Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“Nature likes all things in balance,” Andarna says like she’s reciting facts, just like I do when I’m nervous.

“Feathertails shouldn’t bond because they can accidentally gift their powers to humans,” Andarna continues. “Dragons can’t channel—not really—until we’re big, but we’re all born with something special.”

“But I gave my gift directly to you. Because I’m still a feathertail.”

“You’re still a feathertail?” “Yep! For another couple of years, probably.” She blinks slowly and then cracks a yawn, her forked tail curling. Oh. Gods. “You’re…you’re a hatchling,” I whisper. “I am not!” Andarna puffs steam into the air. “I’m two!

Bonding too young allows them to give their gift directly, and a rider could easily drain them and burn out.”

“I’ll do my best to be worthy.”

He believes me, and he’s ready to execute a wingleader on nothing more than my word.

A gruesome scream rends the air, shattering a window in the academic wing, and every rider slams their hands over their ears as Claidh mourns.

Maybe it’s just that I haven’t been around marked ones before Basgiath, but the outright hostility toward them is becoming glaringly, uncomfortably obvious to me.

Riorson was right. You would have been wasted as a scribe.”

“But your father wasn’t on that roll.” But Liam was—as a witness.

My little sister was sent elsewhere.”

Neither fostering nor separating siblings is mentioned in any text I’ve read about the rebellion, and I’ve read a ton.

We’re allowed to live, allowed a chance to prove our loyalty, but only if we make it through the Riders Quadrant.”

how much of it she agreed to when she became the commanding general of Basgiath after Brennan’s death.

“The oldest is Xaden,” I murmur. He nods. “And the youngest is almost six now. Her name is Julianne.”

think I’m going to be sick. “Is she marked?” “She was born with it.”

“They show the appropriate level of deference,” Tairn grumbles. “To what they think I’ll be, not who I am.” We find our row and walk to our seats, sitting as a squad among the first-years. “That shows excellent forethought.”

“But if he’s the one who warded it, then he can get in, too, right?” “Well, yeah.” Liam shrugs

Mine consumes the skin between shoulder blades, but Sgaeyl’s mark takes up his entire back.

A second later, I peek out the door, and when I’m sure the coast is clear, I fucking flee.

Away. I have to get away from everyone until Tairn finishes…whatever he and Sgaeyl are doing.

“Would you pretty, pretty please teach me how to shield before I accidentally climb you like a tree and we both wake up with regrets?”

The inches between us feel like kindling, ready to burn at the first suggestion of heat, and I’m a living, breathing flame.

know that in this moment, he has the power to break me. And I’d let him.

I surrender completely, melting into him, my body going pliant against his and losing that mental foothold he calls grounding. A flash of light burns behind my closed eyes, followed by the boom of thunder. Thunder-snow isn’t uncommon around here, but damn does it summarize how this feels, wild and out of control.

A flash of light burns behind my closed eyes, followed by the boom of thunder. Thunder-snow isn’t uncommon around here, but damn does it summarize how this feels, wild and out of control. But then he breaks the kiss with a sharp gasp, his brow fur...

“He’s the most powerful rider in our generation for now.”

how callously death is swept under a rug and trampled on minutes later.

“You let Tairn share your memory with everyone instead of just showing me yourself,” he blurts, his hands falling to his sides.

It’s why I almost didn’t tell Xaden who it was, because I was sure he wouldn’t believe me, either.” “But he did.”

disagree. “I know you just want to keep me safe, Dain,” I whisper. “But keeping me safe is keeping me from growing, too.”

“Look, you don’t know everything there is to know about Xaden, Vi. I have a higher security clearance due to my signet, and you need to be careful. Xaden has secrets, reasons to never forgive your mother, and I don’t want him to use you to get his revenge.”

he’s not the most powerful rider of our generation. You are.” She holds my gaze just long enough to let me know she means it.

Build a second entrance—a window—into the

it’s nothing compared to what I owe him.”

but I pay close attention to every single thing on Jack’s tray as I walk by, noting what’s there…and what isn’t.

Then I kick him straight in the balls.

I scream as I’m shaken by an internal force I don’t understand, as though he’s forcing his own power into my body, shocking me with a thousand stings of vibrating energy.

His sadistic grin and a red rim around his eyes are all I can see as he forces more and more power into my body, but his hands are occupied and he’s too obsessed with his victory to hear that I’ve stopped screaming, to see that I’m moving.

I know you don’t want to hear this, but sometimes you have to know when to take the death blow, Mira. It’s why you have to be sure that Violet enters the Scribe Quadrant. She’ll never be able to take a life. —Page seventy, the Book of Brennan

“And you could have done nothing about it besides make me look weak.”

If I didn’t know better, I’d think that kiss scared you.”

I study the blade in his hand. It’s beautiful, with a solid black hilt engraved with Tyrrish knots, old, mythical runes of intricate swirls and ties. 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, especially with the weight of his hips settled between my thighs. It takes all my willpower not to reach up and brush the stray lock of hair from his forehead. It was a mistake.

“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.

The final blade secure, Xaden throws his palms to the mat and shoves with unnatural strength, arching us straight back until my spine kisses the mat again.

They really are lovely, all marked with different runes. It’s a shame there are so many parts of Tyrrish culture that were lost centuries ago during the unification, including most runes. I don’t even know what they all mean.

I have yet to beat him, but I’m all right with that. It means he doesn’t let me win.

Her gaze skims the top of my head, and I know she’s looking at the silver-tipped braid she thinks marks me as cursed, the hair she told me I was better off cutting.