22- Protection

I could tell everyone was getting pissed as the lesson went on. They'd ask a question, I'd tell them I don't know.

Even Kamori debated me a little saying ' I'd have to know.. I'm his rider..' it wasn't until I told them Rhys was one more debate away from coming himself is when they stopped, Kamori dismissing us nearly 20 minutes early.

I sigh as everyone leaves, sending me looks of distain, probably thinking I think I'm better then them..but I don't know, and Rhys isn't open to telling me more about himself today so I'm trapped.

" Tough crowd.." Hetta mutters next to me giving me a faint smile, " Not your fault you don't know. You only bonded him a day ago."

" Right.." I run my eyes, all the questions and riding making me feel drained, knowing I need to go ' train' or ' learn' with Imogen now makes me feel even more exhausted.

Hetta walks with me as we always do, " I was thinking we could-"

" I need to go train with stupid Imogen remember." I blurt not hiding my annoyance. Hetta's face straightens, " Oh right... I forgot.. I can't believe she's all of the sudden wanting to be your friend it's weird.."

" No, it's because Xaden is making her." I asnwer.

She tilts her head, " What? Why?"

" Because he thinks I'm a liability to his life..."

She presses her lips togther, " I see... Sounds like something he'd do.. I'm sorry."

I shake my head offerign another smile, " It's fine. I think it's just learning new fighting skills or something. At least it's something I can do and enjoy doing... plus if we spar.. it's anothwr excuse to punch her-"

" Punch who?" Dain asks walking up to us, he looks.. almost sad. His eyes lock with mine and my hear seems to flutter a bit. I give a smile, " Imogen."

" What what happened?" He asks now getting a little concerned.

" No., nothing. We're just..working out together."

His face scrunches, " You two? You and Imogen?"

I hum, " Yea."

" Hetta I'm going-"

" You can't steal me.. I have to meet Imogen." I say quickly looking at him.

" I need to talk to you." He says running his hand up my arm, " It can't wait."

I look over at one of the big clocks that hangs on the wall, I look at Hetta. " I'll see you later neighbor."

She smiles, " Later dorm neighbor." She gives Dain a small smile walking away yet again. " Come on-"

I stop, making his arm pull just a bit as he looks back at me. " I really can't be late Dain if you want I can stop by after-"

He sighs heavily looking around, no one else was in this hall. " That's what I needed to talk to you about.."

His jaw ticks as he seems to me taking in my every feature. " About us.. or what we did.."

I narrow my gaze, " Ok...what about us.."

He grabs my hands running the backs of them with his thumbs. " I care about you... alot... I always have.. So I was thinking.. thinking really..really hard.."

" Yea?"

Is he going to ask me out?

He pauses, " Then I was seeing about my ranking and everything..."

I feel my brows raise... yea.. not asking me out.. I knwo exactly where this is going..

I pull my hands away, " You don't need to say it. Yesterday was a mistake-"

He grabs my hands again, " NO! No...That's not what I'm saying last night was... amazing.. No, I'm saying you and I both know It's frowned upon to have realtionships with peers and we don't need that. And seeing your a rider now and next year I want to be a wing leader for our wing-"

" So this is about position?" I ask my tone growing a little sharper.

He sighs, " I wish-"

I hold my hand up, " Nope. Not hearing it." I begin to walk away but he tried pulling me in again, " Freya-" He pulls me in connecting our lips for just a half second. I pull away glaring at him, " Don't!"

" Freya please just hear me out.." He begs, cupping my face.

" No, I understand. You've always were more committed to rules and seniority our whole lives.. I know, I've needed to deal with it for the last 19 years-"

" That's not fair Freya.." He says alot softer, " You need to see it from my view.. You know we need to advance so one day we can be just like your parents... you can prove to your mom how great you really are and once I'm out, or we both are..Maybe we can try. I can wait.." He grabs my hands looking deeply in my eyes.

I sigh, " You know... I'm trying my hardest to see that in your perspective but.. I just can't stick my head that far up my ass..."

His face falls, " Freya-"

I rip my hands away, " Bye Dain! Go achieve those dreams!" I call over my shoulder as I walk briskly down the hall, my heart now pounding. I think I just lost all my respect for him for such a bullshit reasoning.

