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Violet sat on the flight field with Tairn. She'd been working through her anger at Xaden, trying to move past the hurt and look at it logically: and sure, he definitely should have told her once he realised they'd fallen in love with each other, but she knew why he didn't, and that pissed her off because she wanted to stay angry. When she was angry, she could let that burn and she wouldn't feel his absence as hard. That all-encompassing ache in her chest when he was gone would dull ever so slightly under the anger, but it was fading now. The hurt and anger was fading and the pain of missing him was clawing its way through her heart and up her throat.
"Is this what you feel, everyday she's gone?" She whispered to Tairn.
He huffed, yes, I try to block you as much as I can, but it bleeds through and combines with your own feelings for the wing leader.
"He's not the wing leader anymore," she tried to sound jovial, but it fell flat, and tears gathered in her eyes. "I hate this," she sniffled.
Tairn leaned down and pressed his massive snout into her head, the only physical comfort he could offer given his size. If Andarna hadn't gone through the growth spurt she had, she could have curled around her and held her tightly. Unfortunately, with her size and temperament she may only serve to break their Silver One.
I would never hurt Violet came the sullen voice of Andarna.
Violet laughed, I know you wouldn't, it's papa bear you gotta convince.
Tairn grumbled and started to respond but cut himself off with a loud angry snarl. Thankfully, Violet had gotten used to his loudness, so instead of startling her it caused her to turn to look where Tairn was and drop into a fighting stance. She didn't relax when she saw it was Dain, she was still on edge around him after the whole retrocognition reveal.
"What do you want, Aetos?" She asked, cocking her head as she felt Andarna cutting off their connection.
He stopped short, "Aetos? What, has Riorson twisted you around so much you can't even call me Dain anymore?"
He was angry, good she wanted him angry. It never helped arguing with someone who just stood there and took it.
"Xaden did nothing to cause this, you did when you stole my memories and almost got us killed with your stupid stunt."
"I wouldn't have had to steal your thoughts if you would have just listened to me and left."
"Yeah, because that would have worked well. I abscond from the college at your behest and my mother would have dragged me back by the hair. You would have ended up shipped off to some backwater post to rot, Dain. But maybe all this wouldn't have happened if you had listened to me , if you had looked beyond your own prejudice and actually took notice of my progress. Maybe you would have seen that I was fighting better, and my body wasn't letting me down because I trained it to support me. But no, Dain is so much smarter than everyone else, he'll do what he wants and blame it on Xaden because it's easier to keep punishing the children for the mistakes of the parents."
Dain snorted and looked to Violet with barely concealed venom, "everything was going fine here until you showed up and started mixing with the traitors spawns. You just had to show everyone that a Sorrengail and a Riorson could be friends, that they could move past their parents' actions. You've ruined everything. My father is now off at a lesser position because of you and the filth you associate with, and you've put my future in jeopardy. If you would have just done as you were told, if you hadn't tainted yourself by fucking him, we could have run this place. I could have run this place with you by my side."
Violet laughed as Tairn snarled at Dain, "you honestly believe I would have done anything at your side? Do you truly not know me as well as you claim? When have you ever known me to stand at anyone's side and play the quiet, demure little accessory. Because that's all I'd ever be to you, isn't it? A shiny bauble for you to parade around."
Dain took a threatening step forward, "you'd do well to remember your place, cadet," he snarled, ignoring Tairn towering over her, and the lack of input from his own dragon.
"And you do well to remember your training, and observe your surroundings," Violet spoke in a calm, almost menacing tone. Before Dain could even begin to comprehend what she meant, a medium sized, black almost purple dragon landed between them. The dragon was snarling, their nostrils smoking with the flames begging to come out. It caused Dain to take a hesitant step back, lifting his hands in a surrender position as he watched the new dragon in front of him.
Violet and Tairn moved closer; Tairn to the right of the dragon, and Violet...she trailed under the belly of the beast, patting its massive claw as she stood under it.
"Dain," she drawled, a smirk drawing across her lips as Andarna re-opened their connection, "I believe you've already made the acquaintance of my other bonded dragon, Andarna."
He stumbled back now, shock covering his face, "no," he breathed.
"Yes," she snarked, "you see, there are things about dragons we are not privy to, not even the most loved of riders are, but I and a select few were blessed to witness firsthand just how Andarna here started to go through her transition in size, colour, and power," she smirked as she, almost unconsciously petted the dragon she stood below - the very pissed off dragon.
