I can still feel Liam's hands in my hair and on my back as him and I walk into the party. I spot Ridoc and the others sitting together by a table, cups of all sorts scattered around them, I grab Liam's hand and drag him with me, sitting down next to Ridoc and snatching his cup from his hands, draining it completely.

"Go Stas!" He cheers, handing me another one to which I do the same. A round of applause goes up again, I grin.

"So," Ridoc drawls, glancing at Liam's and my messed up hair and uniforms, "What happened to you two?" He smirks. "Um, we-" I start.

Liam cuts me off "We uh- we..." He trails off, scratching behind his ear.

You two are horrible at this. Gaia says mockingly. Oh, and how much experience do you have? I fire back.

Ridoc just laughs, throwing his arm around my shoulders, which he quickly removes after Liam gives him a death glare.

----------

A few drinks and rolls of churam later, Liam's hands are once again in my hair. Somehow, we made it to my room, and he now has me pressed up against the armoire, his lips fiercely kissing my neck.

----------

The morning air creeps into my new room through the cracks in my curtain, after sleeping in the crowded barracks for the last two months, it's strange to have my own private space again. Liam's arm drapes lazily around my waist, his other hand playing with my long brown locks. I snuggle back into his embrace, breathing in deep musky scent. "C'mon Stassie we gotta get up." Liam groans, climbing out of bed. "Absolutely not" I mumble from under the covers.

----------

Almost an hour later Liam finally dragged me out of bed, I stand open mouthed in shock as I watch Sawyer leave Rhiannon's room, Liam doing the same behind me. "Good morning" Violet grins from the room beside mine, sending me and Liam an approving glance before turning back to Sawyer. "Violet." Sawyer forces an awkward smile, before walking off to his new room.

A couple from Second Wing holds hands as they come out of the room next to Rhiannon's, I offer them a smile. Rhiannon walks out of her room and smiles as soon as she sees us.

"No more breakfast duty?" Rhi asks Violet. "I was told last night that all the less desirable duties were being handed off to the unbonded so our energy can be redirected for flight lessons." Which means she'll have to find another way to weaken her opponents before challenges. Fuck.

"One more reason for the unbonded to hate us," Rhiannon mutters. "So, Sawyer, huh, Rhi?" We start down our hallway, passing a few other rooms before meeting up with the main corridor that leads to the rotunda. A grin curves her lips. "I felt like celebrating." She darts a quick side-eye at me.

"And why don't we talk about Stas and Liam?" She says, shooting us a glance.

"Oh, we could all tell that was going to happen, plus I could hear them the whole night. Those walls are paper thin"

She makes a gaging motion, and I hit her on the arm. I gaze up at Liam, who looks like he might just crawl up and die right here, I give him a little nudge, telling him he can go. He shoots me a grateful smile and goes to find his squadmates.

"Why have I not heard of you celebrating?"

We melt into the crowd moving toward the gathering hall. "Haven't found anyone I want to celebrate with." Violet says

"Really? Because I heard that you and a certain squad leader had a moment last night."

Vi almost falls flat on her face.

"Come on, Vi. The entire quadrant was out there, and you don't think someone saw you?" She rolls her eyes.

"You're not going to get a lecture from me. Who gives a shit if it's frowned upon to be in a relationship with a superior officer? There's no regulation, and it's not like any of us is guaranteed to live through the day."

You might get a lecture from me, Dain really?

"Solid points," she admits. "But it's..."

"It's not like that with us. I'd always hoped it would be, but when he kissed me-there was nothing there. Like. Nothing." It's impossible to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

"Well, that's shitty to hear. I'm sorry."

"Me too." I sigh.

Not really.

"Good morning, ladies." Ridoc forces his way through the crowd and slings an arm around my shoulders as we enter the rotunda. "Or should I say, riders?"

"I like the sound of riders," Rhiannon replies, shooting a smile in his direction.

"It has a certain ring to it," Ridoc agrees.

