Dain
"Sloane, you can't keep ignoring me!" I say firmly when I finally catch her. She's been avoiding me since… well since parapet, but it's gotten worse since returning to Aretia for the runes intensive. She won't train her signet with Carr, She won't train with me or Rhiannon, I was hoping she'd work with Filex now that we're in Tyrrendor, maybe it would make her more comfortable, but still, nothing. And now, she's literally ignoring me when I'm trying to help her.
She'll have the strongest lesser magic of her year, but she doesn't know how her signet works beyond what she can intuit
"I'm so sorry Wingleader Aetos," She says sarcastically, finally at least acknowledging that I'm speaking to her.
It may be inappropriate to yell at your cadet in the library, but she's alone except for Jesinia and Trissa who are working on some rune project with her, so I sign while I continue to yell at her.
"Filex told me you didn't even show up today," I tell her, trying for an authoritative wingleader voice and not getting distracted by how blue her eyes are. "You can't just skip your lessons and expect me not to come and find you, I understand that you're afraid–"
The look she gives me makes it clear I should stop talking. Overall, she's made it pretty damn clear she hates me. That she doesn't want me anywhere the fuck near her, but this is strictly wingleader business. And shame. Still feeling some considerable shame when it comes to her, and how fucking obsessed with her I've gotten despite how much she hates me. But it doesn't matter if she hates me, she needs to wield.
"I'm not afraid!" She argues. "I'm busy" She indicates at the runes they're working on.
"Not anymore," Trissa comments. "We're done for the night until I can establish the power connection between the anchor here"- she points to one rune I couldn't understand if I wanted to– "and the subject" She points to the other. "And Aetos is correct. If we want this to work, you'll need to wield."
I have no fucking clue what project they're working on, or why it was so important that Jesinia fly here with us in a gryphon's basket just to work on it. But if Trissa is saying they need Sloane to wield it, it's probably due to her signet and I'll welcome anyone who's helping to prove my point.
"Sloane, you and Aetos can put away the books, and then you should both get some rest, It's already past curfew." Trissa finishes and she and Jesinia collect their things and rise from the study table, Jesinia smiles goodbye to me, and then they leave us alone.
Alone. With Sloane… just me and her…
Godsdamnit.
Why do I keep doing this? Why can't I have feelings for someone with even a fucking shot at wanting me back?
"Why do you even care?" She argues, standing up and taking a handful of the remaining books. I pick up the others and follow her into the stacks to shelve them.
"I care that you could be one of the most powerful riders of your year if you trained your signet, and instead, you're hiding behind one–"
"Murder?" She offers. Turning to face me with absolute fury making her eyes shine. "And do please tell me that you understand memory reader" she hisses at me and begins to reshelve what's in her hand. I look down at the books I carry and note they're all from this section as well, so join her until my hands are free and I have no more reason not to respond to that.
I step closer, not thinking about being alone with her. Not thinking about how she's dressed for flight in those tight leathers and her uniform top is unbuttoned at the collar– not at all regulation. Certainly not at thinking about how I can see the curve of her cleavage because of that unbuttoned top. Nope. Not thinking about any of that.
"I do understand Sloane, I think you of all people know that I understand completely what it feels like to use your power, trying to do the right thing, and it costing someone their life. I didn't just kill your brother that day Sloane, I killed my squadmate. I was his squad leader, and I failed him– because I didn't understand the nuances of my signet." and some other, more selfish reasons. But let's not focus on that right now.
Her eyes immediately begin to water– she sometimes references this, that I'm the reason Liam was killed, but I've never talked about it in any detail. I can't find it in me to regret bringing it up yet, though. Not when she seems like she's actually listening.
"You have the power to siphon. Yes, that means you can drain all the power out of someone like you did to General Sorringail, but it also means that you can pull your squadmates back from burnout. That you can power runes stronger than anyone. You can take precise amounts of power from almost any source and send it anywhere. Yes, you killed someone, and yes, it was a horrible thing to witness, but you saved thousands of lives by accepting General Sorringails' sacrifice. And if you don't train, that's all you'll be able to do, you won't learn the subtlety of it, the theory of how to control it, you will only ever be what you're afraid of."
"I don't want to kill people" She finally says, her voice soft but strong. "I never wanted this. I was forced here because I'm marked, but I never wanted to be a rider. I wouldn't give up Thoirt for anything of course, but I wasn't made to do this"
"I know," I say just as softly, and her eyes meet mine.