And using my mother to justify his reasonings?! He knows how much literal torture she put me through...

" Cath is just on the other side of me over here..want me to bite his neck so he'll die?" Rhys asks making me a little less..sad.

" No, not his fault his rider is such a power concerned douche bag." I answer.

I go to Combat seeing Imogen leaning on the door frame looking annoyed. " There you-"

I walk past her, " Let's just get this done with." I snap. I hear her scoff as she trails behind me, " What's your problem Sorrengail?"

I tighten my hair as I go to one of the mats, " Nothing. Just want to get this done with."

She narrows her gaze on me for just a second, I see Garrick and Liam Mairi walk in glancing at us before they go and lift some weights in the corner with eachother. Imogen glances at them as well then back at me. " Don't worry.. There's only 3 of us 'marked ones' you and your boyfriend like to call us. Your perfectly safe." She snides giving me a menacing smirk.

I roll my eyes, cracking my knuckles. " Don't worry.. I feel perfectly safe."

This seems to amuse her as she steps on the mat with me eyeing me for just a moment before she lunges, flipping me over herself and crashing to the mat. I flip over quickly sending a fist her way which I hit.

She stumbles back wiping her nose, She laughs " I got to admit Halfblood, you sure know how to punch."

She quickly rips off her tight fitting sleeve revealing a tank top underneath showing off her whole rebellion relic. She throws it to the side coming at me again, this time I'm ready.. Just as she's about to punch I grab her arm twisiting it behinf herself at a sharp angle making her yelp.

I hit her one time in the chest and one in the side making her drop to her knees, I quickly reach over grabbing her long sleeve wrapping it around her neck closing out her air way. She gasps trying to get out of my grip but.. it was futile.

" Hey! You got her, let her breathe!" Garrick says putting up his weight rushing over to us with Liam. I roll my eyes, " Calm down.."

I push her away pulling her long sleeve away from her neck throwing it to the side. " I'm surprised Xaden never told you to not leave anything that could be used as a weapon close to you."

" It's RIORSON to you halfblood." she spits.

I sigh, " I'll call that arrogant ass whatever I want."

" I don't know why he's making you do this Imogen. She can kick your ass easily." Liam grins trying to hold back a laugh.

She glances up at him from her bent over position hitting him in the gut. I manage a small smile, " I was thinking the same thing. But, I appreciate your attempt. Maybe instead of sparring and getting your ass kicked maybe just show me your other moves without trying to fight me."

She sends me a look but nods.

The next morning I stretched out on my comfortable bed listening to...nothing... I'm still taking in the privacy and loving every second of it. I decided not to give one shit about Dain, it was my new resolution seeing I'm still pissed about it.

Screw him. He's not dampering your mood today...

I get up, brush and braid my hair, and change into another riders uniform before walking down to lunch. I was a little surprised Hetta wasn't waiting for me and was already down there when I arrived, but she gave me a warm smile and patted the seat next to her as Sawyer was telling a story.

" Yea, I was about to take a bite of my soup and it just warped downward spilling all of it on me.." He sighs.

" Did it hurt?" Hetta grins.

He rolls his eyes, " Having scolding hot soup run down myself...nope."

This makes her laugh as I sit.

" You need to retell the story.." Ridoc says, " Sawyer got his signet!"

My jaw drops with a smile, " Already? That's great!"

" Hopefully more signets appear soon for the rest of us." Ridoc says, " I hope mine is kickass!"

" I hope yours muffles you." I add making everyone at the table laugh.

" We can only dream." Emery, the third year says smirking down at her food.

Ridoc send me a finger which I only chuckled at. I can't believe Sawyer already got his, We only got our dragons nearly a week and a half ago how can one trust eachother enough already? Though.. I like Sawyer. He's nice, and honorable for the time I'be known him.

" When are you going to allow me your signet?" I think to both my dragons.

" Not a ' good morning' or a ' how are you Rhys and Andarna' ? " Rhys mutters sarcastically. " We're going right for the throat Halfblood?"

I roll my eyes, " I'd think you'd like to go right for the throat.."

I hear his chuff before Andarna speaks. " I think You just need more time. Since you have two of us. But hopefully soon." She says cheerfully, such opposite from Rhys.

