66- Dead Anyways

I stare out to the water blankly, it hurt to even think at the moment...

Venin....Venin exsist? Navarre is pulling away from helping, what we use to fuel our wards is the one thing that can...kill a venin..

I look around out small camp at the gryphon riders, taking them in. This will probably be the first and last time I see them face to face considering I might be dead in the next 24 hours.

I just now realized everyone here...was a marked child.

How didn't I notice that before? How did they get that past everyone in the school?

I sigh putting my head back in my hands... what the hell do I even do now... I wince, the shackles on me bite into my skin, the bracelets are making me feel tired as hell too. I clench and unclench my fists, I feel heat behind me and the reflection of gold scales.

Anadarna lets out almost like a purr as she lays behind me, giving a small nudge. " I really don't feel like talking to you." I mumble.

" I know." She responds sadly, " But I just want to let you know I don't regret it. Seeing you, you helping me, me going to Threshing. Even when I saw you walk through the Valley, your the only one that didn't say anything bad. I wanted you then, I've waited for you."

"  And yet you kept it a secret. You both did."

" I answer to Rhys first. He said I couldn't, he wanted to as well but Segyl... The only thing stronger then a bond between a rider he said is a bond between mates... And feathertails answer to mature dragons. I'm sorry.... I- we never wanted to hurt you. We all love you."

I stay silent, feeling the hotness rise to my face once more and the blur of tears, Andarna puurs once more laying her head on my lap curling herself around me in almost a warm embrace which felt to comforting despite my  anger with her and Rhys.

Everyone for that matter.

" Do your hands hurt?" 

I look up to see Xaden looking down at me with a careful expression. " I can take them off."

" Even these bracelets?" I ask monotoned staring at him with no expression.

" Yes... if you promise not to run."

I laugh, " Yea, like I'd make it far. Everyone here works blindly to you and my dragons seem to answer to yours so.... Yea Riorson. I won't run, not like I'd have anywhere to go anyways... I publicly chose you guys infront of Dain anyways. If I don't die here surely I'll get killed for treason or some shit once we get back."

Xaden tenses at this, " I'm not letting anything happen to you."

" Oh, I feel so safe."

He sighs bending down. " There's been more attacks, the Fliers have been patrolling, the Venin are heading in the direction of Draithus, it's about 3 hours from Althebyne... There's a post there.."

" Where we're going."

He nods, " They were warning us."

He gives me a sword sheathe, " I forgot to give this to you. Your sword, for the venin. We might need it. Now...hands.."

I give him my hands, once his touch is in mine I feel my whole body heat as he slowly drags his touch to my shackles, touching me like he was deprived. I jerk away glaring, " Sorry.." He mutters unlocking my shackles then undoing the bracelets.

I feel the power slowly seep in once more making me sigh in relief. Xaden still looks at me with longing in his eyes, I needed to look away so I don't melt like the stupid girl I've been. " Stop looking at me like that... Infact, just.. I don't want to speak to you at all."

" I know. But just bear with me until this is all done. For all our good, and safety. Are you rested enough?"

" I've been tied up here this whole time so... I guess."

He stands offerign his hand, " Grab your pack, we'll move."

I look at his hand not taking it as I give a curt nod, Andarna gets off and I do as he says grabbign my pack and going straight to Rhys not looking at anyone. 

Though Liam comes near. " Just...stay by Xaden, Hetta and Myself alright?" He says softly.

" How about... You worry about your people and I'll worry about myself, like it's always been."

Liam shakes his head coming closer, " Freya... Please don't..."

" I'm not doing anything."

He ticks his jaw looking at me...the same way Xaden does making my heart clench even more. " Look, I know I might've never fixed what I just broke between us. But If I can save you, keep you safe I will, no hesitation. So please...just..don't try to do this by yourself. Stay with us please...stay with me...or close. Please."

I swallow the lump in my throat, securing my knives back into the sheathes of my uniform and the sword on my back. " Get on Deigh and let's go."

Liam moves without another word, Xaden and Garrick bidded the riders a farewell. They went one way and we went the other towards Athebeyne.

The ride was silent, not one person talked, though I felt the eyes on me the whole time... I know they're all wondering what's going to happen, if they're all dead as soon as I see someone other then them.

As much as I would love to see Xaden, Liam, hell even Hetta or Imogen suffer. I can't. No way I could do something like that to them, even if they pretended this whole time, I still owe them my damn life. 

I chose them. So now I need to live with it. A Sorrengail.... helping the 'enemy' keeping secrets... Of course it'd be me...

" Segyl knows him to his core. If he wanted to hurt anyone or Navarre she wouldn't have picked him, or killed him." Rhys tries to reason, I block him almost instantly, except for Xaden, doing the same thing he did to me when he found me kissing Liam. 

I want him to feel this....

We reach the outpost, which was quiet. I'd think we'd see someone..give them more information for this war games stuff but there was nothing...

I look at Xaden who looked concerned, glancing at Garrick, Bohdi, then Liam. " Keep your eyes and ears open."

" The hell is everyone..." I hear Imogen mutter looking around herself clutching onto her sword. I did the same scannign the area. Nothing was destroyed, it's all uniformed, the walls, towers on each of the 4 corners. Looks like everyone just up and left....

" Freya, Liam, Hetta, your with me. Everyone else, stay in groups." Xaden barks.

We go through the towers, nothing was missing, beds made, though there were barely anything where infantry would keep their things. They packed up and left.

" I don't think this is part of the games." I state.

" No.. I don't think so." Xaden answers, I see his shadows looming even he's stand offish. We're only a few miles from the trading post the venin are supposed to attack....

Did they leave because of them?

" Liam, can you see anything coming?" Xaden asks. Liam goes to the window using his far sight, Gryphon riders... going to the trading post....with..."

Liam looks at us paling.

"What?!" Xaden asks, Garrick and Imogen come in " Guys..."

Xaden looks at Garrick who gives Xaden an open evelope. " It's for us... For you Xaden from Colonel Aetos."

FOR FOURTH WING LEADER XADEN RIORSON 

Your assignment: Survive.

" The hell does that mean?" Hetta asks.

I see Xaden reread it a few times before he freezes, I feel a burning hot flash go through me Xaden crumples the paper stomping on it in a small fit of rage. " They know." He says lowly, so lethally.

His eyes go to me.

" What did Aetos say to you before we left?" He asks urgently.

I shake my head trying to think " Umm... He'll miss me, not mourn me."

He pales his mouth opening just a bit. " Freya.."

He comes closer, " When you were alone.... any time did he ever touch you like this?"

He cups my face skimming it over my cheek...like Dain does. I nod, " Yea? It's been like that since I got here."

" Shit... He knew...He knew this whole time."

" But I never knew. I didn't tell him! How could I?!" I yell.

" It must be part of the bond, I touched you, we're connected.... He.. That bastard saw my memories..."

Hey guys! now it's getting goooood! SAD NEWS...

I'll be gone for a few days without my laptop.... I know so...this will be my last update for a few days... I know.....I'm sorry i'm going to be going nuts not writing lol it's all I do I swear...

Anyways XX, plus peep my new profile piccccc...felt cute might change laterrrrrr