#marked one!reader

'So late, so late, so late', She chanted over and over again in her head. Y/n was supposed to be in physics right now, but after spotting Sawyer and Ridoc — neither of whom she'd spoken to after that night — she had practically turned tail and ran in the opposite direction, taking the long way around.

Context: Ridoc, Sawyer, and herself had a threesome two weeks ago, and while the sex had been fucking phenomenal, her mind had tormented her all night on the plethora of ways everything could go wrong. She woke up before the sun as a result, and crept out of the room they'd commandeered, adding them to the ever-growing list of people she had to avoid.

Some god must've taken pity on her, because that very morning, she was moved back out of their squad. Now, at this point, Y/n had become an expert at dodging people, but the more people she had to evade, the harder it became.

She was so preoccupied with everything that was going on, her own thoughts for once louder than everyone else's, that when she turned a sharp corner, she ran right smack into the middle of someone's chest. Y/n falls on her ass, rubbing her hands over her face, "Ow," She mutters, checking to make sure her nose wasn't broken.

She looks up at the person she'd run into only for her entire body to freeze when she realises she ran face first into Xaden Riorson. Y/n holds her breath, watching him. He stands there, tall and imposing as ever, studying her like a bug under a microscope. His expression is unreadable, one solid wall of concrete. It's a miracle she doesn't begin shaking. Up to this point, she had never seen the Wingleader this close, and she'd certainly never spoken to him. She could've gone the rest of her life without speaking to him and been very happy.

It felt like an eternity had passed, yet still, she was on the floor, frozen. Xaden hadn't moved an inch; if it wasn't for his chest moving up and down, she might've been convinced that she was really staring at a terrifyingly life-like statue. Unfortunately that was not the case. He stared down at her. It felt as if he was physically pinning her to the ground with the intensity of it. She didn't know what to do, what to think, so naturally, she lashed out with her signet. Y/n had discovered that along with mind reading, she could give people powerful head aches if she concentrated well enough.

Drawing from that well of magic inside of her, she throws it at him, imagining the glittering green energy into a spear, piercing his head. Her heart plummets when that metaphorical spear ricochets off of him and clatters to the ground with a sickening finality. Even though the attack does less than nothing, she swears she sees him flinch.

Xaden's onyx eyes widen, that in itself is more shocking than anything, Y/n doesn't think she can remember a time she's seen any expression on his face other than 'don't fuck with me; you won't live to regret it'. What happens next, is in short, a shit show.

"You're an inntinnsic," He whispers.

It's her turn to widen her eyes. First of all, how did he figure that out? More importantly though, what would he do to her now that he'd found out?

They stared at each other, unblinking and bewildered for several heartbeats before she did the worst possible thing she could've done in that situation.

She ran.

From Xaden. Fucking. Riorson. A shadow wielder, and her Wingleader.

'I'm dead. So, so dead.' Despite these thoughts, she continued to run like her life depended on it, because it very much did. Physics quickly became the last of her problems. The halls are mostly empty, all first years — which make up about 65% of the riders quadrant population — should be in class right now. She wasn't sure about the second and third years, but she also didn't care. Y/n just hoped that where ever everyone else was, that they stayed there.

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-Ridoc's Pov-

Ridoc and Sawyer stood against the walls of the sparring gym, pretending to pay attention to their squadmates, and their techniques, but really, they were each lost in thought. Memories of that night plagued them both. Sawyer worried that they'd done something wrong, and every time he talked to Ridoc about it, the other rider reassured him that Y/n had consented enthusiastically, they'd both made sure of it. No matter what her actions after said, it wasn't their fault.

Ridoc had kept it to himself but he'd be lying if he said that he wasn't mad. He could understand leaving before they woke up — he wasn't particularly a fan of awkward morning after conversations himself — he could understand not wanting to talk to them, hell, he could even understand her avoiding them, but to this extreme? It could not possibly be so bad that she wouldn't even walk the same halls as them. That she also refused to eat in the mess hall when they were there was just the icing on the cake. He knew that they hadn't done anything wrong, so what the fuck was making her react like this? Is it because she's a marked one? Did she assume that himself and Sawyer would do something to her? Hold it over Y/n's head somehow? The very thought made his blood boil.

