Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“Sgaeyl says she has never run from a fight, and today will not be the first. And I’m not going to stand by while innocent people are dying, either.” He shakes his head. “But I’m not going to order any of you to join me. I’m responsible for all of you. None of you crossed that parapet because you wanted to. None of you. You crossed it because I made a deal. I’m the one who forced you into the quadrant, so I won’t think less of anyone who wants to fly for Eltuval instead. Make your choice.” He tears his hand through his hair. “I don’t want you in harm’s way.” In a perfect world, that would be all I need to hear. “If the others get to make a choice, then so do I.” His jaw flexes. “We’re riders,” Imogen says as another explosion sounds. “We defend the defenseless. That’s what we do.” “You saved every single one of us here, cousin,” Bodhi says. “And we’re thankful. Now, I’d like to do what we’ve trained for, and if it means I don’t go home, then I guess my soul will be commended to Malek. I wouldn’t mind seeing my mother anyway.” “I’ll tell you the same thing I did after Threshing our first year when we decided to start smuggling weaponry out,” Garrick says. “You kept us alive all these years; we get to decide how we die. I’m with you.” “Exactly!” Soleil says, drumming her fingertips just above the dagger sheathed at her thigh. “I’m in.” Liam steps forward so he stands at my side. “We watched as our parents were executed because they had the courage to do the right thing. I’d ...