okay, be careful. On the count of three. One, two, three.”

They lifted Violet up, Xaden taking the time to cradle her gently in his arms. “Tairn is outside with your pack.”

Pack?

“What pack?” Violet mumbled through gritted teeth. The pain was awful.

“We’re flying to Tyrrendor. I cannot have you living here,” Xaden said quietly, making quick work of moving her.

“But – my friends,” she muttered.

“I’ve got Bodhi and a couple of my men here, ready to fly them out too,” Xaden murmured. “Now, shh. Please, Violence.” His voice broke on her name and then she heard the beating wings of multiple dragons. She dragged her eyes open as she stared at Tairn and Andarna. They looked mad enough to ignite fire. She wished she knew what they were thinking. As if reading her mind, Xaden spoke. “We’ve got the anecdote for you at Tyrrendor. All you have to do right now is trust your dragons to get you there safely.”

Andarna was already harnessed to Tairn’s chest, and Xaden and Liam were rearranging her into the saddle on his back. She was humiliated that they had to see that, but Xaden’s expression softened on her as Liam spoke. “Even the best of riders needs a little bit of help.”

She nodded, eyes blinking closed. She felt something soft and soothing against her brow; perhaps Xaden’s thumb, and then he was speaking. “Get some sleep, Violence. We have healers in Tyrrendor.”

That was the last she heard before the inevitable darkness swallowed her whole.

XXX

The next time she woke up, it felt like her body was on fire. Xaden was holding her against his chest gently, making quick work of hurrying to a castle in the distance. She meant to ask him who’s castle that was, but she couldn’t make her tongue work. So, her head just lolled against Xaden’s shoulder as he hurried across the bank of grass. She could hear either Liam or someone else out of his men hurrying behind them. Her mind strayed to Ridioc and Rhiannon and Swayer. Were they okay? Had they survived the flight? As their princess, she was supposed to be better equipped to know about her people.

“Violet,” Xaden’s voice was impossibly soft. “You’re going to receive a bit of a shock to your system tonight.”

“More than I already have?” Violet mumbled.

Xaden choked out a laugh as they ran. “More than that I am afraid, Violence.”

She wondered what on earth he was talking about but didn’t have to wonder for long. Hurried footsteps approached them. “Shit!”

A niggling came forward in Violet’s mind as she recognized that voice. It had been a voice she hadn’t heard in years. It was deeper than the last time she heard it too. She blinked her eyes open, staring ahead of her as someone she never thought she’d see again stepped into her line of sight. She gasped softly. “Brennan?”

“Good to see you, baby sister,” he murmured.

Then she turned and leaned over Xaden’s arm, retching blood all over the grass before she finally passed out once more, injuries nothing more than a distant memory.

Chapter Text

Xaden looked at Violet as she slept, mind a constant force on her. His only thought that had been running through his mind that entire night was: not her. He had been sick to his stomach when he heard from Liam that Varrish and Aetos had gotten to her again, and then further sick when he saw the after effects of the torture they had put her through. When she threw up blood next to him, his heart had stopped. Was she dying?

It didn’t even cross his mind that he could very well die too. The only thought that had been on a constant loop in his mind as he and the others had run was: not her. Anyone but her. And little good that thought did him to have. He had managed – only just – to let Brennan have access to her so he could heal her, but Xaden hadn’t left the room. Not in the way Brennan had asked him to.

Now, he was watching the steady rise and fall of Violet’s chest as she slept, healing from being mended. He knew she’d have a lot of questions when she woke up. Questions that he couldn’t blame her for having in the first place. Before she had passed out in his arms once more, she had made eye contact with her brother she hadn’t seen in years.

Xaden thought about that. About the fact that Violet hadn’t heard from either one of her siblings since they left the Kingdom. He wondered how that had sat with her but was too scared to ask. He didn’t want to offend her. And that was the thing Xaden didn’t know the most. What would offend her.

How he wanted to be the best possible version of himself for her. He sighed softly through parted lips, pushing her hair away from her face. He had taken the time to take out her braid, not wanting her to be uncomfortable by sleeping with it in. His fingertips had played with her silver-tipped hair, running them through it as he took out the braid. He was mesmerized with her hair, amazed at the color of it. It was different, like her, and that wasn’t a bad thing. Not necessarily.

Just then, Violet’s eyes started to crinkle open slowly, and he watched her, waiting to see if she would look at him. She took her time to blink away the last vestiges of sleep, and then she made eye contact with him. She blinked slowly. Then she spoke in a low voice that was coated with exhaustion but didn’t shake with pain. “Thank you.”

“I’m so sorry I didn’t get to you sooner,” he whispered, ashamed of the fact that he had let Varrish get his disgusting hands on her. Again. “I’m so sorry we had to get you out of there in the first place.” His eyes closed of their own volition, pain permeating his body like ice-cold water. He knew that Violet had been close to being attacked in a way that would have caused him to commit murder. Rhiannon had told him about the fact that Varrish had squeezed her breast. It made him want to cut his fingers off and force-feed them to their disgusting owner.

“It’s not your fault,” she murmured lowly, staring at him through hooded eyelids. “You got us out of there. That’s all  that matters.”

He wondered how much she remembered. Ridoc had seen Brennan. So had Rhiannon and Swayer. They had promised not to talk to her about him until she brought it up, but Xaden knew that Rhiannon and Ridoc were protective as fuck of the princess. He didn’t blame them. “What else do you remember?” He had to know.

She furrowed her brow, swallowing thickly as she thought. He watched her patiently. “I-I remember…but that’s not possible.” She whispered, cutting herself off with a frown.

“Of course it is,” he said quietly. “What do you remember?”

“Brennan is alive?” Violet asked, brow still furrowed as her words had the smallest twinge of hurt to them.

Just then, there was a soft knock on her bedroom door, and Xaden squeezed her hand gently, letting it fall out of his grasp as he went to go answer it. Brennan nodded at him once before stepping into the room and looking at his baby sister sadly. “They really  did a fucking number on you, didn’t they?”

Violet blinked at her older brother once, twice, taking him in almost as if she did not believe what she was seeing. Then she cleared her throat. “I thought you were dead.”

Brennan sighed, sitting down in the chair that Xaden had just vacated. Xaden went to go stand next to Violet’s bed, placing his hand on her shoulder and squeezing gently. In case she needed his strength. “I know I didn’t stay in touch after Mira and I left the castle.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to say to that, Brennan?” Violet hissed, eyes flashing dangerously. “My older siblings – my best friends – left me. You guys left me.”

“Vi,” Brennan whispered, tone dejected.

“That’s not good enough,” she snapped.

“Violence,” Xaden murmured. “Hear him out.”

“And I don’t think I’m happy with you,” she muttered lowly. “You knew he was alive. You had to.”

“I did,” he admitted, conceding to her accusations. “But not for the reasons that you think.”

She blinked, glaring at Brennan coolly. “So, what? You mended my body? What the hell am I supposed to say to that?”

“A thank you, for starters,” Brennan replied. She just stared at him lividly. “I can see I won’t get that from you. That’s fine. But baby sister, you’ve got to hear me out.”

“You’ve got exactly ninety seconds to explain to me what the hell is a good enough reason to make you turn your back on me without a proper goodbye.” Violet’s tone was livid, and Xaden smiled slightly to himself. There was his warrior.

“Navarre isn’t the kingdom that mom led us to believe,” Brennan said quietly. “There’s secrets even I don’t understand the full extent of.”

“What do you mean?” Violet snapped.

“Think about the storybooks dad read to you on the days you were in bed, sick,” Brennan replied.

Violet’s brow furrowed. “The ones about venin? What the fuck does that have to do with anything?”

“It has everything to do with things, Violence,” Xaden said quietly, tone soothing.

She turned to look at him briefly before leveling her eyes back on Brennan. “It’s just folklore. Stories told to children when they’re younger.”

“It is not folklore,” Brennan whispered. “Not folklore in the slightest.”

Violet’s eyes widened at him for a moment. “You’re telling me venin is real?”

“I’m telling you,” Brennan said slowly, “that venin is indeed real and we’re at war with Navarre over it.”

Chapter Text

Violet woke with a gasp, the last vestiges of sleep slipping away as her mind held onto the nightmare that had held her captive. In her dream, Varrish was beating her mercilessly. He was breaking her bones; snapping them as if they were twigs, and she hadn’t had a hope of escaping. Her fingers curled inward, the echoing phantom pain of her broken bones radiating through her. She slipped out of the bed, balancing on unsteady feet for a moment. Then, she walked out of the room she was sleeping in.

The castle in Tyrrendor was huge. Far bigger than the castle in Navarre, and Violet wondered who ruled her. It had to be Fen Riorson, hadn’t it? That was th only person that made sense. As she walked down the corridors in the castle, Violet’s feet padded against the thick carpet, toes sinking into the plushness of it. She knew that she’d be able to find the kitchen and perhaps brew herself a cup of strong tea. That sounded good right now.

As predicted, she did find the kitchen. It just wasn’t empty in the way that she had been hoping for it to be. Liam, Bodhi, and Garrick were all in there, drinking ale, and she looked around. Feeling insignificant, she tried to make herself as small as possible as she looked for the tea. Garrick spoke. “Princess Violet, what can we help you with?”

“I’m just – just looking for tea,” she murmured.

Liam jumped to his feet, busying himself with making the tea for her as Bodhi sat her down in one of the kitchen table chairs. She looked at the men before and found herself wishing for Xaden. He may be her bodyguard but they were on the way to being friends, and that meant something to her. Bodhi spoke up. “I know you must be so very confused right now, Your Majesty.”

“Violet is fine,” she interrupted him quietly. “We’re no longer at Navarre’s Kingdom. Societal ways do not dictate what you have to call me here.”

“No,” Bodhi agreed. “But our friendship does dictate politeness from me.”

“Are we friends?” Violet asked quietly.

“I’d like for us to be,” Bodhi replied firmly.

Violet studied him for a moment before nodding her head. “So would I.”

The kitchen door swung open just then and Xaden came in, wild-eyed, until he saw Violet and visibly breathed a sigh of relief. “Violence, you’re allowed complete freedom in this castle, but please tell me if you’re going to be leaving your room at night. It’s not safe for you to walk on your own.”

She tilted her head to the side, confused about who would want to hurt her here. Then she remembered that the was the princess of Navarre and she had enemies in every country. She nodded her head. “Okay.”

Liam handed her the tea he had steeped for her, and then led the other men out of the room. She cradled her mug, letting the heat from the porcelain seep into her skin. She needed extra warmth. Xaden sat down across from her after his men left the room and he studied her face. “The majority of your bruises have gone.”

“Yeah.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Brennan healed me really well.”

Xaden sighed softly. “Tell me where your head is at, Vi.”

She rolled her lower lip between her teeth, worrying the flesh of skin. “My brother is alive. I always wondered if he and Mira died after they left the castle. They weren’t exiled but something tells me you already knew that.”

“I just crossed paths with Brennan two weeks ago,” Xaden said. “I can’t tell you everything that is going on because some of the stuff are not my secrets to share, but I can tell you what I am able to.”

Violet studied him, feeling a thin layer of hurt permeating her bone marrow. Brennan and Mira had left her. They had left her to fend on her own. She didn’t know if she could forgive them for that. “How did you and Brennan cross paths?”

Xaden ran a hand underneath his chin, Violet noticing the shadows underneath his eyes for the first time. “Do you remember what he said about venin?”

“That It’s real,” she replied promptly.

“Brennan came to Tyrrendor two weeks ago, looking for my father. He’s the general over the people of Tyrrendor and the leader of the revolution.”

Violet’s eyebrows drew together. “The revolution?”

“There’s a group of people fighting against Navarre because Navarre knows that venin is real and isn’t doing anything about protecting the people at the borders. They’re letting them die by Gryphon attacks.”