"I gotta step outside for a sec," He muttered out the corner of his mouth. Sawyer glanced up at him, and kicked off the wall, "Yeah, I could use some fresh air too; it's getting stuffy in here"

Getting away from people was kind of the point; he didn't know how long he could keep his features schooled, but if anyone was going to understand, it would be Sawyer, so he didn't complain. No one noticed when they slipped out, carefully closing the door behind them.

He took a deep breath, holding it for a few counts, before slowly releasing it in an effort to calm himself down. Sawyer cautiously asked, "You thinking about her again?"

"Fuck, when am I not?" Ridoc asked back. A hint of pain poorly disguising itself as anger coloured his tone.

"I'm so sick of this!" He grunts, kicking a stray piece of rubble as hard as he could, "Her avoiding us, I mean. It's not fair on anyone"

Ridoc wished that it was only the way she sank down on him, the way he felt buried inside her, the sounds she'd made that he missed, but it wasn't. Yes, he missed and wanted all of that back, but it wasn't what made his heart ache. He could live without ever being in the same bed as her again, but he couldn't live without her. Before the absolutely mind blowing sex, they'd been squadmates, friends even. He missed making her laugh, and the looks they'd send each other during classes when the teachers were being especially boring. His life was terribly lacking now. Every time he walked onto the flight field, he still expected to see the deep forest green of Nyla's scales. He scanned every class he entered for her, day after day, and it hurt when she wasn't there.

"You have to admire her commitment though," Sawyer remarks with an expression that says he was in desperate need of some churam, even if he didn't smoke.

The worst part? It was true. Ridoc had no clue how you did it. Neither of them had seen so much as a glimpse of you ever since they'd dosed off in a tangle of limbs.

Their moping was interrupted by the sound of someone booking it through the passageways. Sawyer and Ridoc looked to each other, both having matching 'what the fuck?' expressions on their faces.

To their complete shock and surprise, Y/n is the one that came hurtling toward them. Anger reared up inside him, before quickly being washed away. She looked scared, terrified, actually. No matter what she did, he didn't want her to get hurt, despite himself, he still cared.

As if suddenly recognising whom she was running to, she skidded to a halt. She glanced hastily between the two of them, and back the way she came. 'So she was running from something, but what?' Ridoc craned his neck to see around the bend, and though the only thing he saw were rippling shadows, he could guess what, or rather who, was there.

"Y/n, finally ready to talk to us," He very much hoped she would hear it as the scapegoat it was meant to be, and not the sharp jab it sounded like.

Y/n stared at them, panting. He could see the gears turning in her head. 'Come on, you're a smart girl. Get the message'

She nodded hesitantly at first, then with more surety, "Uh, yeah, yeah, talk- talking sounds good," She grabbed both their arms, and with surprising strength, she dragged them away. Ridoc, and Sawyer let themselves be pulled along. He didn't know if his friend had seen what he had, but he was glad Sawyer had played along nonetheless. Y/n practically shoved them inside another empty dorm room, her breath still shaking.

She sank down against the door, her legs coming up in front of her. Y/n buried her face in her knees, arms wrapped tightly around herself. Ridoc suddenly felt guilty for all the anger he'd harbored toward her. She was clearly going through something that had nothing to do with them. He hadn't even considered the possibility that it might've been something else entirely, which in hindsight, was incredibly ignorant of him. He didn't pretend to understand what it was like to be a marked one, but he knew it was vastly different. Maybe you hid from them in fear of ridicule. If word got out, Sawyer and himself would likely be praised for their 'sexual prowess' or even envied, but he wouldn't put it past the more small minded riders to slut shame you for the very same thing. Maybe it wasn't the other riders, but the marked ones you were concerned about. Would they judge you for having a threesome with two Navarrians? Or perhaps they already knew, and you were trying to mitigate the fall out. What did he know? Maybe—

"Stop! Stop! Please I can't— I can't think!" Y/n's fingers tangled themselves in her hair, gripping the locks painfully hard. They looked at each other confused. Neither of them had said a thing since she'd shoved them through the door. A flash of deja vu struck him like one of Violet's lightning bolts. The image of the cadet who'd manifested as an inntinnsic invades his head. The way he yelled while gripping his head eerily similar to what Y/n was doing now. Ridoc thinks back to that evening that had started it all, back in the sparring gym. How Y/n had snapped, yelling for one of them to 'just fuck me' as she'd put it, as if she'd known that they were thinking of her. Because she had.

