#welcome to the fourth wing ⌈ 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 : 𝐟𝐰⌋

[silverxone]

“Of course it is, Wingleader,” came her grumbled retort as she gave him the most exaggerated eye roll she could offer, even if he hadn’t bothered to look back at her. She had come to expect as much by now — Xaden keeping his little secrets hidden in his shadows and only giving as much information as was absolutely necessary. She’d seen as much already, with the way he kept the meetings with the Marked Ones hidden but also kept her spying on said meeting hidden from them.

She had to quicken her pace to keep up with his longer strides, pulling down her flight goggles into place and making sure to give Sgaeyl a wide berth on her way to Tairn. There was no sign of Andarna, which was a relief since she didn’t want to pull the younger dragon into any unnecessary risks.

With another roll of her eyes, Violet began her ascent onto Tairn, the black morningstar tail having lowered his shoulder to make the climb easier. “Perhaps we wouldn’t be late if I was given more details on our mission!” she sniped, needing to get one final jab in on the shadow wielder. 

“Lead the way, Riorson!”

He shrugged, but didn't say anything in an initial response, Xaden still striding towards the flight field. Both Tairn and Sgaeyl were on the other end, ready and waiting.

❝ Need to know, Violence. ❞ Xaden didn't even turn to look at her this time, and while yes, he could have told her a bit more details on where they were going, sometimes it was equally as fun not to say a thing.

To see her get all riled up.

Xaden scoffed at that, though, shaking his head. ❝ Actually, Sgaeyl might very well be just as amused as you sound at such a possibility, ❞ he mumbled, approaching his dragon. Sgaeyl gave a huff, almost like she was, indeed, agreeing with those words.

❝ Now. Come on. We're already late. ❞

[silverxone]

“I still cannot believe they made you, of all people, a wingleader. You’re clearly using it to your advantage,” she retorted, rolling her eyes as she tucked a loose strand of chestnut and starlight back behind her ear after it had slipped from her coronet braid. 

There was a part of her that did wonder if it had been solely for the sake of watching Dain go into another conniption, not that she could be bothered by that now. Dain had more than a few strikes he’d made against himself since she’d arrived at the quadrant, and she shuddered at the thought of how wrong that kiss had felt after Threshing. 

Pulled from her thoughts, her hazel gaze flitted over to Xaden, brow now arched in question. “That sounds pretty ominous, wingleader. What exactly is this assignment, anyway?” Though she wasn’t sure she believed he would actually tell her. Of all the people she knew, Xaden was the man that harbored the most secrets in the shadows — it wouldn’t have surprised her if he held out until the very last minute to tell her where they were going and what they were doing.

“Tairn is protective. I’m sure you would have been on the receiving end of that by now, if it wasn’t for Sgaeyl.” 

Still, she might not have minded watching the curmudgeon go toe to toe with the wingleader. Maybe something would be able to wipe that infuriating smirk off his lips for once. 

Her words drifted towards him as Xaden made to walk beside her. A glance down at Violet, his lips barely keeping from smirking as he shrugged.

❝ Perks of being a wingleader, I guess. ❞ Sure, Aetos might have nearly fallen apart when the order was given, but Xaden really didn't care. Especially since all he had to do was remind the stupid bastard that he had absolutely no intention of seeing Violet killed.

❝ And let's just say I don't trust anyone else to keep you alive on this assignment except me. ❞ Liam would be the closest in her year that he'd trust, sure, but no one else.

❝ Though Sgaeyl swears Tairn wouldn't let you die. So... there's that, at least. ❞