Violet’s head spun with all the information Xaden just unloaded onto her. “My mother would never let innocent people die. Gryphons aren’t real, Xaden.”

“Yes, they are,” he murmured. “And the sooner you start to believe that, the better it is for your kingdom. The Queen isn’t wanting to protect the people at the borders because she doesn’t see how it’s for the betterment of the kingdom.”

“Surely people not dying is the reason it’s for the betterment of the kingdom,” Violet said, tone disbelieving. “My mother would want to save as many innocents as she could.”

“When has your mother ever done something for someone other than herself?” Xaden asked quietly.

Violet opened her mouth, ready to pop off a retort, and then she shut it. The truth of the matter was she couldn’t give an honest answer to that question. She expelled a soft sigh. “Let’s say for argument’s sake I believe you. That I agree venin is real. Why are we at war with Navarre? Surely I can be the one to bring back the knowledge of the venin?”

“It’s not safe for you there,” Xaden replied sharply. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go back. It’s why we brought your friends. So you had some comfort with you here in Tyrrendor. Varrish will kill you one day. He pushes you too hard and he doesn’t care if you burnout.”

Violet sighed. It was the same conclusion she had drawn as well. “I know.” Her voice was quiet; words hollow. Varrish would have eventually killed her. And her mother wouldn’t have batted an eye. She looked at Xaden. “So, I’m just supposed to stay in Tyrrendor now? I don’t have the freedom to make that decision for myself?”

“It’s safer if you’re here, Violence,” Xaden replied in a low voice. “And your safety is my number one concern. Everything else is just background noise.”

She stared at him, slowly nodding her head. “Okay. We do this your way.”

She knew she had so much more to say to Brennan; that she needed to cross paths with Mira, but for now, she’d rest.

Chapter Text

Xaden kept Violet and Brennan away from each other those first few days that Violet recovered from the assault on her body. Varrish had done a number on her and it took all of Brennan’s strength to heal her. Xaden was in no huge rush to send her back to Navarre. And, Brennan wanted to talk to his sister. Xaden knew this much. He just didn’t know if Violet wanted to talk to Brennan.

There was so much weighing on the Princess’s conscience right now. The fate of her people. The fact that her brother was alive. Her body. Everything weighed her down and affected her differently, and Xaden couldn’t honestly say he blamed her. He knew she had insurmountable pressure resting on her shoulders.

Violet was currently sleeping right now. Ordered to bed by Xaden and he was watching her sleep. Keeping an eye out for any nightmares that dared to bother her. He didn’t know if she dealt with said nightmares, but he knew he’d be there to guard her from them, no matter what. He sat on the chair next to her bed, ankle crossed over his leg as he watched her.

She was so beautiful. That much was clear. Xaden felt like he could watch her for hours and he still wouldn’t have enough time to memorize her beauty. Violet stirred just then, brow scrunching up as she slowly started waking up. She blinked her eyes open for several moments, taking in the room she was in. Then, she glanced at Xaden. “Hey.”

“Hey, Violence,” he smiled at her softly. “How are you feeling?”

She took a minute to think about his question. “Well rested, thank you.”

He smiled once, satisfied with her answer. Then he continued to watch her for a minute, taking inventory of her bruises. “I think you’ve just about healed completely.”

“Yeah,” she agreed lightly. “My bruises are just about gone and I can’t feel any pain.”

He nodded his head, pleased by that answer. Then he spoke softly. “And, how are you doing from the sexual trauma?”

Violet batted her eyelashes away from him, looking around the room as she suddenly appeared ten times smaller. Xaden’s heart ached for her, and he wanted to tell her that what Varrish subjected her to was not her fault. That he was an arrogant dick who thought he was above the law because he was the Queen’s consort. Eventually, Violet spoke. “I’m okay. Was it unpleasant? Certainly. But I’ve dealt with worse.”

Xaden nodded his head, ready to move on, and then his eyes narrowed as his lips parted. “What do you mean ‘worse’?”

Violet’s jaw was firm as her gaze became resolute. “Nothing. It happened a long time ago.”

Xaden felt like he was free-falling. Had – did Varrish attack her in a way worse way than physical? He swallowed thickly, wanting to ask if she was okay, but also keeping his mouth shut. He could respect the fact that she didn’t want to talk about it. He nodded his head, licking his lips. “I’ll take care of it.”

And, he meant those words. No matter what Varrish had done, he had done something all the same. And the other man needed to pay for it. Needed to pay for his crimes against the princess. Violet’s face morphed into relief, and Xaden knew he had said something inexplicably right. “Thank you, Xaden.”

He nodded once, jaw still ticking. He wanted to murder Varrish for the crimes against Violet, but he had to figure out what all of them were. He had to make sure it was a justifiable murder in someone else’s eyes besides his. To him, any pain inflicted against Varrish was just a wonderful thing. “You’re welcome, Violence.” He meant those words, even though anger and fire warped around them, distorting them. He was so angry; he could barely breathe. He knew that Violet had had something happen to her in the past. Just what that something was remained to be seen.

He hoped she felt comfortable enough telling him one day. She spoke up in quiet tones the next minute. “I suppose I ought to go find Brennan and talk to him.”

“If you’d like,” Xaden agreed. “But it is a little bit after midnight. He may be asleep.”

“How long have I been asleep for?” Violet asked in wonderment.

“Just a little over fourteen hours. You went to the kitchens last night, and then stayed up for a bit. Then fell back asleep this morning,” Xaden replied.

“Gods,” she whispered. “I have so much stuff to do and here I am, sleeping.”

She had sat up, looking ready to throw the covers off her, and he eased her back down. “Easy Violence. Your body has undergone a trauma. You need to rest and let it heal right now.”

Violet sighed. “I don’t have time to heal. I need to go look for Brennan and figure out more about this Venin he told me about.”

“I know you think that’s what needs to happen,” Xaden amended carefully, “but I promise, you can just rest for tonight. Brennan will still be here in the morning.”

Violet sighed, thinking about his words for a moment, and Xaden gave her all the time she needed. Eventually, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

Her voice was small and world weary in ways that hurt Xaden’s heart. He wondered at what she had seen in her life. “Should we let Tairn know you’re awake?”

“I’m talking to him now,” she murmured. “The anecdote worked. We’re going to go flying tomorrow.”

Xaden hesitated before asking his question. “Do you mind if I go with you? It’s not safe in Tyrrendor right now.”

“Not safe for me, you mean,” she commented. “Because I’m Navarre’s princess and the south hates Navarre.”

“Well…,” Xaden drew out, huffing a laugh at how right she was.

She smiled at him kindly. “You don’t have to ask if you and Sgaeyl can fly with us tomorrow. We’ll go at dawn?”

“We’ll go at dawn,” he agreed, wondering what the day would bring them.

Chapter Text

Violet Sorrengail was not appreciated in Tyrrendor. Sure, Xaden and his men appreciated her; her brother too, but that was the extent of it. The people of Tyrrendor didn’t trust her because she was Navarre’s princess. As she walked out across the lawns on the castle, desperate to reach Andarna and Tairn, Violet wondered if she’d ever know what it felt like to be truly appreciated.

Xaden was already waiting for her by Sgaeyl, their morning flight about to start. Tairn dipped down and let Violet climb on top of him and she settled herself into her saddle. Xaden clipped the buckles around her, making sure they were tight but not too tight. His fingers brushed at her exposed wrist, and she felt herself warm. She stared at him for a moment and he her, neither one of them saying anything. Then Andarna blew out a snort, and Violet laughed.

Patience, Little One.

I want to fly, too!

Soon, Andarna. This much Violet knew she could promise. Xaden’s lips twitched upwards, as if he had heard the entire conversation, and Violet shared a secret smirk with him. Tairn expanded his wings and took off, Violet clasping onto the reigns. Sgaeyl wasn’t far behind them, and soon, Xaden was flying next to her. The sun hadn’t risen yet, giving the morning air a cool nip to it. Violet felt pleasantly warm in her leathers, and her joints weren’t aching too much yet.

They were still aching, but not bad enough that she needed a minute to stretch them out. Tairn dipped low over valleys, flying in and out of the clouds as he did so. Violet knew she was safe up here; hidden. It gave her ample opportunity to think. If what Brennan said was true – that Venin was real – her mother had a lot of questions to answer to.

And, what did her father know about it? Had he died guarding the same secrets her mother was desperate for her children not to find out? That didn’t seem right. Violet expelled a soft sigh as Tairn and Sgaeyl got ready to land. Tairn touched down on ground first, rolling them to a smooth stop with Sgaeyl not too far behind.

Xaden dismounted from his dragon and turned to Violet. “How are you feeling, Your Majesty?”

“Xaden, this isn’t Navarre,” Violet reminded him gently while she took off her gloves. Stretching her fingers out and wincing, she continued speaking a moment later. “I am not royalty here. You don’t have to address me as such.”

Xaden smiled at her in an endearingly shy mannerism. “You’ll always be royalty to me, Violence.”

He took her gloveless hands into his and began massaging her joints. She sighed in relief. “That feels wonderful.”

“How are your joints?” Xaden asked quietly, careful to keep his gentle administrations intact.

“Well, Varrish broke a couple and, yes, I saw Nolon for them. They just never healed back normally,” she muttered.

Xaden hissed through his teeth, determined to correct every wrong Varrish brought the princess before him. Violet was touched that he seemed to care so much about her. “This should have never happened to you in the first place. Your mother is a fool for letting Varrish play these games.”

“My mother would swallow her own tongue before she called herself a fool,” Violet snickered, and Xaden’s flashed his eyes to her face, smiling when she did.

“As it is, I stand by what I said,” he murmured, running a soothing thumb over her fingers as he massaged them. “Your mother was wrong to ever let Varrish do this and he’s no consort in my mind.”

“No, nor is he one in mine,” Violet admitted. Xaden took extra care to massage out the stiffness in her joints, and then he was placing her hands back into her gloves. Violet faced out to the landscape before her. “What are we going to do?”

“About what, Violence?” Xaden asked quietly.

“If Venin is real, the whole Kingdom is in trouble,” she murmured, thinking about Tyrrendor and the price that they’ve already had to pay as a society.

“Venin is real, Vi,” he murmured. “And the Kingdom is already in trouble.”

“And what exactly am I supposed to do?” Violet asked quietly. “It’s not like your people want me to be in leadership over the country.”

“Not yet,” Xaden amended, looking at her with a steely look in his eyes. “But don’t you see, you can rule Tyrrendor.”

“With whom?” Violet demanded. “I don’t see the King of Tyrrendor asking me about this.”

Xaden was quiet for a bit and a heavy suspicion fell into her stomach like lead. She looked at him beseechingly, and he sighed. “My father is King.”

“So, that, what? Makes you Prince?” Violet whispered.

“By family, yes,” he admitted, and she backed up a pace. He reached for her automatically and intertwined their fingers. She had to admit, it felt good. “But that does not mean I want the title. I much prefer bodyguard.”

“You can’t just walk away from your duties, Xaden,” she smiled sadly. How she wished it was that easy.

“No more than you can walk away from yours, I suspect,” he agreed with a tilt of his chin.  “But just because my father wants me to one day rule his throne, it doesn’t mean I will. He’s got to know that’s not something I see myself doing.”

“Are we ever lucky enough to do what we want?” Violet asked quietly.

“What are your dreams?” Xaden whispered.

“If I could have anything in the world, it would to be a rider. I get no greater sense of freedom than when I’m on the back of my dragons,” she replied, glancing at Tairn.

“Then that is what you shall be,” he murmured.

She laughed sadly. He made it seem so easy. “I have loyalties to my country. And now, this country. I may not rule over Tyrrendor the way my mother wants me to rule over Navarre, but I do have a certain loyalty to it now that I am here.”