It seems that Sawyer comes to the same conclusion just moments after. Y/n shakily raises her head. Tears stream down her blotchy cheeks as she nods ever so slightly. Finally, she meets their eyes, flicking between the two of them.

"Please," She gasps out. It's so soft, he almost doesn't hear it. "Please don't tell anyone," Her voice cracks. It sounds like every word is scraping out of her throat. "They'll kill me"

He remembered all too clearly how merciless professor Carr had been to that cadet. Picturing her in that situation... he shuddered.

It seemed that once again, Sawyer and Ridoc had come to the same decision. Ridoc crouched low beside her, bringing her shaking form closer to his chest. Sawyer mirrored his actions, rubbing her back in slow gentle circles, whilst his own hand played with her hair to calm her down.

"Hey, hey, we're not going to tell anyone. Nobody else has to know, this'll stay between us,"

He had no idea how they were going to hide a signet. At some point, someone would start asking questions. Though that was a problem for later.

"Tell us what we can do to help," Sawyer whispered.

"Just— Think about something else. Anything else"

Ridoc hated how weak she sounded. This wasn't her. Y/n was strong, and capable, and fierce when she wanted to be. However, he didn't think he could think about something else right now. He tried, for her, his mind running through the classes they still had today, and what would be served for dinner tonight.

It seemed to be working. The tears had stopped flowing, and her breathing had finally returned to normal. She still sniffed here and there, but that was to be expected. At least the trembling had stopped.

They all three sat there for some time, rocking back and forth. Ridoc thought she'd fallen asleep before she mumbled against him, "Not asleep"

He was confused, and then felt silly, remembering that she was a mind reader. She pulled back, looking up at him with a guilty expression.

"Sorry, it's not on purpose. I can't help it."

"You can't control it?" Sawyer asked her, not unkindly.

She shrunk into herself, embarrassed. "I— Not completely," She admits, "I can block out most people if I focus on one stream of thought, but anything thought about me is louder and more difficult to shield against"

That made him wonder how long she'd been tuning into their thoughts. When had she manifested? Likely before their night together. Was she reading his mind then? Was she doing it now?

"Yes, both of you, I am. What part of 'I can't block out thoughts about me' did you guys not understand?"

Sawyer and Ridoc look sheepishly at each other, caught red handed. A wave of sadness comes over him when he realises that if she heard everything they thought about her, then she must know about all the conversations him and Sawyer had had about that night. How they'd discussed at length that they both wanted to be more than friends with her, and that they were willing to share.

He quickly buried the memories, knowing she'd hear them. Apparently he hadn't been quick enough. She sat back, staring at him slack-jawed. Y/n swiveled her head around to face Sawyer with the same expression.

"I— Wha— Excuse me?!"

She continued to gape at them, "No. I very much was not aware of that, of any of that," She answers, mainly directing it at Ridoc. He had no idea where Sawyer's thoughts had taken him, but for once they weren't on the same page. He looked about as confused as Ridoc felt.

"You guys talked about being in a polyamorous relationship with me?"

"Oh. That. Right," Sawyer said lamely, now able to fill in the parts of the 'conversation' he missed.

"How come you don't know?" Ridoc asks.

"My telepathy doesn't reach very far. I haven't been close enough to hear either of you" Y/n explains, "I can only hear the thoughts of people about... two and a half metres (8.2 feet) from me. Give or take"

Oh. That made sense. It also comforted him a bit. He didn't like the idea of her hearing all the things he thought of when he— 'If I want her to continue not knowing, I shouldn't finish that thought'

She smiles apologetically at him.

"I could teach you guys how to shield," She offers, "It's not all that different from how you block out your dragons"

"I don't know... I kinda like it. What do you think Sawyer?"

"It'll take some getting used to for sure, but there are certain advantages that come with it"

Ridoc could tell by the slight change in tone that Sawyer's mind had gone to the exact same place his had. He reveled in the furious blush blooming on her cheeks.

"What's wrong sweetheart? Can you hear all the dirty things we want to do to you?" Her legs squeezed together as she avoided his eyes. Ridoc wasn't having it. He cups her face, forcing her to look at him as he spoke, "Is it making you wet? If I reach into your panties right now, are you going to be dripping for us?"