"It's definitely better than dead. Where's your relic?" I ask Ridoc as we pass through the columns of carved dragons and take the steps into commons.

"Right here." His arm falls off my shoulders, and he shoves the sleeve of his tunic up to reveal the brown mark of a dragon silhouette on his upper arm. "You?"

"Can't see it. It goes down my back and leg" I say, a grin gracing my face

"I bet Liam saw it last night." He jokes, which earns him an elbow in his stomach.

"Violet?" Ridoc asks, trying to breathe again.

"Can't see it either, its on my back"

"That will keep you safer if you're ever separated from that massive dragon of yours."

"I swear, I thought I was going to shit myself when I saw him on the field. What about yours, Rhi?"

"Somewhere you'll never see," she responds.

"You wound me." He slaps his hand over his heart.

"I highly doubt that," she retorts, but there's a smile on her face. We move through commons and into the gathering hall, then make our way through the line for breakfast.

"Asshole," Ridoc mutters infront of me. "I still can't believe they tried to kill you."

"I can." Violet shrugs.

"I'm the weakest link, right? Unfortunately for me, that means people are bound to try and take me out for the good of the wing." We head toward the Fourth Wing section and find a table with four extra seats.

"Mind if we-" Ridoc starts.

"Absolutely! It's yours Riorson!" A couple of guys from Tail Section scurry off the bench.

"Sorry, Sorrengail!" the other says over his shoulder as they find another table, leaving this one empty.

What the fuck?

It's because you bonded me. Obviously. Gaia muses.

"Well, that was really fucking weird." Rhiannon rounds the other side of the table, and I follow, putting our backs to the wall as we step over the bench and sit, setting our trays in front of us.

"Even weirder?" Ridoc remarks, gesturing across the hall toward First Wing.

Following his line of sight, my eyebrows lift. Jack Barlowe is being squeezed out of his table. He's forced to stand as others take his seat.

"What the hell is going on?" Rhiannon bites into a pear and chews.

Jack moves to another table-whose occupants won't make room for him -and then finds a place two tables down.

"How the mighty have fallen," Ridoc notes, watching the same show I am, but there's no satisfaction in watching Jack struggle. Feral dogs bite harder when they're cornered.

"Hey, Sorrengail, Riorson." the stocky girl from First Wing Violet beat in the second challenge says with a tight smile as she walks past our table.

"Hi." We all stare as she walks away. "She hasn't spoken to me since I took one of her daggers in that challenge."

"It's because you bonded Tairn, and you bonded Gaia." Imogen sits down next to me, pushing her hair behind her ear as she throws her legs up onto the bench.

"The morning after Threshing is always a clusterfuck. Power balance shifts, and you two, are now about to be the most powerful riders in the quadrant. Anyone with common sense is going to be scared of you."

"Which is why you're now sitting with us?" Rhiannon arches a brow at her. "Because I can count on one hand the number of nice words you've said to any of us. Except Stas" She holds up a fist with zero fingers raised.

Quinn takes a seat next to Imogen, and Sawyer arrives, sitting on Rhiannon's other side. Quinn tucks her blond curls behind her ears and brushes her bangs out of her eyes, her round cheeks rising as she smiles at something Imogen says.

"You weren't interesting enough to sit with before," Imogen responds, then bites into a muffin.

"I usually sit with my girlfriend in Claw Section. Besides, no use getting to know you when most of you die," Quinn adds, tucking her curls away again, just to have them spring forward. "No offense."

"None taken?" Violet replies.

Heaton and Emery, the only third-years in our squad, flank Imogen and Quinn on the bench across from us.

Thank the gods Dain didn't decide to join us.

"I thought Seifert would bond," Heaton says to Emery across the table, as though we've caught them mid-discussion. The normally red flames in their hair are green today. "Other than losing to Sorrengail, he nailed every challenge."

"He tried to kill Andarna." Huh?

Every head at the table turns.

"My guess would be that Tairn told the others." Violet shrugs.

