Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“Have you always been this tall?”

“Are you always this difficult?” “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.

“Would you pretty, pretty please teach me how to shield before I accidentally climb you like a tree and we both wake up with regrets?”

He adjusts his stance and brings both his hands up to my cheeks, cradling my face before sliding them back to hold my head. “Close your eyes.”

“It requires touching me?” My eyes flutter shut at the sensation of his skin against mine. “Not at all. Just one of the perks of not thinking too clearly. You have incredibly touchable skin.”

“You are astonishing.” He shakes his head.

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.”

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?

“Fuck it.”

YES

One second he’s out of reach and the next his mouth is on mine, hot and insistent. Gods, yes. This is exactly what I need.

“Violence,” he moans, and the sound of the nickname on his lips makes me ravenous.

He’s just as needy as I am, and when he shifts his grip to my ass and picks me up, I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on like my life depends on this kiss never ending.

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.

A flash of light burns behind my closed eyes, followed by the boom of thunder.

“I guess I can summon.”

“I finished this for you,” Liam says, handing me a figurine as we climb the wide spiral staircase to the third floor. It’s Tairn. He’s even mastered his snarl. “This is…incredible. Thank you.”

“You reached for my head like you were entitled to my memory after blatantly telling me you didn’t believe me, and you demanded I show you.”

“But keeping me safe is keeping me from growing, too.”

He reaches up to cup my cheek, and I hold his gaze, determined for him to understand he either starts valuing my choices or we are never going to fix our friendship.

“You’re all worried about the integrity of the wing because Riorson might have to visit to keep his dragon happy but, Violet, he’s not the most powerful rider of our generation. You are.”

He looks from me to Ridoc. “Guard her like you’re me.” “You mean like I’m six inches taller and built like a bull?” Ridoc gives him a thumbs-up. “Sure. I’ll do my best. In the meantime, you’d better run.”

“Thanks for being a great shadow.”

“That whole I-die-Xaden-dies thing is really just a hypothesis, right?” I ask, unsheathing the daggers that are hardest to reach during a fight, the ones in my boots. “One I’d rather not put to the test,” Tairn growls.

“Bet you wish you didn’t know what it feels like to dig out one of my knives, don’t you?” I retort.

Then I kick him straight in the balls.

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?”

“You turned oranges into a weapon, Violence?”

I’m taking over.” “Taking over what?” My eyes narrow. “Everything when it comes to you.”

The blade itself is clearly honed to lethal perfection. “It’s spectacular.” “It’s yours.” My head snaps up, but there’s no lie in his onyx eyes. “I had it made for you.” His lips curve slightly.

“Now, earn your nickname and try your best to kill me.”

He opens the door to the dormitory for me, and I walk inside. The motion is so easy that I know it’s not only practiced but second nature, which is at complete odds with, well…everything I’ve come to know about him.

“You’re kind of terrifying.” “Thank you.” I grin, and we get out of there, running as fast as we can.

Your power is yours and yours alone, Vi.”

“Turns out, about three days is their max.” Xaden steps out of the shadows.

He winks and turns back to the table. He. Fucking. Winked. And is that a hint of a smile?

“You never considered that it was you I couldn’t stay away from?”

“Now, now, you’ll give our little communication secret away if you can’t keep from being so…violent.”

My heart jumps as my sight goes black. “Relax. It’s just me.” A ghost of a touch skims my cheek.

“You have the power to be a pain in the ass, too. Trust me.”

Then his hands are on my cheeks, sliding back to cup the base of my neck as he brings his mouth to mine.

“Leave for me, Violet.”

Maybe it was the first time I recklessly kissed you or when I realized I’m fucked because I can’t stop thinking about doing more than just kissing you.”

“Chocolate cake. Stop being weird.”

It’s the saddle strapped across his back that has me gawking. “I hear it’s all the fashion,” Tairn brags.

“If you don’t use it, I’ll take personal offense.” He folds his arms across his chest and studies the rigging. “Considering I had it made for you and just about got myself burned alive in the process of trying to get it on him.” He lifts a brow at Tairn. “Even though he helped design it, I might add.”

“You can ride me when the flesh rots off my bones, wingleader.”

“Fuck, that stubborn, feisty look always makes me want to kiss you.” Xaden’s expression remains bland, bored even, but his eyes heat as his gaze drops to my mouth. “And you say this now, where people will see if you actually do.” My breath catches. “When did I ever give you the impression that I give a fuck what people think about me?” A corner of his mouth rises, and now it’s all I can concentrate on, damn him. “I only care what they think about you.”

“Bet it would be even more awkward if I kissed you now, huh?”

“The next time we kiss had better not be just to piss off Dain.” The next time had better only be because we want it. “Next time, huh?” His gaze lowers to my mouth again.

“Go lead your wing—or do whatever it is you do.”