She bites her lip, staring up at him with an innocent expression. Behind her, Sawyer brushed the hair off her shoulders and leaned in close, brushing gentle kisses along her neck, "He asked you a question darling. You should answer him"

In a sudden surge of confidence, she locks her hazel eyes with his brown ones, all shyness vanishing from her body, "He can find out for himself," She challenges.

Ridoc smiles, delighted. "You really want to play it this way, huh? You've already been a bad girl. There are two of us, and one of you; your odds aren't good"

"I like my odds just fine," Her voice drops, becoming low and seductive, "Think you can handle me?"

Ridoc's gaze became predatory. He'd originally planned to be soft, and sweet, a nice welcome into this new relationship dynamic, but he had absolutely no problem teaching her a few lessons first.

"Oh, we'll do much more than 'handle you', sweetheart"

Ridoc scoops her up in one smooth motion, setting her on the bed with utmost care. He, with Sawyer's help, undress her meticulously, like they were trying to unwrap a Christmas present without tearing the paper. Ridoc begins to do a strip tease. Unbuckling each clasp one by one, and slowly drags the zipper down. He removes the shirt, then trails his fingers lightly over his abs down to his crotch. In her peripherals, Y/n sees Sawyer roll his eyes at Ridoc's display, having already undressed himself and is now standing there entirely naked, waiting for him to finish.

"You know, I'd like to get started before graduation, so can we speed this up please?"

Ridoc glares half-heartedly, grumbling, "No patience. No appreciation for the arts"

He complies though, taking off his pants without the dramatics. Before he can even finish the thought to get settled between her legs, Sawyer is shoving him out the way, "Nuh uh, you got to eat her out last time, I've waited weeks for a taste, entertain yourself," He then turns to Y/n, "You tell us after who does it better, yeah?"

She nods, smothering a smile when Ridoc scowls. Despite this, he doesn't argue, contenting himself with watching as Sawyer had the first time. He pushes her legs apart, and pauses, admiring.

"Fucking hell, I really missed out, didn't I?" He asks, pupils blown.

Ridoc smirks, thinking of everything he felt whist eating her out. How her thighs tried to close on his head, the show he'd put on for them. He's sure that to them it looked purposeful, but that's just what she made him want to do. He couldn't help it, he'd never enjoyed giving oral so much in his life.

"Just wait until you taste her. You'll never want anything more than being between her thighs"

Sawyer practically begins to tremble with desire, licking his lips like a dog. He lowers himself to be level with her entrance, shaking. He takes one tentative lick, scooping up some of the copious slick gathered and groans deep in his throat. All reservations are broken in that moment, the gentle facade ripped apart and in its place, a ravenous man on his knees in worship.

Y/n's hands fly to his hair, tangling in his sandy waves. She writhes, the sensations overwhelming her. It isn't helped by Ridoc's mouth skating over the sensitive skin of her neck, daring to leave hickies dangerously close to where they might be seen.

"Ridoc! Someone could— Ohh!" She begins to say, but is interrupted by a stinging bite on her clit. Y/n stares down bewildered at Sawyer. Ridoc chuckles, "Aww, he's jealous. Upset she's moaning my name, and not yours?" He taunts, "Didn't you say you'd 'show me how it's done?' Looks like you don't really know what you're doing"

Sawyer's eyes narrow dangerously. It's like she's no longer in the room. This is just between them. After a moment of pure undiluted fire burning into Ridoc, Sawyer fucking devours her. Y/n can barely breath from the relentless onslaught.

"Sawyer, Fuck SAWYER!"

He smiles against her, looking smugly at Ridoc. The ice wielder pays him no mind, which should've been the first warning. He does nothing as his friend works her to the very edge. Once she's there, Ridoc practically manhandles Sawyer, needing to use all his body weight to get him off of her. Sawyer whines, fighting to keep at it. Y/n cries out, panting, "Ridoc! Why'd you do that?"

"You decided you want to have an attitude, you think you get to cum just like that?"

Sawyer grumbles behind him, but accepts the turn that's been taken. He crawls back up the bed, lying next to her. Ridoc grabs his leathers, and fishes around in the deepest pants pocket before pulling out a bottle of lube.

"Aha! Been carrying this around just in case ever since... well, you know" He says. Real subtle.

Ridoc clambers so that he's the one between her legs. Y/n wraps them around his waist, yanking him closer.

