Rhysand's POV
It took everything in me to not go find Vaelen and squeeze the life out of his worthless body.I couldn't take my mind off the things he said to her,the way he looked at her.....I was going to kill him,not now but surely I was going to.
*****
Threshing was in a few weeks and you could feel the tension amongst the first years.Multiple dragons have been seen soaring the skies lately adding to their stress.Elara had also been avoiding me completely after what happened last time,during trainings she doesn't look my way and even when she does it's always swift and it seemed to bother me more than it's supposed to
Today was archery classes and she was way better than she was the last time I watched her.Bran and Alden as always were by my side cheering on their girls,basically yelling into my ears
"Do you mind"I grumbled,the words laced with irritation as a low growl escaped my throat
"What's up with you today,I thought you would be better after she came to see you"Bran said as he leaned against the walls
"She came to see him?"Alden asked adjusting his glasses before he crossed his arms across his chest "When was this?"
"That's not the point,why are you still upset"Bran asked as he nudged my side with his elbow "You know me very well Rhys,I'll keep doing this till you budge"
I did know him very well and he was right,Bran has always been a thorn in my side
"It's probably not helping that Azriel is the one taking them Archery classes today" Bran continued and that was the main reason I came to watch today's archery class.Aurora was away and he decided to fill in for her.He hadn't gone up to Elara since I've been here but I trust he will anytime soon.I looked over at her as she tried to get the proper way to position her bow and on cue,he came up behind her his hands cradling hers as he adjusted her grip on the bow.
I couldn't hear what they were both saying but he seemed to be making her smile....a lot.
"Before you go off and do something stupid,I'll go break off whatever is going on between them"Alden said tapping my shoulders and walked in their direction.Seconds later,Azriel walked off from Elara and she looked confused but kept practicing with her bow and arrow
"What did you tell them" I asked immediately Alden was within earshot "Nothing really,I just told him you didn't like as he was that close to your girl.And before you get upset,she agreed when he asked if it was the truth"
I looked over at Elara but she was in her own little world of trying to land a bullseye,smiling to herself.I want this girl more than anything in this world.The thought had kept me up most nights,I had been trying to convince myself that it would go away-that whatever I felt for her would fade just like how it had done with the other but it's still here,she's still here occupying every crevice of my mind
Elara's POV
The seventeen of February was always threshing,no matter what day of the week it fell on and I didn't know how to feel.We were all up so early and it wasn't to start till noon
"Who wants to go get something to eat"Kyra asked to the group of girls who sat in the common room but got no response.Everyone was nervous for way too many reasons.We could get killed out there by a fellow student,or a dragon which was way worse
We all got ready and gathered in the hall,Dean Drystan came into view,"Cadets you have all come a long way."he said smiling "Today is the day you finally get your dragon."
"Remember to listen here," he says standing in front of the two hundred and three of us here, tapping his chest.
"If a dragon has already selected you, they'll be calling." He thumps his chest again.
"So pay attention to not just your surroundings but your feelings, and go with them." He grimaces.
"And if your feelings are telling you to go in the other direction...listen to that, too."
We all stood at the gates of what looked like a Colosseum,"It will be noon soon and the dragons will be making an appearance "Aurora said addressing us "Like It was said before,approach any dragon with caution they won't hesitate to kill you."
"Now you see the opening on the walls"Alden said "-make your way through and wait till you are bonded with your dragon."he said looking around but mostly at Kyra.I watched Rhys and he hadn't said a word,hadn't even looked at me once
We were almost out of ear shots before Aurora yelled "If you go in groups, you're more likely to be incinerated than bonded"
We all made our way through and waited "I think it's best if we don't stay together."Elaine said out loud and I could feel the tension in her voice "You think.?" I responded sarcastically,she rolled her eyes in response
She and Kyra went in the opposite direction of each other while i stayed put.Suddenly the dragons started appearing,you could hear the chaos coming from everywhere.Some cadets had already been set ablaze and some were already bonded by the dragons and flying away
I had already been walking around and I have come across a bunch of Saffire frost claw and Cobalt tidecallers.I had seen others but not as much as them.I hadn't heard from Thorne since that day and maybe Professor Leif was right,he was probably considering other options
I could feel the professors and the other years watching us from the top of the colosseum but none were people I talked to.I wasn't paying much attention when I was hit in the head,sending me falling to my knees
I turned my head enough to see it was Jack who had hit me with the blunt end of his blade."Are you serious,right now is not the best time to try to kill me." I said getting up on my feet
"It is actually,if you bond with that beast of a dragon heaven knows how protective of you it would get "Lauretta said
I stared at her and all the memories of her kept coming up "Why did you suddenly change Lauretta"I asked worriedly "We were training days before we left for the Academy and it's like I never knew you"
"You never knew ,that's the truth.I had never liked you Elara,I just tolerated you because your parents were of help to mine"she replied no ounce of genuine affection in her tone
She was telling the truth "Why are you tearing up,it's not like you didn't see the signs you just chose to ignore them"she spat out
"I could have still pretended to be your friend even in the Academy if my parents hadn't started comparing me to you"she said angrily "Would Elara do this?Would Elara wear that?Every time Elara this,Elara that,I was your child not her."