" We're doing well by the way.. Thanks for asking." Rhys adds.

I chuckle making Imogen look at me, " What's so funny Sorrengail?"

I didn't realize again.. I did anything outloud. " Oh.. um.. Rhys. He's a grump today."

" Probably because you don't have common courtesy!" He responds.

" Andarna... how are you today?" I ask.

" I'm well... How are you?" She asks.

" She's trying to act like she's not crushed getting rejected by her Squad leader." Rhys adds again making my mood sour.

" Thanks for reminding me." I mutter.

He laughs, " I'll see you soon on the Flight Field. Hurry up."

I see he left no room for me to respond so I get up, Hetta gets up as well " I'll walk with you."

We go to clear our trays before we take the walk to the flight field. " So, What did Dain want?" She asks lightheartedly, " He seemed..off or something yesterday."

A strained chuckle escapes from my throat, " Oh man.. that..was something else."

" Yea?"

I nod, " Yea. He basically said we can't be anything because he doesn't want me to somehow ruin the chances of him being a Wingleader next year..But oh.. Don't worry once we're graduated and like our parents then we could." I say dripping the sentences in sarcasm.

Hetta scoffs, " No way.."

I roll my eyes, " Oh...way."

" Well what did you tell him?"

I laugh once more pushing the door open so we're now in the courtyard. " Basically told him to shove it."

" Freya!"

My whole mood rockets downward... speak of him and he shall appear. " Keep on walking..." I mutter to Hetta, not wanting to give him any of my time.

" Freya Sorrengail!" He yells making a few people look our way. " As yout Squad Leader-"

Don't give me that...

I spin around, " What?!"

He was striding up to the two of us closing the distance rapidly. " Walk with me-"

" NO!"

He pauses, " It's an order."

" I don't give a SHIT about your orders."

His face softens, " I just want to talk Freya. I hate when your mad at me.."

" Dain there is nothing... I mean nothing..left to say." I spit. " You gave me a reason. And I don't need to agree or even like it but I respect your decision."

" Freya I care so deeply about you, you need to know that-"

" Aetos... Flight Lessons are starting soon. Let her go.."

You need to be joking....

Xaden was walking leisurely up to us scanning as he approached, Dain's eyes narrowed on him, " Does this look like it's your buisness Riorson?!"

He shrugs, " In a way.. it is.. seeing we're bonded."

I see his sinister smirk as he looks what it seems into Dain's soul. Dain's face tightens, " It had nothing to do with you.."

" Answer us this Aetos-"

" I just said it had nothing to do with you Riorson!" Dain yells. Xaden keeps calm taking a step forward, " You do know Wingleaders can influence the Wingleaders picked for next year correct? I know how hard you've been working to get my title.."

Xaden's smirk remains, " It would be a shame Aetos if you don't answer my question.... A bigger shame would letting Imogen get that spot.."

Dain snaps his mouth closed staring at him with such hatred, Xaden continues " So answer me this Aetos... You like little Sorrengail correct?"

Dain nods, " I do. More then anything."

Xaden sighs, " Don't lie.. If you like her ' More then anything' you wouldn't be dumping her ass after your night together right?"

Dain's face falls, " How-"

" Bonded." Xaden smiles brightly. " With that said... Answer me this.. If I give you this hand written note.. that recommends you as my replacement for next year would you take it?"

He infact, slips a paper out of his uniform. With a recommendation saying he'd like Dain as the Squad leader next year and shows it to Dain.

Dain looks at the paper then Xaden who was grinning wider, " You'd take it? But that means you couldn't kiss or touch her in anyway... Because this note will get you directly where you need to be..Would you still take it."

Dain swallows, I see it in his eyes. I know his answer, and I feel the pit intensify.

He looks at me, " Freya.. You know why I needed to do this.."

Xaden chuckles, " So that's your decision? You'd take it over your ' lifetime best friend?' Aetos?" And just like that it puffs into a dark smoke.. shadow.

Xaden looks at me, " See Fury... He'll pick over you.. time and time again.."

I shake my head, " Screw..Both..Of..You.." I seethe pushing past then and making my way to the field, Hetta following.