Page 187 - Fourth Wing

“I’m just wondering how one of you got all the good traits and the other

looks like she got the leftovers.” His gaze skims down my body.
Full-body-shudder gross.

“You’re an asshole.” I flip him the middle finger.

“Just saying, maybe I’ll write a letter of my own once we get privileges.”
He turns and continues walking.

“A nephew would be good,” Rhiannon says, like the conversation was

never interrupted. “Boys aren’t too bad.”
“My brother was awesome, but he and Dain are my only experience with

growing up around little boys.” We pass more dragons, and my breathing

starts to settle. The smell of sulfur disappears, or maybe I’ve just grown
accustomed to it. They’re close enough to torch us, the half dozen singe

marks testify to that, but I can’t hear them breathing or feel it, either.
“Though I think Dain was probably a little more rule-abiding than most

kids. He likes order and pretty much detests anything that doesn’t fit neatly

into his plan. He’s probably going to give me shit about how I got up the
Gauntlet, just like Amber Mavis did.”

We pass the halfway mark and continue.
Is the way the dragons stare at us scary as hell? Absolutely, but they want

to be here the same as we do, so at least I hope they’ll be judicious with

their firepower.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the rope plan? Or the dagger?” Rhiannon

asks, hurt pitching her tone. “You can trust me, you know.”

“I didn’t think of it until yesterday,” I answer, taking the time to look over
my shoulder so I can see her. “And if it didn’t work, I didn’t want you to be

an accomplice. You have a real future here, and I refuse to bring you down

with me if I didn’t make it.”
“I don’t need you to protect me.”

“I know. But it’s just what friends do, Rhi.” I shrug as we walk by a trio
of browns, the soft crunch of our boots on the dark gravel path the only