“Then, let’s settle in and focus on Venin. The rest is just noise.”

Violet studied Xaden carefully, before nodding her head. He dipped down, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth, and then they both turned to watch the sunrise. Her worries weren’t far from her mind but they were manageable right then and that was more than enough for her. The rest would work itself out. It always had a way of doing that. That’s what her father led her to believe. And, when had her father ever been wrong?

Chapter Text

Now that Violet knew who Xaden’s father was, Xaden felt infinite pressure being lifted from his shoulders. He wasn’t lying to her anymore. Well, wasn’t telling half-truths, he amended. He knew that she deserved to know all the secrets that existed in Tyrrendor, but they weren’t his secrets to share. If he could, he’d spill the beans on everything, including her in every decision-making process that they had. As it was, he couldn’t do that.

And he loathed that.

He expelled a soft sigh through parted lips, keeping his eye on Violet. He knew what his second signet was; what it wanted from her. That was to say, it wanted to read her the way he read an open book. But he wouldn’t do that to her. It wasn’t fair that he had the ability to read people when they didn’t even know about it. How could they defend themselves against him?

The honest answer?

They couldn’t.

Xaden kept a close eye on Violet over the upcoming days. The princess seemed to be healing wonderfully, and for that, he was ever thankful. He knew that she needed rest and relaxation, two luxuries she was not granted, no matter how much he protested. But still. Still. He wanted her to feel better before she was thrust into his world. And, with no one to guard her at that.

Of course, he was there as her guard, but he laughed derisively at that. How could he not? He was supposed to protect her, that was the one thing he was instructed to do, and he failed magnificently. Of course, he didn’t trust himself with something as precious as her now. How could he?

He was growing more and more aggravated with each passing day. His father was the King of Tyrrendor, and he hadn’t adequately prepared him to run a country. How did his father expect such strengths from him if he didn’t show him the way? It was mind-boggling and very annoying. And that was putting it mildly.

Just then, a distraction from his thoughts in the form of the princess stepped into his line of sight. Xaden breathed a small sigh of relief as he smiled at her. “Your Majesty.”

“What did I tell you Xaden?” Violet frowned at him. “We’re in your country now. Such titles aren’t needed.”

“All due respect, your Highness, but they’re definitely needed,” he reminded her, and she huffed out an irritated sigh before laughing.

“Oh, very well,” she agreed with good composure. Then she sat down next to him and looked out at the sea before them. “It’s beautiful.”

“I come out here when I need to remind myself why I’m fighting for Tyrrendor,” he murmured.

“And, why are you?” Violet asked quietly.

“Because, we deserve peace as much as anyone else,” he replied calmly.

She blinked, looking at him in surprise. Then she laughed. “I suppose that is true. Oh, I’m sorry. It just doesn’t seem like I can make heads or tails of this war I’ve been thrusted into.”

“You have my sincerest apologies for that, Violence,” he murmured, all traces of teasing gone from his voice. “I know you wouldn’t have come here of your own volition. That we forced your hand by taking you away. And for that, I cannot apologize enough.”

“You saved my life, Xaden,” Violet replied steadily. “There is no greater act than that and I cannot thank you enough for that. It is my pleasure, and duty, to be here.”

He chortled. He was not expecting that answer. “You still take me by surprise, Vi.”

“Good,” she laughed. “I’m keeping you on your toes.”

“Definitely,” he agreed warmly and the two shared a secret smile. It was a smile just for them and one he’d cherish forever. Or, until he meet Malek. Whichever came first

“I don’t think I can do this,” she said into the quiet air, causing him to look at her.

“Do what?” Xaden asked quietly.

“This. Be a princess for another country,” she sighed. “It was already such a challenge to be Navarre’s princess.”

“I wouldn’t dream of asking you to be Tyrrendor’s princess if I didn’t think you could handle it,” Xaden reminded her gently.

She nodded. “I know you think I can handle it, but does anyone else?”

That was a tough question to answer, Xaden thought to himself. He knew that his people thought she could do it, but whether or not they respected her long enough to let her do it, remained to be seen. He sighed softly. “It doesn’t matter what I or anyone else thinks. What matters is if you think you can do it. Do you?”

“Some days, yes,” she admitted. “Then others, I’m not so sure. I wasn’t doing a great job at being Navarre’s princess. How can I do any better here?”

“You’re so determined to see yourself as the bad guy,” Xaden mused. “Why is that?”

“Maybe because there’s no good to be seen in me.”

He recoiled as if he had been slapped. “Do – do you really believe that, Violence?”

“Some days, I do,” she murmured, and her broken voice made him ache. “Some days I don’t think there’s anything good about me.”

“Why?” Xaden breathed out, daring to not make any guesses as to what her answer could be. He wanted to hear it for himself.

“Well,” she murmured. “I think if I had any good in me, I’d be able to protect the people of Navarre far better than I have. I think that’d be obvious.”

“But, Violence, don’t you see?” Xaden asked, tone somewhat desperate. “It’s not your job to protect all the people of Navarre.”

“Who’s going to protect them, if not I?” Violet asked incredulously.

“They can protect themselves!” Xaden hissed, feeling angry on her behalf. Why should it be the princess’s job to protect anyone? No one ever gave a damn about her.

She smiled at him kindly. “I appreciate you saying that.”

And perhaps she did, but it wasn’t enough to make him feel better about the whole debacle. Nowhere near enough. He hated that she had to make do with everything that life threw at her. He didn’t want her to think this was all she was good for. Pressing his lips to her forehead gently, he held them there for an immeasurable amount of time, before sighing softly. His words got stolen within the wind. “I promise you; I will not let you fall.”

That was a promise he planned to see through, no matter what. No matter what it took. He’d die before she fell.

Chapter Text

Violet woke up with a headache and her joints screaming at her pain. She laid in bed, willing the pain to move along, but knowing in her heart it was useless. She didn’t think the chronic pain she dealt with was going to take mercy on her today. She hissed through her teeth a particularly sharp burst of pain, tears coming to her eyes as she grit her teeth.

Silver One, what can I do?

What can we do?

Just let me lay here for a moment. Gather my bearings.

Do I need to tell Sgaeyl to tell Xaden?

No.

Violet cut off the channel with Andarna and Tairn. She didn’t want her bodyguard – and, he was slowly becoming something more than that to her – to know that she was dealing with chronic pain today. It was bad enough that he already saw her all bloody and bruised from Varrish’s last attempt to break her; he didn’t need to see her body reject its only job. To give her refuge.

Sitting up slowly, Violet hissed as pain wracked her body. She had to go down and meet with Brennan today, and someone he called Imogen. Imogen knew Xaden, Bodhi, and Liam really well; she was a friend of theirs’. Violet wanted to leave a good impression on her and she feared that all she’d be able to do was sit there, in agony. Unmoving. She winced at the thought and deplored her useless body even more.

What good was it if it just hurt her? What use did it provide? She could feel Tairn and Andarna trying to get back into her channel; a niggling in the back of her mind, but she had slammed her shields up. She didn’t want anyone to see her like this, let alone her dragons.

Exhaling through her teeth, she swung her feet out of bed and slowly moved around her room, gathering her leathers and her knives. She needed to sheathe them on her body. She felt naked without them, and she hadn’t been wearing them the last few days because she hadn’t been wearing a corset. She didn’t want to think about the fact that all the people in the castle had seen her dressed improperly. It was too embarrassing to think about.

Once she was ready, she took a moment to center her breathing by her wardrobe. She knew that her body would hurt endlessly today – something about a storm being on the horizon – but that didn’t mean she couldn’t still do her princess duties. She knew that Xaden wanted her to one day rule Tyrrendor. What she didn’t know, however, was if he was going to want to rule next to her. She didn’t loathe the idea as much as she originally might have. He had proved himself worthy to her, especially with flying her out of Navarre after Varrish tried to kill her.

Walking out of the room, Violet headed down the corridor, nodding at some of the people she saw in the castle. Servants and maids; guards guarding entrances to rooms. She was on the hunt for Brennan and allowed her feet to carry her – less than gracefully – to the parlor room, where she had thought he might be.

The corridors were filled with the workers of the castle, and she tried to edge her way around them. She didn’t want to bother them for anything, nor did she want them to try and talk to her. She had a mission and that was to reach Brennan. Maybe not quickly, because of her aching body, but she could still hurry as much as she could.

Once she was in the parlor room, she spotted Brennan with Xaden and Liam. There was a female next to him as well, and he assumed that was Imogen. She nodded at her, smiling at her briefly as she walked towards her brother. “Brennan.”

“Hey, Violet,” he greeted her, looking up from the scrolls in his hands.. He nodded at the female next to him. “Violet, meet Imogen. Imogen, Violet.”

She nodded at the other woman, who was taking inventory of her. “It’s nice to finally meet Brennan’s sister. You’re smaller than I expected.”

Violet smiled faintly, pain still trembling her body. “I get that a lot, actually.” And she did. Most people thought her to be strong like Lillith before they met her. Then they were sorely disappointed. Unless you were Varrish, and then he just enjoyed causing pain to her small frame.

Xaden looked at her, frowning sightly as he clocked the downward pull of her lips. “Your Majesty?”

She shook her head imperceptibly. She didn’t want Brennan to know that she was in pain. Xaden’s eyes unfocused, clearly channeling Sgaeyl, and Violet had no doubt Tairn had told his mate about the pain his rider was in. Then there would be no doubt that Sgaeyl would tell Xaden. It sucked being bonded with your dragon’s mate. She turned to Brennan. “I’m willing to listen to the story about Venin. What father always told me was the stories from the children’s book he had. What do you know?”

“They’re real, sis. Dark wielders are using their magic with them,” Brennan replied, and Violet furrowed a brow.

“Magic isn’t real,” she protested. “It can’t be.”

“Well, it is, Your Majesty,” Liam replied in a quiet, steady voice. She flickered her eyes to him, taking in his expression as pain radiated through her. She nodded her head, wincing, and noting that Xaden didn’t miss that movement.

“Okay, so magic and Venin are real,” she muttered. “What else?”

“There’s Gryphons too,” Xaden murmured, looking at her carefully. One close look and he’d be able to see through her mask of indifference towards her body she had on. She looked down, away from him, too afraid to see disgust.

“Okay, so Gryphons exist as well,” she replied stoically. She knew that she had to disengage if she wanted to protect the people of Navarre; knew that she couldn’t have an emotional connection to the words her brother and bodyguard were both saying. “What are we doing about them?”

“They’re stationed at the entrance of Tyrrendor,” said Xaden. “We’re trying to get weapons to them.”

“Weapons from where?” Violet asked.

“Well, King Riorson is trying to negotiate with Lillith to get weapons from Navarre,” Brennan said, and it didn’t miss Violet’s attention that he called her by her first name, and not mother. She looked at him curiously, but he didn’t expand on the reasoning behind that. It didn’t take her too long to work out that he didn’t view Lillith as his mother anymore. Perhaps he viewed her as nothing more than a General now. They thought left an odd twinge of sadness in Violet’s heart.

“Okay…,” she exhaled, rotating her shoulders as a particularly sharp jab of pain ran through her. She grit her teeth to keep herself from crying out, but it was enough to send Xaden away from them all.

When the room was empty of everyone except the two of them, he looked at her in concern. “When were you going to tell me your chronic pain was bothering you today?”

She laughed bitterly. “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice.”

“There’s nothing that I don’t notice about you, Violence,” he murmured, taking her hand in his and beginning to massage the joints. Her eyelids fluttered close in pleasure as a sigh of relief slipped past her lips. She was so happy to have someone massaging her joints at that moment, she barely cared that it was Xaden and he was seeing one of her weaknesses.

