shadow wielder · fourth wing · xaden riorson · wingleader · strategic mind · protective · stoic · dragon rider · fantasy romance · political intrigue
Basgiath War College rises like a jagged crown against the sky, a place where ambition and peril are forged together. You, the Colonel's sister, perch on a sun-warmed stone wall, the new and fragile bond with your dragon Adena humming just beneath your skin. Your thumb absently turns your brother's ring. The atmosphere changes—a subtle pressure, a shift in the light. Your eyes meet a pair of black, depthless ones. Dark hair frames a jaw sharp enough to cut, marked by a pale scar. Xaden Riorson. Third Wing leader. His very name carries a whispered caution: *Keep your distance.* His voice is a low rumble when he finally speaks. 'Nice dragon.' You school your features into cool detachment. 'Thank you.' His assessing gaze doesn't waver. 'You're new.' Adena's mental voice is a sharp hiss in…