Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Brennan POV

We lost. I still couldn’t believe it. The battle of Basgiath was the bloodiest one I had ever experienced. Every rider and flier reached burn-out when the venins tricked us to give it our all, before trapping us by using civilians. There were no survivors.

Everything we worked for, all gone. 

After the strongest venin I have ever seen joined the battle, it was doomed for everyone. He seemed strange, more old than time itself. 

He managed to kill Xaden, resulting in the chains of events everyone suspected. Sgaeyl died first, then Tairn and finally Violet. Her other dragon died of heartbreak a few minutes after our downfall. 

The only satisfaction I felt was that my sister died in Xaden’s arms, following Malek together. I would never want to see my little sister paraded in chains like an animal. Like I was. Like we all were. 

Mira and Syrena were thankfully safe. They weren't with the prisoners last time I truly looked for them, doing my best to ignore the small whispering voice telling me that they could also be dead.

Ulices was chained behind me, Suri in the front, all of us hurt and bloody. The dark wielders managed to mix their weapons with signet suppressant, the same used in RSC and Land Navigation. Their spy, Aetos Sr. was killed by his own son before he was beheaded by another venin. 

No one knew where the dragons and gryphons were either. They all disappeared during the battle, our bonds muddling, after Codagh died, with Melgren and–

My thoughts halted when we stopped walking, clearly arriving at our destination, the Barrens.

Wyverns were screeching around us, flying, on the ground or perched like birds on the enormous castle in front of us, taller and larger than Basgiath. 

The dark wielders holding our chains forced us to the ground. I heard Suri take a stuttering breath. She injured her leg during the second battle in Aretia, or at least, this was what my signet told me before it was blocked.

I felt Ulice's forehead against my shoulder before a red robed venin pulled on the shackles, hurting us at the same time. They were doing this for fun, chains so tight, my wrists and neck were already edging on purple. 

“Everyone, listen to me.” The same venin who killed Xaden called for attention. His eyes were irisless and red. There was a crown on his head. “We won the war, we defeated our enemies” –I felt deaf for a moment because of those happy screams– “captured our biggest murderers, burned their towns to the ground, and killed their supporters. No one will be able to stop us now.” 

I tried to block the imagery of the last time I saw Aretia, burned to ash, no survivors in sight. Imogen and Garrick, dead, hand in hand.

It took everything to keep my tears from falling. 

“Now, it’s time for our prize. After all our losses and suffering, we can finally have a little bit of fun.” He only kept going when silence reigned over his kingdom again. “They thought they could destroy us,” –his grin turned manic– “but we destroyed them.” 

I want to die, please. 

Naolin POV

We won. The dragons and gryphons disappeared in the middle of the battle. I barely had to use my full power to win. My bracelets were still on my wrists and four of my nine rings, power dampeners, were still on my fingers, untouched. 

The emperor decided to take war prisoners. He was choosing his pick right now, the only one who could choose as many as he wanted on his first turn. Then, it would go down to who was the strongest until we all had at least one.

After him, Amari was next, as the right-hand executioner, then Jest, who was the left-hand, only because I refused the job. 

I approached a little to look at the prisoners, all injured, some so badly I didn’t know how they walked to the Barrens from Aretia, and before that, Basgiath. 

Without warning, I felt my whole body freeze but didn’t understand why. I took time to look around again but nothing caught my eyes. 

Amari passed his turn. I knew his morals wouldn’t let him take any, particularly as an ex-flier. Jest stepped in for his pick, a crazed smile on his face. Even if I did not believe in the Gods anymore, I still sent a small prayer for the prisoners that will be chosen by him. 

I scanned the masses again even though I knew it was useless. I had no interest in any of them. Prisoners and slaves were not my cup of tea. 

I frowned when my power began singing in my veins, like a soft hum, akin to a mother’s melody, guiding my head to the far right of the line… and my heart stopped when my eyes met amber ones filled with tears. There was no way. It could only be my memories playing a trick on me. 

He was supposed to be dead. 