"I hate this. I hate being here where Liam–" she stutters "They burned him. Imogen told me. After they recovered the bodies, they burned him and his ashes are just down the road in the Temple of Amari. He was so strong, and he died. And I didn't even get to see him. It's been years since I saw him. And now I'm alone."
"Sloane…" I start, not knowing what I was planning on saying. "He loved you" I finally add, lamely. "He was so excited to see you. We weren't friends and even I heard all about you– Honestly Sloane. He would be so proud of everything you've–"
"He would be ashamed of me for being like this," She says, gesturing to her general state "for not being strong like him."
"I can't believe that," I tell her, reaching out for her hands. "He would be so proud of your dedication to the fliers, of how far you've come training with Imogen. You might complain Sloane– but you put in the work. You are strong. Maybe not in the same way Liam was, but you've survived almost your whole first year at a place you fucking hate. Under a wingleader who you hate–" I try to joke and she looks at me, making me wait in silence while she looks like she wants to speak.
"I don't hate you." She says finally. "Not really. Liam wouldn't either."
I'm quiet for a moment at that. Just her saying she doesn't hate me shouldn't affect me like this. It's almost certainly only in my head, but it feels like something shifted in the air here, and my throat goes dry.
There have been… moments. Like this. Before. When I think maybe– I don't think she actually likes me, not the same way I'm falling for her… but maybe there is something between us that she feels too.
Sometimes she looks at me like she doesn't hate me at all. Like maybe if things were different… Maybe we could be something different too.
"Will you train with Felix tomorrow? It took all night for me to convince him to try again" I ask, swallowing my anxiety, my stomach doing backflips at how she's looking at me.
"I'll talk to him," she gives me, and that's enough for now. I realize I'm still holding her hands then. When did I take her hands? And why did she let me?
I take a step back from her, feeling like a creep for wanting her after I just made her almost cry over her brother. I should leave. I have to leave. I'm her wingleader, and she hates me. But somehow, even with the step back, I'm still holding her hands.
She looks down at where our hands meet and when her eyes meet mine again, they're not watery anymore, they're… something else.
It looks like she's realizing something too. Like maybe she doesn't mind that I'm touching her…
"Why do you push me so hard?" She asks me "Aaric hasn't even manifested yet and you're actually friends with him."
"I push you because I care about you, Sloane."
"Because you're my wingleader?" she questions, stepping closer.
"Because…" Fuck "Because you've proven impossible to not care about."
She licks her lips and I could fucking die right here.
"I should go," She says and turns to leave, dropping my hands.
"Sloane, wait," I say, reaching out and catching her at the waist. Apparently forgetting that I'm her Godsdamned wingleader. Her back is still facing me and she doesn't turn around, but she does lean into my touch, which I take as a good sign and step closer. Maybe it's not all in my head. Maybe she might want this. "Tell me to leave you alone and I will. But you must know by now that I can't stop thinking about you"
I can see her posture stiffen at my admission, but really, she has to know. I've never been good at subtly, and after a heartbeat, she takes a step backward towards me. She still doesn't turn to face me though.
I move my other hand to her waist as well and pull her back against me, her back to my front, and lead down so my lips graze her ear while I speak.
"Sloane, tell me to leave," I say, and wait a moment that might take my entire lifetime to wade through.
"What if I don't want you to leave?" she finally asks, tilting her head to expose her long, flawless neck to my nearby mouth.
"Then I will stay for as long as you'll let me" I promise, and slowly lower my lips to her skin. Breathing her in she lets out a little gasp at the sensation. The sound of her reaction to me making me instantly hard.
I kiss and nip her skin until I can feel her face turning towards me and move to find her lips, already open for me, so I let my tongue slide along hers and my hand slides up her body to cup her face and hold her there with me. She moans when my hand slides along her torso and I push my hips against her, letting her feel my growing hardness, which she lets out a small gasp at, breaking our lips apart slightly.
"Do you like that?" I ask "Do you like how hard you make me after only one kiss?"
She fucking wimpers and I want to drink the sound.
"That sounds like a yes," I comment and move my lips back to hers before moving to kiss back down to her neck and she rocks her hips against me, snaking her hand around to the back of my head, raking her fingers through my hair making me feel like I can push. Like she really does want this.
Fuck that feels good.
"How much do you like it, Sloane?" I ask but she doesn't speak, she just makes another pleasant little sound and nuzzles her face against me, trying to get my lips back on hers so I oblige, kissing her deeply and fucking relishing in every movement of her hips against me.
