Page 221 - Fourth Wing

open-mouthed at Tairn, his gaze sweeping over the massive black dragon,

memorizing every single detail.
“Is that really—” Commandant Panchek starts, hovering at the edge of

the dais with more than a dozen other uniformed, high-ranking officers, all

gaping.
“Don’t say it,” Mom hisses, her eyes on Tairn, not me. “Not until she

does.”

Because only a rider and the roll-keeper know a dragon’s full name and
she’s not certain I’m really his. That’s exactly what she’s implying. Like I’d

be able to hijack Tairn. Anger simmers in my veins, overtaking the pain

coursing through my body as I move forward in the line so there’s only one
other rider ahead of me.

Mom forced me into the Riders Quadrant. She didn’t care if I lived or
died as I crossed the parapet. The only thing she cares about now is how my

flaws might mar her sterling reputation or how my bonding might further

her own agenda.
And now she’s staring at my dragon without even bothering to look down

and see if I’m all right.
Fuck. Her.

It’s everything I expected and yet still so disappointing.

The rider ahead finishes, moving out of the way, and the roll-keeper looks
up, glancing wide-eyed at Tairn before lowering her shocked gaze to mine

and beckoning me forward.

“Violet Sorrengail,” she says as she writes in the Book of Riders. “Nice to
see that you made it.” She offers me a quick, shaky smile. “For the record,

please tell me the name of the dragon who chose you.”

I lift my chin. “Tairneanach.”
“Pronunciation could use some work.” Tairn’s voice rumbles through my

head.
“Hey, at least I remembered,” I think back in his general direction,