Fire Breather

59.

DAIN stepped into the room, his eyes surveying the four of us chained to the wall before he turned toward Violet, his eyes widening at her swollen face. "Violet."

"I don't understand," Sawyer said. "Why is our wingleader here?"

"He's advocating for her like Riorson said a wingleader should," Ridoc answered, hope in his voice. "Aren't you?"

"He's not," Violet answered, keeping her eyes on Dain's hands.

"Her shoulder," I rasped, and Dain's eyes flicked to me. "She had an injured shoulder before she even came in here."

If Dain truly still cared for Violet, then he would do something to help her now. And I just had to pray that he wouldn't touch her.

Dain tore his gaze away from mine, turning to Varrish. "Regulations state that riders should be healthy before beginning interrogation assessment," he barked. "Cadet Sorrengail is clearly not healthy."

"Such a rule follower." Varrish clicked his tongue. "Regulations say they should, not that they have to be. It's more realistic that a rider would be wounded when captured."

"What am I doing here?" Dain demanded.

"Testing a theory." Varrish smiled. "But while we're waiting for our guest to arrive, you should practice on her." He pointed at Violet.

But Violet's eyes flew straight to me, holding anger that I noted. I had faith that she could shield him out, but I also knew that if Xaden found out about Dain being here, then my brother would show up on a killing spree.

"You want me to..." Dain lifted his brows.

"Yes. Use your signet on her. Only to draw out the secret phrase, of course."

"My signet is classified."

"And she already knows what it is," Varrish said, shaking his head. "Doesn't she? That's why she's so angry with you. She blames you for what happened to her friend." He walked forward. "It's amazing what you can learn by simply observing."

Dain shook his head. "I'm not doing this."

"Then who are you going to practice on to extend your ability past recent events? We're running out of civilians around here for Nolon to mend, and if you think she hasn't told the rest of her squad your little secret, you're giving her far too much credit."

Wait. Varrish was Dain's teacher?

Dain stiffened and Violet didn't even bother to deny it.

"This is what your signet is made for. You're the first line of defense, Aetos. She could be a Poromish spy or a gryphon rider. You could save the entire kingdom by just plucking her secrets from her memory." Varrish looked down at Violet. "You can see what really happened that day when the two marked ones were killed by"—he cocked his head to the side–"gryphons, wasn't it, Cadet Sorrengail? The truth is waiting, Wingleader Aetos, and you're the only one who can see it."

"Holy shit," Ridoc muttered. "He can what?"

"Yeah," I breathed, keeping my eyes on Violet.

"You could learn what it is she sees in him," Varrish whispered, getting closer to Dain. "Why she chose him over you. Don't you want to know? All the answers are right there. You just have to know where to reach."

Everything in me was panicking as Dain reached for Violet's face with both hands and she arched her neck, leaning as far back as the chair allowed her.

"No," Violet forced out.

"No," Dain repeated, then dropped his hands. "I will not participate in an interrogation assessment of a cadet with a prior injury," he said over his shoulder at Varrish. Then walked out.