Page 143 - Fourth Wing

with me.” Xaden arches a brow as if to remind me that I’m the keeper of

one of his secrets, too. Then he guides our hands back to my ribs and slides
the ruby-hilted blade back into its sheath.

The move is unnervingly…hot.

“You’re not going to disarm me?” I challenge as he releases his grip and
pushes up more, removing his weight from my body. My ribs expand as I

take my first full breath.

“Nope. Defenseless women have never been my type. We’re done for
today.” He stands, then walks away without another word, taking his

weapons from Imogen as I roll to my knees. Every part of my body aches,

but I manage to stand.
There’s pure relief in Dain’s eyes when I reach his side to retrieve the

daggers Xaden took from me. “You all right?”
I nod, my fingers trembling as I rearm myself. He’s had every chance,

and every reason, to kill me, and now he’s let me walk away twice. What

kind of game is he playing?
“Aetos,” Xaden calls out from across the mat.

Dain’s head snaps up and his jaw locks.
“She could use a little less protection and a little more instruction.”

Xaden stares Dain down until he nods.

Professor Emetterio calls the next challenge.

…

“I’m just surprised he let you live,” Dain says later that night in his room as

his thumbs dig into the muscle between my neck and shoulder.

It hurts so deliciously, it was well worth the pain of sneaking up here.
“I hardly think he’d command respect by snapping my neck on the mat.”

His blankets are soft against my belly and chest as I lay on his bed, bare
from the waist up except for the constricting band around my breasts and

ribs. “Besides, that’s not his way.”