You’re not weak.

It was the first time she heard his voice in her head, and she looked at him sharply. He wasn’t looking at her, but instead, staring down at her hand in his. His eyes were narrowed in concentration, and she watched as a calm blanket settled around him. “Do you – do you like massaging my joints?”

“It’s very calming for me,” he murmured. “Soothing. I’m glad to do it.”

“I really appreciate it,” she mumbled, and he smiled up at her in an endearingly cute fashion. She couldn’t afford to think he was cute. She sighed. “Where do we go from here?’

“Well, I’ll clear the day for you and then you’re going back to bed,” he murmured. “I’ll come station myself in your room and be at your service.” His lips twitched.

Violet couldn’t help it; she grinned too.

Chapter Text

Xaden stuck true to his word. He had sent Violet back to bed – and she did it with minimal protest – and then he had gone and made her a cup of tea. Imogen hung around in the kitchen, waiting to speak to him. “Is she okay?”

“She’s still a bit tender from the beating Varrish gave her,” he replied, leaving it at that. It wasn’t his place to share her business about her chronic pain.

Imogen looked mad enough to commit murder. “I want Varrish to pay for his crimes against Brennan’s sister.”

Xaden looked at who was considered one of his oldest friends and smiled at her softly. “I know you do.”

Xaden knew about Imogen’s crush on Brennan. She had never been subtle around him and he was able to read his friend like an open book. But he supposed the same could be said for his inclination towards Violet. He didn’t bother to stick around to find out. He made his way upstairs and to the room Violet was sleeping in. Knocking on the door, he went in only after she invited him in. “I’ve got your tea, Vi.”

She smiled at him softly, propped up in her bed, and he made his way towards her. Handing her the tea, he sat down in the chair next to her bed, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Thank you, Xaden.” Her voice was quiet, and Xaden wouldn’t be foolish enough to say it sounded weak, but he knew she was in pain. He looked at her.

“What can I do for you, Violence?” Xaden implored. He hated to see her in pain.

“Just being here is enough,” she murmured, taking a sip of her tea.

“’Where else would I be?” Xaden asked with a soft smile. She returned it and then set her tea down, wincing as her body moved. His hands hovered over her, wanting to help but unsure of what would be welcomed.

“Shall I massage your hands for you again?” Xaden asked, looking at her. She hesitated and then nodded her head. He picked up her right hand gently and maneuvered it into his hold. Then he began massaging the joints that were aching. He kept his ministrations nice and soft, moving the hand in small circles as he rotated it. He knew she was in pain; this was never anything to doubt. He just wanted to know how to fix it.

Her eyes were closed, lips pulled down in relaxation. At least he could do this one thing for her, he thought to himself. There was no tension in the lines of her mouth, and he was really relieved by that. He knew that she wouldn’t voice her complaints against the onslaught of pain her body put her through, so he had to rely on reading her expressions. He was well-versed in the art of reading Violet Sorrengail.

She spoke up a few moments later. “I can’t tell you how good that feels.”

He pressed down on her hand, massaging out the knots and tension as a smile unfurled at his lips. “That was my intention, Violence.”

He dropped the proper title he was supposed to call her by. Behind closed doors, she was just Violet. And, he thought he might prefer it that way. He tapped her wrist, and she rolled to her side, giving him access to her left hand. She had closed her eyes; contentment flushing her face a rosy red. She looked ethereal in the morning light, and he found himself wondering how she was so naturally beautiful.

“Xaden?” Violet asked, tone child-like.

“Yes, Vi?” Xaden asked quietly.

“Will you stay until I fall asleep?” Violet asked in the same tone of voice.

His heart hurt at the vulnerability she was showing; it was clear, to him at least, that she never showed this type of vulnerability to anyone else. He trailed his thumb along her brow. “I’ll stay after you’ve fallen asleep.” He made his voice a whisper as he promised these words to her, stolen in the room’s air.

Violet’s eyes were closed but she managed to pull a smile on her face, looking relaxed. “Thank you.” Her voice was a quiet breath, and she slipped off to sleep the next moment, her breathing becoming even. Xaden didn’t dare stop his ministrations against her fingers and continued to massage them even after her breathing had slowed. When he was certain she was in a deep enough sleep, he let her hand rest back at her side, laying it down across her body.

He watched as she slept, taking in all the facets about Violet Sorrengail. The way her brow furrowed, even in her sleep, as if she couldn’t escape the stress in her life. The way her hair fanned out, across her pillow, pulled free from its braid. The silvertip was mesmerizing and he found his fingers itching to touch it but he wouldn’t dare wake her up. Not when she was sleeping so soundly.

There was a soft knock at her door and his eyes looked at Violet to make sure she hadn’t woken up, and then he went to go see who was disturbing them. It was Brennan, a warm compress in his hand. “This helps if she puts it on her ribs.”

“How did you know?” Xaden asked quietly.

“I’m her brother,” Brennan offered as an explanation. “I know her tells well. Maybe not as well as I could, considering I left the castle years ago, but I remember them from when she was a little girl. Who do you think used to tend to her when her flareups happened?”

Xaden was touched. He accepted the warm compress and nodded his thanks at Brennan, who took the hint and left. Then he was bringing the compress towards Violet and settling it over her ribs, the way Brennan had suggested. Her face smoothed out completely in her sleep and Xaden sighed in relief. At least he could give her this one small thing.

Chapter Text

Violet looked out at the land before her. In Tyrrendor, people were much friendlier to one another. Not to her, per se, but to one another. And she appreciated that. It had been three weeks since she had been taken (rescued) from Navarre, and she was enjoying everything about that. She knew that she needed to be grateful to Xaden for taking her away from the hell she was living in.

And, she hadn’t told Xaden.

She hadn’t told anyone.

But Varrish had abused her body in a far worse way than physical. There had been a night after Aetos left that Varrish snuck back in. Violet had been the only one kidnapped by Aetos and Varrish that night. Aetos had said they didn’t want to hurt her friends, but it was actually on account of Varrish and the plans he had for her.

She still remembered the way he pounded into her over and over again. He had gagged her after the third time she cried and begged him to stop. He hadn’t taken any mercy on her. And she hadn’t told a damn person.

She thought Xaden might have an idea. He stood close to her, keeping her under his care and whenever her PTSD flared up, he was right there, waiting with tea and a good book. She knew she owed him the truth; that he had earned the right to know everything about her, but she was afraid that he’d look at her differently. Today, that all changed. She sent Liam to get Xaden, and she was going to tell him.

Just then, there was a soft knock at her door, and she turned to it. Xaden poked his head in and looked at her. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yes,” she said, voice belying the nerves she felt. Her hands were trembling as Xaden stepped into the room, and he looked at her, frowning softly.

“Are you okay, Violet?” Xaden asked.

“Uh, not really,” she mumbled, laughing slightly the next minute. She sat down on her bed, nodding her head to the chair across from her. “I’ve got something to talk to you about and if I don’t tell you now, I don’t know that I ever will.”

Xaden frowned but sat down, nonetheless. “You can tell me anything, Violence.”

She smiled slightly, tucking her hands into her lap to hide the tremors. “I know. Well. Erm. The thing – the thing is…god, this harder than I thought it’d be.”

“Take your time,” Xaden murmured.

She licked her lips slightly. “It happened last year. Before you were my bodyguard.”

“What did?” Xaden asked quietly.

“Varrish. He, uh, r-raped me,” she stuttered, looking away from Xaden’s sharp inhalation of air. She held up her hand, stopping him from speaking. “Please. Just let me get this out while I’m still brave.”

“Okay,” he whispered, and she wondered if he was swallowing the same lump in his throat as she was in hers.

“Him and Aetos took me one night,” she said, getting lost in memories of the past. “They didn’t take any of my friends and Aetos said that was because they didn’t want to hurt them. Varrish had his own agenda, of course, and I didn’t find out what it was until the end of the night.”

She let a couple of tears slip down her face; it had been so long since she let herself cry over this. Violet could feel Xaden’s eyes on her but couldn’t look at him. She had to get this story out; she had to. “Varrish slipped into the room sometime after midnight. Three – uh – three times he assaulted my body. I cried. I begged. I yelled. And he just laughed and gagged me. So, I didn’t really get to stop him.”

“Violence,” Xaden whispered, and she looked up. He looked heartbroken. He hesitantly brought himself to her, grabbing ahold of her hand. “I’m – fuck, sorry isn’t nowhere near enough but I am sorry.”

“Varrish…he just usually gets what he wants,” she smiled numbly, tone detached. How else was it supposed to be? She couldn’t talk about these types of things without disengaging herself.

“Did you tell the Queen?” Xaden asked quietly, and she thought she heard fury lining his voice.

She laughed bitterly. “And ruin the perfect image she had of her consort? Besides, Varrish told me if I told her, he’d kill her. Kill her, not me. So there was no way I could tell her.”

His voice sounded anciently haggard and rageful when he spoke. “I’ll kill him. I swear to Malek, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

His voice splintered and blistered and broke against his throat. She winced, wondering if it felt like swallowing nails to him as much as it did to her. She shook her head. “That won’t solve anything. What’s done is done. No good in getting stuck on the past.”

“Violet…,” Xaden trailed off, shaking his head. “You know this isn’t your fault, right?”

“Sure,” she murmured.

He laughed but for all in the world, it sounded like a sob. “That didn’t sound convincing.”

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “I said no and he didn’t listen to me. I said no.”

Xaden didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her. She cried into his chest, pulling, and tugging on his shirt, praying for vindication when she knew she’d never get it. “Shh, Vi. Shh.”

“I said no,” she muttered over and over. “I said no and it wasn’t enough. How is that fair?”

He cradled her head against his collarbone for a minute before pulling back and looking at her with fierce determination. “It’s not fair. What he did was vile and cruel. There is no forgiveness for people like him. I promise you, Violence, he’ll get his reckoning.”

Tear tracks coated her face as she looked at him. “Thank you. Thank you for believing me.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead, cheeks, and eyelids. “Of course, I believe you.”

She wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She pressed herself up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips to the corner of his mouth, and he pulled back. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Violet. But you just told me something really traumatic. When we kiss, I want it to be because you’re happy.”

“When?” Violet whispered.

Xaden pressed a kiss to her forehead once more, holding his lips there for an immeasurable amount of time before pulling back. “I’m going to kiss the hell out of you, Violet. Just not yet.”

She laughed wetly. “That sounds wonderful.”

He sealed his promise with a kiss to her hand, and she felt warm.

Chapter Text

Xaden kept an even closer eye than normal on Violet in the upcoming days. Since telling him about her sexual assault, he felt extremely protective of her. He knew he should tell Brennan but that was Violet’s right to decide if and when she wanted to tell her brother. He wasn’t going to betray her trust by telling Brennan himself, though every cell in his body was screaming at him to do so.

He wanted to annihilate Varrish. The prick had done the one thing Xaden would demolish him over: he had abused Violet’s body in a way that no person should ever undergo. He’d play judge, jury, and executioner to Varrish’s crimes. He was going to thoroughly enjoy killing him slowly. And there wasn’t a doubt in Xaden’s mind that he would kill him. He knew he’d meet his reckoning.

Xaden sighed softly, pushing out the tendrils of anger that wrapped around his body in a tantalizing fashion. He knew that he needed to remain calm long enough to make sure Violet had his support with going to speak to Imogen today. She wanted to talk to the other girl about the plan for Tyrrendor. Xaden had thought that Imogen would be the best person to talk to and had agreed to go with her. He was outside of her bedroom right now, fist poised to knock. Then, the door opened and Violet appeared on the other side. “Hello, Xaden.”

“Hi, Violence,” he murmured, studying her carefully. Since she had told him what Varrish had done to her, he was always looking for little tells that she was not doing all right. But Violet was resilient to put it lightly. She fought hard to be all right and she succeeded. Xaden was so fucking proud of her.