"I bet I can find out how much…" I tease and trail the tips of my fingers still on her waist, along the waistband of her pants, moving slowly so she can tell me to stop, so she can move away, even slightly, but she doesn't. She pushes back against me more. "You want me to find out exactly how much you like this?" I ask while unbuttoning her pants one-handed, and moving the hand on her face down to her breasts, palming the flesh over her uniform.
She nods a yes. Thank the fucking Gods. And the hand at her buttons slides under the fabric still covering her and I slowly reach my fingers between her folds, moving across her clit, along her hot, wet skin.
"Fuck" I say through an inhale of breath. "You feel so fucking good," I tell her, beginning to move my fingers against her, inside of her, feeling her clench around me, wishing it was my cock.
"Dain" she moans my name and the sound might actually kill me. "Shit"
"Godsdamn Sloane. That might be the first time you've ever said my name" I observe, applying more pressure to her clit while I play with her, still kneading her breasts with my free hand and rocking my hips against her ass. "I never want to hear anyone else say it, only you. Just like that."
She actually fucking giggles and it sounds breathless and fucking hot.
"I mean it," I tell her "Say it again. Say my name"
"Dain" She breathes and I fucking melt,
"Gods… you sound so fucking good. My name on your lips" I kiss her again "the sound of your wetness on my fingers filling the fucking library…" I tease, nipping her neck. "Your breath sounding all shallow and erratic…" I suck at the spot on her neck she seems to like. "You're going to make me come in my fucking pants before I even get you off on my fingers… that would just be embarrassing."
She moans again and rocks back against me harder so I work my fingers against her harder too until her knees start to wobble.
"You like it when I play harder?" I ask, considering her reaction to my increased intensity. "Is that how you like to be fucked, Sloane? Hard and rough and messy against the shelves in this fucking library? Is that what you want from me?"
"Yes," she says and reaches her hands around herself to undo my belt, pulling at the leather.
"Fuck" I pull my fingers out of her and undo my buttons, pulling my hardened cock out and her hands start to stroke me while I pull her flight leathers down. "You're sure you want this Sloane? Because I've been dreaming about the feeling of you coming around me for months… Gods, please tell me you want this."
"Dain, please" she practically whispers and bends forward further.
"Take your top off" I order her, and she moves her hands off of me to unbutton her top, leaving me to line myself up against her, and slide my clock along her wet cunt. "Fucking hell… you feel so godsdamn good."
She whimpers and I'm right at her entrance, teasing her when she bends a hair further and backs up against me, taking me into her.
"Fuck" I hiss at the feeling of her tight pussy around the head of my cock and the sound of her deep moan as I push forward the smallest inch, then pull back again. Easing my way into her. "So fucking tight… "
I push in more on the next torturously slow thrust and her hands grip the shelves in front of her tighter while she whimpers again.
"You're taking me so well Sloane" I whisper into her ear, bringing one of my hands up to her newly exposed tits and playing with her nipples, making her breath hitch again. "Almost there baby," I promise as I thrust forward more, nearly into her completely. "Are you ready baby?" I ask as I pull out for the final time, and she fuckings begs me with her next yes.
I push forward hard, sheathing myself into her fully, and the groan that escapes from me echoes in the empty library.
"Gods, Dain!" she moans and pushes her ass against me. I move my hand from her chest to take her hips in both my hands and start to fuck her. To truly fuck her. Hard and fast and the first thrust into her at full speed makes me hear bells.
Literal fucking bells chiming in my ears.
She leans back, reaching for my face, so I kiss her again while I plunge into her, the feeling of her tight, perfect little cunt clenching around me and her tongue searching for mine driving me fucking crazy until the bells get louder and she pulls her mouth away.
"What–?" She starts to ask and the chime sounds like it's coming from directly overhead.
I stop moving and look up, letting myself fall out of her as reality hits me at the worst possible time. "Fuck–"
"Don't stop" she begs, so I let my need for her outweigh my common sense, and turn her around to face me. Bending my knees slightly to get a better angle and plunge back into her, taking her tits into my mouth at the same time and sucking on her nipples. And fucking her hard and fast and desperate.
Gods I need to feel her come. I need to know the sound of it. Of her.
She moans and her hands wrap around my neck until someone yells from just outside the library, making me pause.
"I hate to interrupt…" Cath cuts through my shields making me instantly remove my mouth from Sloane. "Wyvern are coming. No more than 20 minutes out."
