Page 287 - Fourth Wing

elevates my heart rate as we continue the climb, but I don’t protest. I don’t

want to be grateful for anything when it comes to him, but man if that minty
scent of his isn’t delicious. “What were you doing tonight anyway?”

“What makes you ask?” His tone clearly insinuates that I shouldn’t.

Too bad.
“You made it to my room within minutes, and you’re not exactly dressed

for sleeping.” He’s strapped with a sword for crying out loud.

“Maybe I sleep in my armor, too.”
“Then you should pick more trustworthy bedmates.”

He snorts, a flash of a smile appearing for a heartbeat. A real one. Not the

fake, forced sneer I’m used to seeing or the cocky little smirk. An honest,
heart-stopping smile that I’m anything but immune to. It’s gone as fast as it

appears, though.
“So you’re not going to tell me?” I ask. I’d be frustrated if I didn’t hurt so

damned much. And I’m not even going to touch why he needed to haul us

all the way to Tairn when I can chat with him anytime I want.
Unless he wants to talk to Tairn, which is…ballsy.

“Nope. Third-year business.” He lets go when we reach the stonewalled
end of the tunnel. A few hand gestures and another click sounds before he

pushes open the door.

We step out into crisp, freezingly cold November air.
“What the hell,” I whisper. The door is built into a stack of boulders on

the eastern side of the field.

“It’s camouflaged.” Xaden waves a hand and the door closes, blending
into the rock as if it’s a part of it.

There’s a sound I now recognize as the steady beat of wings, and I look

up to see the three dragons block out the stars as they descend. The earth
shudders as they land in front of us.

“I’m guessing the wingleader wants a word?” Tairn steps forward and
Sgaeyl follows, her wings tucked in tight, her golden eyes narrowing on me.