Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“He’s just a little freaked out. Don’t scorch him.” “At least we agree on something.” A feminine voice sounds through my head. Sgaeyl. In awe, I blink up at the navy-blue daggertail as Xaden moves to my side. “She talked to me.”

“Hold on. Is Andarna yours?” Xaden walks a step toward Sgaeyl, and the tone in his voice is one I’ve never heard. He’s…hurt. “Have you hidden a hatchling away from me these last two years?”

It’s odd to imagine Xaden ever not being in control. Hell, I’d pay good money to see him lose it. To be the one he lost it with. Nope. I shut that thought down immediately.

“Tell me what she said. Please.” His mouth tightens and I know that last bit cost him.

Every gaze whips toward me, and Xaden’s grip tightens on my shoulders, his thumbs stroking in a soothing motion. “Why would you think that?”

“At some point, you and I are going to have to start trusting each other, Sorrengail. The rest of our lives depend on it.” Fury swims in Xaden’s eyes. “Now tell me who.”

Just like it always does, my stupid, hormone-driven heart stutters at the first sight of Xaden. Even the most effective poisons come in pretty packages, and Xaden’s exactly that—as beautiful as he is lethal.

He doesn’t even have to try to look sexy…he just is.

Oh shit. This feeling right here—the way my breath catches and my entire body draws tight when he’s near—is why I haven’t taken anyone to bed or celebrated like the rest of my perfectly normal friends. This feeling is why I haven’t wanted anyone…else. Because I want him. There aren’t enough curse words in the world for this.

“Fucking mated dragons,”

I feel the weight of a dozen glances, but it’s Xaden’s I feel most of all.

As surely as if they’re a physical structure, I feel my defenses crack on Xaden’s behalf.

“Xaden’s up there fighting because I told him it was her. Help him.” And gods, I admire him for it. I take a deep breath.

Wanting and admiring? I’m so screwed.

I can’t turn around. I won’t. Wanting Xaden is fine. It has to be. Indulging the impulses it gives me? That’s asinine.

“But I’m sure Riorson would be fine with my reviewing a couple candidates, especially if it means you’ll stop flipping him off in front of his entire wing.” “And how exactly would you be reviewing candidates? What will you be scoring?” Rhiannon asks, one eyebrow raised above her wide grin. “This I have to hear.”

Shit. I don’t know how to feel about that. It’s more than slightly controlling, and way out of line, but also…sweet. “But if he’s the one who warded it, then he can get in, too, right?”

It’s impossible to rip my eyes away until he passes, though. Gods, I have it bad. “Go away unless you have something useful to say.” “Move faster. You’ll be less likely to die. How’s that for useful?” he calls back, taking up a position on a mat closer to the center of the sparring gym.

Holy. Fucking. Hot.

I should be absolutely immune to the male form, but I’ve never seen him shirtless. Every edge of Xaden’s body is honed like a weapon, all sharp lines and barely leashed power.

And I know exactly how that body feels on top of mine, just how much power— My hip stings, knocking me out of my trance, and I startle. “Serves you right,” Tairn lectures.

“That is…” Rhiannon murmurs beside me. “It sure is,” I agree. “Stop objectifying our wingleader,” Liam teases. “Is that what we’re doing?” Rhiannon asks, not bothering to look away. My mouth waters at the muscled expanse of his back and that sculpted ass. “Yeah, I think that’s what we’re doing.”

He only tolerates my existence because our dragons are mated, and here I am salivating over his half-naked body. It’s a really nice half-naked body, though.

I want to throttle him, to shake some ever-loving sense into that beautiful head of his. He leans in so we’re almost nose to nose. “I am annoyingly aware of everything you do.”

What is it about Xaden that makes me tune out the rest of the world?

“You choose the oddest times to defend her, Aetos.” Xaden all but rolls his eyes as he looks at Dain. “And the most convenient times not to.”

“You held your own and controlled your temper,” Tairn says, an immense swell of pride flooding my chest. “She’s ready,” Andarna adds with a giddy jolt of joy that makes me instantly light-headed. “She’s ready,” he agrees.

