Chapter 16: Cake

Don't let Basgiath sink its claws into you. Don't let it twist your thoughts, make you question what you know, or turn you against the people who would burn the world for you. This place was built to break us, to make us forget who we are and where we belong. Even when I can't be, I'm always in your corner.

Excerpt of recovered correspondence of Lieutenant Xaden Riorson to Thana Valaren.

~

Thana sat alone in the briefing room, the silence pressing in around her. It was impossible not to notice—so many Riders had died that now, for the first time, there were enough seats for everyone. She'd hoped it meant she could sit by herself.

The thought barely had time to settle before—

Violet entered with Rhiannon, Ridoc, Liam, and that redhead whose name Thana could never remember. She hoped that by sheer force of will they'd sit anywhere else.

Of course, they didn't.

To her dismay, they took the seats directly in front of her. "Hey", Liam said with a smile.

"This is Violet, Rhiannon, Ridoc, and—"

"Sawyer," the redhead finished.

Sawyer. Right. What a stupid name.

As they settled, Violet kept sneaking glances over her shoulder at Thana, like she wanted to say something but was wisely refraining. Liam, meanwhile, was carving his red daggertail, Deigh, into a discarded piece of scrap wood.

Vàlka, of course, took the opportunity to comment. "Well, this is uncomfortable."

Xaden entered the room, claiming a seat in the back row beside Garrick. He looked as bored as Thana felt, barely glancing down at the rest of them—until he caught Liam's eye. They exchanged a nod.

Violet sighed. "You'd think there were assassination attempts in every class the way Xaden makes you shadow me."

"In his defence, people do like trying to kill you," Rhiannon pointed out. She was definitley the smartest person in their year.

Violet rolled her eyes. "It was one time. And it's not like Liam was in my bed to protect me."

Liam's lips twitched. "Wouldn't be opposed."

The easy camaraderie between them made Thana feel sick. She'd had enough. Snatching up her book and her bag, she stalked up the steps, dropping into the seat beside Garrick.

"Hey," he greeted.

"I thought you didn't talk back here," she muttered, crossing her arms.

Garrick jerked his chin toward Xaden. "Can't shut him up."

Thana would have laughed—if Violet wasn't whispering something in Liam's ear below them.

"When did you start channelling?" she asked trying to avert her gaze.

"I thought we weren't talking," Garrick smirked.

"You know what?" She narrowed her eyes. "We're not."

Xaden stifled a laugh.

Thana turned on him. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing." He shook his head, still clearly amused.

She narrowed her eyes further. "Nothing?"

Xaden leaned back, studying her with open amusement. "Just thinking—if you're having trouble controlling your anger, you might have already started channelling."

Thana clenched her jaw. "Well, that's not nothing."

"Someone's grumpy," Bodhi muttered as he dropped into the seat in front of her.

Thana smacked him on the back of the head with her notebook just as Professor Markham called for silence.

Devera strode to the front of the room. "The winners of this year's squad battle will be given the opportunity to shadow an active wing on the front lines."

Xaden shifted slightly, the movement barely noticeable.

Thana, for her part, didn't hear another word after that.

~

The training hall reeked of sweat, leather, and blood—some dried, some fresh. The scent of brutality.

Thana rolled her shoulders as she stepped onto the mat, forcing herself to stay loose. Across from her, Jack Barlowe grinned, all sharp teeth and arrogance. He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing off the stone walls like a promise.

"Try not to embarrass yourself, Valaren," Jack taunted, shifting into a ready stance.

She didn't bother responding. Jack was all brute force. If she let him grab her, it was over.

Professor Emetterio barely waited for them to settle before barking, "Begin!"

Jack lunged.

Thana twisted, slipping out of reach just as his arm swiped through the air where her head had been. She felt the heat of it, the sheer force behind the move. If that landed, she wouldn't just be on the mat—she'd be through it.

He came at her again, faster this time. A feint left, a real strike right. She ducked, rolling under his arm and kicking out at his knee. He stumbled, but not enough.

Jack was bigger, stronger, and had an ego the size of a mountain. But she was faster.

Thana circled him, keeping her stance light, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet. Jack's lip curled in irritation. Good.

