Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
No pressure or anything. “I’ll do my best—”
“What’s going on there?” His brow knits as he looks past me, and I glance over my shoulder to see what has him riled. Xaden Riorson’s cousin—another first-year—is talking to a few cadets with rebellion relics at the edge of the forest. Most of them are in Fourth Wing, but Imogen Cardulo is one of ours.
“Oh. Bodhi Durran’s probably giving a pep talk to some of the marked ones.” I turn back toward my father.
His eyes narrow. “There are four of them.”
“Yes. I think there are fifteen marked ones this year, divided pretty evenly among the wings.” Their presence was a major point of contention the first couple of months, given what their parents put our kingdom through, but most personal issues have been settled on the mat per quadrant tradition. “We have three in Second Wing, including Cardulo, and they’re all split between sections and squads, so it’s not like they’re violating Addendum—”
“For right now.” Color rises to the top of his neck as he glares in their direction. “They know the Code of Conduct changed this year and they can’t gather in groups of three, let alone four.”
“They’re not gathered, Dad.” I tilt my head and lean in to his line of sight. “No more than if formation had just broken or if they ran into each other in the academic wing.”
“Does he do that often?” He lowers his hands to his sides and his fists clench. “Give pep talks?”
“Sometimes, I guess.” Other times I’ve seen the second-years coaching them. “I wouldn’t really know, considering they’re not in my wing. But I understand why they stick together when they can. Some of the cadets don’t think they should be here, and I’ve heard a lot of them are nervous the dragons will kill them—”
“They weren’t supposed to live last year,” he hisses in a whisper.
My jaw all but unhinges. “You don’t mean that.”
“And now two of them are already squad leaders. As second-years. It’s…unfathomable.” His face is fully flushed now, and he’s practically shaking.
“The dragons vouched for them. Their intentions. Their loyalty,” I say softly. “We never question dragons, right?” It goes against everything he’s taught me.
He grasps my shoulders and stares into my eyes with an intensity that makes him look like a stranger. “You don’t know the things I do, son. They might look like innocent kids being punished for their parents’ transgressions, but they’re not.”
“Are you serious?” I search his eyes, but he has no reason to lie to me.
His fingertips dig painfully into my shoulders. “I can’t tell you because it’s classified, but you can’t trust them. Not any of them, but especially not Riorson.”
“Dad, if they’re committing crimes, then bring them up on charges—”
“I don’t have enough proof. Yet. That’s why I need you.” His grip eases. “I shouldn’t even be telling you this, but I love you, and I need you to be on guard. I need you to…”
“To what?” My brows scrunch. How can he possibly expect me to act on something when he doesn’t even have all the facts?
“Tell me if they break the Codex.” He smooths his hands over my shoulders, then pats me like I’m a child. “You can do that for me, right?”
I shake my head. “If they break the Codex, they’ll be handled by the chain of command as the Codex and the Code of Conduct dictate,” I argue. “Those are the rules, and you’ve always taught me that the way to make you proud—the way to survive this place—is to follow the Codex to the letter, because the dragons established the rules and their word is law.”
“Yes, of course.” He nods. “You trust me, don’t you, Dain?”
Talk about a gut punch.
“Of course I do, Dad.” I wince. “Sir.”
“Then trust me now.” He looks away. When his gaze returns to mine, it’s softened, and he looks like my dad again. “I’m also worried Riorson will challenge you.” His face falls.
My back stiffens. “I’ve won every challenge but one—”
“And he’s never lost on the mat. Not once.” Dad swallows and gently squeezes the tops of my arms. “Do you remember what I told you about how he got those scars on his back?”
“I do.” Nausea rolls through my stomach as wingbeats sound in the distance.
“Now imagine he has the opportunity to exact his revenge on Violet.” Dad’s face crumples. “I love her like a daughter, but we both know she’d never be able to defend herself. She’s good with a dagger, but her frail little body… They’d break her into a thousand pieces.”
Every muscle in my body tenses. “She’s safe on main campus. She’ll be safe with the scribes next year.” All she’s ever wanted is to live within cases of books and, by gods, if anyone deserves to get their dream, it’s Violet, especially after losing both Brennan and her father.