"Patience, sweetheart. All in good time"

He says that, but apparently 'all in good time' means 'as quickly as I can lube my cock and get it inside you without causing pain'.

Ridoc thrusted deep inside her ruthlessly. Sawyer helped muffle her moans with his mouth on hers while Ridoc's sounded out around the room without any restrictions. Fuck he was enjoying this. He could feel Y/n clamping down on his cock. She was close, and he couldn't wait to rip her release away from her again.

In a sudden turn of events, Y/n pushed Sawyer away from her, and tugged Ridoc down instead. Before he could even register what had happened, she'd flipped him over, and begun riding him. He looked up at her dumbly, his breaths shuddering out of him.

"Inntinnsic, remember?"

Shit, that's right. Until he learned to shield, Y/n would always know what he was about to do before he did it. She has the entire night. Every time he'd 'stolen' her orgasm was only possible because she let him. He hated the way it reframed all the events of tonight. Hated even more how his traitorous body shivered with pleasure, and the way his cock twitched inside of her. Most of all, he hated the knowing smile on her face.

"Aww, you didn't think you were really in charge, did you?"

He tried to glare, but in the same moment, his eyes rolled back, and he arched up into her with a needy moan.

"Sawyer, won't you come over here and help your friend? His hole is in desperate need to be filled"

Fuck! He had really hoped she hadn't heard that little thought of his. Evidently he wasn't so lucky.

Sawyer looked shocked, but it didn't take a mind reader to see that he was extremely tempted. It occurred to Ridoc that Y/n wouldn't have suggested it unless she thought his friend would be interested. Did he think about fucking Ridoc? Was it a recent thought, or has it been on his mind for a while.

"Oh, Ridoc, you've got no idea what filthy things go on inside his head," She crooned. The deep blush rapidly spreading across his features gave Ridoc more questions than answers.

"He's feeling shy, how cute. Ridoc, tell him how much you want him," He hesitated. He'd be lying if he said he'd never imagined it, but never in all those fantasies had Ridoc thought Sawyer might actually want it too.

"Go on," Y/n encouraged, "Beg Sawyer to fuck you. Tell him how badly you need it"

Ridoc's eyes shoot to Sawyer. He seems unsure, gaze flitting about, never focusing on anything. Ridoc does what he does best, and pitches his voice needy and desperate, "Sawyer? Please? I need it so badly. Been dreaming about you forever. Imagining your cock when I touch myself"

The metallurgist looks to Y/n, as if asking for confirmation.

"Oh honey, that's a severe oversimplification of what he's fantasised about you"

Ridoc didn't know if Y/n was just saying that to help convince Sawyer, or if she really had been present in his mind during those imagined scenarios. She winked at him, which didn't actually answer his question.

Sawyer's hands clenched and flexed a few times, as if imagining clutching something, Ridoc's hips perhaps. He could see Sawyer's dick bobbing slightly. He almost drooled at the thought of all that inside him.

"Please, Sawyer, I need you," He bucked his hips up for emphasis. His friend glances at Y/n again, "Mistress," He starts, and Y/n allows her eyes to flutter shut briefly, pleased with the title, "May I?"

She places her hand under his chin, guiding him forward, "You are just perfect aren't you? Doing exactly as you're supposed to without having to be told"

She kisses the tip of his nose before releasing her hold on him, "Give it to him"

Sawyer doesn't hesitate, reaching for the lube and immediately applying it to Ridoc's entrance. He moans beneath her, gripping Y/n's arms to ground himself while his friend plays with him.

"Shh, shh, Sawyer's gonna take good care of you, don't worry. He'll fuck you nicely, won't you, Sawyer?" Y/n asks over her shoulder. He nods, leaning forward to kiss the juncture of her neck. The metallurgist meets Ridoc's brown eyes in a startling display of dominance, "Tell me to put it in"

Ridoc, unable to help himself, challenges him, "No. You want it just as badly as I do. Why should I have to beg?"

He grabs Y/n's hips, lifting her up and slamming her back down on him. It's too good, and he's already so desperate. Ridoc arches his back dangerously high, his face screwed up in a silent scream. "Because you're a good boy, and you listen"

He certainly was not, but that tone made him want to be. "Put it in me, please Sawyer"

He obliges his friend, rewarding him with the tip of his cock pushing inside the tight ring of muscle.

"More, more more more!" He cries.

