CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Summary

• Chapter 33 opens with the character getting ready to join an urgent mustering of the Riders Quadrant. The wards that protect their vicinity seem to be falling.
• The character's helper, Xaden, lends her one of his jackets for the engagement.
• Xaden tells her not to worry if he gets sent away, as he expects to return soon.
• Amidst chaos and preparations at the war college, the character is speculated to be romantically involved with Xaden by her friend Rhiannon. This is due to Xaden's unique jacket that she wears.
• They all join the formation, and later, Commandant Panchek announces that this alarm is for the 'War Games', a simulation, and they are to continue it as if it's a real attack.
• The squads are given different regions to protect and they are also assigned headquarters.
• There's tension between the character, Dain, and Xaden as Xaden decides to take the character with him, claiming that their dragons (Tairn and Sgaeyl) can't be separated for long.
• Dain expresses fear for the character's safety and accuses Xaden of breaking up the team for personal reasons, namely revenge on the character's mother.
• The character convinces Dain that she trusts Xaden, and though Dain is visibly hurt, he eventually accepts it.
• All the riders get ready to join their respective squads and leave for their mission. Xaden thanks the character for her trust as they prepare to depart.