The Assembly was a verbal battleground, gravity pulling everything on me - the Sorrengail standing beside Xaden. He and I have our arms crossed defensively across our chests as thinly veiled insults are levied my way from Suri and Ulices, which I take in stride.

"You've doomed us all and will continue to do so!" Suri's finger extends to me. Brennan, whom I can see is on his last nerve if the way he shoves his fingers through his disheveled mop of brown hair is any indication, interrupts.

"You think this didn't surprise me? You think I know what the fuck to do with what Violet dropped on our doorstep?"

I tense and frown, and feel Xaden subconsciously bump me with his elbow at my shoulder, just letting me know that he's there. Not that I could forget, he's my rock right now.

"And when all of Melgren's armies come for us? Then what?"

Felix holds up his hand, "While Mending is powerful, as are our signets, the youngest Sorrengail is the weapon we've been waiting for."

"Violet Sorrengail's signet is powerful, but she is...," the Battle Axe growls and gestures in my direction as the room goes quiet and all eyes fall on me, half in agreement with what Kylynn is saying and the other half wanting to come to my defense.

I'm done taking their shit for today and I know Xaden feels me slam my shields all the way up blocking even him out.

Brennan hits the table with a fist and I can feel his anger through his voice. "Kylynn how dare -"

I lift my hand to cut him off, and Brennan swallows the rest of his words. He folds his arms back over his chest as if he intends to physically hold in everything he wants to say to the rest of the Assembly. I catch the raised eyebrows of Suri as the wide-shouldered woman stands to Brennan's left, clearly shocked that a simple gesture from the smallest person in the room could silence their Lieutenant Colonel. Honestly, I didn't think it would work, but I don't need him to fight this battle for me.

I'm mad enough right now to do it on my own.

"Finish your sentence," I demand, my hazel eyes boring into the steely resolve and the Battle Axe stands tall before resting her hand on the hilt of the sword at her side. You could hear a pin drop.

She scoffs. "I don't always feel the need to say what is obvious."

"Say it." The coldness in my voice surprises me, and I'm shocked when Kylynn backs down a little and shifts her weight from one foot to another.

The silence goes a little too long, so I finish it for her. "Fragile? Frail?" I pause, unfolding my arms to set my fingers on the wood of the massive table so I can lean in. "Weak?"

Xaden's had enough as well. "You are not -" but I silence him with the same gesture that worked on Brennan, and that definitely got the attention of the Assembly.

I might be the smallest, but suddenly I'm the most powerful person in this room, and I let that knowledge sit high in my chest while glaring daggers at the two most vocal members that I know aren't on Team Sorrengail.

"Since I'm sure everyone waits impatiently for my opinion, the best way to protect this place is by raising the wards. Lucky for you, I handed you a journal that details exactly how to do that."

Suri huffs, swatting at the book sitting between her and Brennan. "It's not going to be much help, no one here knows Old Lucerish. Your brother was apparently never taught that one."

I nod, the fact not new to me. "Our father didn't teach his rider son but he did teach his scribe daughter." I let the sentence hang and see the surprise on their faces. In some…hope.

"The only reason you even have this opportunity is because I broke into the hidden Archives of Basgiath and risked everything to get it for you. If the five days of consequences I took because I got you that book aren't enough for you to fully trust me, I'm not sure what else you think you deserve from me." I stop as a lump threatens to clog the back of my throat and I feel Xaden's fingers skim the back of my uniform over the small of my back.

"I'm assuming none of you know what that's like, right?" I glance back and forth but take time for my hazel stare to bare down on each and every member, including those I know to be on my side more often than not. "Being broken over and over again just to be mended so the next day could be the same, fucking, torture. I went all five days without saying a single word about Aretia, about the movement, about the fucking weapons runs, about Xaden."

The way every shoulder sags tells me I've won, though it doesn't feel like victory.

I point directly at Kylynn, "I'm. Not. Weak." I turn it on the belligerent members of the Assembly, "I am not your enemy."

My composure is set to break and there are only two options for outlet: crackling, electric destruction wrought from the skies or stomach churning sobbing and retching, and I should definitely leave before either makes themselves known. I heave a sigh and turn to make for the ornate wood doors with black iron handles.

"Violet-" Xaden's voice is a quiet, strained utterance, but I lift my hand again.

"Later." I promise and then my shields are firmly back in place.

The moment my hand is on the handle, "let me know when you want me to translate that journal so I can get our fucking wards up."

…