Page 289 - Fourth Wing

I inhale sharply.

“Don’t hurt him,” I beg Tairn. “He saved me.” I’ve never seen someone
so much as dare to speak to another rider’s dragon, yet alone yell at one,

especially not one as powerful as Tairn.

He grumbles in response.
“We need to know what happened in that room.” Xaden’s dark gaze cuts

through me like a knife for a millisecond before he glares back at Tairn.

“Do not dare to try and read me, human, or you’ll regret it.” Tairn’s
mouth opens, his tongue curling in a motion I know all too well.

I move between the two and tilt my chin at Tairn. “He’s just a little

freaked out. Don’t scorch him.”
“At least we agree on something.” A feminine voice sounds through my

head.
Sgaeyl.

In awe, I blink up at the navy-blue daggertail as Xaden moves to my side.

“She talked to me.”
“I know. I heard.” He folds his arms across his chest. “It’s because

they’re mates. It’s the same reason I’m chained to you.”
“You make it sound so pleasant.”

“It’s not.” He turns to face me. “But you and I are exactly that, Violence.

We’re chained. Tethered. You die, I die, so I damn well deserve to know
how the hell you were under Seifert’s knife one second and across the room

in another. Is that the signet power you’ve manifested with Tairn? Come

clean. Now.” His eyes bore into me.
“I don’t know what happened,” I answer honestly.

“Nature likes all things in balance,” Andarna says like she’s reciting

facts, just like I do when I’m nervous. “That’s the first thing we’re taught.”
I pivot to face the golden dragon, repeating what she said to Xaden.

“What is that supposed to mean?” he asks me, not her.
Guess that means he can hear Tairn, but not Andarna.