"Fuck." I say out loud, pulling out of her and trying to fix myself back into my uniform. I kiss her again. Fully, deeply. Hating more than I'd care to admit that I can't finish this.
"Fuck" I hiss again. "We're under attack. Are you armed?" I ask her, finally pulling my mouth away from her and taking a heartbeat to admire the dazed look in those beautiful blue eyes.
"Yes," she says. "More or less."
I'm redoing my belt and trying not to look at her flushed skin and hard nipples while she buttons up her own pants and I find her shirt where it fell to the floor. Waiting for her to fix herself back into her bra before helping her button her shirt.
I kiss her once more because I can't stop myself.
"Get to the assembly chamber, first years will probably be called into wait there but there aren't many riders in residence anymore, you have to be ready–"
"We'll fight!" she says, already arguing.
"We'll see, come on" I take her hand now that we're both fully dress and we rush to the front doors of the library, stepping out into the chaos of the hall
We stubble into the foyer seeing Brennan and dozens of infantry already about.
"How many on patrol?" Riorson asks Brennan when he arrives with Violet a moment after Sloane and I do.
"Six," Brennan answers. "The horde out flew the two on the Dralor route, and the other four are twenty minutes due west."
"If they outflew two dragons, they have to be greenfire wyvern," I hear Violet say, as the hall fills and Sloane slips away to where the other first years are coming down the stairs. I step further in too, nearing where Quinn stands with her girlfriend Jax, who's one of the few riders stationed here.
"Noted. Riders in residence?" Riorson asks.
"Fifteen retired, ten active—with you, eleven," Brennan replies. "Taking over all outposts in Tyrrendor from Navarrian riders left us undermanned."
They go through the list of those in attendance
"All right. We work with what we have. Felix, keep the first-years safe and your eye on that one." Riorson calls out and points to Aaric, right. Riorson is a Duke now, he's in command. "Infantry, get to your posts and take out any wyvern we drive to the ground. Riders, run faster." He turns toward Brennan, and those who were given orders go. "Thoughts?"
"Wards are still up here, or we would feel it." Brennan points out.
"Considering the stones in the backyard, that's not saying much," Riorson replies, making a decent point. Our wards being up doesn't mean they're still up even a mile away.
"They haven't spotted any venin among the patrol flight," Brennan adds as Rhiannon reaches Violet with most of the rest of her squad. "But it's fucking huge, so they must be expecting to breach the city walls. Their course was noted as due west."
Felix instructs the first years to get into the theater, and I catch Sloane's eye for a moment. She smiles at me and I'm floored by the realization that if the wards are down. We're far outmatched with the current numbers. This might really be it.
"If I'm them, I'm flying in small-batch waves to test the barrier of the wards," Brennan says. "My recommendation is to station the officers two to five miles east, put the squad of older riders at the city gates, and assign the cadets to the wardstone as a last defense."
Riorson looks unhappy with his assessment. "I'll join the officers," he tells Brennan, "The older riders might be skilled, but half don't fly—"
"I'm your best weapon," Violet interrupts. "If you won't put me on the first line, then station me at the gates."
"Absolutely not!" Brennan yells at her but shocking me, Riorson just looks pained.
"She's right." He says, "Split the retired riders. Half to the wardstone, half throughout the city in case civilians need to flee for the caves. You're on the wall, Cadet Sorrengail."
"Send all of us," Rhiannon adds. "It's not like second and third-years haven't seen combat. If it's fight and die or don't fight and die, we'd rather fight."
Riorson just nods. "Only those who are willing."
"We're willing," I confirm and Bodhi who's just arrived next to me nods in agreement, as do the others present.
"Fine. Aetos, your wing, your command," Riorson says, and Brennan leaves to relay orders.
"Third-years, you're with me at the east gate to the city. Second-years, you're with Matthias at the north. Work in pairs," I command.
"ten minutes," Cath tells me. Fuck. If they haven't been stopped by the wards yet, it doesn't matter if they're still up here, too many civilians are at risk.
"I'm coming with you," Bodhi says, running up to his cousin… apparently ignoring my orders.
"You're staying with the first-years," Xaden immediately counters.
So much for the eastern gate, I guess…
"The fuck I am. I will be at your side—"
"You will be as deep within this house as possible." Riorson insists, getting in Bodhi's face.
"Because I'm not a weapon like you are? Cuir and I are just as deadly in the air." Bodhi argues back.
"Because you're first in line!" Riorson takes hold of his cousin. "Neither of us has an heir. We're all there is, Bodhi. I don't have time to argue, and you will do as ordered. Our family just got Tyrrendor back, and we will not lose her because of your ego. Understood?"
