Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“What the hell is wrong with him?” someone asks as Jack writhes. “Oranges,” I whisper to Ridoc as my body finally gives out. “He’s allergic to oranges.”

“You turned oranges into a weapon, Violence?”

I barely keep from clutching at my chest to see if all my organs are where they’re supposed to be, since it feels like he just eviscerated me with four sentences.

“Apparently I can’t trust Liam to report deadly situations or Rhiannon to train you on the mat, seeing how easily Barlowe had you pinned, so as of this moment, I’m taking over.” “Taking over what?” My eyes narrow. “Everything when it comes to you.”

The blade itself is clearly honed to lethal perfection. “It’s spectacular.” “It’s yours.” My head snaps up, but there’s no lie in his onyx eyes. “I had it made for you.” His lips curve slightly.

The ease with which he has me on my back is simultaneously appalling and…ridiculously hot,

“You won’t like what happens if you push me.”

“I thought you said kissing me was a mistake.” I don’t care if the entire quadrant is watching if that means he’ll kiss me again. “It was.” He smirks. “I’m just teaching you that blades aren’t the only way to disarm an opponent. Tell me, Violence, are you disarmed?”

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.”

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.

“Leave for me, Violet.”

I realized I’m fucked because I can’t stop thinking about doing more than just kissing you.” My breath catches at his admission,

And there, swirling along the edge of the roofline, is a shadow of sparkling night. Xaden.

theoretically, you should be able to change positions on long flights without unbuckling, since we built in a lap belt, too.” “Theoretically?” “He wasn’t amenable to me giving it a test flight.” “You can ride me when the flesh rots off my bones, wingleader.”

“Fuck, that stubborn, feisty look always makes me want to kiss you.” Xaden’s expression remains bland, bored even, but his eyes heat as his gaze drops to my mouth. “And you say this now, where people will see if you actually do.” My breath catches. “When did I ever give you the impression that I give a fuck what people think about me?” A corner of his mouth rises, and now it’s all I can concentrate on, damn him. “I only care what they think about you.”

“Bet it would be even more awkward if I kissed you now, huh?” Yes, please. “The next time we kiss had better not be just to piss off Dain.” The next time had better only be because we want it. “Next time, huh?” His gaze lowers to my mouth again.

I am the sky and the power of every storm that has ever been. I am infinite. A scream rips from my throat just as lightning splits the sky with a terrifying crack of thunder.

“I’m proud you’re mine.” Andarna’s voice wavers,

“I know. I know.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “And if you don’t want to use that kind of power again, you don’t have to—” “Get the fuck away from her with that nonsense.” Xaden pushes Dain’s chest and tugs me out of his arms, then grips my shoulders, turning me to face him.

“Stop. Fucking. Coddling. Her.” Xaden bites out

“So then why are you here, Xaden?” “Because I can’t seem to stay away.”

“Are you suggesting someone else?” My heart races as I chance calling his bluff. “Fuck no.” The unmistakable flare of jealousy narrows his eyes for a heartbeat before his hips pin mine to the door,

In this moment, Xaden Riorson is mine. Or maybe I’m his. Who fucking cares as long as he keeps kissing me?

“I chose the chance of death over the certainty.”

Finding a jar on my nightstand with a handful of spring violets? My heart swells. I’m in so much fucking trouble.

“Don’t leave me.” “Never. I’ll burn him alive before he takes a single step toward you.”

“Well, then start there. Ground in your power and try to feel whatever it was you were feeling.” He goes back to his notebook. “Should I get the wingleader?” Tairn flat-out laughs in my head.

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

“You’re going to be the death of me.”

“Yeah, well, I’m his…” I open my mouth and shut it a few times because…fuck if I know what I am to him.

“I’m just…his.”

That ache in my chest burns brighter than the power coursing through my veins. I’m in love with Xaden.

“You’re seriously going to be the death of me.” His fingers flex at my waist. “Go back.”

“You want me,” I say, looking him in the eyes. “And no, I’m not just talking about in bed. You. Want. Me, Xaden Riorson. You might not say it, but you do one better and show it. You show it every time you choose to trust me, every time your eyes linger on mine. You show it with every sparring lesson you don’t have time for and every flight lesson that pulls you away from your own studies. You show it when you refuse to touch me because you’re worried I don’t really want you, then show it again when you take the time to hunt down violets before a leadership meeting so I don’t wake up feeling alone. You show it in a million different ways. Please don’t deny it.” His jaw flexes, but he doesn’t deny it.

if we let fear kill whatever this is between us, then we don’t deserve it.”

Imogen and I are just friends. Trust me, she wasn’t looking at me, and even if she were…” He pauses, his hand slipping to cradle the back of my head as he holds us steady despite the gusting wind. “Gods help me, I’m only looking at you.”

“There’s only you, Violence. Is that what you needed to hear?” I nod. “Even when I’m not with you, there’s only you. Next time, just ask.

“I saw Aetos kiss you after Threshing and nearly lost my shit.”

If I didn’t already love him, that might have pushed me over the edge. “You wanted me then?” “I’ve wanted you from the first second I saw you, Violence,”

“Did you know that the first time I climbed these steps with Dain, I was horrified that there wasn’t a handrail?” “Did you know I can’t stand to hear his name on your lips while you’re leading the way to my room?”

“Good.” I lean in and brush my lips over his. “Because I think I’m in love with you.” My heart beats erratically, and panic claws up my rib cage. I shouldn’t have said it. His eyes flare wide and his arms tighten around me. “You think? Or you know?” Be brave. Even if he doesn’t feel the same, at least I will have spoken my truth. “I know. I’m so wildly in love with you that I can’t imagine what my life would even look like without you in it.

“I fucking need you, Violet. Right now. And I don’t need anyone, so I’m not quite sure how to handle this feeling,

“Oh gods.” “Which one are you calling out for?” he asks against my flesh. “Because it’s just you and me in this room, Vi, and I don’t share.”

“The wingleader had it made for me. See? It hooks to Tairn’s.”

“I need you,” Xaden says to me. “I’m sorry?” Dain retorts before I can even nod. “Relax, he just wants to say goodbye,” I explain. “If you’re saying goodbye, it’s to him,” Xaden corrects, nodding at Dain.

“Please, do quit while you’re behind, Aetos,” Xaden seethes. “You want the truth? She’s a fuck of a lot safer with me beyond the wards than she is with you within them.

“Worrying about you is ninety-nine percent of what I do.”

“I’m way too fucking greedy when it comes to you.”

“You’re mine, Violet.” I lift my chin. “Only if you’re mine.” “I’ve been yours for longer than you could ever imagine.”

“Did you ever once stop to think that sometimes you can start out on the right side of a war and end up on the wrong one?”