"You planning to fight or run?" he sneered.

She smiled. "I'm considering my options."

He charged again, this time leading with his shoulder.

At the last second, she sidestepped, twisting so his momentum carried him past her. As he stumbled forward, she grabbed his wrist and yanked—using his own weight against him.

Jack hit the mat hard, the breath leaving him in a stunned grunt.

The hall erupted with noise—some cheers, some groans. Jack was a favorite for the Riders who valued brute force, but not everyone was a fan.

Thana didn't waste a second. She straddled him before he could recover, slamming her forearm against his throat. Not hard enough to crush it—but enough to prove a point.

Jack's eyes darkened with rage, his body tensing beneath her.

"Yield," she ordered, breath coming fast.

His jaw clenched. For a second, she thought he'd rather let her choke him out than admit defeat.

Then, through gritted teeth, "Fine. I yield."

She released him instantly, stepping back just as he rolled onto his side, glaring.

A flicker of movement caught her eye.

Xaden, watching from the other side of the mat, gave her a single nod. Approval.

Not much, but enough.

Garrick, however, strode straight onto the mat and hauled her up by the arm. "Nice one, Thana," he said, amusement lacing his voice.

Jack growled from the floor.

Thana forced a smile and offered him a hand. He slapped it away, pushing himself up with a scowl before stomping off to collect his things, his bruised ego trailing behind him.

Garrick threw his head back with a laugh and squeezed her shoulder—a silent acknowledgment of the fight she'd just won.

It shouldn't have mattered. It shouldn't have felt like anything. But it did.

As she stepped off the mat, she found herself still thinking about it. The approval. The respect. She wanted more of it. She was going to earn more of it.

~

There was a gentle knock at the door. She closed her book and placed it under a pile of other things on her desk. She wasn't expecting anyone, but still, some part of her hoped—

She shook the thought away and opened the door.

Not Liam.

Bodhi stood there instead, grinning, holding a plate with a slice of chocolate cake. "I come bearing gifts," he announced.

Thana raised a brow. "Bribery?"

"Celebration." He stepped past her without waiting for an invitation, dropping onto her bed like he owned the place. "You kicked Jack's ass. That deserves cake." And chocolate was her favorite.

She shut the door, watching as he scooped up a bite with the fork before offering the plate toward her.

Thana hesitated for half a second before sitting beside him, their shoulders barely touching. She took the fork from his hand, cutting into the rich cake, letting the chocolate melt on her tongue.

"Not bad," she admitted.

Bodhi smirked. "I accept not bad as high praise."

"You didn't make this," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Bodhi said with a smirk, "but I picked the best slice."

She rolled her eyes but took a bite anyway—annoyingly perfect, just like Bodhi probably knew it would be.

They passed the plate back and forth in silence, the easy kind—the kind she didn't get often.

After a few bites, Bodhi leaned back on his elbows, studying her. "You really did well today. I wouldn't have wanted to be on the mat with you."

She shrugged, forcing herself to stay casual. "Jack fights like a hammer. You just have to be faster than his swing."

Bodhi hummed like he didn't quite believe her. Then, after a pause, "You don't give yourself enough credit."

She rolled her eyes, but he only grinned wider. "You're so humble," he egged her on.

Bodhi's smile softened. "He see's you, you know."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Thana replied, absently dragging the fork through the crumbs left on the plate. "It doesn't ever feel like he sees me," she admits.

Bodhi'a gaze lingered on her a little longer than she expected.

"Thana," he said, quieter this time. "I've spent my whole life watching you look at him just like that."

Her breath caught. Her cheeks burned red. She hadn't felt seen in a long time. Bodhi smiled, but there was something else behind it—something that looked dangerously close to understanding.

She opened her mouth, not even sure what she was about to say. He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.

They finished the cake in comfortable silence, Bodhi licking some frosting off his thumb before standing and stretching. Then, as he reached for the plate, he hesitated.

"Thana..." His voice was careful now, cautious.

She tilted her head. "Yeah?"

"Goodnight," he said with a kiss on her forehead. He grabbed the plate and slipped out the door before she could say another word.

"Goodnight," she whispered as the door closed behind him.