"In a moment, Cath is going to fill you in on what has been happening since you arrived on the field, and then Andarna is going to show you why you don't piss off a dragon going through this particular transition."
Frozen in fear, Dain listened to Cath explain that Tairn had been passing on what was being said to every other dragon. He listened as she explained that Andarna was supposed to be at the keep resting, but Violet and Tairn’s emotions awoke her and sent her into a protective rage over her bonded rider, and how none of the other dragons could contain her. How they saw fit to let her go with the promise that Dain would survive the encounter.
Dain glanced between the three across from him as Cath explained that she was now on her way; only to make sure he lived and nothing more. There are things that run deeper than a bond between rider and dragon, and one of those things was justice. Violet deserved justice for what Dain did, but so did Andarna. Dain’s actions lead to her ‘transition’ and while she denied herself the right to seek justice originally, she now accepted the right due to his continued bad treatment of her human.
A snort from Violet pulled Dain from his racing thoughts, he turned to look at her as she spoke out loud – most likely for his benefit – to her dragons, “well Andarna, looks like mama bear is joining the peanut gallery too.”
Dain’s panic increased as he rightfully guessed who this mama bear was; Sgaeyl. Which meant Riorson was on his way too. Never one to learn a lesson quickly, Dain continued to dig himself into a deeper hole, “did you invite the full fucking Wing as well Violet?”
Rolling her eyes at him, she turned and leaned on Andarna’s leg, “don’t be so dramatic, Aetos. I invited no one,” she waved a hand from her head to the dragons next to her, “you know how dragon bonds work, I hope. I'm bonded to Tairn and Andarna. Tairn is mated to Sgaeyl, who is bonded to Xaden. Tairn can communicate with Sgaeyl obviously, and he passed the message along to me.”
She only fudged the truth ever so slightly, Sgaeyl did tell Tairn, she just left out the part where she didn’t need Tairn to pass on any messages because Violet could communicate with her just fine. No need for Dain and his father to get a hold of that piece of information. It was already bad enough that every dragon would now have to actively lie about Andarna’s growth spurt and colour change, no need to have them lie about beating and threatening Dain to keep information to himself. It's easier to fudge the truth, which was pissing Violet off because isn’t this the exact reason she was angry at Xaden? The exact reason they had barely spoken in weeks. Fuck, she thought, I'm going to have to talk to him when we’re done here.
Yes, Tairn snarked, I’m so glad you’ve finally seen sense.
What crawled up your ass and died? Andarna snarled to the larger dragon, causing him to snarl back.
When you find your mate and must listen to her complain about her human moping, you’ll realise what a pain it is to love your bonded human.
Aww, Violet cooed, I love you too big guy.
That was not the point, and you know it , he huffed at her, sending a stream of warm air across her body.
They were interrupted at the arrival of Cath, Sgaeyl, and Xaden.
Cath stepped up behind Dain, and seemed to be talking to him from the way he looked up at her. Sgaeyl allowed Xaden to dismount before she made her way to Tairn and Andarna. She pressed herself against the young dragon in a brief greeting, before she went to Tairn’s side and nuzzled their faces together.
Violet turned away, allowing them a moment together. She found herself looking at Xaden; he had stepped up beside her, but still left a gap between them. The pain of missing him had faded the closer he got to her, but now that gap between them was causing her a different kind of pain. Not willing to speak until they were truly alone, but not willing to spend any of their precious time together still separated, she closed the gap and laced their fingers together.
His head shot up so fast she feared he injured himself, but all thoughts left her when she really took him in. He looked tired, and sad. It hurt her to know that she was partially responsible for his demeanour. Unable to open the door to him in her mind, unsure of how badly it would affect her, she squeezed his hands and gave him a reassuring smile. She whispered, “later”, and hoped that it would be enough for now.
He smiled back hesitantly and squeezed her hand before turning to face Dain. His face morphed into a scowl as he took in the now trembling man before them.
Now that everyone was here, Andarna turned to Violet, to make this official, you have to say out loud, what I am about to tell you.
Violet nodded and stepped forward, bringing Xaden with her.
“Dain Aetos,” Violet spoke loudly, her voice commanding, “for the crimes levied against you by Andarnurram; using you signet, a gift from the dragons, to steal information from her bonded. For using that information in the aide of sending her bonded to her potential death. For sending Andarnurram into a danger than caused her transition. For these crimes you will take the punishment bestowed on you by Andarnurram.”
Turning, she bowed her head at Andarna, as did Tairn, Sgaeyl, Cath, and Xaden. Everyone then stepped back to allow her space to - well basically kick the shit out of him a little bit.
