Wild and Out of Control

|chapter twenty nine|

"For valor above and beyond the call of duty in the battle of Strythmore, where her bravery resulted not only in the destruction of a battery behind enemy lines but also saved the lives of an entire company of infantry, I recommend Mira Sorrengail receive the Star of Navarre. But if the criterion is not met, which I assure you it has been, downgrading to the Order of the Talon would be a shame, but sufficient."

- RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD FROM MAJOR POTSDAM TO GENERAL SORRENGAIL

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|xaden|

I often forget how utterly annoying and tiresome Dain Aetos can be sometimes. Still, the only person to blame is myself for always thinking of him better than he is since he was selected Squad Leader. However, we all know how that happened.

     There are silent gasps as I fill the room with shadows until nothing can be seen just to prove a point. No one, not even me, can see a damn thing and I smile at what must be their spooked faces hidden behind the shadows. I ghost my fingers over Danica's shoulder and she nearly jumps out of her seat.

     "Relax. It's just me." I trail my hand from her shoulder up her neck and lightly press on the pulse point. Fast, thundering beats under my fingertips. I smile as I continue up until I trace the outline of her lips. I relish the fact that no one can see us.

     She pushes my hand away. "Stop. It's not appropriate in front of them." Even as she says these words, I can feel the desire dripping from her.

     "They can't see." But I retract my hand away anyway.

     "Fuck me," someone says. And that breaks whatever spell was over me to have this moment alone with Danger.

     "I can surround this entire outpost, but I think that might freak some people out," I say, and the shadows disappear, racing back under the table.

     My lips tug up in a smile before I smother it as I come to face with the people at the table who are now turning a shade of green. All of them know what my signet is, but only a few have seen the full extent of it. The rest...they could only have guessed and I am sure they weren't imagining this.

     I meet the gaze of Lieutenant Sorrengail, General Sorrengail's oldest daughter and second child. She stares at me so thoroughly I'd think she's staring straight into my soul. She's assessing me, I realize. Trying to see if I'm a threat or not.

     The training operation goes on without a hitch now that Aetos knows his damn place. If I have any say in it, he will never become a wingleader. But I don't and his father does. While I worked my ass off to climb the power ladder, all he has to do is be alive and he'll be in charge.

     Everyone is dismissed and I don't miss the glare Lieutenant Sorrengail gives me. She still directs her anger for her dead brother to me. And yet she expects me not to do the same of my dead father. I meet her glare with my fierce one. She looks away first and follows after Violet. Danica goes after her, leaving me alone with Aetos who is looking at me with such contempt.

"Keep looking at me like that, Aetos. It'll only prove to me that you're not nor ever will be ready to be wingleader." I stand and smooth my shirt, dusting off some lint.

"Oh, and you are?" he fired back. "What makes you so better than me? Oh, I'm sorry. Wingleader?"

      This little bitch. "Maybe because I'm not acting like I'm pathetically jealous. Or I'm able to remain calm and not let my feelings control me. I control them."