“Are you coming with me to see Imogen?” Violet asked as she stepped into the hallway.

Xaden scoffed. “As if I’d be anywhere else.”

She smiled at him kindly, eyes batting down shyly. He would never not be enamored with her, and he couldn’t wait to feel her lips against his. He knew each day he was getting closer and closer to kissing her; that he wasn’t strong enough to stay away from her. And he was pleased about it. “Thank you. I need your support to talk to your friends.”

His heart twinged at that comment. “They’re your friends too, Violence. C’mon.” He led her down the hallway, towards the stairs. He knew that she could walk to Imogen on her own, but he worried about her endlessly, and knew that he would do whatever it took to make sure she was safe. That was the promise he had made to himself all those months ago when he signed on to be her bodyguard.

As he led her down the stairs, Liam and Bodhi caught up to them, falling into line behind them. Violet smiled at both of the men and they returned it with their own smiles. Liam stood behind her back protectively, covering her backside where Xaden just covered her front. And then Bodi was standing next to her, keeping her boxed into the protective triangle they had made around her. “Your Highness.”

“Hello,” Violet replied, and Xaden knew she was tired of hearing her title. He wondered if it reminded her of more painful memories of her time in Navarre and vowed to not keep calling her by it. He’d have to talk to Bodhi and Liam, too. They needed to know it was most likely a nuisance to her. “Are you guys coming with me to see Imogen?”

“Imogen is with Brennan in the kitchens, going over the plan for King Riorson,” Liam replied.

Violet cocked her head to the side but didn’t say anything and soon, they were walking into the kitchen. Imogen and Brennan looked up, both offering Violet a smile, and she made her way towards them. Xaden stood to the side, letting her take the center, and he waited to hear what she had to say. “Imogen, what’s the plan for the attack on Navarre?”

It was blunt and to the point and Xaden wasn’t surprised that Violet knew there’d be an attack on Navarre. He wasn’t even surprised that she didn’t ask Brennan about it, furthering cementing the idea that Brennan wasn’t her favorite person right now. A quick look at Brennan told him that her brother had drawn the same conclusions. He wasn’t surprised.

Imogen blinked, then slowly began to speak. “Well, Violet, we’re going to go in for the first attack on their border. We need your mother to supply us weapons and she’s just not doing that.”

Violet nodded, like she expected nothing less, and Xaden thought she might not have. “I expect that to take quite a bit of our time. How can I help?”

The fact that Violet wanted to help launch an attack against her old country spoke volumes to Xaden, and he was amazed by her all over again. He knew that she would accept what they told her; he just didn’t know she would accept it so gracefully. He was mesmerized by her. He spoke up slowly, debating if he should even suggest this. “You could plan a meeting with your mother. I would be there, of course.” Like hell he was leaving her to be around Varrish on her own. And hopefully, it gave him the opportunity to exact revenge.

Violet nodded like she expected nothing less. “I can do that.”

They worked out the logistics for a half hour before they were all reasonably pleased with their plan to go back to Navarre the following week. Xaden just hoped that Violet would be safe enough. And if she wasn’t, he’d set the world on fire.

When everyone but the two of them had left the kitchens, Xaden looked at her. Really looked at her. She was beautiful. This much he knew without a shadow of a doubt. Slowly, he cupped her cheek, taking care to move slowly. She looked at him, eyes tracing his, and suddenly, the air around them grew thick with tension. “I want to try something.”

“Please do,” she whispered, and he trailed his thumb along her cheekbone.

“Violence, if you’re at all uncomfortable at any point, you have to promise to stop me,” he said hoarsely. She nodded her head, throat bobbing as she swallowed. Then he was pressing his lips against hers in bruising tenderly fashion. Once, twice, three times he kissed her, hands winding through her hair as he tugged her closer, closer…

Yes, he thought. This is what home feels like.

And it was good to be home.

Chapter Text

Silver One, I am proud of you. Violet stared out at the valley before her, hiding behind Tairn’s leg. She had woken up early and snuck out of the castle, determined to spend some time with her dragons. She was unsure of why Tairn was proud of her.

Because you shared something horrific that happened to you with your soulmate.

I will kill Varrish. I’ll fly back to Navarre right now and incinerate him, the fool!

Little One, breathe.

“Yes, Andarna, it’s okay,” Violet murmured. She knew that she should have woken up Xaden but he was tired. Protecting an entire country could do that to a person. She wasn’t surprised that he needed sleep. She just wasn’t going to wake him up to cater to her. She scratched at Andarna’s chin, scratching at the scales there, and her dragon purred. She knew that as a teenager went, Andarna was trying her best not to seem moody. Violet appreciated that.

“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do now that I told him,” she murmured. Soft footsteps could be heard just then and she glanced over her shoulder, spotting Xaden climbing the hill. “Hello.”

“A little heads-up would be nice next time you plan on leaving the castle at five in the morning, Violence,” his voice was distressed, and she felt partially bad for not telling him. Not enough to apologize, but bad all the same.

“I needed the fresh air,” she murmured, and he nodded. Xaden stopped a respectful distance away from Andarna and Tairn, looking at Violet out of the corner of his eye.

“I’d ask how you’re doing but I think sneaking out of the castle has provided me with my answer,” he said quietly.

Violete smiled slightly. “My body wasn’t hurting when I woke up and I decided the fresh air would do me some good.”

“And this has nothing to do with what you told me?” Xaden asked quizzically.

“It has every thing to do with it,” she smiled slightly.

Xaden interlocked their fingers together, and Violet had to admit that it felt nice. “Violet, look at me.”

She turned her face towards him, leaning into his palm when he cupped her cheek tenderly. “What?” Her voice shook, betraying herself with the nerves she felt, and Xaden smiled at her softly.

“You have every reason to be mad at the world, but don’t let Varrish hold that type of power over you,” he whispered. “He doesn’t deserve it.”

She stared at him for a long moment before pressing up on her tiptoes and pressing a firm kiss to his lips. She still felt safe whenever he cradled her against him; as if nothing could touch her. It was a feeling she wanted to spend the rest of her life chasing. Xaden threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling on the silver-ended tip. She felt warm and safe; feelings that lacked in her life before she met Xaden. “Thank you.”

“Anytime you need that reminder, you come to me,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her forehead, and holding them there for an immeasurable amount of time. Violet felt warm. Sgaeyl and Tairn were standing close to one another, with Andarna smelling the sheep in the next field over.

“I hope you’re not partial to those sheep,” Violet muttered.

Xaden chuckled; eyes bright as he shook his head. “Tell Andarna she can have as many as she’d like.”

You’re free to hunt the sheep, Andarna.

Tell Xaden he will not be brutally eaten by me later for his kindness.

I will do no such thing.

Pfft, afraid.

Violet shut her shields, giving Andarna some privacy while she hunted. Tairn popped up into her mind just then.

Silver One, Sgaeyl says we’re to fly back to Navarre next week?

Yes. We’re going back.

You didn’t say we’re going home.

That place is not my home.

And that was the truth of the matter. Violet didn’t view Navarre as her home, and she was nervous as hell about going back. She didn’t want anything to happen to her but she had a sneaking suspicion that Varrish would set his sights on her and snatch her away. She didn’t voice these fears with Xaden, who could undoubtedly infer as much. He caressed her cheek bone. “Stay close to me next week, all right?”

“All right,” she murmured. Violet wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep that promise but she’d try. She knew there was a very good chance Varrish could get to her again and kidnap her. Her mother wouldn’t even realize Varrish had her when her consort did that. She swallowed thickly, pushing the unwanted thoughts out of her mind.

One way or the other, she and Varrish would have their face-off. She knew that she deserved it after the hell he put her through and if he was determined to take her out, she was going down swinging. She’d take as many of his cronies as she could, preferably General Aetos. She felt bad that Dain would lose his father but her childhood best friend hadn’t been in her life  much in the recent years. She didn’t even know anything about him anymore and he sure as hell didn’t know anything about her. Xaden spoke up in quiet tones. “What are you thinking about?”

“Just what all I have to do next week for my final week in Navarre,” she replied quietly, not quite lying.

“Your final week?” Xaden mirrored.

“Yeah,” she muttered. “I won’t go back after we leave. That will be my final time. Whether or not I stay in Tyrrendor is still to be determined, but I can’t go back to Navarre full time. My people didn’t like me; they just tolerated because my mother is Queen.”

“Please come back to Tyrrendor,” Xaden whispered. “Then we can go to Aretia. That’s where my family lives.”

“Your father, too?” Violet asked quizzically.

“King Riorson mainly stays in Tyrrendor, but I meant my grandparents. They raised me,” he murmured.

She smiled half a smile. “That sounds nice.”

And it did. Whatever may happen next week, at least she had something to fantasize about. But come hell or high water, she’d be fighting in battle next week.

Chapter Text

To say that Xaden was nervous would be an understatement. He was simply terrified to the bone. He didn’t know how this meeting with the Queen and her consort was going to go, and that’s what terrified him the most. He didn’t want Violet in any danger. None, whatsoever. And he knew there was a very good and real chance that she would be.

He would set the world on fire if she got hurt.

He led the way into the castle, keeping Violet tucked close to his side. For her part, Violet didn’t wander off on her own; it was as if she knew how bad this meeting could go, too. Their dragons were waiting outside, with the rest of their friends. Xaden knew that the moment he screamed for help, it would come. But, would it be too late? That was the thought that haunted him the most.

Just then, he felt a light pressure applied to his hand and looked down. Violet’s hand was holding his, squeezing it gently, and he looked at her. She had a look of steely determination in her eyes, and he nodded. “We’ll do it together.”

“Together,” she reaffirmed. They walked into the queen’s sitting room and Xaden clocked Varrish in the corner. Immediately, white-hot anger gripped him like a vise; he wanted to murder the man for all he had done to Violet. All he had done to his girl.

“Ah, the princess and her bodyguard have returned,” Varrish said pleasantly. “Or should I say the bodyguard and his slut?”

Xaden was across the room in two strides, throwing Varrish up against the wall. “You don’t get to say her name. You don’t get to call her anything.”

Varrish leered down at him unpleasantly. “I see she’s told you some, ah, stories.”

“They weren’t stories,” Xaden hissed. “And you know it.”

The door to the sitting room opened just then and the queen walked in. “What is going on in here?”

Xaden took his time letting go of Varrish, then turned to the queen with a pained expression. “Your Highness.”

Violet walked towards them, Xaden noticing for the first time that she hadn’t come into the room yet, and she planted herself in front of him. “Hello, mother.”

“The prodigal daughter returns,” Lilith said, looking at her daughter evenly.

For her part, Violet didn’t so much as flinch. She just smirked at her mother. “I have.”

“And, to what do we owe the pleasure?” Lilith asked quietly.

“I’m here to get my stuff and then leave,” Violet replied calmly. “This is the last time you’ll see me.”

“Oh?” Xaden could hear the strain behind the queen’s voice but was certain no one else could. He looked at Violet, waiting to see what she would do or say.

“Yes,” Violet responded coolly. Then she was sweeping out of the room, and Xaden was following her.

“I’m so proud of you, Violence,” he murmured, nodding at her when she turned to look at him. “It takes guts to stand in front of your attacker like that and not kill him.”

Violet chuckled. “Believe me, I wanted to.”

“I know,” he whispered, squeezing her shoulder in silent support. Violet touched his hand with her palm and then they were on their way to go pack her things.

XXXX

“You’re just going to go?” Lilith demanded some hour later. “Just like that?”

“Just like that, mother,” Violet replied.

Xaden glanced at Varrish, smirking triumphantly when he saw the miserable expression on his face. “Anything you’d like to say, Varrish?”