"But Barlowe bonded?" Ridoc questions. "Though from what I've heard, his Orange Scorpiontail is on the smaller side."

"She is," Quinn confirms. "Which is why he's struggling this morning."

"Don't worry-I'm sure he'll make up for his lack of social standing in other ways," Rhiannon mutters.

"You have to have some protein, Vi. You can't just survive on fruit."

"It's the only food I can be sure isn't tampered with, especially with Oren behind the counter." Violet starts peeling an orange.

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Imogen scrapes three pieces of sausage onto her plate. "She's right. You're going to need all your strength to ride, especially with a dragon as big as Tairn. You too Stas" She narrows her gaze on me.

"What's your signet?" Rhiannon asks Emery.

Air rushes down the table, rattling the glasses. Air manipulation. Got it. "That's epic." Ridoc's eyes widen. "How much air can you move?"

"None of your business." He barely spares him a glance.

"Sorrengail, after class is out today, you're mine, Anastasia you can come too." Imogen says.

Violet freezes. "I'm sorry?"

"Meet me in the sparring gym."

"I'm already working with her on sparring-" Rhiannon starts.

"Good. We can't afford her to lose any challenges," Imogen retorts. "But I'm going to help you with weights. We need to strengthen the muscles around your joints before challenges resume. That's the only way you'll survive."

"And since when do you care about my survival?" Violet looks like she just saw a ghost.

"Since now," she says, gripping her fork in her fist, I already know Xaden told her to do this.

"Squads are about to be condensed at morning formation. We'll be down to two in every section," she continues. "Aetos kept the highest number of his first-years alive-hence the patch-so he'll be allowed to retain his squad, but we'll probably gain a few when they strip the squads from those who weren't as successful."

As discreetly as I can, I look to my right, sneaking a glance at Liam. So. Freaking. Beautiful.

He looks back at me, smiling widely.

That boy is whipped, Gaia mutters.

Shut up.

----------

A few hours later, after the squads are rearranged and the death roll is read, all the first-year riders in Fourth Wing stand in our newly issued flight leathers, waiting in front of our dragons on the flight field. The uniform is thicker than our usual one, with a sick jacket.

And unlike our regular uniforms, whatever we choose them to be, flight leathers bear no insignia besides our rank at our shoulder and any leadership designation. No names. No patches. Nothing that could give us away if we're separated from our dragons behind enemy lines. Just a lot of sheaths for weapons.

I can't miss the way the other cadets look at Gaia or the wide berth the other dragons give her. Honestly, if I had those teeth bared at me, I'd back away, too.

No you wouldn't.

I smile, trying to focus on what Kaori is saying from the center of the field. His hand is up, using common lesser magic to project his voice so we can all hear.

God help us when Ridoc figures out how to do that. I bite back a smile, knowing he'll find some way to annoy the shit out of every rider in the quadrant, not just his squad.

"...and at only ninety-two riders, you are our smallest class to date."

"There are forty-one unbonded riders who would kill to be standing where you are," Kaori continues. "And your dragons know that your bond is at its weakest point right now, so if you fall, if you fail, there's a good chance your dragon might let you if it thinks the unbonded will be a better choice."

"Comforting," I mutter.

Gaia makes a noise that reminds me of a scoff.

"Now, we're going to mount, then follow a series of specific maneuvers your dragons already know. Your orders are simple today. Stay in your seat," Kaori finishes. Then he turns and breaks into a sprint, racing the dozen feet toward his dragon's foreleg and making the vertical climb to mount.

I stare up at Gaia's fucking massive foreleg, before taking of in a sprint, making the ascent, I get into position, gripping the pommel of scales.

"Your back is very uncomfortable." I mutter to Gaia, shifting around in my seat.

Do you want me to throw you off.

Message received.

Kaori's dragon launches into the sky.

Hold tight.

I feel the same bands of energy clamp around my legs, and Gaia crouches a millisecond before she hurls us skyward.

