Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

told my leadership.” She leans back and takes another drink. “They said they’re looking into it.” We watch Rhiannon kiss her nephew’s perfect chubby cheeks. “I’ve never seen a family this happy,” I admit. “Even when Brennan and Dad were alive, we weren’t like…that.” “No, we weren’t.” A sad smile curves her mouth as she looks at me. “But I can remember plenty of nights we spent curled around the fire with Dad and that book you love.” “Ah yes, the book you made me leave in my old bedroom.” I arch a brow. “You mean the book I snagged just in case Mom got a wild hair and decided to clean out your things while you were in the quadrant?” Her smile morphs into a grin. “I have it at Montserrat. Figured you’d be pissed if you graduated and it was gone. I mean, 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?” I blink. “Shit. I can’t remember. But I guess I’ll be able to read it again soon!” A bubble of joy rises in my chest. “You are the best.”

“Now you empathize with the villain?” I tease. “No.” She shakes her head. “But we have the kind of power people would kill for, Violet. Dragons and gryphons are the gatekeepers, and I’m sure that to someone jealous enough, ambitious enough, risking a soul would be a fair price for the ability to wield.” Her shoulders rise as she shrugs. “Just makes me glad our dragons are so discerning and our wards keep the gryphon riders at bay. Who the hell knows what kind of people those furry creatures choose?”

wingleader

“You haven’t even seen me start to be a dick.”

My head turns so fast that it swims, and my mouth drops open as I stare at the side of Xaden’s face. That was his voice…in my fucking head. He turns, the golden flecks in his eyes catching the light, and I swear I hear him laughing in my mind, though his lips are closed, tilted in that pulse-quickening smirk of his.

“You’re staring. It’s going to get awkward in about thirty second...

“...

“The same way you talk to Sgaeyl. We’re all gloriously, annoyingly linked. This is just one of the perks. Though I’m starting to wish I’d tried it sooner. The look on your face is priceless.” He wi...

“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.”

“Good job remaining professional, Aetos.”

“Really shows those leadership qualities to their best advantage.”

“Relax. It’s just me.”

reflects who you are at the core of your being.

“I hope you didn’t get any ideas while we were in the dark there,”

“Get him out of my head,”

“You’ll get used to it,”

“Is this normal with all mated pairs and ...

“For some. It’s a great advantage ...

“Well, it’s a pain in my ass right now.” I miss Andarna. We’re so far apart tha...

“Then shield him out the same way you do me—or start talking back,” Tairn grumbles. “You have the power to be a ...

“And how exactly am I supposed to talk...

“Figure out which pathway into your mind is his.”

“There’s a drift of gryphons headed this way!”

“Where are you?”

“Almost there.

“Almost there,”

“You have to take us back!”

have done everything I can and will not risk your life.”

“Now, hold on so we can outfly them.”

“Quit telling Sgaeyl about my sleep habits,”

“I’m not dignifying that demand with a response.”

“Andarna is my fa...

“You were—” I pause. “I don’t even know how old you are now.” Mira was right. I know almost nothing about him. And yet…I feel like I know who he is in the very marrow of his bones. Could my emotions be any more scattered when it comes to him? “Twenty-three,” he answers. “My birthday was in March.” And I didn’t even know. “Mine is in—” “July,” he answers with a ghost of a smile. “I know. I made it my business to know everything there was to know about you the second I saw you on the parapet.” “Because that’s not creepy.” I let the coffee warm my freezing hands. “Can’t know how to ruin someone without understanding them first,” he says quietly. I lift my gaze to find that his is already on me. “And is that still your plan?” Mira’s words have haunted me for two days. He flinches. “No.” “What changed?” Frustration tightens my grip on the mug. “When exactly did you decide not to ruin me?” “Maybe it was when I saw Oren holding a knife to your throat,” he says. “Or maybe it was when I realized the bruises on your neck were fingerprints and wanted to kill them all over again just so I could do it slowly. 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.” My breath catches at his admission, but he just sighs, lets his head fall back against the wall. “Does it even matter when, as long as it changed between us?”

He finally reveals his feelings🥹