Fourth Wing (The Empyrean, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

“I’m fine!” My cheeks heat with mortification, and I force myself upright. She’s been back for five minutes and is already trying to save me. Because you need saving, you fool.

“Dad wouldn’t want this!” Mira argues, color flushing up her neck. “I loved your father, but he’s dead,” Mom says, as if giving the weather report. “I doubt he wants much these days.”

Damn. Mom sucks.

Guess there are no meritorious service awards for emotional availability.

“What are you doing?” “What Brennan did for me,” she says softly, and grief lodges in my throat.

These siblings are so sweet.

“I happen to know a rider whose powers can make big things very small.” A devious smile plays across her lips. “And smaller things…much, much bigger.”

“You’re the smartest woman I know. Don’t forget that. Your brain is your best weapon. Outsmart them, Violet. Do you hear me?”

“The longer you wait on those steps”—she motions toward the tower—“the greater your fear has a chance to grow. Cross the parapet before the terror owns you.”

“You’re willing to trade a boot?”

I like her. A lot

my heart thunders

“Why would I waste my energy killing you when the parapet will do it for me?” A wicked smile curves his lips. “Your turn.”

Well. No one is safe in this book, are they?

I answer as thunder cracks above me, the sound oddly comforting. I’ve always loved the nights where storms beat against the fortress window, both illuminating and throwing shadows over the books I curled up with,

Your mind already knows the answer, so just calm down and let it remember.

“I can throw in a few oh, Dain cries once we’re in your room just for believability,” I offer, and actually mean it.

“Why, Dain Aetos.” I grin and walk toward him, then grasp the door handle at his side. “You’ve seen me in swimwear, tunics, and even ballgowns. Are you telling me it’s the leather that does it for you?”

So cute!

He backs up another step. “I’m not saying you didn’t just kick absolute ass by getting here, Vi. But you have to leave. You’ll break the first time they put you in the sparring ring, and that’s before the dragons sense that you’re…” He shakes his head and looks away, his jaw clenching.

Nope don’t like him. BELIEVE IN HER!

Commandant Panchek

“I’ve heard this position is just a stepping stone for him,” Tara whispers. “He wants Sorrengail’s job, then General Melgren’s.” The commanding general of all Navarre’s forces. Melgren’s beady eyes have always made me shrivel every time we’ve met during my mother’s career. “General Melgren’s?” Rhiannon whispers from my other side. “He’ll never get it,” I say quietly as the commandant welcomes us to the Riders Quadrant. “Melgren’s dragon gives him the signet ability to see a battle’s outcome before it happens. There’s no beating that, and you can’t be assassinated if you know it’s coming.”

Xaden’s uniform didn’t have any patches on it.

ribs. Is this where he’ll do it? In the middle of the rotunda?

His head tilts, and he studies me with those impossibly dark eyes, like he’s deciding where I’m most vulnerable.

He knows. He knows…. He knoooooowwwwwss.

I am in direct disagreement with General Melgren’s orders, I am officially objecting to the plan set forth in today’s briefing. It is not this general’s opinion that the children of the rebellion’s leaders should be forced to witness their parents’ executions. No child should watch their parent put to death.

Lilith Sorrengail

then they must have gotten the wards rewoven, or at least stabilized.

why the hell the wards faltered,

Go to history if you’re looking for answers.

Marked ones, as I’d heard some people this morning refer to those carrying rebellion relics on their arms, blame my mother for the execution of their parents.

“Your mother murdered my family.”

mending is the most precious,

For menders are rare,

Did he know/train Brennan?

“I’ve never agreed with the way they conscripted those kids to the Riders Quadrant as punishment for the sins of their parents. We have never forced conscripts into that quadrant.

General Sorrengail saved Navarre by capturing the Great Betrayer.”

He’d want you to live.

You have to live, because Violet is watching. You can’t let her see you fall.

“Don’t forget her brother was Brennan Sorrengail,” Xaden adds. “She has just as much reason to hate us as we do her.”

He pointedly looks at Imogen

“How did you know?”

“Fascinating. You look all frail and breakable, but you’re really a violent little thing, aren’t you?”

His gaze locks onto the length of my braid

he stops breathing

your little club chose my tree to meet under,

This could’ve been where they met? If her memory was wiped

“Interesting,”

“What?” I gawk after him. “You’re my wingleader!”

This was such a fun scene!

“Hopefully he’ll forget all about his little vendetta against you.” “Do most men forget when a woman holds a knife to their balls?” I cock an eyebrow at him.

Attacks at the eastern borders are increasing, according to every Battle Brief, and yet there are fewer dragons willing to bond in order to defend Navarre.

“Do the numbers affect the wards?”

“We’re not sure. The number of bonded dragons has never affected the integrity of Navarre’s wards before, but I’m not about to lie to you and say that we’re not seeing increased breaches when you know from Battle Brief that we are.”

The wards are faltering at a rate that makes my stomach tense

Either we’re weakening or our enemies are ge...

Even me.