“You will address me as the royalty I am,” Varrish hissed.

“No, I don’t think I will,” Xaden said, smirking when Varrish glowered at him. Then he turned to Violet. “Shall we, Your Majesty?”

Violet smiled at him; a pleased, secret smile, and she nodded. “Let’s go.”

Then they were walking on their way out of the castle, leaving Varrish fuming behind them.

XXX

“Did you see the look on his face?” Violet laughed ten minutes later.

Xaden smiled at her, pleased that she was pleased. “I did.”

“He looked like he had swallowed a lemon,” she laughed, tone giddy.

Xaden laughed with her too; her joy infectious. “Come on, Violence, let’s get back to our – “

He didn’t get to finish his sentence as something hard struck him from behind. He immediately started losing his grip on consciousness, and the last thing he saw before blacking out was Violet being taken from him. “No…”

Then he knew no more.

Chapter Text

Violet woke up to something breaking and a sharp scream ripping through her. “Oh, good. You’re awake.” She forced herself to glare at Varrish in contempt, with as much mutiny as she could muster, and she bared her teeth. That was when she felt her split lip and knew there was blood in her teeth.

“Do you feel proud of yourself, you piece of shit?” Violet hissed through her teeth. She would not show fear to this man again – no matter what he did to her. “Do you feel like a man now that you’ve captured the queen’s daughter again?”

Varrish looked murderous but he didn’t say anything. He just untied her left wrist and with a ‘pop!’ Violet was screaming again. She saw stars burst behind her eyelids as white-hot pain ripped through her. She knew there was so much more that Varrish could do to her so she swallowed back her pain and just glared at him. Varrish smirked. “Trying not to show fear, are we? You’ll have to show it sometime soon.” His elbow came smashing against her jaw and she felt it shatter.

She couldn’t feel or hear Tairn or Andarna and remembered he had forced her to swallow the concoction that cut her off from her dragons before she passed out due to him shattering her elbow. She rotated it, realized it was still shattered, and clenched her teeth so she wouldn’t throw up. “They’ll find me.”

“Your mother thinks you’ve gone back to Tyrrendor with Xaden,” Varrish said carelessly.

Violet’s breath hitched. “What did you do to him?”

“Nothing permanent, I can assure you,” Varrish replied, sounding as if he wished he had. “Just convinced him to leave.”

“Nothing you can say to him would make him leave me,” Violet commented confidently.

“Only if I told him I was going to kill you, if he stayed,” Varrish agreed. “But I showed him a letter you wrote to your mother, begging for freedom from him.”

“I never wrote – you monster,” Violet whispered as Varrish’s eyes gleamed. “You wrote the letter?”

Varrish smirked. “Seems like you are in a bit of a conundrum.”

Violet yanked against her tired joints, demanding they move, but they just sat there. “I’m going to rip your head off!”

“Not if I do it first,” came a voice. Violet blinked as Varrish spun around. No less than five people stood behind Varrish. Xaden, Liam, Bodhi, Imogen, and….

“Mira?” Violet whispered, wondering if she had lost too much blood at this point.

“Hang tight, baby sis,” she said, and threw a knife at Varrish, hitting him directly in the shoulder blade. Varrish screamed and Liam stalked forward and shoved cloth in his mouth before he and Bodhi went and tied him to the chair he had sat in while torturing Violet.

Xaden ran towards her, untying her before cradling her face. “I – I didn’t write the letter. Y-you have to believe me.” Her teeth were chattering and she felt like she was going into shock.

“Shh, my love,” he murmured, bending down to untie her ankles. “I know you didn’t. I had to wait to get reinforcements who would want their chance at torturing Varrish before I kill him.”

“You found my sister?” Violet asked with a waver in her throat. She couldn’t believe Mira was here.

“Brennan did,” Xaden replied. “He reached out to her.”

Violet couldn’t even find it in herself to be mad at her brother for knowing Mira was alive and hadn’t told her. “Okay, please get me out of here so I can thank him.”

Xaden’s hands were hovering over the space between her legs, where her leathers were resting. He looked at Violet with a questioning look, never once touching her there, and she understood. She shook her head, and Xaden breathed out quietly. “Thank Malek. Come on, let’s get you outside with the dragons, and then I’ll finish off Varrish.”

“Oh, please, can I stay?” Violet asked, leaning into the man she had fallen in love with. Xaden looked at her for a moment, assessing her, she assumed, and then he nodded.

“Of course,” he murmured, tucking some loose tendrils of hair back into her braid before cupping her on the cheek. “I was going to ask; I just didn’t know if you wanted to sleep. Would you like the honors of killing him?”

Violet set her shoulders. “Yes.”

“Then it’s all yours,” he replied, and they both turned to face Varrish, who was receiving a knife to his hand by Mira.

“You miserable piece of shit! I trusted you with her!” Mira screamed, fury shaking her.

Imogen came forward, thrusted a fist against his eye, and Varrish groaned into the cloth. “If I had my way, I’d slit you open from navel to nose. But it’s Violet’s right to decide who kills you.”

“It’ll be her,” Xaden said as he guided her forward. Varrish glared at her in contempt. She smiled as much as her bruised face would let her.

“Looks like your life ends tonight,” she sneered, limping forward with the help of Xaden. He handed her the knife.

“Where it really hurts,” he whispered into her ear.

“Yes, but first…,” she dragged the knife from cheek to cheek, splitting his skin there.

“Good girl,” Xaden murmured lowly in her ear, so that she was the only one who heard. She warmed at his compliment, and then she was taking the knife, Xaden’s larger hand wrapped around hers, and they were driving it directly into Varrish’s heart. Violet fell backwards, feeling Xaden’s arms come up and wrap around her. “Shh, you did so good, sweetheart.”

She nodded her head, turning to press her face into his chest. “Please, get me out of here.”

No sooner had she spoke the words than she heard Tairn’s wings beating outside. He really was there. Xaden scooped her up, carrying her out of the harm that housed her most painful moments for the last time, and she felt Mira squeezing her on the shoulder. She was going home for good this time. Finally.

Chapter Text

Xaden kept a close eye on Tairn and Violet as they flew through the skies. Tairn won’t let her get hurt again. This was Sgaeyl creeping into his mind, reminding him of the truths  he already knew. Still. Still. Xaden would be lying if he said he wasn’t a nervous wreck. This was the second or third time Violet had gotten hurt on his watch. He wasn’t doing a good job as her bodyguard, but he knew that this time would be the last time she was under Varrish’s power.

For fuck sake’s, they had killed the bastard. Now, he would only be capable of hurting Violet in her dreams, and Xaden, for one, was going to make sure that happened as little as possible. He owed her at least this much. Sgaeyl didn’t enter into his thoughts again. Perhaps she knew Xaden wasn’t in the mood to talk. She did hover, however. She stayed close, right on his peripheral, and reminded him in that comforting fashion that she was there. That was all that mattered.

The multiple sounds of wings beating could be heard as the dragons carried them closer and closer to Tyrrendor. Sgaeyl touched down first, with Tairn following her. Xaden dismounted off Sgaeyl and hurried to go check on Violet. She was still black and blue; her creamy skin marred by Varrish’s fists. Xaden felt a savage pleasure in the fact that Varrish was dead. He would never again hurt Violence. “Hey.” He said softly.

Violet cracked her eyes open, looking at Xaden through puffy slits. “Hi.” Her voice sounded weak, like she needed water, and Xaden was gentle when removing her from Tairn. Tairn stood perfectly still, and Xaden eased Violet into his arms.

“We’ll get you to Brennan,” he said quietly. Mira appeared next to him just then, with Liam behind her. Both people were desperate to get their eyes on Violet and he showed her to them. “She’s okay.”

“Of course she’s okay,” Mira murmured. “She’s a Sorrengail.”

Violet choked out a painful laugh that hurt Xaden’s heart, causing him to start walking with her to the castle. He knew she needed to be mended by her brother and then to rest and heal. “Shh, hon. I’m getting you to Brennan right now.”

Brennan had apparently heard their arrival because hurried footsteps announced his presence as he charged across the grass towards them. “Violet!”

“She’s very tired, Brennan,” Xaden said in a quiet tone. “She needs to be mended, and then she needs to sleep.”

“Give her to me,” Brennan requested softly. Xaden was hard pressed to let Violet go but he passed her over to Brennan all the same. “Fuck, what did they do to you?”

“Got me good,” Violet mumbled, one side of her swollen face pulling upwards in what Xaden knew she meant to be a smile. It came off as more of a grimace. They hurried up to the castle, with the rest of the rescue squad falling into line behind them, and Brennan reached his room first. He set Violet down on the bed and turned to everyone else.

“You all need to leave,” he instructed.

Everyone but Mira and Xaden left. “I’m staying.” Xaden would be damned before he left his light; his love. Brennan sighed but nodded, nonetheless, and turned to Mira.

“I can’t leave her,” Mira said in a anguished tone, tears blurring her eyes. “Don’t make me. Please.”

Xaden placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Your sister is stronger. Stronger than any of us. How about we just stand out of the way while Brennan heals her?”

Mira didn’t look like she thought much of that sentence but after an unusually stern look from Brennan, Violet’s sister fell silent and went with Xaden. The two of them stood in the shadows as Brennan began to work.

XXX

Violet came to sometime a few hours later. Xaden was sitting next to her bed, ankle crossed over his knee, praying to Malek. He looked up as she moved around in bed. “Hey, you.”

“Hi,” she murmured, laughing quietly as she flexed her fingers. “I see Brennan got it all fixed then.”

“He did,” Xaden replied in a whisper, afraid to speak any louder in fear his voice would betray him.

Violet frowned. “What are you thinking?”

He hissed deeply, turning to look away from her as tears smarted his eyes. “That I was almost too late.”

“But you weren’t,” Violet said quietly. She reached out a hand for Xaden, interlocking their fingers, and that was all it took for him to press a gentle, warm kiss to her lips. He felt like his was home as soon as he touched her lips.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured. “So, so sorry.”

“Nothing permanent,” Violet reminded him calmly. “No damage done that can’t be undone.”

Xaden was beyond grateful that Varrish didn’t unleash his true power on her; was beyond grateful that Violence hadn’t been abused in a way that would break her. “You’re fucking resilient, you know that?” Xaden whispered.

Violet smiled at him, eyes looking tired. “I know.”

He laughed quietly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before pressing his lips to her cheek. He knew she was feeling okay if she was able to joke around with him, but he meant everything he had said. She was resilient. Nothing would change that. “Can – are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat?”

“In a little bit,” she said quietly. “For now, just lay here with me.”

She scooted over in bed and Xaden took off his leathers, curling himself up around her. He placed his hand on her stomach, holding her close but not applying pressure, and she settled into his chest, sighing happily. He kissed the nape of her neck. “Thank you for holding on for me, my love.”

“Thank you for finding me,” Violet whispered. She turned around and captured his lips with hers. Xaden’s hand automatically laced into Violet’s hair as the kiss deepened, tugging her closer and closer…

When they were through, they pulled apart and Violet laid back onto his chest. Xaden cradled her in his arms, happy to just hold her there, and they fell silent. Soon, Violet drifted off back to sleep, but Xaden stayed awake.

He had revenge against Navarre to plan.

Chapter Text

A few weeks had passed and Violet was finally healed. Well, her body was healed the instant Brennan put his hands on her; she more so meant that her body was healed emotionally. That was largely thanks to Xaden. He worked hard on making sure she was okay. He worked on making sure she was healing over the course of the last couple of weeks. Violet couldn’t ever remember a time when someone had cared so much about her. Not Mira; not her brother, and definitely not her mother.

It left her touched.

