Page 235 - Fourth Wing

“Interdependent, I know that.” We move forward until we’re dead center

in the line of riders. If I wasn’t so aggravated by Xaden’s callous attitude
toward Dain, I would take the time to admire just how spectacular it is to

see hundreds of dragons land all around us. Or maybe I’d question how the

man next to me manages to consume all the air in the massive field.
“Each time a dragon chooses a rider, that bond is stronger than the last,

which means that if you die, Violence, it sets off a chain of events that

potentially ends with me dying, too.” His expression is immovable marble,
but the anger in his eyes leaves me breathless. It’s pure…rage. “So yeah,

unfortunately for everyone involved, there’s now an us if the Empyrean lets

Tairn’s choice stand.”
Oh. Gods.

I’m tethered to Xaden Riorson.
“And now that Tairn is in play, that other cadets know he’s willing to

bond…” He sighs, annoyance rippling over his features, his strong jaw

working as he looks away.
“That’s why Tairn told me to stay with you,” I whisper as the

consequences of today’s actions settle in my churning stomach. “Because of
the unbonded.” There are at least three dozen of them standing on the

opposite side of the field, watching us with avarice in their eyes—including

Oren Seifert.
“The unbonded are going to try to kill you in hopes they’ll get Tairn to

bond them.” Xaden shakes his head at Garrick as he approaches, and the

section leader glances between us, his mouth set in a firm line before
retreating across the field. “Tairn is one of the strongest dragons on the

Continent, and the vast power he channels is about to be yours. The next

few months, the unbonded will try to kill a newly paired rider while the
bond is weak, while they still have a chance of that dragon changing its

mind and picking them so they’re not set back a full year. And for Tairn?
They’ll do just about anything.” He sighs again like it’s his new full-time