Page 238 - Fourth Wing

“Welcome to a family that knows no boundaries, no limits, and no end,”

my mother finishes, and a cheer resounds around the field. “Riders, step
forward.”

I look left and right in confusion, but so does every other rider.

“Five steps or so,” Tairn says.
I take them.

“Dragons, it is our honor as always,” Mom calls out. “Now we

celebrate!”
Heat blasts my back, and I hiss in pain as riders on both sides of me cry

out. My back feels like it’s on fucking fire, and yet everyone across the field

is cheering raucously, some of them racing our way.
Other riders are caught up in embraces.

“You’ll like it,” Tairn promises. “It’s unique.”
The pain fades to a dull ache, and I glance over my shoulder. There’s a

solid black…something peeking out from the vest. “I’ll like what?”

“Violet!” Dain reaches me, his smile wide as he cups my face. “You kept
both of them!”

“I guess I did.” My lips curve. It’s all…surreal, all too much for one day.
“Where’s your…” He lets go and circles me. “Can I unlace this? Just the

top?” he asks, tugging at the raised neck of the back of my vest.

I nod. A few pushes and pulls later, the crisp October air nips at the base
of my neck.

“Holy shit. You have to see this.”

“Tell the boy to move,” Tairn orders.
“Tairn says you should move.”

Dain steps out of the way.

Suddenly, my vision isn’t mine. I’m looking at my own back through…
Andarna’s eyes. A back that has a glistening black relic of a dragon mid-

flight stretching from shoulder to shoulder and, in the center, the silhouette
of a shimmering golden one.