Sawyer mercifully sinks in deeper, slowly inching in till he's completely buried in the ice wielder. He takes a moment to catch his breath, "Tell me... who do you belong to?"

It seems that Ridoc genuinely ponders the question, Knowing Sawyer wanted him to stroke his ego, and say his name, but of course, he'd rather stir the pot, "Y/n"

Sawyer clenches his jaw, gaze darkening on Ridoc over Y/n's shoulder, "No. Right now you belong to me. Say it. Say it, or I stop"

Ridoc stares back at him defiantly, daring his friend to end this. And he does. Sawyer makes good on his threat, pulling out entirely. It's abundantly clear that never in a million years, did Ridoc think Sawyer would actually stop.

"You, fuck Sawyer, I belong to you! Please! Come back! Y/n, make him come back!" Ridoc had tears welling in his eyes at the sudden loss, so she took pity on him.

"Sawyer, put him out of his misery. There will be plenty of time to toy with him later, but for now, put it back in him so we can all cum"

"Of course, angel" He says, acting as if he was all innocent. Nobody would ever guess from his tone the sexual torture he was putting his friend through.

He wraps his arms around Y/n, and settles himself back in Ridoc's heat. He sighs in relief, calming down now that he was full again.

Y/n turns her head, placing a kiss on Sawyer's cheek, "You start, I'll follow your lead"

And so he does, thrusting rhythmically inside, Y/n matching his pace perfectly. It isn't surprising when it takes almost no time at all for Ridoc to get close.

"Fuck, 'm gonna cum"

"But you'll wait for us, won't you?" Y/n asks, something dangerous in her voice.

He shifts uncomfortably under her gaze, the mounting pleasure difficult to keep at bay, "I— I don't know if I can, sweetheart"

She hums, disappointed, "Looks like we need to slow down—"

"NO! Please don't slow down. I'll hold it. I'll be good, promise"

Y/n smirks, knowing that would be his reaction, and reveling in the way she could play him like a fiddle, "That's what I thought"

Her and Sawyer go on for what feels like hours to the man beneath them. He almost cried in relief when Y/n finally gave him permission to cum, her and Sawyer joining him in overwhelming bliss.

Ridoc babbled unintelligibly whilst Y/n and Sawyer took care of him, and each other. It occurred to every one of them that they probably should return to lessons, but none of them had any intentions of doing so.

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If you haven't finished Iron Flame, or are only interested in the Sawyer/Reader/Ridoc dynamic, you can stop here. This is just extra. (The Xaden confrontation {1.3k})

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Y/n's Pov

Ridoc and Sawyer basically glue themselves to my sides as we walk down the hall, finally leaving the random dorm room. Classes are officially over for the day... I hope Dain isn't too hard on them. We make our way to the dining hall, but standing against the wall to the entrance, is none other than Xaden Riorson.

Sawyer and Ridoc look to me when I stop, then seeing who I'm staring at, they both tense. The shadow wielder's sharp gaze cuts into me, and I gulp. He pushes himself off the wall with way too much casual arrogance, striding over to us confidently. My boyfriends — it feels so weird to say that, even if only in my head — step forward, shielding me.

He raises a scarred brow, unamused. Touching both of their shoulders, I whisper, "It fine, go ahead," I jerk my head at the doorway. They turn back to me, and even without being in their heads, the concern exuding from them is palpable. Reluctantly, they leave me with Xaden. To my complete and utter horror, Ridoc has the audacity to shoulder check him. My entire body freezes.

Please don't kill him. Please don't kill him. Please, please, for the love of Amari, don't kill him.

Apart from a cutting glance, Xaden does nothing. My relief is short lived, because a moment later, those dark eyes are on me. "Cadet L/n. We need to talk. Privately."

My heart dropped. I knew this would happen, but that didn't lessen the fear. I wondered if there was anything I could do, anything I could say. More importantly though, a deeper, darker part of me, one drowning in self-loathing, wondered if I should say something. If I was found out, I would be putting every marked one at Basgiath under even worse scrutiny. However, if I let Xaden kill me, no one would bat an eye. Wouldn't it be selfish to try an live, when doing so might put everyone at greater risk?

But then... Ridoc and Sawyer... we'd just worked things out, and they would surely be furious if I died. I wouldn't put it past either of them to do something stupid like try to hurt Xaden in some way if they ever found out that he did it.