I had already wiped the tears from my eyes but it kept falling "And Jack what did I do to you."I asked "I do not know the details but my parents hate yours and I was entrusted to kill you."he said swinging the blade in his arms around "You don't know the details,and yet you still want to kill me."I asked and he nodded in reply
I looked up to see most people at the top of the colosseum staring but I was sure they couldn't hear clearly and all they could do was watch
With a swift nod from Jack, they lunged forward. Jack engaged me head-on,with blows and parries expertly. Lauretta,circled around, looking for an opening.
My skills were apparent as I blocked and dodged their attacks. I countered with precision strikes but there was no way I could beat them
Lauretta managed to land a solid kick to my side, causing me to stumble. Jack followed up with a powerful punch that sent me sprawling to the ground and he quickly closed in to restrain me.I was laid back on the ground,worn out and gasping for breathe
Lauretta unsheathe her blade and sat on my chest while my hands were being held down by Jack."Lauretta....DONT DO IT"I heard my sister scream from above.I turned to see familiar faces
"Lauretta I should have killed you when I had the chance "I heard Rhysand say in the most daunting voice.I didn't have the strength to fight back so I laid there and accepted my fate."Goodbye Elara."Lauretta whispered and I closed my eyes as she raised the blade above my head
I felt a shadow above me then I felt Lauretta stand up hastily.I could still feel her around me as she and Jack tried to run off
"I know she's your friend but I can't let her disrespect us like that" I heard Thorne say and immediately he unleashed a torrent of flames from his jaws.The flames hit them immediately and I could hear their shrieking screams as they collapsed onto the ground,slowly their screams died down but their bodies were still in flames
"I'm back,little one" he said as I got on my feet "Took you long enough,I thought you weren't coming"I replied immediately
"It's nice to know I was missed"he said and I replied with a scoff
"Continue with this attitude and I'll fall us both from the sky,now hop on"
"What took you so long anyways"I asked as I tried to climb on his back.
I tried multiple times but couldn't climb on "Any day now would be nice" he said
"Why would you bond with a human with your type of attitude "I asked rolling my eyes,he crouched down a bit and I got on immediately
"Hold on,do not fall off and embarrass me again "he said before he took off in the air.I had no words to explain how I felt as we soared in the sky "Why did you stop fighting them off"Thorne asked as we glided through the air
I was hesitant to speak at first "I was already defeated,there was no use fighting it"I replied slowly "You are only defeated when you give up little one"he responded and I nodded
"Are you ready for your surprise?"he asked as we made our way to the Academy.We landed and all eyes were on us.He crouched,to make it easier for me to get down and immediately I heard excited screams coming from way.Elaine and Kyra ran into me at the same time
"Which did you bond with?"I asked them.Kyra was so excited,she couldn't speak properly and after much mumbling and squealing she said she bonded with the Amethyst Dreamweaver and Elaine bonded with the Golden Embercrest.Elaine squealed about how they matched with her hair
Soon after Rhysand was coming my way with his dragon-Phoenix walking majestically behind him
Kyra discreetly nudged me and Elaine flashed a knowing smile-I hated them.Ever since I told them that I maybe liked Rhys,they had been acting goofy when they see him,always nudging and smiling.
"Looks like someone's coming. We'll give you some space" Kyra said with a wink and walked off with Elaine
"Remember the surprise I told you about"Thorne said "Well here it is"
"What do you mean"I asked but before he could reply Rhys dragon stood beside Thorne and it felt like they were having a conversation "You did good"he said looking at anywhere but me "Thank you"I whispered back
"Congratulations Cadets.....I mean riders"Dean Drystan said grinning and shouts came from all around
"Now we have a special guest in our midst"he continued "For over two decades,we haven't seen or heard about the silver snowblade appearing for threshing but it seems someone has finally drawn him out"
"Elara,you may not know this,but your dragon and Xaden's dragon are bonded."the Dean said
"What do you mean bonded.?"I asked confused "I meant they are together and one cannot live without the other."
"If your dragon dies,so does Rhys dragon and unfortunately so do you two as well"he continued "They also can't be apart for too long.This is amazing,it's been over a century since two bonded dragons have riders at the same time"he exclaimed "Now in an odd sense,you and Rhys are bonded"
"Now riders,it's time for the Runebonding Rite,Your Dragon will tell you what to do"Dean Drystan said before taking a good look around before,smiling and walking away
"Stand a few feets in front of me little one,I have another surprise for you"Thorne said and I tried to find the perfect spot "Move a little to the side then take a step back...Perfect"
"Now,raise up your shirt,it is going to sting a little"he responded and before I could reply i felt a torrent of flames on my back,but this wasn't as hot
After the pain had died down,I asked "How does it look" trying to have a look at my back "Why don't you take a look at it yourself" suddenly I could see my back and I saw carved into my back my dragon with spikes around him
"What just happened"I asked when I could finally see from my eyes "Your Rune!!"he replied "No the other thing"I said "Oh that....I can see from your eyes and vice versa"he replied
"Elara..."I heard Elaine gasp from behind me,I turned around in shock on how she said my name and now everyone was stood staring at me
"What's wrong"I said looking around."It's your hair"Rhys said with a smile"It's white"