(SPOILERS FOR ONYX STORM!!)

aaric had manifested.

between the impending battle with the venin, xaden turning into one of them, his family finding out he was alive and a rider, and the disappointment of finding the irids and losing them, he hadn’t told anyone.

then again, nobody had asked. it was sort of his memo- if they didn’t ask, he wouldn’t tell.

still, in the chaos of preparing at tyrrendor, he kept having the same vision, no matter what he did.

you, finding out his secret.

you, confronting him.

he couldn’t see beyond that. would you report him? accept him?

he didn’t want to take the chance, either way. he didn’t like relying on people, he had been a pawn for too long.

so when you sought him out while everyone else helped prepare, he knew it was over.

his carefully kept secret was about to unravel.

“aaric.”

he froze when you called his name, glancing at the guards on either side of him.

it was inevitable.

with a sigh, he tugged you into a room. alone. “let’s talk.”