The wind

"We had to go second?" I ask Gaia as we fly out of the canyon and higher into the mountain range.

I'm not letting Tairn win.

I try my hardest to keep my giggles in, but fail miserably.

"Two of the biggest dragons on the continent, have a competition." I'm suprised I managed to get that out with how hard i'm laughing right now.

Suddenly I feel the bands drop, and I have to hold on for dear like or I will slide right off.

It's not funny, it's a serious competition. Now apologise or risk falling and dying.

"You're kidding? Right?"

Kaori banks right, and Gaia follows suit, leading us into a steep dive down the face of one of the peaks. I clench with my legs, but my thighs slip. My hands slide. I skid right off her side, my fingers fumbling for purchase and finding none.

Rushing air fills my ears as I plummet toward the glacier, ok so she wasn't kidding.

"I'M SORRY" I shout, the glacier growing closer

I'm yanked upward as Gaia's claws catch me, harnessing me just like she did during Threshing. She climbs high, then tosses me again, but at least I'm prepared for impact this time as her back rises to meet me.

Shee holds me there through another climb and even a near-spiral of a turn, and I can't help but notice that she's taking everything Kaori is doing and making it harder.

"Why do you feel the need to make everything ten times harder."

You and I both know what's out there Vicious one.

---------

Later that evening, after dinner, I make my way to the sparring gym alongside Violet.

We're through the rotunda and crossing into the academic wing when I hear Dain calling Violet's name, jogging to catch up with us.

Oh great!

He shoots me a look, clearly telling me to leave. "I'll be in the gym when you're done."

I offer Violet a smile, turning away.

I walk into the sparring gym, taking it in, the room is lit with mage lights and full of a variety of wooden machinery with racks and ropes and pulleys, benches with levers, and bars attached to the wall.

And on the other side, doing push-ups on a mat, is one of the first-years, Garrick crouched down next to her, urging her on.

Garrick turns, his gaze meeting mine even as he continues calling off reps for the other first-year. He says something to her, before walking over to me as the girl leaves.

"Where's Imogen? I thought you were training with her?" Garrick asks motioning me to join him on the sparring mat.

"She's waiting for Violet." I shrug, taking up a fighting stance opposite him, "Rules?"

"No weapons, no signets." I look at him deadpan. "Are you fucking serious."

"Sorry?" Garrick looks at me like he doesn't know whether to laugh, run or cry.

"Just checking you're sure you want to do this?" I don't even bother responding to him.

We circle each other for a while, like predators. Garrick, knowing him, obviously strikes first. He swings for my shoulder but i'm too fast. I drop to the floor, sweeping my leg out, catching his ankles.

He hits the ground. Hard. I grin.

Garrick swears under his breath, taking his stance again "Fuck, both you and Xaden fight dirty as fuck."

I don't give him time to prepare before I lunge at him, moving left, Garrick move to block his left side, good. I move quickly, delivering a hard hit to his ribs on the right. Because i'm always right.

By the gods.

My mini victory is short lived when Garrick picks me up and throws me back onto the mat.

"Fuck you." I grit out through many breaths. That asshole just grins. I flip him off.

"What the fuck are you two doing?" Imogen and Violet stand in the doorway, their jaws on the floor.

"Well, we were sparring until this dipshit through me across the fucking room." I give Garrick a death glare, wincing as I stand up.

"I think you broke my ribs." I groan.

They all laugh.

"Fuck all of you." I say, leaving the gym.

The crisp air hits me in the face, causing me to shiver. I'm on my way to annoy Xaden when a searing pain burns through my relic, causing me to drop to my hands and knees.

You're welcome Vicious one.

Holy shit, Gaia just channelled.



----------------



A/N

I have SUCH A GOOD IDEA for later in the story but it's taking me sooooooo long to get past these bits.

Also do we think Aaric, Ridoc or Garrick should be her other love interest?

or lmk some others you want.

ALSO YOU ARE NOT READY FOR HER SIGNET