𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄         ୨♡୧        𝒮𝒯𝑅𝐼𝒩𝒢
charter 18 ╱ ╱ 🖤🗝️ ༺ ˎˊ-

The flying lessons were cancelled due to the strong winds and snow. I honestly don't think that's fair. When we get out from this school the enemy won't cancel the attack because of the bad weather. They were really trying their hardest to catch us off guard.

    "Don't go easy," I grinned at Liam who was in front of me on the mat. The gym was predictably full, we'd all had the same idea. "I wasn't planning that," he exclaimed with the same grin I had. The sensual tension was palpable, I thanked that everyone was busy in their own challenge.

Liam sprinted forward, thinking he would catch me off guard, but I nimbly blocked his bang, making the blades clash in an annoying metallic sound. I threw his arm back, taking advantage of the opportunity to try to kick him and make him drop the dagger to the ground, but Liam intercepted me.

I have to admit, I wasn't focused at all. His sculpted chest didn't help my concentration.

"I know all your moves," Liam exclaimed trying to provoke me as he held me in his grip trying to disarm me. I smiled as I parried a blow, we both trained with Xaden, we all had the same technique. "And yet you still haven't disarmed me."

The clang of blades now filled the gym, a few couples had stopped to watch us. Liam landed a blow, helping me use an opening that allowed me to knock him to the ground. I placed a foot on his exposed neck, "did you think you could win that easily?" I asked, tilting my head.

Liam smiled, "Did you forget I'm the best, love?" He grabbed my leg in a snap, throwing me to the ground, on impact I let go of the dagger, this wasn't going to be a quick fight. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins, I wasn't going to give up. We both took advantage of the moment to spring to our feet again, this time unarmed.

I leapt forward, our bodies moving in perfect balance of power and agility, hands gripping each other as we traded blows. "Haven't you learned yet that I don't give up easily?" he asked, as I struggled to free myself from his grip, sweat rolling down my forehead.

I laughed with determination. "And you have no idea how long I can take," I replied, tightening my grip around my wrist as I tried to jab him in the side. Liam raised an eyebrow, "I clearly remember from last night."

I was totally aware of the crowd that had gathered, Liam couldn't care less whose ears were listening. He was marking his territory. He had managed to pin me against his sweaty chest, the only thing I could think about at that moment was his erection against my back, I was starting to give in.

I stamped on his foot so hard that he let me free.

Our breathing was heavy, and the air was thick with tension. Every blow had become a personal challenge, every attempt to overpower the other seemed impossible, but neither of us wanted to give up. With a final push, we lunged at each other, our body to body becoming more intense. More intimate. Then, in a moment of lucidity, I blocked his leg with a strategic strike and threw him to the ground.

He wouldn't have gotten free easily, or I would have broken it.

"Tap out."

When I met Liam's gaze the only emotion I could read was desire. "I tap out, but only if you give me a treat." It hadn't been a challenge. It had been foreplay. I approached him, lowering my guard. Liam took advantage of this and turned the tables, with one quick movement I found him on top of me.

We got closer, joining not only our lips but also our fatigue and adrenaline in a moment of overwhelming sweetness. The fight faded away as did the people watching us. I didn't care who was watching us. I only cared about Liam's tongue perfectly complementing mine.

"Go to your room!" Ridoc shouted from a few mat away from us. I glared at him and pushed Liam away.

Apparently we weren't the only ones whose workout had become less of a workout and more of a charge of sexual tension mixed with personal challenge. Xaden and Violet were in the same position as us, Violet on top of him with her arm positioned over his collarbone. From Xaden's arousal I could tell he didn't mind.

"I bet those two are fucking by the end of the month."

"Mhm," Liam muttered, wrinkling his nose, "I think even before."

I positioned myself in front of him, blocking his view, "shall we bet?" I asked, holding out my hand. He smirked, "yeah, shall we bet," he nodded, shaking hands, the pact was sealed.

"Who wins, what does get?" I asked, picking up our daggers from the floor. Liam rubbed his chin where a hint of beard was starting to grow. His eyes lit up, he'd had an idea, I'm almost afraid to know what it is.

"The winner will have full freedom in deciding which positions to try," he exclaimed satisfied. I raised my eyebrows with a grimace, in the end we both win. "Deal."

    I'm not sure who won. Xaden and Violet spent most of their time together. So we had suspicions, but no certainties. The only certainty is that Liam and I have tried new things anyway. Now that Xaden has taken Liam's place we have much more time to be together.

