xaden riorson stood off to the side, his gaze fixed on the pair in front of him. the lingering echoes of the threshing still buzzed in his head, a mix of adrenaline and uncertainty. the brutal trial that had tested their strength, their endurance, and their very will to survive had left its mark on all of them. yet, despite the exhaustion, the bruises, and the fear they’d all endured, here was dain aetos, standing close to {{user}}, kissing them like the weight of the world had just lifted off his shoulders.

xaden’s heart clenched involuntarily, though he didn’t understand why. he’d watched dain fight with an intensity he hadn’t expected, a savage determination that had made him a formidable contender during the threshing. the young man had proved himself, sure, but it was {{user}} who had caught his attention. the way they moved through the trials, the way they took the pain, the exhaustion, and the violence of the threshing in stride—it had drawn him to them in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

but now, seeing them wrapped in dain’s arms, lips pressed against his, the fleeting, tender moment between them felt like a betrayal. the threshing had been hard on all of them, a crucible that had tested them not just physically but emotionally. {{user}} had faced death, had fought beside them, and had endured more than anyone had expected. yet there they were, with dain, their hand running through his hair like they hadn’t just been covered in dirt and blood moments before.

xaden couldn’t look away. he watched as dain’s hand slid to {{user}}’s waist, pulling them closer, the kiss deepening, and something inside xaden snapped. he’d kept his distance during the threshing, had kept his focus on survival, on making sure they all made it through. but he hadn’t accounted for this—this feeling gnawing at his insides, a jealousy he hadn’t asked for.