My magic began trashing against my body, responding to my mental panic, and trying to exterminate an unseen threat. 

The prisoner was mouthing something, looking at me in the eyes, face covered in blood, neck bruised. It took me a moment to be able to read his lips. 

“Naolin.” 

It was him, it was truly him, my mind screamed at me. 

Brennan. 

He was alive? How? 

He looked so broken and yet, still looked like a shining star in an empty night sky. I needed to take him. 

Another venin decided to pull on their shackles for no apparent reasons, and it seemed to hurt like dragon fire. My magic was threatening to destroy my surroundings all over again for another reason completely, begging to kill this fucker who hurt my Brennan. 

I took a silent breath. If someone saw me react, they would take him from me. I controlled my expression until I knew my face went blank of any emotions.

Brennan’s face fell, heartbreak so clear on his features, it shattered my heart in return. Still, I didn’t dare move even if I wished I could comfort him.

“Naolin, your turn.” I looked at the emperor, half bowing just for show, and began advancing toward the most injured, where Brennan was. 

After the emperor’s executioners, it was the maven’s turns, ranked by strength and magic. I looked around to exempt myself from any suspicion, before stopping in front of Brennan, smirking down at him. I didn’t miss the way he flinched backward even if I looked up, back to my sovereign. 

“This one,” I said in the cruelest voice I could muster. “He’s pretty enough.”

Chapter Text

Brennan POV

This was not Naolin. My Naolin didn’t look like this. Unfeeling and cruel. 

Maybe Malek really did hate me. I knew I deserved it, particularly after losing the war and my little sister. Dying would be too much of a gift in my situation. 

Naolin, who wasn’t my Nao, was staring at me blankly. His irises lost their shining green color, now more red than anything else. There were also red veins sliding from his eyes, reaching his temples and cheeks, akin to a spider web. His black hair was longer than I remembered, styled in a half crown braid, letting the rest of the strands fall against the upper part of his nape. 

His gaze shifted to the chains holding me to the other prisoners before tugging on them harshly until I was free from the rest. The only reason I didn’t cry out was because of my parched throat. I couldn’t talk even if I wanted to. 

He took hold of my arm and pulled me toward the castle after nodding to another venin with bright red hair, the one who skipped his turn.  

We finally halted in front of a black door after climbing too many steps. The venin, who resembled Naolin, barely grazed the wood before it opened slowly by itself. 

“Get in,” he ordered coldly. 

Was this how I would finish my days? Tortured to death by the view of the man I loved? I let my eyes roam around the room, a bedroom, for things I could use to kill myself. It was an overly simple one, furnished with a bed, bathroom, small desk and a closet. My first idea would be to break the window and jump or maybe slit my throat with a glass shard when he wasn’t looking. 

“Stop that.” I flinched at the sudden sharp tone. “You think I can’t see what you’re thinking? Go sit on the bed, Brennan.” 

He knew my name… Could it really be him? His voice was now a little softer. Just hearing it brought tears to my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. A trick, there was no other explanation.

I sat on the bed quickly, not wanting to risk his anger. Maybe he would refrain from hurting me if I listened. Our gazes met for a second before I lowered my head, it was too painful to look at him. 

I didn’t hear him move until he was right in front of me. One of his hands rested on my cuffs while the other tilted my chin up until my vision was filled with red. This small gesture alone destroyed all my defenses, my eyes betraying me when tears began sliding down my cheeks. I felt, more than saw him tense as my vision turned blurry. 

The shackles were broken a second later, both his hands were rapidly resting on my cheeks, gently wiping my tears with his thumbs. He leaned in until his lips rested on my forehead. 

“Don’t cry, Brennan,” he murmured softly. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anymore hurt you anymore, I promise.” His mouth began kissing me all over my face despite the dry blood and dirt decorating it.

“Hug me, please,” I begged pathetically before mortification took over. After seven years of relying only on myself, this demand was unexpected with the protection I built around my heart. 

