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“If I tell you something,will you report it to Xaden?”
Liam's head whips in my direction as he pushes the cart over the bridge of the quadrants. “Why would you think-”
“Oh come on.” I roll my eyes. “We both know you report just about everything I do. In not ignorant.” Snow pelts the windows, making a dull l, chiming sound.
“He worries. I alleviate worries”.
~ Fourth Wing, Chapter 23 ~
I grunt, trying to escape Garrick’s arm wrapped around my throat but it won't work. He has me in a firm headlock. Rather impressive I have to admit as my vision turns black around the edges from loss of oxygen. I finally give in, tapping the mat three times. Garrick immediately let's go, scooting off me.
“You're distracted today”, he observes, as we both sit up, still out of breath from our match.
Hm, yes, and why is that? Sgaeyl’s amused voice buds in. Anything to do with a certain girl?
Shut up, I grumble in her direction. But of course my head immediately fills with images of Violet. Images of our kiss last night. Her silver hair glinting underneath the moonlight. Her lips on mine. Her moans. They had spread like fire throughout my body, had ignited me. Flipped my whole world on its axes.
I love her. I blink. The thought comes unbidden out of nowhere so I know it's true. Fucking hell. I love her and she can never know.
Took you long enough, Sgaeyl says and I swear I can feel her eyeroll n
“Xaden?” Garrick asks, sounding a bit worried. “What's going on?”
I shake my head to dismiss him but it's Liam who chimes in from where he sits cross-legged next to the mat.
“He hasn't seen Violet all day”, he says and shrugs barely even glancing up from his book.
I whip my gaze to stare at the little traitor I consider to be the closest thing to a brother I have.
“And I'm perfectly fine with that”, I growl at him as I push myself up.
Liam chuckles finally looking up and arches an eyebrow. “Okay, well then clearly you don't need your daily report. So I won't tell that she's fine, that she ate enough, aced her maths exam - of course - and has trained with Rhiannon”, Liam treases. “She was limping a bit this morning, I suspect a sore ankle. But it got better throughout the day.”
I roll my eyes. “I told you a hundred times I don't need to know all that”, I tell him but even I cannot deny the relief I feel as I hear Liam's reassurance. Her ankle though, that one worries me.
Did it subluxate again? I ask in Sgaeyl's direction. Does Tairn know?
You could always ask her yourself, you know? She says exasperated.
Three seconds later she sighs though. No, Tairn says she twisted it slightly at yesterday's challenges. She'll be fine in a couple of days.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank you.
You're pathetic, is all Sgaeyl answers as I turn around facing Garrick again.
And maybe she's right. Maybe I am pathetic. Because every time I close my eyes I only see her. And feel the ghost of her lips on mine. And I immediately want to run to her and my arms around her once more.
Or maybe you're in love, Sgaeyl says almost gently.
I don't bother answering. Because while she might be right. It won't change a thing. It can't. I am who I am and she is who she is. There's nothing compatible between us.
“Round two?” I ask, stretching out my hand to Garrick.