Chapter 3 Of Castles Crumbling (aka Tales From The Airport Bathroom Extended Version) Now Posted!

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.

A brief moment of rationality from the bird place.

I feel like I just completly glossed over the fact that Imogen and Dain were second years in the same squad.

Which means they survived Rider’s Survival Course together.

The absolute insanity I’m descending into picturing Imogen and Dain at the same table sharing a secret, and then having to protect each other’s secrets while they get the shit beat out of them.

Imogen having to listen to Dain bond with the infantry about rules and order and respecting the rank while they wander lost through the woods, trying not to get torched by dragons.

And they had the full second year at Basgiath! Which meant they had the tourture chamber testing twice!

She went through all of that with him, and then was part of the squad that got sent to their deaths because of him. We really do not give her enough credit for not snapping his neck at the first oppurtunity in Iron Flame.

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.

Imogen and the others when violent offered to break into her moms office:

I decided to crochet a little Andarna and now I'm racing to finish her before the next chapter comes out XD

Omg that sounds so cute, send me a pic if you want I’d love to see her!!! I can’t crochet for shit so the people who do all the little stuffed animals and stuff blow my mind