You Should Be Scared Of Me.

“You should be scared of me.”

Violet and Xaden - Fourth Wing

Artist: @kotikomori for @readingportal

chapter 3 of castles crumbling (aka Tales from the Airport Bathroom extended version) now posted!

Chapter 3: Fire and Brimstone is now up on AO3: READ HERE

Remember when I said I didn't know when chapter 3 would come out? lol yeah, here's 8.6k words that I wrote and edited in a day, bc xaden pov. Enjoy!

Summary:

Violet should already be dead. People whispered about her weak body and how she would never live up to her family's martial accomplishments. Violet rose above them all, however, fighting and killing to survive the Navarrian Intelligence Agency's brutal BASGIATH training protocol. Now, people whisper about Violet's swift ascension through the NIA's ranks as one of its most valuable operatives and assassins. The whispers don't matter to Violet: She has her own agenda, and it's a dangerous one - finding out what happened to her father.

But one mission changes everything: Suddenly, Violet finds herself in the crosshairs when she stumbles on information Navarre wants buried, and the country she fought for begins to turn on her. Violet knows too much, but she's determined to do what she does best: Survive. Her only hope is the son of the man who they say killed her brother, but their partnership is far from assured. Some grudges run deep, and trust is a currency too valuable to give freely. Xaden realizes Violet may be the key to everything, but with enemies seen and unseen closing in on all sides, the consequences of failure are deadly.

===

If there is one thing I’ve learned about dealing with the Cordella’s, it’s to be on my guard at all fucking times.

That’s not just because Syrena is fully capable of giving me a run for my money through her sheer combat prowess. It’s also because Catriona Cordella is an instigating, power-hungry vulture that seems to specialize in bringing someone from mild annoyance to all-out rage in five seconds flat.

I’ve kept my fingers crossed that Syrena would come on her own today, but when Bodhi and I enter the alleyway just off the main square, I’m resigned to the fact that I have no such luck when she emerges from the shadows with Cat in tow.

Bodhi looks at me with apprehension as I cross my arms across my chest and lock my mask in place. I’m not here to play Catriona’s fucking mind games today, and I know she’ll be in top form given our previous interactions since I broke it off with her.

“Syrena,” I acknowledge, before my eyes slide over to Catriona. “Catriona.”

“Riorson,” Syrena dips her head in greeting. She looks exhausted. She’s the niece of a prominent Poromish politician, but she hasn’t lived her life in luxury.

No, she’s fighting against Navarre’s own mistakes, and she’s paying the price for it.

chapter 2 of castles crumbling (aka Tales from the Airport Bathroom extended version) now posted!

Chapter 2: Kingdom Dance is now up on AO3: READ HERE

WE ARE SO BACK BESTIES.

Summary:

Violet should already be dead. People whispered about her weak body and how she would never live up to her family's martial accomplishments. Violet rose above them all, however, fighting and killing to survive the Navarrian Intelligence Agency's brutal BASGIATH training protocol. Now, people whisper about Violet's swift ascension through the NIA's ranks as one of its most valuable operatives and assassins. The whispers don't matter to Violet: She has her own agenda, and it's a dangerous one - finding out what happened to her father.

But one mission changes everything: Suddenly, Violet finds herself in the crosshairs when she stumbles on information Navarre wants buried, and the country she fought for begins to turn on her. Violet knows too much, but she's determined to do what she does best: Survive. Her only hope is the son of the man who they say killed her brother, but their partnership is far from assured. Some grudges run deep, and trust is a currency too valuable to give freely. Xaden realizes Violet may be the key to everything, but with enemies seen and unseen closing in on all sides, the consequences of failure are deadly.

===

“I know you Sorrengail – you won’t do anything to me, at least not today.” I bristle at how certain she sounds, yet I don’t move to prove her wrong. “If you decide to believe what I’ve told you, track down Fen’s son.”

I scrunch my eyebrows as I peer up at her. “Fen Riorson has a son?”

Devera laughs. “Oh yes. I think you’ll like him.”

I open my mouth to ask more, but Devera is already walking away. I don’t bother following her – I slipped a tracker in her pack when she picked up our drinks earlier. I have no doubt that she’ll find it soon, but at least it will give me an idea as to her direction when I inevitably decide to track her down again.

I turn my attention back to the small thumb drive resting on the table, my fingers tapping against the hardwood. I should destroy it. I should follow my orders. But I know I won’t. The entire reason I forced myself to stay alive against all odds was to find Dad. If this thumb drive can give me answers, or even set me on the right path to find them, then I don’t give a fuck what happens to me.

Slight treason it is.

I know exactly where his notes are--in the one location he spent the majority of his after-hours time. (ch24, pg308)

So, I totally missed this on first read through of course. (Like so many other things.)

But Violet knows where her father's research is?! Or at least notes of it?! The research on feathertails and the "Krovlan uprising" that he was supposedly working on before he died???

WHY HAVEN'T YOU GOTTEN THAT RESEARCH YET, VIOLET?!

(And WHERE is it? Where is this place? I need to know!)

I mean, after the major information given by Andarna in IF, I would assume we're going to get it?

Yes? No?

chapter 1 of castles crumbling (aka Tales from the Airport Bathroom extended version) now posted!

Chapter 1: Awakenings now up on AO3: READ HERE

I know I said it would be awhile until I started this fic but I lied :) I was inspired and decided to take advantage. I'm so excited (and also kind of nervous?) to share this story with you guys and hope you enjoy reading us much as I've enjoyed writing so far :)

Summary:

Violet should already be dead. People whispered about her weak body and how she would never live up to her family's martial accomplishments. Violet rose above them all, however, fighting and killing to survive the Navarrian Intelligence Agency's brutal BASGIATH training protocol. Now, people whisper about Violet's swift ascension through the NIA's ranks as one of its most valuable operatives and assassins. The whispers don't matter to Violet: She has her own agenda, and it's a dangerous one - finding out what happened to her father.

But one mission changes everything: Suddenly, Violet finds herself in the crosshairs when she stumbles on information Navarre wants buried, and the country she fought for begins to turn on her. Violet knows too much, but she's determined to do what she does best: Survive. Her only hope is the son of the man who they say killed her brother, but their partnership is far from assured. Some grudges run deep, and trust is a currency too valuable to give freely. Xaden realizes Violet may be the key to everything, but with enemies seen and unseen closing in on all sides, the consequences of failure are deadly.

===

“Violet?”

I’m jolted out of my thoughts and return my attention to Ridoc, who has an uncharacteristically stoic look on his face.  

“I have a really bad feeling about this.” He scratches the back of his head. “Promise me you’ll call if it goes south.”

I don’t deserve my squad. And that’s all the more reason that I can’t let him, or anyone else, near this mission. If things go wrong – if my slight treason turns into not-so-slight treason – then I don’t want to bring any of them down with me. I’d rather die than drag them into my problems. I let my mask slip for a moment, patting Ridoc’s arm reassuringly.

“I promise I’ll be careful.”

He rolls his eyes, but that mischievous spark returns to his eyes. “Bullshit. Danger is your middle name, Sorrengail.”

“Actually, it's Brigid,” I quip with a grin. 

He punches me lightly in the arm. “Of course it is.”

She is mighty and watchs over your hoard you entrusted to her diligently. By this I mean I love her

Hi friends! Apologies for the absence the past few days—just been spending some time recharging. I’ll get around to the unanswered asks and stuff in the next day or two and we should return to our regularly scheduled programming for updates sometime next week 🫶🏻

As tax in the meantime, meet Kyro, one of my sacred book guardians