Naolin lowered himself on the bed, against multiple pillows before pulling me toward his body, one of his hands around my waist, the other in my hair. I buried my face in the crook of his neck, melting into him. It took an embarrassingly long while before I stopped crying. 

When I moved back so I could look at him, he gave me a comforting smile. I let out my first real breath since my capture from the wardstone chamber at Basgiath. 

“Let’s take care of your injuries,” he said after a moment, beginning to move away. “We can’t have them get infected.” 

Before my brain could catch up, I caught his arm. “Don’t go,” I croaked out. “Please.” 

“The bathroom is right there.” He gestured at the room directly connected to where we are. “I just need my supplies.” 

I shook my head despite the dizziness. I didn’t want to let him go, as he was the only thing holding me together. And I felt like he understood that as his gaze studied me like we do a puzzle. Ironically, I was the one who would look at him like this in the past when he did something unexpected.

“Do you want to come with me?” he asked, after my grip tightened a bit more. I let out a shaky breath of relief before nodding. The thought of moving barely crossed my mind before I felt one of his arms against my back, the other under my legs, getting me off the bed. “You’re not walking by yourself, in your dreams, love.” 

The temperature of my body spiked up at the nickname as he laid me down next to the bathtub after reaching the bathroom in a few long strides.

“I'll clean you up before doing anything, so I can see what I’m doing,” he commented after another quick look at me, turning his attention to the small cabinet. “You’re too dirty right now.” 

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, shame filling my thoughts even if I knew it was not truly my fault. 

His eyes widened. “Nothing to be sorry about.” 

He helped me as I began taking my clothes off, needing more time than necessary because they stuck to my body. My injured wrists did nothing to help either. I couldn’t wait for the signet blocker to wear off so I could mend myself. 

“Come inside with me,” I whispered, tugging lightly on his hand after I entered the tub with his assistance. The water was perfectly warm. 

Naolin’s smile softened. “Of course.” 

Naolin POV

There was a knock on my door in the middle of the night. I gazed down at Brennan who was still sleeping in my arms. After bandaging his injuries, it didn’t take long for him to fall asleep, completely exhausted.  

Even after seven years, his curls were still as soft as I remembered, I thought as my right hand was recalling the gesture I would love to perform when we were younger. His right cheek was resting on top of my chest, palms clenching my jacket. He looked so fragile sleeping here, breathing slowly and wearing one of my bigger shirts to not upset his injuries. I really hoped that one day he would be able to look at me with no fear. 

Another light knock. 

“Amari, if it’s you, it’s open. If it’s some else, fuck off,” I whispered as loudly as I could without waking Brennan. The door opened and fortunately, it was my friend. 

Of course it was, no one else would dare enter my room without my explicit permission.

He halted at the door, eyes widening when he saw our cuddling form. 

“It’s him, isn’t it? Brennan?” he asked, bringing his dark blue eyes to mine. I nodded. 

My best friend gave me a smile. “I’m happy for you, truly, but you’ll need to be careful. If the emperor knows about this–” 

“I know.” I cut him off, unwilling to think about everything that would happen if my secret was discovered. 

***

When I woke up the next morning, Brennan was still asleep on top of me. He was frowning, eyebrows scrunched down. I leaned down to kiss him in between them, and then his forehead just because I could. I was glad to see the tenseness replaced by something closer to relaxation, and a small smile on his face. I soaked up as much time as was allowed to stay still and just watch him sleep before rising for my day. I couldn’t be late.

After taking a shower, brushing my teeth, changing into my usual uniform, dampeners included, and sheathing my weapons, I went back to the main room to see Brennan, awake and looking everywhere in panic. 

“Brennan,” I called softly to catch his attention. His eyes halted abruptly, filled with unease. 

“It wasn’t a dream,” he murmured as I approached him. I lifted my hand to touch his cheek but stopped when he tensed, keeping my hand in the air in his field of vision. His gaze switched between my face and palm before taking and resting it against the side of his face. 

“I’m sorry.” His gaze was full of shame as he looked up at me.