Andarna snarled before leaping forward and ramming her head into Dain’s chest. He flew back about 30 feet, crashing along the floor as he landed. Not giving him a chance to regain his senses, she pounced again. She picked him up by the hood of his jacket and threw him again. And again. And again. She kept this up for only two or three minutes before she stood over him, one giant claw holding him to the ground as she turned to huff at Violet.
Rolling her eyes, Violet made her way over to them. She paused just out of reach of Dain and turned to gently lay her hand on Andarna’s face, thank you, she whispered down their bond.
Always, Andarna said softly, tell him it is over, but if he breaths a word of what happened here, all that will remain of him will be a burn mark on the ground for his family to weep over.
Violet passed on the message before she passed on her own, “what Andarna did to you will be nothing of what I will do if I hear of you using your signet on anyone else here without a good reason, do I make myself clear?” she snarled as lightning flashed around them.
“Crystal,” he barked, both terrified and angry.
“Good,” she smiled brightly, before turning to Cath.
Not looking her in the eyes, because while she lost all respect for Dain, she still respected dragons, “thank you for not intervening.”
Since the boy refused to pass it along, Tairn snarled at Dain from where he stood, she said you’re welcome, and she thanks you for allowing the justice to be served from us and not the humans.
Violet only nodded towards Cath in response, allowing the dragon to gather Dain and fly off with him.
Before she could ask, Tairn said to them all through their connection, Violet needs a moment with Andarna, then Sgaeyl and I need to speak with her.
Violet sighed in relief, she really did need time alone with Xaden, and Tairn had bought her that, but she also needed to see Andarna.
Reluctantly, Xaden let go of Violet’s hand and started to make his way over to the dragons. He passed Andarna on his way and stopped before her for a moment. He gestured for her to lean down. When she did, with what looked like an eyeroll, teenagers, he snorted in his head, he gently touched her face.
“I know she’s yours, but thank you for protecting her,” he whispered very briefly pressing his forehead to her snout.
She huffed in response, it sounded almost like a laugh, she nuzzled his forehead with her snout.
Violet laughed as Andarna spoke to her, “she said to tell you ‘of course’ and I’ve also to tell you that you are hers too because of me, so she’d do the same for you.”
He whipped his head to Violet in shock before looking at the beast before him, “well then, you will be glad to know that I have thought of you as mine for quite some time too.”
Snuffling in joy, she puffed warm air on to him as he pulled back and walked to Sgaeyl, who leaned down to nuzzle his head affectionately.
Violet watched on; her face soft as she took in her family before her. Her little family.
I have missed you, Andarna cooed down their bond.
I’ve missed you too, not so little one.
Andarna seemed to puff up with pride at the name, I’m almost as big as Sgaeyl, I might even get to her size once I stop growing.
You haven’t stopped yet? Violet asked in alarm, tripping forward to touch her dragon. Tairn said you needed to enter the Dreamless Sleep to grow properly, is something wrong that you’re not sleeping but still growing?
Tairn stepped in to slow the panic building in their human, calm, Silver One. All is well, she has gone through most of her growth, the rest will even out as she eats, sleeps, and flies.
She sighed in relief, thank the gods.
Indeed, Tairn said, perhaps you could wait to discuss your growth once it is over and say what you need to before you go home for rest.
But Tairn, she whined, I wanna stay with Violet.
Violet also needs her sleep, and she must talk to the wing leader first. You may see her tomorrow.
Fine, she huffed.
Andarna, Violet whispered, saying what she really wanted to say to her little one, thank you for always protecting me, and fighting for me. I’m sorry for my part in what happened to yo- no don’t interrupt me, please. I’m sorry for my part, you could have died out there in that fight. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Tears fell down her face as she stared at her dragon, I love you, she whispered.
Silly human, Andarna chuffed as she leaned down to wrap herself around Violet as much as she could at this size, it would have happened eventually, I was in the age bracket for it, the earlier side sure, but I was still there. And I’d give everything for you; to keep you safe, alive, and happy. She paused, before squeezing violet to her with one of her awkwardly big claws, talk to him, tell him everything. You deserve happiness, both of you do.
Pulling back, Violet wiped the tears from her face, “you lot are meddlesome,” she laughed, shooting a quick glance at Xaden who was watching her from his place between Tairn and Sgaeyl, “I will, I was already going to. That's why mama and papa want to talk to you.”
Mama?, Sgaeyl asked in her head, amusement ringing in her tone.