Xaden advanced quickly through the twisting hallways silently. Not once did he check to make sure I was still with him, probably relying on his reputation to keep me in line. Asshole. He's not wrong though. Whatever confidence possessed me before that allowed me to run from him had fled, and defying him now felt like a death sentence.

Listening to him might be a death sentence. Every instinct I had was telling me, screaming at me to run. Find Nyla. Mount. Fly. And never look back. That's never going to be an option though. A sinking feeling threatens to pull me under, and my subconscious finally comes to the realisation that I actually could die within the next five minutes, and I'm going to do absolutely nothing to stop it.

'Nyla?'

'I'm on my way, hold on!'

'...Thank you for choosing me. It's been an honour. I hope your next rider is a worthy one. More worthy than me, at least'

'You are not dying!' She practically bellows in my head, 'I will not let him hurt you!'

Panic that I know isn't entirely my own floods my body, and I do my best to shove it away, blocking out my dragon at the same time. Xaden grabs my wrist, dragging me through the secret tunnel. It should scare me, being plunged into darkness, Xaden's strong suit, but I'm too busy carefully locking my emotions away in preparation. A mental exercise I haven't had to indulge in since the executions, something my father taught me to help with my anxiety. I refuse to die afraid. If today is my last, then it will be on my terms.

When we finally get to the flight field, the Wingleader whipping around to face me, all he is met with is cool indifference.

Xaden scowls. Whether it's at me, or that's just his face, is a mystery.

'...Nyla, can you tell them I'm sorry? That it's not their fault?' I don't have to specify who 'them' is.'

'No!' She shrieks, 'I'm almost there!'

I know it's true. Thunderous wing beats sound out in the open air not too far away, but it would only take a minute for him to kill me and dispose of the body in the rushing river nearby. Why he hasn't yet, is a little perplexing. He stares at me, as if trying to pillage through my thoughts, like he's the mind reader, not me.

"Do you have any control over it?" He asks me. It's so unexpected, that it gives me more of a fright than if he'd pulled out a blade and slit my throat.

"Not much," I respond truthfully. There's no point in lying. Oddly enough though, he doesn't look murderous, he looks... thoughtful? No, that's not the right word. He looks like he's trying to fit me into a puzzle he's created, holding my piece up to the picture to see where I could belong.

Nyla lands behind me, gusts of break neck winds pushing up sand all around us, He doesn't even flinch! I can't decide it that's his fearlessness, or his arrogance.

"How much do you know about our... 'operations'?"

I struggle to beat down the sheepish expression that has become so natural to me. Admittedly, I knew much more than I should from hearing snippets in the other's heads. Enough to get us all killed (Which really not much is needed at all) but not enough to know what's going on at any given time. I wonder what's the best answer in this situation. If I say yes, would that make me useful, or a threat? If I say no, would I be let off with a warning? He can't kill me now, not with my dragon right behind us, that would be stupid. But there's nothing stopping him from killing me later.

Nyla prowls closer, head low, golden eyes piercing Xaden like if she glares hard enough, he'll burst into flames.

"Well?" He prompts.

"More than I should," I reveal cautiously.

He doesn't move, doesn't blink, "How much do you think you could find out?" I know he's not talking about whatever the marked ones are doing, he's talking about the Navarrians. What information can you get. What secrets can you unfold? Are you worth the trouble of keeping you alive?

For no more than a split second, a hairline crack in his mental walls appear. Without conscious thought, my signet leaps, latching onto that little breach, and in that minuscule moment, I see something that breaks my facade.

"You're inntinnsic too"

His eyes widen, then narrow. I notice his hand twitch, as if wanting to pin me to the wall, but one glance at Nyla keeps him from doing so.

"Yes," He grits out, "I am. And I plan to train you"

My brain short circuits. "You what?"

"I'm going to train you," Xaden reiterates, "to use your signet, and most importantly, to hide it. Be here tomorrow at eight"

He says nothing else, disappearing back into the tunnel dramatically. All he needs is a flowing cape. Once gone, I allow myself to sink to the floor and take a deep, shuddering breath.

"He's not going to kill me. Thank the gods," I whisper to no one. My heart is beating out of my chest, but slowly, a smile creeps it's way onto my face. Yes, I my have had one of the scariest interactions of my life, but I have two amazing boyfriends waiting to dote on me.

I could get used to this.

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