Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

Or is there some other reason he’s holding himself back that I’m not considering?

There was only one name on the death roll this week, a third-year who didn’t come back from an overnight mission.

why

“Of course there is,” I whisper. Oh gods, everyone is here to gather in celebration of the end of what he and the others call the apostasy. They’re celebrating his mother’s death. “You can go. You should go. This is…” I shake my head. “I go where you go.” His hand tightens over mine.

A boulder lodges in my throat, and I scan the crowd, instinctively knowing that he’s not here. There’s no Garrick, no Bodhi, no Imogen, and definitely no Xaden. No wonder he was in such a shit mood today. “This isn’t fair to you.”

“I highly doubt you enjoy celebrating the anniversary of your brother’s death, either.” Liam holds himself with a dignity I could never imagine. “Brennan would hate all of this.” I gesture to the crowd. “He was more about getting the work done than celebrating its completion.”

“Yeah, sounds like—”

Liam knows Brennan is alive

“When your greatest danger approaches? I think not.” His spine straightens.

Melgren nods again, his gaze scanning the crowd. “Now tell me, where is the Riorson boy? I always like to lay eyes on him once a year and make sure he’s not causing trouble.”

See him? Hmmm

“That’s excellent.” King Tauri beams. “It’s good to have a Sorrengail on lookout for us. You’ll let us know if he decides to, oh, I don’t know.” He laughs. “Start another war?”

“Xaden didn’t make me come.” “What?” My gaze jumps to his. “He’d never ask this of me. Never ask it of anyone. But I told him I would keep you safe, and that’s what I’m doing, keeping you safe.” He flashes a crooked smile.

“You are a good friend, Liam Mairi.” I rest my head on his arm.

“You saved my life, Violet. The least I can do is grin and bear it thr...

His touch is gentle when he cups my cheek. “You look beautiful tonight, Vi.”

Here he finds out X went to Abenthyne

His hand falls away as he turns to Liam.

Dain must read the tense lines of Liam’s face, because his smile slips

Bc he saw your memories. Sex with X too

As for the 107 innocents, the children of the executed officers, they now carry what shall be known as the rebellion relic, transferred by the dragon who carried out the king’s justice. And to show the mercy of our great king, they will all be conscripted into the prestigious Riders Quadrant at Basgiath, so they may prove their loyalty to our kingdom with their service or with their death. —Addendum 4.2, the Treaty of Aretia

“You’re seriously going to be the death of me.”

Third time saying this

“Liam will be here next year to make sure you’re not doing asinine things,”

Foreshadowing noooo

shadows curling from the wall as if they sense his mood and want nothing to do with it.

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 read her thoughts

used to think of it as a curse, but now I realize it’s a gift.” He arches his hips, hitting me at a sublime angle. “A gift?”

Foreshadowing

The inability to control a powerful signet is just as dangerous to a rider—and everyone in their vicinity— as never manifesting one. —Major Afendra’s Guide to the Riders Quadrant (Unauthorized Edition)

“Wanting you will be the death of me.

“Riders Quadrant!” Panchek shouts, his voice carrying across the courtyard. “Welcome to the last event of this year’s War Games.”

“The alert that was sounded is similar

to what it would have been if this were a real-life attack—to see how fast you would muster—and we will continue this exercise as if it is.

Colonel Aetos, would you do us the honor of reading the scenario?”

“Fourth Wing to the southeast. Each squad will pick which outpost they will reinforce within that region.” He holds up a finger. “Choices are first come, first served. Wingleaders,

however, will be assigned to theirs for the purposes of determining a headquarters for this exercise.”

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 hea...

“Riorson, you’ll establish your headquarters for Fourth Wing at Athebyne. Wingleaders, assemble your headquarters squads at your own discretion, pulling from any and all riders within your wings. Consider this a test of leadership, as there are no limitations in a real-world scenario. You will receive the updated orders once you reach your selected outposts for this five-day exercise.” He steps back. Athebyne? That’s beyond t...

“Just like real life, you squad leaders need to make your choices quickly, then report to the flight field within thirty minutes,” Panchek decrees. “You’re dismissed.”

“Second Squad!” Dain calls out. “Prepare for a four-hour first leg of our flight. We’ll need to keep a tight formation for the first fifteen minutes as the squads disperse.” He glances my way, then over my shoulder. “Wingleader?”

And worse, how are our dragons going to cope? “Don’t worry, Silver One,” Tairn interjects, his tone resolved. “Everything is as it should be.”

“I’m constructing my headquarters squad and you’re coming with me. So are Liam and Imogen.” My jaw unhinges. I’m what? “The fuck you are,” Dain barks, stepping forward. “She’s a first-year, and Athebyne is beyond the wards.” Xaden blinks. “I don’t hear you giving me the same argument about Mairi.” I look over my shoulder, and sure enough, Liam stands with his chin raised in front of Deigh. It’s almost as if he expected this.

Somehow X must've updated the marked ones. Bc he knows it's a trap and Dain ratted him out

“And not that I owe you an explanation, second-year, because I don’t, but Sgaeyl and Tairn can’t be separated

for longer than a few days—”

“Don’t do this. Riders are known to die during War Games, and she’s safer with me,” Dain argues. “Anything could happen once we’re away from Basgiath, let alone you taking her beyond the wards.” “I’m not dignifying that with a response. This is an order.”

Dain’s eyes narrow. “Or has this been your plan all along? To separate her from her squad so you can use her to get your need for revenge on her mother?”

Dain knows and is desperate for Vi to stay with him

“He’s made a big deal out of the whole if-she-dies-I-die thing, but do you know it for a fact? Do you know Tairn won’t survive your death? Or has it all been a ploy to earn your trust, Violet?”

I wonder if Dain is correct? Not about X but about the bond between them you die I die thing

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

What does X mean here? Everyone who was after her is dead

“Him?” Dain’s eyes widen and his face flushes. “You and…him?” He shakes his head. “People talk, and I thought that’s all it was, but you…” Disappointment drops his shoulders. “Don’t go, Violet. Please. He’s going to get you killed.”

Dain looks horrified for a second but quickly masks it. “If he’s what you choose…” He sighs. “Then I guess that has to be enough for me, doesn’t it?”

“I’ll miss you, Violet.” Then he pivots on his heel and heads for Cath.

Dain knows this is death mission for X

can’t help but note both of the important men are walking away from me right now, in opposite directions, and given the one I’ve chosen to follow, my life is about to change forever.

No shit sister. Foreshadowing

The first known gryphon attack occurred in 1 AU (After Unification) near what is now the trading post of Resson. At the edge of the dragon-protected border, the post has always been vulnerable to attack and, over the course of the past six centuries, has changed hands no less than eleven times in what has become a never-ending war to secure our borders from our power-hungry enemies. —Navarre, an Unedited History by Colonel Lewis Markham

“It feels different,” I tell Tairn. “Without the wards, magic is wilder here. It’s easier for dragons to communicate within the wards. The wingleader will have to take that into account when commanding his wing from this outpost.” “I’m sure he’s already thought of that.”

thick forest of trees and heavy boulders surround one edge of the

water, and nearby grass is trampled, which means we’re not the first riot to rest here.

There are ten dragons in a...