Just then, she felt Tairn in her mind, sitting on the forefront. He and Sgaeyl were having a moment of uninterrupted privacy and Violet felt like she was going to burst. Her heart thudded in her chest; her ears rang. She was desperate to get away from this feeling and she ran out of the castle. Smack dab into someone else’s arms. “Woah!”

Violet blinked, looking up. Of course, she had run straight into Xaden. Of course.  She smiled sheepishly as he tucked her hair behind her ear. “Sorry.”

“No apologies needed,” he murmured. “Feeling Sgaeyl and Tairn, too?”

“Yes,” she muttered, cheeks hueing red. It wasn’t like she didn’t know what they were doing; she didn’t know why she was so shy when thinking about their dragons mating. Xaden smiled at her knowingly, nudging another lock of hair behind her ear.

“They do this every few weeks,” he said.

At least Violet didn’t have to feel this way less than every few weeks. “How can you stand it?”

“It helps if you have something else to focus on,” he said, tone soft and soothing. It caressed her warmly, and she felt her joints stop being so stiff.

“L-Like what?” Violet asked, trembling as he ran his fingers down her spine.

“Like…kissing,” he whispered.

Oh. “Oh.”

He cradled her jaw, tracing her cheekbone with the pad of his thumb, before pressing his lips to hers. She felt warm at once, melding against him as they kissed, feeling his body pressed against hers. She threaded her fingers through his hair, chasing after his mouth with her own. He curled his fingers around her biceps, and she relished the gentle hold he had on her. Their mouths working in synchronization, she kissed him fluidly. He had such a gentle, tender grasp on her, that it felt like she was floating on clouds.

As their mouths worked in tandem, Violet ran her fingers through his hair, pulling and tugging him closer. He broke off the kiss first. “Baby, if you don’t stop that, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop myself.” His tone was low and husky in her ear; a warm timbre of words cocooned inside of themselves.

She smirked. “So don’t.”

XXX

Xaden laid her down on the, kissing her from her lips to her collarbone as he exposed new patches of skin. He pressed a tender kiss to her breast when he exposed them. She felt her skin heating from his perusal and she wondered, briefly, if she was as red as she felt. Then his tongue was swirling on her nipple, and she saw white.

XXX

When they were through, they laid in bed, holding each other. Xaden was caressing her skin tenderly, as she laid her head on his chest. Her braid was undone and she was tired, but in the best way possible. “I love you.” It was a quiet murmur into the still air that caused Violet’s heartrate to stop and then go double-time. She looked up at him, peering at him from behind thick eyelashes.

“You do?” Violet whispered, hardly daring to believe it but feeling lighter than she had in days. Weeks, really.

“I do,” he said softly, eyes open and vulnerable for her. She pressed a delicate kiss to his lips, feeling his words warm from head-to-toe.

“I love you, too,” she murmured.

“Say it again,” he whispered, and she smiled.

“I.” She kissed his neck. “Love.” His chest. “You.” His lips.

He laughed out loud, the sound of relief. She knew how it felt to want to love and be loved in return. She just didn’t know it would feel this good. “Gods, I’m crazy for you.”

It was a quiet admittance; one that she didn’t know she had been needing to hear until she heard it. She laid her head back on his chest, snuggling into his warmth, and she sighed contentedly. “I know the feeling.”

And she did. She had been crazy about Xaden since practically the moment she laid eyes on him. He had proved to be someone who was invaluable to her, and she needed him like she needed air to breathe. She wasn’t sure what that said about her and didn’t look too closely for fear of not liking what she found, but she knew she was happy. She knew that he was the one she was meant to spend her life with. And that made her all the more content to be laying in his arms.

He spoke up softly moments later. “We’re at war.”

“I know,” she whispered, throat suddenly clogged. They had been at war for a while now. “Xaden, what are we going to do?”

He laced his fingers together on her lower back and looked down at her for a moment. “What we always do. We’re going to fight back and win. We have no other choice.”

And they didn’t. She knew this to be true.  Licking her lips, she nodded her head, wondering at what the coming days would look like. They were on the precipice of a war. As princess, she had duties to her people. But not the people of Navarre. They had thrown her to the wolves. No, she had duties to the people of Tyrrendor. And she knew she always would. She would have to do whatever it took to keep them safe, no matter the cost. She nodded her head once more. “We’ll go to war.”

She’d see that promise through.

Chapter Text

Xaden spent the next couple of weeks strategizing about how they would go to war. He knew that when he told Violet they were at war, she believed him without question. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve that type of inexplicable trust, but he wouldn’t take it for granted. He was going to work hard to keep her trust and faith in him. In them.

He stared at the map on the wall before him in the conference room. It was a map of Navarre and he was trying to figure out the best place to attack. Of course, Violet would know more than he would, but he didn’t want her to have to commit more treason than she already had. Xaden knew that while grateful to him for rescuing her, she was still nervous about going against her country’s people. He knew she didn’t care about going against her mother, but the people of Navarre were still a tender subject for her.

And he didn’t blame her for that.

Licking his lips, he expelled a soft sigh as there came a knock on the door to the room he was in. He called out a quiet, ‘enter’, and Liam and Bodhi walked in. Liam had his hands clasped behind his back and a pensive look on his face. “What is it?”

“I just think Violet should be in here with you,” Liam said quietly, but in a firm tone. Xaden had thought about that – then had thought about how much she needed to rest. He didn’t want to disrupt the fact that her body was still healing. Liam looked at him knowingly, as if he knew exactly what he was thinking. “Violet should be the one to decide how much rest she needs. Not you.”

Xaden knew his brother was right. But it still didn’t make the decision any easier. He sighed. He knew he’d eventually have to stop sheltering Violet, but he wanted her safe. And, he also knew that she would kill him – rightfully so – if she ever found out he was protecting her too much. “Let’s get her in here.”

Liam walked to the door, opened it, and in walked Violet. Xaden frowned. He had already brought her down here? Violet smiled gently at Xaden. “Thank you for allowing me to be here.”

“I still don’t know if this is a good idea or not,” Xaden cautioned. “You need your rest.”

“And you need to stop treating me like I’m going to break at any moment, Xaden,” Violet chastised. “It’s not the first time someone has put their hands on me and I doubt it’ll be the last.”

Xaden growled, eyes flashing.

“If they know what’s good for them, no one will ever put their hands on you again,” he hissed. Liam’s face was set, as was Bodhi’s, and Violet sighed.

“You can’t keep me in this little bubble of safety, Xaden,” she said quietly, tone gentle.

Xaden knew that, he did. But it still didn’t make it any easier for him to be able to accept that thought. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. His – fuck, what was Violet to him? Girlfriend didn’t seem like the appropriate word to call her. Soulmate fit better – his soulmate raised excellent points but he couldn’t quite seem to get his head wrapped around the idea of not protecting her. Especially after seeing the pain Varrish and Aetos unleashed on her. He looked at her, and she smiled softly. “I’ll try, Vi. I’ll try to be less overbearing.”

Violet seemed to know that was the most he could promise right now, and she smiled gently. “Thank you.”

They were at an impasse and they both knew it. Violet turned to look at the map on the wall that Xaden was originally staring at, and he turned towards it, too. “So this is a map of Navarre. We’ve got to attack them where their defenses are the weakest.”

“That would be my mother’s castle right now,” Violet murmured. Xaden looked at her, encouraging her to continue. “Well, Varrish is dead and he was her number one man who protected her. If I know my mother, she’s busy rotating through her men to see who can protect her now. She’ll be at her most vulnerable.”

Xaden chewed on the inside of his cheek, thinking over Violet’s words. She raised a good point and Xaden knew it. “Okay, so we can attack them first. Within the coming days.”

“I would agree that it couldn’t be any longer than a week that we wait,” Violet said. “Mother will have her men sized up and assigned to their duties by then.”

“And she’ll have more men guarding her,” Bodhi said, staring at the map as well.

“What are we going to do about Aetos?” Liam asked sharply.

“Well, whatever we do, we leave Dain alone,” Violet said firmly.

Xaden looked at her. “Aetos’s son?”

“He didn’t have anything to do with the torture, Xaden,” Violet murmured.

“But he’s Aetos’ son. By default he’s not a good guy.”

“The world isn’t divided into good people and bad people,” Violet said quietly, eyes tracing his. “Dain shouldn’t be punished because of his father’s antics.”

Xaden thought about what she said, taking into consideration the fact that Dain and Violet were childhood friends. He knew that she was, whether she wanted to admit it or not, fond of him. That there was a special place in her heart for the boy he once was. Nodding his head, he spoke up. “Dain will be left alone.”

Liam didn’t say anything, but he frowned, and Xaden didn’t blame him. He didn’t think much of the idea either. He tapped his knuckles onto the wooden table before him and thought. Liam spoke up. “We’ll have to attack them by next week at the latest.”

Xaden had come to the same conclusion. He turned to look at Violet. “Can you handle this?” His voice was soft; gentle for her, and he knew that she knew he wasn’t belittling her. That he was checking in on her health and mental wellbeing.

She smirked. “Without a doubt.”

They would attack the following week.

Chapter Text

A day before they were set to attack, there came a knock on Violet’s door. She knew it wasn’t Xaden, who was with Liam and Bodhi, getting weapons, and she didn’t think it was Brennan. Wondering if it was Imogen, she went to answer the door and found herself face-to-face with Mira, who’s eyes were rather red-rimmed and was twisting her hands nervously in front of her. Violet schooled her expression, curious as to what her sister was doing there but not wanting to spook her off by being too curious. “Mira. This is a surprise.” 

Mira sighed and pushed her way into the room. Violet bit back a laugh and followed her sister into her own room. She knew what it was like to crave the company of someone you hadn’t seen in years. When she was first in Tyrrendor, she and Brennan had had an afternoon together where her big brother just hugged her. It was nice. 

“Violet…,” Mira trailed off, shaking her head sadly. Then she squared her shoulders. “I wanted to say I am so sorry for disappearing. I know - I know that I left you to deal with mom on your own. But I swear to Malek, Vi, had I known what Varrish was going to do to you, I would have never left you on your own. I trusted him with you.”

A niggling came to the back of Violet’s mind; something trying to push forward and demand her attention. Then she remembered what it was. “You screamed that at Varrish before Xaden and I killed him. Why did you say it like that? Like he disappointed you?”

Mira laughed scornfully. “I trusted mother’s consort inexplicably. I trusted him to keep you safe.”

“That was years ago when you last saw him, Mira,” Violet reminded her gently. 

“And what happened in the remaining years to make him think any type of torture against the Queen’s daughter was okay?” Mira demanded. 

“I bonded two dragons,” Violet said quietly, shrugging a shoulder as she kept her face impassive. Brennan had been surprised when hearing that but not jealous in the way Varrish was. 

Mira looked at her surprise. “No. Two dragons? But Vi that’s - ,”

“Unheard of, I know,” Violet murmured. 

“How did you do it?” Mira asked in an awed voice. 

Violet shrugged her shoulders. “Andarna, my female dragon, was going to be killed by a cadet I met at the school. I wasn’t faring much better than her - hadn’t been picked for a dragon yet - but I couldn’t let her die. So, I fought the three guys who had teamed up against her. Killed one and harmed the other two. Tairn, my male dragon, bonded with me on the spot and then Andarna followed after him. Mom was really surprised, so was General Aetos, but there was nothing they could do. My dragons had chosen me at that point.”

“You’re kind of a bad ass,” Mira whispered, and Violet grinned. Then she turned somber once more. 

“Where did you go? Why did you leave me?” Violet asked, not able to help her voice breaking on the word ‘me’. Mira looked at her apologetically. 

“I’ll be apologizing until my dying day, but I am really sorry,” she muttered, rubbing a knuckle underneath her eye. “I just couldn’t live with mother anymore.”

