“As it should be,” Tairn grumbles. “Humans have no say in the laws of dragons.”
Mom steps forward and makes the same gesture with her hands to project her voice, but I can’t concentrate on what she’s saying as she closes out the formal portion of the Threshing ceremony, promising the unbonded riders another chance next year. If they don’t manage to kill one of us while our bonds are weak in the next few months and try to bond our dragons themselves.
I belong to Tairn and Andarna…and, in some really fucked-up way…Xaden.
My scalp prickles, and I glance across the field at him.
As if sensing my gaze, he looks over and holds up a single finger. Target number one.
“Welcome to a family that knows no boundaries, no limits, and no end,” my mother finishes, and a cheer resounds around the field. “Riders, step forward.”
I look left and right in confusion, but so does every other rider.
“Five steps or so,” Tairn says.
I take them.
“Dragons, it is our honor as always,” Mom calls out. “Now we celebrate!”
Heat blasts my back, and I hiss in pain as riders on both sides of me cry out. My back feels like it’s on fucking fire, and yet everyone across the field is cheering raucously, some of them racing our way.
Other riders are caught up in embraces.
“You’ll like it,” Tairn promises. “It’s unique.”
The pain fades to a dull ache, and I glance over my shoulder. There’s a solid black…something peeking out from the vest. “I’ll like what?”
“Violet!” Dain reaches me, his smile wide as he cups my face. “You kept both of them!”
“I guess I did.” My lips curve. It’s all…surreal, all too much for one day.
“Where’s your…” He lets go and circles me. “Can I unlace this? Just the top?” he asks, tugging at the raised neck of the back of my vest.
I nod. A few pushes and pulls later, the crisp October air nips at the base of my neck.
“Holy shit. You have to see this.”
“Tell the boy to move,” Tairn orders.
“Tairn says you should move.”
Dain steps out of the way.
Suddenly, my vision isn’t mine. I’m looking at my own back through…Andarna’s eyes. A back that has a glistening black relic of a dragon mid-flight stretching from shoulder to shoulder and, in the center, the silhouette of a shimmering golden one.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. I’m marked by their magic as a rider now, as their rider.
“We know,” Andarna answers.
I blink, and my vision is mine again, and Dain’s hands lace up my corset quickly, then are on my face, tipping it up toward his.
“You have to know that I would do anything to save you, Violet, to keep you safe,” he blurts, panic in his eyes. “What Riorson said…” He shakes his head.
“I know,” I say reassuringly, nodding even as something cracks in my heart. “You always want me safe.” He’d do anything. Except break the rules.
“You have to know how I feel about you.” His thumb strokes over my cheek, his eyes searching for something, and then his mouth is on mine.
His lips are soft, but the kiss is firm, and delight races up my spine. After years, Dain is finally kissing me.
The thrill is gone in less than a heartbeat. There’s no heat. No energy. No sharp slice of lust. Disappointment sours the moment, but not for Dain. He’s all smiles as he pulls away.
It was over in an instant.
It was everything I’ve ever wanted…except…
Shit. I don’t want it anymore.
It is therefore only natural that the more powerful the dragon, the more powerful the signet its rider manifests. One should beware of a strong rider who bonds a smaller dragon, but even warier of the unbonded cadet, who will stop at nothing to seize a chance to bond.
—Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant
(Unauthorized Edition)
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