"We'll lose her because of yours. Understood." He says and walks off.
Riorson then leans into Violet to say goodbye and I look away. I don't know what my feelings are for Violet anymore, but regardless, I don't need to see that.
I call Imogen and Quinn to my side,
"Eastern gate you said?" Quinn asks with a smile.
"Just like old times, the last of the second squad flame section second wing," I say, looking between the two of them. "The three musketeers!"
"Oh Gods Aetos, we don't need to die listening to you try to make jokes," Imogen says as we head out to the gates, catching sight of Neve and relaying the plan.
"Can you meet us at the easter gates? Tell the others?" I ask Cath
"On our way"
By the time we get to the gate, the wyvern are visible and there's already too much shit on fire.
"Mount," I call to them. "Imogen, Quinn, stay together– Neve!" I call to the only third-year flier we have. "You're with me"
She's on her gyrphon in a heartbeat, and the four of us are in the air. The first Wyvern is on us, and my sword is in my hand before I remember pulling it. Neve has her bow and the exploding arrows and we fight.
Time moves as I expect it to now. not exactly being my first battle. My focus is entirely on the wyvern. I don't know Neve like I know Imogen and Quinn, so I'm surprised for the first few minutes when wyvern explode, or get torn apart by gryphen talons. It takes a few tries to get the wyvern's fire on me and Cath at the right moment to give Neve clear shots, but we get it soon enough, and when I turn to check on Imogen and Quinn, I take a moment to be impressed– again.
They know eachother better than anyone I've ever seen. The way they have each other's movements mapped out. They've got this under control.
I turn my attention back to Neve and our sector's wyvern, when a nearby house goes up in fire and Cath and I fly towards the wyvern who's burning it, pulling its attention with our own fire, while it's friend, a second wyvern comes at us.
"You keep distracting this one, tell Neve I've got the other," I tell Cath, and without me needing to explain the rest of the plan, Cath huffs in annoyance and dips his shoulder, firing flames of his own at the first wyvern while I move to his shoulder and wait the moment more I need to jump from his back, landing with my sword on the second wyvern and plunging my sword into the wyverns neck while I hear the first explode from Neve's arrows. I jump in the general direction of Cath as my slain wyvern falls and am pleased with my mussel memory when I land just a few steps away from my seat.
"Not bad" I mutter.
"Yes, well, it's been three years, I should hope you can land on my back by now" Cath teases.
I laugh for a moment before civilians are spotted, fleeing the burning home.
Fuck.
"Land!" I say unnecessarily, while Cath plunges down and I again move to his shoulder and somersault down to land just feet from the civilians fleeing their home.
"Get to Riorson house!" I tell them "Is there anyone else inside?"
"My father!" a boy who can't be more than 15 calls, someone who must be his younger sister in his arms as his mother grasps her children.
"Go– we'll do what we can"
The child starts to hand his sister off to his mother, clearly planning on running back into the house
"No," Neve says, grabbing his shoulders "Get to the house– protect your mother and sister. We don't know how many venin are here. If your father is still alive we will get him."
I run forward, stepping into the building and covering my mouth and nose with the collar of my uniform.
"Is anyone a water wielder?" I ask Cath.
"No one near enough to put you out should you catch fire" He sounds pissed.
"Help!" a voice from my left calls and I turn, spotting Neve entering behind me.
"To the left" I relay and we crouch down to avoid as much smoke as we can while a wall on the far end of the house begins to crumble.
"We're here!" Neve calls out rushing forward seeing him before I do. "We're here, can you move?"
"No, the beem!" The man explains, and I see a beem that previously stood now collapsed onto the man's legs.
That almost certainly means this house is no longer stable. And if that wall crumbles into flames too. The whole thing is going down.
"Aetos, help me lift it," Neven says.
"I'll get it. You pull him out. I'll be right behind you" Neve nods and I reach my hands out, focusing all of Cath's power on my lesser magic and lifting the beam off the man's legs. Struggling with my breath now that I can't use my hands to block the smoke.
Finally, I raise the beem enough for Neven to pull the man free and I hold it there until they're a few feet away and I'm sure he's free of it.
Dropping the beem I race back to where Neve and the man struggle towards the door and pull his arm over my shoulder so the two of us can carry him out together. His legs clearly crushed.
"My son!" The man calls
"Your son and daughter got out with your wife" I confirm "is there anyone else in the house?"