“You don’t have to be. I understand you need some time.” I gave him a look I hoped was encouraging. “I can’t imagine what they did to you on the way to the Barrens. For what’s worth, I’m the one who’s sorry for not finding you first.” 

“You didn’t know that I was alive, didn’t you?” 

“No, I remember feeling your pulse stop even if I was channeling from the Source. Nothing worked.” I chased the memory of his cold dead body from my mind before it could take hold of me. It was one of the worst days of my life, losing him. “I wanted to stay with you, but they found me too quickly.” 

“What about Tairn?” 

I felt my anger rise just thinking about him, my supposed dragon who abandoned me when I needed him the most. “I don’t want to talk about Tairneanach.”

Brennan flinched but didn't let go of my hand. 

I took a breath before apologizing, bringing his other hand to my lips and leaving a kiss on his knuckles. I grinned when his cheeks turned a light pink. Cute. 

“I need to leave for a little while. Amari told me yesterday that the emperor wanted to see me.” 

“Amari?”

“My best friend,” I supplied, fixing the dampeners on my fingers. “The redhead who didn’t take any prisoner. He’s the emperor's right hand–” 

“Your best friend…” he trailed off with a frown. 

Was this all he took from what I said? I took a moment to look at him for real, noticing his blazing eyes. When his gaze met mine, he turned away but I could still see him bite his lower lip. 

Was he? His gaze slid to me before running away again. 

He was, I thought fondly, unable to stop my chuckle. 

“Yes, just my best friend, Brennan.” 

“I’m your best friend,” he mumbled. 

“No, you’re the love of my life.” I smirked when he turned red again, but he was also smiling, pleased. “Alright. I have to go, darling. I prepared clothes for you, a toothbrush and everything you should need. If there’s something else, you can look around. It’s your room too, now.” 

I moved for the door after he nodded, then made a split decision, turned around to send him a kiss from afar. 

“I love you.” I left before I could hear his response.

Chapter Text

Brennan POV 

After taking a shower, rebandaging my injuries and putting Naolin’s clothes on, I felt a bit better. Everything here smelled like him and it helped my body relax. It was only when laying back down on the bed with a book I found that my eyes caught on the desk, covered in papers. I didn’t notice this mess yesterday. 

He wouldn’t get mad if I looked around, wouldn’t he?

My curiosity won as I stepped toward it. There were a lot of missives, most of them being battle reports, a mix of previous and recent ones. The rest were correspondence from the outside, mostly from Moraine, but also Krovla and Luceras. It would take me days to organize them and create a timeline. In one of the drawers, there was a detailed map of the Continent, filled with multi-colored strikes. 

“Snooping around, Brennan?” 

I startled at the sudden voice, whirling around to see Naolin leaning against the threshold of the door.

“I-” I was always horrible at lying on the spot, it was usually Mira’s job. 

I lowered my gaze for less than a second before the venin was suddenly right in front of me, his hands on the desk, blocking any escape. His face was so close, I just needed to move a little to kiss him. My tongue wet my lips at the thought, feeling a shiver down my spine when his eyes followed the movement. It has been so long since someone touched me like this, my thoughts weren’t able to form a coherent excuse, or anything for that matter. 

“I’m not mad at you. Stop worrying. My mistake was telling you that you could look around,” he whispered against my mouth. 

“What? You have something to hide?” I questioned, my breath hitching when he leaned an inch closer. 

“From you? Never.” 

I finally broke the distance between us, smashing my lips against his. I forgot how good it felt to kiss him, letting out a low noise when he bit my lower lip. I deepened the kiss while putting my hand on his chest to push him toward the bed, straddling him when he lowered himself on the mattress, my hands burrowing themselves between his black strands. His fingers were now resting on my waist, the coldness of his rings barely chilling my burning skin. 

The sudden knock on the door caused us to jump and stare at it like idiots, not saying anything. 

“Go away.” Naolin broke the silence before leaning in to kiss me again. 