“You and Tairn are like a fierce mama bear and papa bear when it comes to the three of us,” she gestured to Andarna, Xaden, and herself.
Snorting, Tairn stood and shook out his wings, whatever you say, Silver One. We will return when you call for us, for now we are taking the little one back to her sleep.
Bye Violet, Andarna shouted, nuzzling her hair quickly before she bound over to Xaden to do the same, tell him I said goodbye.
I will, you get yourself home and rest, you can come see me tomorrow after I’ve had my lunch, okay?
Okay, bye! She yelled down the bond as the dragons all took off, flying towards the keep.
“Andarna said goodbye,” she said to him, as they stared at each other, both unwilling to make the first move out of fear.
“I figured that when she ruffled my hair, making sure I smelled like her to the other dragons.”
Laughing, Violet tilted her head to look at him. Gods had she missed him. She couldn’t take it much longer and decided to throw all caution to the wind. She broke into a dead sprint towards him as she unleashed the bond they shared, allowing everything to slam into her. His shoulders sagged and he sighed in relief as he too started running towards her, her thoughts and emotions pouring into him once more.
Once she was in front of him, she threw herself into his arms. They clutched at each other, no words were exchanged, they just held each other for a long time before she spoke, “Gods, I am so sorry Xaden,” she whispered, her voice cracking with the emotions flooding her, tears rolling down her face, “so fucking sorry. I've missed you so much, and I've been a total bitch to you,” she cried.
He reached up to undo her braid, running his hands through her hair, “no, gods no don’t apologise. You were right, I should have told you,” he whispered as his hand moved to bury itself in her hair, clutching her as close to himself as he could get her, “I missed you too, so much.”
“I’ve got a lot to tell you,” she whispered as she buried her face in his neck, that space that was warm and smelled like pure Xaden.
“Me too,” he sighed as he pulled back slightly, just enough to be able to see her face. He wiped away her tears and ran his thumb gently over her bottom lip that was cracked and chewed to pieces, “come on, let's get comfortable and we can talk.”
They still had a lot to work through, but their talk helped easy most of their pain. She realised that he trusted her, but there would always be things that he wouldn’t share with her right away, just like there were things she still hadn’t told him about herself, and he realised that it wasn’t the information he kept that upset her, it was the fact she thought he didn’t trust her enough to even tell her the basics. They both agreed they needed to work on their communication but acknowledged it would be hard and they would fight, but at the end of the day their love was enough to work through their problems. They also agreed that sex would stay off the table until they were communicating better; they fell into bed instead of talking through their problems too much, and it needed to stop.
Sighing, Xaden stood and helped Violet up as Sgaeyl and Tairn approached, “come visit me with Tairn when you get your leave in a few days, please?”
She laughed as she leaned up to kiss him gently, “I was planning on it,” she then sighed, “do you think we’ll be able to work out a better way to see each other?”
He leaned his forehead against hers and sighed, “I hope so. My unit and their dragons are strategically sending complaints to your mother about Sgaeyl’s demeanour, and by extension, mine. We’re hoping they’ll either adjust our leave or move me closer to you.”
Violet sighed, “it might work, but it will have to seem like her idea. You might have to find a way to get her out to your post for a visit so she can see for herself.”
Xaden hummed as he heard the dragons land behind him, “I’ll miss you,” he whispered softly, pressing a kiss to her lips.
“I’ll miss you too,” she whispered back against his lips. Not wanting to end on a sad note, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to deepen their kiss.
Eventually she pulled back, and with one more small kiss she whispered, “I love you.”
He smiled, soft and bright, “I love you too, always.”
They pulled back and hand in hand, they walked to their dragons.
Silver One, Sgaeyl said surprising her, Andarna told Xaden that he was hers, and his surprise surprised me. I thought you both knew, but since it must be said, she chuffed as she leaned down to nuzzle her hair, you are mine, as is Xaden, Tairn, and Andarna. Though it may be through a bond with others, it doesn’t make it less than. You are mine, as I am yours, remember that.
Feeling emboldened, Violet reached her hand up to touch Sgaeyl’s face, it’s an honour, Sgaeyl, truly.
"Wow, three dragons,” she smiled as she turned to Xaden, “and to think I almost didn’t end up here.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Xaden winked as he smiled at her, “something tells me you would have found your way here, one way or another.”
She glanced between him and the dragons, “the longer I’m here, the more I think that.”
She turned to the suspiciously silent dragons, “you two are awfully quiet.”
Tairn just huffed at her, spoilers, Silver One.