Extraits

“Dragons do not answer to the laws of humans,” she counters in a tone that reminds me of Tairn. “And as my bonded, as Tairn’s rider, you no longer answer to them, either.”

“Rebellious adolescent,” I mutter, forming half a dozen plans, half of which might work.

I choose you. I choose whatever risk this brings. I see every part of you, Xaden: The good. The bad. The unforgivable. That's what you promised, and that's what I want - all of you. I can handle myself, even against you if I have to.

"You get one chance to form your own squad, and you choose your ex, your current lover, the quadrants resident smart-ass, two people who have tried to kill you in the past year - one over said current lover - and whatever Dain is? These are your choices for the most important mission any rider could possibly undertake?"

"I'm glad someone said it," Tairn chimes in.

“We live by the Codex—” I try again.

“I live by you. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the Code of Conduct?” He cradles my face and leans down, resting his forehead against mine. “I am yours and you are mine, and there’s no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that.”

She wiggles her finger at Xaden.

“I heard you saying you’d kill my grandson if he took another step toward your beloved, young man. How illogically, toxically romantic of you. Have to admit, that kind of confident violence isn’t what I pictured when Asher talked about you, but the brown hair, those…I guess they’re brown eyes, and how utterly smitten he predicted you two would eventually be for each other? Well, he described you almost perfectly, Dain Aetos.”

Oh, fucking kill me now.

My mouth opens, then shuts.

Xaden raises both eyebrows and presses his lips between his teeth. Dain rubs the back of his neck. Mira snorts once, covers her mouth with her hand, then doubles over laughing. “I’m sorry,” she forces out and straightens, quickly masking her face and clearing her throat, but she slips again, her shoulders shaking. “I can’t. I just can’t. I need a second.” She walks behind the row of shelves, hopefully to compose herself.

My face feels like it’s been blasted by dragon fire. “How would you like this to go?” Dain asks me as Narelle glances among the three of us, her silver brows knitting.

“Just like it’s gone for the last eighteen months,” Xaden answers, losing any and all trace of the niceties he showed Dain an hour ago. “Everyone assumes she’ll wind up with you, but it’s my last name she ends up wearing on her flight jacket in formation.”

“Are you going to go all broody and try to pull away from me? Because fair warning, I’m not going to let that happen.”

“No.” The corners of his mouth rise. “I just think we’ve been right to steer clear of activities where I can’t be trusted to keep control. It’s the only way you’re safe, and as much as I want you to run, I’m too selfish to give you up.”

I think I started falling for you that night in the tree when I watched you with the marked ones, but I began tumbling the day you gave me Tairn's saddle. You'll give some self-serving excuse, but the truth is you're kinder than you want people to know. Maybe kinder than you know.

-RECOVERED CORRESPONDENCE OF CADET VIOLET SORRENGAIL TO HIS GRACE, LIEUTENANT XADEN RIORSON, SIXTEENTH DUKE OF TYRRENDOR

"Aretia is the second most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He hands me his reins, turning those gorgeous, gold-flecked onyx eyes into weapons capable of melting the underwear straight off my body as he looks up at me. "And my home is the first."

"I don't care if she hands you a steaming pile of goat shit" Mira lectures down the line. "No one complains. Got it ? Smile and thank her. This is our last real chance to secure an army".

"What if it's cow shit ?" Ridoc asks. "That's considerably heavier".

"No complaining." Drake snaps from the left.

"Fuck, it's like traveling with my parents". Ridoc mutters.

“Is that how you feel when you dip your shoulder for me?” I ask Tairn. “Dishonored?”

“I am the second-largest dragon on the Continent and a revered warrior. My tales are legendary. My mate unparalleled. My feats unmatched—”

“Doesn’t change my question.” I cut him off before he starts to list his accolades.

“It would take a great deal more than a change of posture to dishonor me,” he replies.

“But you never had to lower yourself before me, did you? Not for Naolin, or—”

“We do not speak of the one who came before.”