“I don’t think so, maven,” a voice colder than death warned. It was the venin from yesterday, the crowned one. I could never forget the way he sounded. My boyfriend froze, pushing me off his lap gently despite the urgency of the situation. 

“It’s the emperor,” he whispered. “Listen, you’re not my lover right now, you’re my prisoner. Whatever happens, whatever I say–”

“Naolin.” We both flinched at the tone. Nao all but ran to the door to open it as I moved to the corner of the room to kneel, trying to make myself as small as possible.

The emperor was as terrifying as I remembered, eyes red, no white in sight, and so many veins decorating his face I could barely see his pasty skin. 

“I’m sorry for the delay. I was… cleaning my desk,” my lover said while bowing but the sovereign ignored him to look around the room.

“Where’s your boy toy?” 

“He’s” –Naolin turned to where we were standing, noticed that I wasn’t here anymore, frowned before spotting me and gestured– “here.” 

“You cleaned his wounds.” More a statement than a question.  

“I don’t want him to die from an infection.” He shrugged. “Not yet anyway.” 

The monster stayed silent for a while, staring at me until I curled on myself even more. 

“I decided the punishment for Amari after you left.” Naolin opened his mouth, probably to argue, but he was ignored again. “He’s in the dungeon and I need someone to carry the punishment. I chose you.”

My boyfriend’s face got pale before it switched to anger. “He did nothing wrong to receive–” 

“I don’t remember asking for your opinion, maven,” the emperor cut him off coldly. “Amari Evy disrespected me for not choosing any prisoners of war. My own executioner disobeyed when I specifically ordered him to take at least one before they arrived, or did you forget?” 

Naolin’s jaw clenched shut. 

“Your arrogance won’t be tolerated in my castle. For this alone,” –the crowned venin suddenly snapped his irisless eyes on me again– “he’s coming with me until you end your orders.” 

Nao opened his mouth, but I cut him off by rising to my feet, glanced one last time at him before following his leader. 

***

We reached what seemed to be the throne room. There were venins everywhere in multiple-colored uniforms, white, red, purple, green. It made my head dizzy. 

Another one caught my attention, veins snaking out of his eyes like Naolin. He was seated on the floor on the left side of the enormous throne, decorated with black vines and a glass wyvern on top of it. 

The seated dark wielder was holding a boy wearing a shredded brown uniform, his mouth against the prisoner’s shoulder. Getting drained slowly, the flier was getting whiter by the second, screaming in agony.

Every other human in the room was chained up to the floor or the walls. I noticed some of them on the ceiling but they seemed dead, or I hoped they were. It was making me sick but I tried to hide it as well as I could. 

The emperor reached his seat and gestured for me to sit next to him. I listened, lowering myself on the right side of the throne, as far as possible from the crazed venin who left his now desiccated prey to look at me with hungry hazel eyes. 

“Who are you?” he asked me, voice softer than I expected. Now that I was closer, I caught sight of a few purple locks at the front of his black hair that reached the middle of his jaw.  

I was proud of myself when my voice didn't tremble. “Brennan Aisereigh.” 

“He’s Naolin’s chosen?” The venin frowned, turning to look at the emperor who nodded. “Can I have fun with him? I can sense his magic,” he hummed, licking his lips. “I can’t believe I skipped you yesterday. What a shame. The fun we would have had together.” 

I swallowed, debating moving backward even if it would get me in trouble.

“Why did he choose you?” He kept talking, tilting his head to the right, reminding me of a cat. “I don’t get it and he even cleaned your wounds too.”

I was surprised by his genuine confusion. What kind of reputation did my lover have for them to be so surprised by a little bit of kindness? 

He suddenly turned toward the throne, climbing to his feet, “If Naolin took this one for his magic, shouldn’t we kill him? He’ll be even more powerful if he drains him.” 

“Not yet, Jest,” responded the older venin. “For unknown reasons, Naolin cares for him, or at least wants him. He will be useful to keep him in check for now.” 