Away. I have to get away from everyone until Tairn finishes…whatever he and Sgaeyl are doing.

“Yeah, well, the people who made that rule obviously weren’t bonded to Sgaeyl and Tairn, now were they?” A smirk lifts a corner of his mouth.

“I’m my own bodyguard,” I counter, resting my cheek on the icy stone. “And he’s in bed.” “Your bed?” His voice is like a crack of lightning.

so much lightning foreshadowing

Is he jealous? That’s…oddly comforting. He looses a breath, his shoulders dipping. “It doesn’t matter to me as long as you’re both consenting, and trust me, you’re in no condition to consent.”

He has the nerve to look offended.

the one who burst through your door and killed everyone who attacked you, and then I removed the other threat to your life with a very public, very polarizing display of vengeance. Liam didn’t do that. I did.”

“Fine. We’re not fighting. Teach me.” I tilt my chin. Gods, I barely reach his collarbone. “Ask me nicely.” He leans closer. “Have you always been this tall?” I blurt the first thing that comes to mind.

“Only when I know I have something you need. What can I say, I like making you squirm. It’s like a sweet little slice of payback for what you’ve put me through these last couple of months.” He brushes the snow off my hair. “What I’ve put you through?” Unbelievable. “You’ve scared me nearly to death once or twice, so I think saying please is a fair request.”

Xaden studies me with an intensity that makes me sway toward him. “You are astonishing.” He shakes his head. “I couldn’t do that for weeks.” “Guess I have a superior teacher.” The emotion swelling through me is more than joy. It’s euphoria that has me grinning like a fool.

His thumbs stroke over the soft skin under my ears, and his gaze drops to my mouth and heats. Hands flexing, he draws me forward a few inches before he suddenly lets go and retreats a full step. “Damn it. Touching you was a bad idea.” “The worst,” I agree, but my tongue skims my lower lip. He groans and my core melts at the sound. “Kissing you would be a cataclysmic mistake.” “Calamitous.” What would it take to hear that groan again?

Only him. Here. Now. Anywhere. Whenever.

It’s exhilarating and terrifying at the same time because I know that in this moment, he has the power to break me. And I’d let him.

so have just a little mercy on me and go.”

Gods, Xaden looks good today, his brow slightly furrowed as he listens intently to something Lamani says, then nods. Hard to believe I had that mouth on mine last night, those arms wrapped around me. Forget second thoughts. I just want more. As if he feels me staring, Xaden lifts his head, his gaze colliding with mine across the space with the same effect as a touch. My pulse skitters and my lips part.

“I think losing Brennan is the tragedy.” I heft my satchel up higher on my shoulder. “But the loss of his signet was a definite blow to the wings.”

“Oranges,” I whisper to Ridoc as my body finally gives out. “He’s allergic to oranges.” I fall into nothingness.

And that’s not Ridoc lounged in the chair next to my bed, glaring at me like he’d like to kill me himself. It’s Xaden. His hair is tousled, like he’s been tugging at it, and he’s flipping a dagger end over end, catching it by the tip without so much as looking at it before sheathing it at his side. “Oranges?”

oranges 🫠

so as of this moment, I’m taking over.” “Taking over what?” My eyes narrow. “Everything when it comes to you.”

I study the blade in his hand. It’s beautiful, with a solid black hilt engraved with Tyrrish knots, old, mythical runes of intricate swirls and ties. The blade itself is clearly honed to lethal perfection. “It’s spectacular.” “It’s yours.”

“I had it made for you.” His lips curve slightly.

when his love language is gift giving!!!

“What?” My mouth opens, and my chest tightens. He took the time to have it made? Shit. That gives me feelings I really don’t want to have. Soft, confusing feelings.

The ease with which he has me on my back is simultaneously appalling and…ridiculously hot, especially with the weight of his hips settled between my thighs. It takes all my willpower not to reach up and brush the stray lock of hair from his forehead.

well aware that he’s done it all without knocking the wind out of me.