Page 124 - Fourth Wing

twenty-six fewer than the year before that.”

Fewer dragons are choosing to bond, but the number of riders entering
the quadrant has remained steady. My mind whirls. 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.
“Will they tell you why they won’t bond?” another first-year asks.

“No, jackass,” Jack scoffs, his icy-blue gaze narrowing on the cadet.

“Dragons only talk to their bonded riders, just like they only give their full
name to their bonded rider. You should know that by now.”

Professor Kaori sends Jack a look that shuts the first-year’s mouth but

doesn’t stop him from sneering at the other cadet. “They don’t share their
reasons,” our instructor says. “And anyone who respects their life won’t ask

a question they’re not willing to answer.”
“Do the numbers affect the wards?” Aurelie asks from where she sits

behind me, tapping her quill against the edge of her desk. She’s never happy

sitting still.
Professor Kaori’s jaw ticks twice. “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 every time
Professor Devera starts our daily Battle Brief. Either we’re weakening or

our enemies are getting stronger. Both possibilities mean the cadets in this

room are needed more than ever.
Even me.

The image changes to Sgaeyl, the navy-blue dragon bonded to Xaden.

My stomach pitches as I remember the way she looked right through me
that first day.

“You won’t have to worry about how to approach blue dragons, since
there are none willing to bond this Threshing, but you should be able to