Jest. I remembered him now, he was the one who took multiple prisoners, including Kylynn. I flinched back when his hand grazed my cheek, suddenly standing right next to me. He caught a handful of my curls in retaliation and pulled me toward him. I felt like my scalp was on fire. Before I could stop it, a scream bypassed my mouth as his other hand rested against my neck. He was draining me.  

A loud noise made everyone turn toward the door. My whole body relaxed despite the situation when Naolin bursted in the room, eyes blazing, and covered in blood. What the hell happened down here?

I barely saw the blue fire ball hit the venin holding me. He was thrown back so far in the room, the wall he landed on cracked on impact. 

“He’s mine Jest, or did you forget that it’s forbidden to touch someone else's property?” Nao’s voice was deadly, eyes zeroed on the other dark wielder.

Despite the situation, I couldn’t help thinking how attractive my boyfriend was, even in anger. 

Naolin POV

“I should kill you for this,” I seethed, feeling my power raging inside me. 

When I heard Brennan’s scream, my whole body went in killing mode like it always did when he was in danger. I could see a little bit of blood running down his forehead, as well as the unshed tears. The sight of them amplified my fury as I turned toward Jest again, who was trying to stand by leaning on the broken wall. 

The emperor was looking between us with a bored expression, but I knew he’s angry at me for attacking one of his favorites. 

“Naolin, that’s enough.”

“He had no right. He is mine.” I glared, keeping my attention on the other maven who was coming back toward us, his own appearance mirroring my anger at getting attacked. 

“Is your task finished?” our leader asked. 

I felt sick just remembering it. Amari’s blood was still on my hands, his muffled screams haunting my ears… I cleared my thoughts, trying to forget but I won’t. The nightmares were coming, like they always did. 

“Yes,” I gritted the word out. “Can I leave?” 

He nodded, attention moving to Jest who was back to his usual spot. There was an unusual frown on the other maven’s face.

I looked at Brennan and gestured for him to follow me with my chin. His steps were behind me a moment later. 

We ended up sitting on my bed after I cleaned and bandaged his new injury as well as the old ones. My face must have given something up because he was looking at me with a worried expression.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, watching me with his beautiful amber eyes, reaching to take my hand. I let him.

“No.” 

The smell of burning flesh, blood everywhere, on the walls, the floor, his blue eyes watching me with understanding. He knew it was not my fault, but I couldn’t help feeling horrible about myself. What kind of best friend was I? Amari knew about Brennan, what I would do for him, to save him but–

My thoughts were shattered when my boyfriend squeezed my hand.

“Please, talk to me,” he begged, moving to lay down on the pillows on my bed, pulling on our intertwined hands until I was sitting next to him, my head on his shoulder. He was calmly running his fingers in my hair. I wished I could just fall asleep and forget all of this. “Naolin, don’t shut me out,” he tried again. 

I sighed, cuddling a bit more before speaking, “The emperor… He’s… My best friend…” I couldn’t seem to get the words out.

Brennan leaned in to kiss my temple. “Take your time, don’t rush,” he whispered soothingly. 

I forgot how nice it was to have someone take care of me like this. I missed him. It's like my heart sewed itself back together the second my brain accepted that he was alive. 

“The emperor forced me to torture my best friend. He always does this. I’m powerful, he knows that. They all know it and he’s always punishing me for it.” The moment I began talking, it was like I couldn’t stop. “Nullifying my power is something he enjoys too.” I turned our joined hands to show him the remaining rings and bracelets, “I broke some of them to use more power during the battle and he already asked the fabricator to make more.” 

“Is he scared of you?”

I nodded. “He could have chosen any other punishment, or person to accomplish the task, if it was only for disobeying him but he didn’t.” I breathed deeply, trying to fight off the new wave of nausea. “The other venins know I won’t kill him because I do not want his place. I just want to be left alone with my friend, and now you.” I added before closing my eyes when I felt his lips against mine, moving my hand to deepen the kiss by putting it against his nape. 

We did not stop, and it was the perfect distraction to ignore my shame.