Page 29 - Fourth Wing

“The same one,” I answer, offering him a quick smile. Anyone whose

mother holds on that tight can’t be that bad, right?
“Wow. Nice leathers, too.” He smiles back.

“Thanks. They’re courtesy of my sister.”

“I wonder how many candidates have fallen off the edge of the steps and
died before they even reach the parapet,” the woman says, glancing down

the center of the staircase as we climb higher.

“Two last year.” I tilt my head when she glances back. “Well, three if you
count the girl one of the guys landed on.”

The woman’s brown eyes flare, but she turns back around and keeps

climbing. “How many steps are there?” she asks.
“Two hundred and fifty,” I answer, and we climb in silence for another

five minutes.
“Not too bad,” she says with a bright smile as we near the top and the line

comes to a halt. “I’m Rhiannon Matthias, by the way.”

“Dylan,” the blond guy responds with an enthusiastic wave.
“Violet.” I give them a tense smile of my own, blatantly ignoring Mira’s

earlier suggestion that I avoid friendships and only forge alliances.
“I feel like I’ve been waiting my entire life for this day.” Dylan shifts his

pack on his back. “Can you believe we actually get to do this? It’s a dream

come true.”
Right. Naturally, every other candidate but me is excited to be here. This

is the only quadrant at Basgiath that doesn’t accept conscripts—only

volunteers.
“I can’t fucking wait.” Rhiannon’s smile widens. “I mean, who wouldn’t

want to ride a dragon?”

Me. Not that it doesn’t sound fun in theory. It does. It’s just the abhorrent
odds of surviving to graduation that sour my stomach.

“Do your parents approve?” Dylan asks. “Because my mom’s been
begging me to change my mind for months. I keep telling her that I’ll have