Another rider with my signet caught fire recently. He literally became a human torch. The same fate I might have had if I hadn't been strong enough to tame the power.

I'm a little worried for Violet, I thought that with two dragons the signet would manifest faster, but apparently I was wrong.

"Definitely makes me want to skip class today," Rhiannon murmurs, blowing on her hands to warm them. There's ten feet of snow against the walls, everyone was freezing except me. I have to say, I don't mind being a human stove at all.

"Rhiannon," I call out to her, making her to turn around, "give me your hands," I command, bringing mine forward to grab hers. Rhiannon was confused at first, but as the heat spread through her body, she smiled, stopping shaking.

"Amazing!"

"No skipping class," Aetos admonishes, making all my happiness disappear, "we're weeks away from the Squad Battle and we need every single one of you at your best to win."

I can't wait .

Imogen snorts, "come on, Aetos, I think we all know Second Wing has that squad in Tail Section that's going to smoke the rest of us. Have you ever seen them sprint up the Gauntlet? Pretty sure they've been out there even though it's still covered in ice."

"We're going to win," proclaims with a decisive movement of the head Cianna, our executive officer, "Sorrengail here might slow us down on the Gauntlet and probably in the wielding department, too, at the rate she's advancing —"

If she doesn't shut up I swear I'll make the hump disappear from her aquiline nose, or I could change her hairstyle. Maybe bald would look good. "I like your idea."

"Gee, thanks," Violet snorts.

"But Rhiannon and Cassidy's skills more than make up for that," Cianna continues looking down on me, "and we all know Liam and. . ." does she mind admitting that I'm better than her? "are going to decimate on the mat for the challenge competition," I smiled lovingly and raised my eyebrows. I don't know why but she apparently hates me, anyway I don't care.

"That only leaves flight maneuvers and whatever task the wingleaders come up with to judge this year.."

"Oh, is that all? Man, I thought it was going to be hard," Ridoc blurts out ironically, Aetos glares at him, it's incredible how that man can make you want to throw yourself off the tower.

"We're down to eleven of you," says our wing leader, examining our group, "fourteen of us in total, which puts us at a slight disadvantage against a couple other squads, but I think we'll manage."

Last week we lost two of our new arrivals. A signet manifested during battle brief made both of them froze to death in a matter of seconds. Even Ridoc almost left us.

"But in order to manage, I need you guys to get to class," I would really like to pull his hair, every time he speaks my irritation grows, "especially you. A signet would be great, you know. If you can maybe make that happen. . ." pulling his hair out of his scalp would ease all my discomfort.

"She's going to miss Carr's class today," I'm pretty sure Xaden has a second signet. Pissing off Aetos. And I couldn't be more proud of him.

"No."

"She needs to go," Aetos retorts clenching his jaw, "I mean, unless the wing has more pressing matters for Cadet Sorrengail, her time is best spent developing her wielding skills."

I smiled slightly, Xaden could decide what to do with all of us, if he wanted. And Aetos would have no power to argue with his decisions. His urge to always argue with everything annoys me. If he would just shut up, he would do everyone's ears a great favor.

"I think we both know she's not going to manifest a signet in that room. She would have already if that was the key," Xaden retorts, giving him a dirty look, "and yes, the wing has more pressing matters for her."

"Sir, I'm just not comfortable with her going a day without at least practicing her wielding, and as her squad leader—"

I want to scream in his face to shut the fuck up, but I hold back. I divert my attention from the two, trying to pick up clues from Violet's behavior, and figure out if she and Xaden had dic it. Nothing, Violet was stiff as a log.

Xaden handed her a hideous pocket watch. The girl grabbed it, closing her eyes to concentrate. She raised a hand but nothing happened.

"You got this," Rhiannon exclaimed, being immediately silenced by Sawyer, "let her concentrate!"

The watch falls to the floor, Violet puts her hand down but the watch flies towards her. She catches it, sparking our applause. She did it.

"See? She's practiced. Now, we have things to do," he exclaims, putting the watch back in his pocket, he puts a hand on her back and they leave. A very intimate gesture. But it doesn't confirm anything.

"Go train, you have a battle to win."

Authors Note
Hi guys, I want to ask a question, that I would be glad if you could answer. Would you be interested in a Cam/Aaric Graycastle book?