“So you and Brennan left me to live with her on my own,” Violet surmised coolly, and Mira winced. 

“Yeah, it sounds bad when you put it like that,” she sighed. 

“It’ll always sound bad when I put it like that,” Violet reminded Mira with a slight chuckle. Mira flashed her a hopeful smile and Violet returned it. 

“So tell me what’s going on with you and Xaden,” Mira said. 

Violet rolled her lower lip in between her teeth. “We just - he gets me. He started as my bodyguard when I was in Navarre, though he did have ulterior motives. But then he saw how Varrish treated me; saw him nearly burn me out one night, and he sort of, I don’t know, genuinely cared about my safety. That was the first time in a long time.”

Mira winced but Violet didn’t apologize for the slight. If they were going to get past this, her sister needed to know she had hurt Violet as much as Brennan had. She loved them of course and would go to the ends of the earth to protect them, but they had both hurt her, however unintentional it may have been. 

“I am sorry for that,” Mira said quietly. 

Violet knew she was, could see the remorse clear as day on her sister’s face. She decided not to harp on the subject any longer. “Old wounds already forgotten.”

Mira smiled at her hesitantly and Violet returned it. Then there was a knock on her door once more and Mira drew her knife she had sheathed in her pants as she went to answer it. Brennan poked his head around the door, smiling at the two sisters. 

“Are you guys ready to leave? We have a long flight to Navarre and Xaden thought we should leave tonight if we wanted to have the element of surprise on our side and show up when they least expect it. Tomorrow morning.”

Violet and Mira exchanged a look, both women nodding as Mira sheathed her knife once more. 

“Tell Xaden we are ready,” Violet said, picking up her sack and sliding it on her shoulders. She walked out of her room, with Mira and Brennan following after her. She spotted Xaden at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her, and she made her way down to him. He took her by the hand and pressed a gentle but firm kiss to her lips. Then he looked at the other two. 

“Are you guys ready?” Xaden asked quietly. 

Mira smirked. “To demolish my mother? More than ready.”

“Let’s go then,” Xaden said, and he led them out of the castle and towards their dragons who were ready to ride into war with them.

Chapter Text

Xaden made sure Sgaeyl stayed close to Tairn and Andarna, meaning he was as close as possible to Violet while they flew. To say he was nervous about this goal was a vast understatement. He didn’t know if Lillith was going to put up much of a fight. The woman had to be feeling the fallout of Varrish being murdered.  

Violet turned to look at him, offering him a knowing smile, and he grinned in return. Gods, she was so beautiful. Once Brennan had healed her and the last of the bruises marring her skin had faded, she had looked like she was completely normal once more. Of course, Xaden knew the type of scars that Varrish had left on her would be the ones he couldn’t see.  

Anxiety. Depression. PTSD. All the things that come from attacks that are as brutal as Varrish’s. And Xaden knew he would have to do whatever it took to make sure Violet was okay. He wouldn’t rest until he had that answer.  

Their dragons dipped down once they had reached Navarre and Xaden straightened his spine. He looked around, seeing if there were any guards present, but it seemed like Lillith Sorrengail wanted all the protection around her. He didn’t blame her. Especially not with planning an attack on her. It also made it easier to have her guards around her. Made killing them all the simpler for him because they were all in the same place, at the same time. Tairn touched down on the ground first, followed shortly after by Sgaeyl. Unhooking himself from her, Xaden went to go help Violet, but she waved him off. “I’ve got it, Xaden.”  

He knew not to hover, so he turned and looked at Liam, who was stretching out his arms. “Is the Queen still in the castle?”  

“Last my spy told me she was,” he said in an undertone. Xaden nodded his head. It was easiest to storm the castle and kill them all at once. Instead of looking everywhere for them.  

“Let’s go,” Xaden said, looking at his men and women. These were people willing to die for him, Violet, and their cause. He couldn’t have handpicked any better people than the ones standing before him. Violet followed him as he led the way onto the castle grounds. There were two guards standing at the gates, and Xaden made quick work of killing them.  

He had originally thought about letting more people live; just killing Lillith, but then he remembered all these people had let unspeakable acts occur to Violet and they did nothing but watch. They didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her. Once the two men were dead, they quickly but quietly crept onto the grounds. Liam and Brennan separated from them as Mira, Violet, and Xaden tightened their circle. They hurried along the grounds, killing Lillith’s men whenever they saw them.  

Xaden would be worried about the fact that Violet had to murder people, but this was war. He couldn’t afford to be worried. Just then, they saw Lillith hurrying across the grounds. “Violet! Stop this!”  

Xaden growled as Violet and Mira planted their feet, ready for a fight. “You brought this on yourself, mother.” This was Violet’s icy voice, chilling Xaden to the bone. He glared at Lillith.  

“What you’ve let Varrish get away with is inhumane,” he hissed. “And you will pay for your indiscretions, Lillith.”  

“What’s he talking about?” Lillith demanded of her daughter. He angled his body protectively in front of Violet just so but didn’t stop her from trying to answer. Violet had every right to tell her mother exactly what hell she had been put through.  

“Your best man attacked me,” Violet hissed in a voice that didn’t waver. Xaden was so unbelievably proud of her. “Multiple times.”  

Lillith stared at Violet in something akin to horror, body crumpling inward on itself. “No...”  

“Yes, mother,” Mira hissed. “And you let it happen. You didn’t protect her!”  

“I didn’t know!” Lillith exclaimed.  

Xaden snorted. “Forgive me for having a little trouble believing that, Lillith. And you’ve let Wevryn stand tall and destroy my people for too long. I cannot and will not let you live.”  

Lillith’s eyes flickered to him. “You think I wanted any of this to happen? I’m just doing the best I can for my country.”  

“And what about Xaden’s country?” Violet demanded. “The people he is sworn to protect? They’re dying by the hundreds, and yet, you don’t care about that do you? As long as it’s not Navarre’s citizens.”  

“What do you want me to do?” Lillith whispered imploringly. “I have done my best to protect everyone that I can.”  

“Except the people who matter most,” Violet growled. “Me being one of them.”  

Xaden placed a calming hand to the lower of her back, holding her steady. “Your time is up, Lillith.”  

“You’re really just going to kill me?” Lillith demanded. More guards were reaching them by now, surrounding them, and Tairn and Sgaeyl flew down, incinerating some of them with their fiery breaths.  

“Your time was up a long time ago,” Xaden replied coolly. He stepped forward, shoving the knife into her chest. Lillith crumpled to the ground, lifeless and drained of color, and Mira sighed deeply.  

“Thank you for not letting it be my sister who killed her,” she murmured lowly.  

Xaden pulled the knife out of her chest, wiping it on his jacket, before turning to look at Violet. “You were never going to kill her, Vi.”  

Violet stared down at all the carnage around them, eyes flickering between the bodies, and she breathed deeply. “So much death and for what?”  

He squeezed her hand gently, rubbing a soothing thumb across the back of her palm. Then Liam and Brennan appeared, covered in blood. Brennan glared down at his lifeless mother, looking up at Xaden the next moment, and offering a nod. Xaden returned it.  

Then they turned on their heels and walked away, leaving all the carnage behind.  

Chapter Text

Violet was not doing well at all. Not decidedly well at all. The fact that her mother had been murdered in front of her, and she was partly to blame sat with her. It didn’t leave her, festering inside of her until she was poisoned inside and out. She expelled a soft sigh as she stared out over the bank sitting east of Tyrrendor.  

She was tired.  

She was so unbelievably tired.  

And that was just the start of it. She knew she had a mess on her hands; had a mess she had to clean up on her own. And that shit sucked to think about.  

Standing at her feet, she turned her back on the bank, walking back toward the castle. She knew she had things to do; people to see. She just didn’t want to.  

And wasn’t that where the truth lay, Violet?  

She ignored the voice in her head, cajoling her into believing she didn’t deserve redemption. And she didn’t. She didn’t think she was worthy of it.  

Walking into the castle, she spotted the men and women of Xaden’s rebellion looking at her. They seemed...proud of her? But that didn’t make any fucking sense. Why would they be proud of her? She had let so many people die.  

Shadows wrapped around her just then, tugging her into an alcove gently. She laughed quietly, spotting Xaden walking out from the shadows. “Hi.”  

“Hey, you,” he said quietly, looking at her for an infinite amount of time. “May I kiss you?”  

He always asked since finding out about her assault and while she loved him for it, she also wanted him to grab her by her corset and set her bones on fire. She nodded her head, and he kissed her languidly, leaving her no room to think that he didn’t love her. Pulling back, she looked at him softly. “I love you.”  

“As I love you, my Violence,” he murmured, brushing his nose along the length of hers. She felt warm and safe, two feelings that were lacking in her life as of late. “Tell me what I can do.” His tone was imploring; she knew he wanted to be able to save her from the pain she felt on a daily basis. Whether it was mental, physical, or both.  

“I don’t think there’s anything you can do,” she smiled tenderly to ease the blow of the words she knew he would undoubtedly feel.  

“I refuse to accept that as an answer,” he said firmly, tone resolute.  

She knew that he would be that way. She nodded her head, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth. Standing up on her tiptoes, she whispered in his ear. “Thank you so much for being the very best part of me.”  

“I’m not the best part, Violence,” he chided gently. “You’re the best part of who you are. You get up every day, battling a body that wants to give out on you, and battling people who are enemies when they should have been friends. You don’t need me. You’re a damn warrior.”  

She blushed, not quite seeing it the way he spoke of her but loving him all the same. She pressed one more kiss to his mouth – determined to show him an ounce of the same love he showed her – and then she was pulling back. “I love you.”  

He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, then her forehead, before pulling back. “Are you up for meeting some people?”  

She nodded her head. She knew that she wasn’t meeting new people, which is why she agreed to go in the first place. She couldn’t stomach having to meet up with new people. She didn’t want to see the infinite number of lives she was responsible for now. She laced her fingers through his and followed him down the span of one of the wings in his home. He stopped outside of a room she hadn’t been in yet, and she looked at him. He nodded, opening the door, and then she was staring at a massive library. “Gods...” She trailed off, unsure if she was still in reality or not.  

“This is my absolute favorite part of my home,” he murmured, voice soft for her. Always so soft. She smiled at him, inviting him to continue. “I want it to be your favorite place, too. Please say you’ll come here when you need a moment to breathe?”  

“I promise,” she uttered, looking around at the room. Books lined the walls, piled up high, and she knew she wouldn’t ever see a library like this again. He grinned at her, leading her down the walkway. She took in the men and women standing guard on either side of the library, each of them smiling at her periodically. She didn’t know what she had done to deserve that either.  

They stopped right in front of Mira and Brennan, two people she had been desperate to see. She grinned at her older siblings, taking her turn to hug them both. Brennan spoke up in quiet tones. “I cannot thank you enough, for getting her out of that mess, Xaden.”  

“I will always get her out,” Xaden said firmly. And Violet believed him.  

“Now what?” Violet asked. Where did they go from there? Her mother was dead, killed at her boyfriend’s - soulmate’s - hand. And she knew she wouldn’t ever blame him. Not even a little bit.  

“We move forward,” Mira said calmly. “We’ve got the men and women of Tyrrendor willing to fight with us and that’s all we need.”  

Violet nodded her head, knowing her sister was right. “We can get them to fight, if they’re willing to.”  

“They are,” Xaden clarified, and Violet was inclined to believe him. She expelled a soft sigh.  

“That’s one less thing we have to worry about,” she mused. Brennan looked at her.  

“How are you doing?” Brennan asked softly, and she knew this was more than a concerned brother asking about her welfare.  

She sighed softly. “Have my good days and bad ones.”  

And that was the astounding truth.  

Xaden wrapped his shadows around her, and she was warm.  

Too bad, that warmth wouldn’t last in the coming days.