"No" He says, the adrenaline appretnly wearing off at the relief of my news and his voice breaks into sobs.
We step outside and I turn to ask Neve if her gryphon can carry the man back to the house but before I speak, a wyvern falls from the sky just steps from us.
Then another onto the burning house, making it begin to crumble.
"Move!" I call and we pull the man away from the falling structur of his home as more wyvern fall.
"The wards?" I ask Cath.
"The Irids came" He confirms.
"Gods, really?" I ask and what looks to be the final wyvern in our sector fall to the ground.
"The wards are up!" I confirm to Neve and the man. "It's over."
The man starts to laugh.
"We…' he laughs "we thought being close to the gates was a gift from Zihnal. With the wards failing…" He laughs again "but look around– no one elses homes are destroyed"
"Yeah" I say, clapping him on the back. "Get up to Riorson house… someone will look at your legs"
"You have a mender?" He asks and Neve takes him to her gryphon to transport him back to the house.
I begin checking Cath's scales for any injuries. Nothing but a few scrapes. And hopfully I didnt inhale too much smoke.
I glance back at the burning house.
"Really, can you check in on any water wielders?"
"Already done" Cath confirms. "This isn't the only fire that needs to be put out though."
"Well that was fun" Imogen says, walking up to me. "What are our orders now Wingleader?"
"Make sure your dragons are okay and then tell them to head up to the valley. Meet in the Assembly Chamber." I tell her and Quinn, and confirm with Cath that he's fine.
"Can you check in with Thoirt?" I ask him.
"Already done, I was just waiting to see if you were going to ask me" He teases "She and her rider are fine"
"Thank you."
When we get back into the Assembly chamber it's jovial to say the least. The wards being up, and strong this time, is a gamechanger.
"And just think, you spent all that time translating shit with Violet and all you needed was an extra dragon" Imogen teases as we wait for Brennan or Riorson or someone in real command.
"Don't forget about all that time looking for the Irids" Quinn offers Imogen, looking around at the riders still coming in from battle, probably for Jax. "really, you had a lot to do with the wards going up didn't you. Don't let everyone praise Violet just because she's basically the dutchess or whatever"
"Thanks," I say dryly as they both laugh until Jax finally enters and Quinn runs over to her.
Second squad enters, but Violet isn't with them, and my nerves start to get to me.
"Rhiannon, what happened?" I ask her "Is Violet with the Irrids?"
"Andarna…" she said sadly. "Violet… Andarna left Violet"
"What?" Andarna is dead? How could that happen?
"She broke the bond to go with the others from her den"
"She broke the– how... Is that even possible?"
"Apparently."
"Violet is she...? How is she, she's okay right?"
"She's alive. I guess because of Tairn, but no. she's not okay."
Sloane won't look at me the next day, and I keep my attention on how to support the cadets, not thinking about how that probably means she regrets it, or how she won't even talk to me to reject me to my face.
Violet hasn't come out of her room once, and from Riorson and Brennan's somber expressions, and the lack of emotion at all coming from the second years, it's hard to remember that we won that battle.
At least Sloane has started working with Filex. And at least Filex will tell me how she's doing. Even if she hates me, I'm still her wingleader. I still care.
Then by the second day after the battle, and Sloane still not speaking to me, it's announced that Riorson is letting in refugees. By day three Navarre is practically at war with Tyrrendor because of it.
Riorson then cut off shipments of Talladium to the king basically fucking them over until they move their troops back from the Tyrrish border.
As much as I begrudgingly admire Riorson's commitment to the civilians… the Talladium is kind of a big deal.
By day four, Violet returns to classes and Sloane is almost making eye contact with me.
When she's not working with Felix, She's working on that project with Trissa and Jesinia that makes her spend most of her downtime in the library, so I'm not going to complain that she won't talk, not if she's wielding. And due to the steep learning curve for me and runes, and given that the Tyrish in the squad hold a significant advantage over those of us who only found out about runes a few months ago… I'm spending an annoying amount of time in the library too.
Not remembering the feel of Sloane around me, or the noises she made when I entered her… or the feel of her lips on mine…
By day five, I'm reconsidering my plan to study here when I try to speak to Sloane but she makes up some excuse and leaves me standing in the library like an idiot. Bodhi, Imogen and Quinn are all witnesses to it, and I'm sure they can tell something is going on, but thankfully they don't mention it. Not when Bodhi's been moody enough for all of us. It seems they have bigger things to worry about.
On day six, I decided to ignore her right back.