Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“You know the problem with this place?” I tug my arm back again, but he holds fast. “Besides you touching things that don’t belong to you?” My eyes narrow on him. “I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” My stomach flutters as his thumb brushes my pulse and he releases my wrist.

“The right way isn’t the only way. Figure it out.” Then he turns and walks away.

“Stop letting fear leach into your voice,” Luca snaps from behind Rhiannon. “If the dragons think you’re a coward, you’ll be nothing but a name tomorrow.” “She says,” Ridoc narrates, “inducing more fear.”

“I’m a rider.” “Well, maybe I am, too,”

“I don’t know if I can watch,” Dain says, drawing my attention back to his strong face. His perfectly trimmed beard brackets full lips drawn tight into a frown. “Then close your eyes.” I have a plan—a shitty one, but it’s worth a try.

“What changed between Parapet and now?” Dain asks again, a wealth of emotions in his eyes that I can’t begin to interpret. Well, except the fear. That doesn’t need any interpretation. “Me.”

“I think I’m just as loyal to my sister whether I’ve had a letter from her or not,” I counter. “There are bonds that can’t be broken.”

“I think I just shat myself,” Ridoc says, and my laughter only pitches higher as we move through the field.

It’s going to die just because it’s smaller, weaker than the other dragons…just like me.

“You’re making us look bad. Stop it.”

“I know exactly who and what you are, Violet Sorrengail.”

“We’re going to have to put on a show.”

“You’ll never be alone again.” “That sounds more like a threat than a comfort,”

“Pronunciation could use some work.”

“Andarnaurram.” The sweet, high voice of the golden fills my mind. “Andarna for short.”

What about yours, Rhi?” “Somewhere you’ll never see,” she responds. “You wound me.” He slaps his hand over his heart.

She’s quieter in my head, too, not as meddlesome as Tairn. “I heard that. Now pay attention.”

His hand is up, using common lesser magic to project his voice so we can all hear. God help us when Ridoc figures out how to do that.

“You’re worthy. At least I think you are, but you apparently don’t pay attention in class.” He chuffs and a warm puff of steam blasts the back of my neck.

“Are you always around?” I snap back mentally. “Yes. Get used to it.” I fight the urge to growl at the intrusive, overbearing— “Still here.”

Tell him to ease up on you.” “Tell him to mind his own business.”

“You are sad?” Andarna asks, her voice soft.

“I never get to see her,” I blatantly whine. “I’m always stuck with your grumpy ass.” “I’m always here,” Andarna answers,

“I’m hungry. I think I’ll partake in a flock of sheep.” He launches with great beats of his wings.

He’s more of the char-first-ask-questions-later type.”

“The reason we’ll never be anything more than friends isn’t because of your rules. It’s because you have no faith in me.

“If you value your secrets, clear your thoughts. Now,” Xaden orders.

For someone who can’t help, Tairn has no problem dishing out opinions.

“I know how to handle a corset.” His jaw flexes once, and something that reminds me of raw hunger flitters across his expression before he locks it down, drawing my hair over my shoulder with surprising gentleness.

Xaden Riorson is kneeling before me, his black hair at the perfect level for me to run my fingers through the thickness. It’s probably the only thing that’s soft about him. How many women have felt those strands between their fingers? Why the hell do I care?

Then he robs me of every logical thought by putting on my boots and lacing them one at a time.

“Oh, are we telling dick jokes now?” Ridoc asks from Liam’s side. “Because my entire life has led up to this very moment.”

“Have you always been this tall?” I blurt the first thing that comes to mind. “No. I was a child at some point.”

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.”

“I know how to handle you on top of me,” I challenge quietly. He lowers his mouth to my ear. “You won’t like what happens if you push me.” “Or maybe I will.” I turn just enough that my lips brush the shell of his ear.

“Disarm me before I test that theory in front of everyone in this gym.” “Interesting. I didn’t take you for an exhibitionist.” “Keep pushing, and I guess you’ll find out.” His gaze drops to my mouth.

He pushes me to my physical limit every session but never further, usually leaving me a boneless, sweaty heap on the sparring gym floor, gasping for breath.

“Do you boys just want to whip it out and measure? It would be faster.”

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

You’re not anything that needs to be fixed.

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

Who cares if I’m in nothing but my dressing gown?

There’s nowhere in existence you could go that I wouldn’t find you, Violence.”

Right here, both wanting and only one of us brave enough to take, and I deserve more than a relationship that’s only on his terms.

Dress uniforms only.” She lifts her brows at Ridoc. He shrugs. “What else would I be wearing?” “One never knows what you’ll come up with,” Devera says, dismissing us.

“Don’t you look handsome.” “I know.”

“In a fucking dress.” “It’s a skirt, actually,”

“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” His voice lowers. “If not, I’m a fool,

I have to be as strategic as Brennan and as confident as Mira.