Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

I’m alive. I’m alive. I’m alive. I repeat the mantra in my head as Xaden wipes the blood from my dagger on the back of Oren’s

“I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud.”

“Never lie to me.” He says it with such ferocity, bit out through gritted teeth, that I can’t help but nod in promise.

I remember your father doing a bit of research about the second Krovlan uprising, and he mentioned something about feathertails, but we can’t seem to find that tome.”

I could have sworn I saw a riot of dragons across the border during this attack.”

whatever would you do if you forgot a minute detail of how the gallant riders took out the army of wyvern and the venin who sucked the land dry of magic?”

What had Sgaeyl said about signets? It reflects who you are at the core of your being.

With a signet like that, you are the best hope the kingdom has against the hordes of evil that seek to harm

Signets are based on the rider, just fueled by the dragon, which means this has always been there under the surface, just waiting to be unleashed.

“Should I get the wingleader?” Tairn flat-out laughs in my head.

Remember that folklore is passed from one generation to the next to teach us about our past.

It only takes one desperate generation to change history—even erase it.

“He said one day there would be no magic left in the kingdom if we weren’t careful.”

I’m not going to survive this. I’m going to die right here in this bed. “Then I’m going to die with you,” he promises, kissing me.

He turns to each wingleader, giving out orders, but glances in our direction—no doubt looking for Dain—before he turns toward Xaden. Something about the way his smile slips for a heartbeat makes the hair rise on the back of my neck.

“Don’t worry, Silver One,” Tairn interjects, his tone resolved. “Everything is as it should be.”

She’s a fuck of a lot safer with me beyond the wards than she is with you within them. We both know it.”