Page 293 - Fourth Wing

keep her eyes open.

“In small increments,” I whisper.
“In small increments,” Xaden echoes slowly, like he’s absorbing the

information.

“And if I use it too much, I can kill you,” I say softly to Andarna.
“Kill us.” She stands on all four paws. “But I know you won’t.”

“I’ll do my best to be worthy.” The ramifications of this gift, this

exceptional power, hit me like a death blow, and my stomach bottoms out.
“Is Professor Carr going to kill me, too?”

Every gaze whips toward me, and Xaden’s grip tightens on my shoulders,

his thumbs stroking in a soothing motion. “Why would you think that?”
“He killed Jeremiah.” I push the panic away and focus on the tiny golden

flecks in Xaden’s onyx eyes. “You saw him snap his neck like a twig right
in front of the whole quadrant.”

“Jeremiah was an inntinnsic.” Xaden’s voice lowers. “A mind reader is a

capital offense. You know that.”
“And what are they going to do if they find out I can stop time?” Terror

freezes the blood in my veins.
“They’re not going to find out,” Xaden promises. “No one is going to tell

them. Not you. Not me. Not them.” He motions with one hand toward our

trio of dragons. “Understand?”
“He’s right,” Tairn says. “They can’t find out. And there’s no saying how

long you’ll have the ability. Most feathertail gifts disappear with maturity

when they begin to channel.”
Andarna cracks another yawn, looking nearly dead on her feet.

“Get some sleep,” I tell her. “Thank you for helping me tonight.”

“Let’s go, Golden One,” Tairn says, and they all bend slightly, then
launch, wind gusting against my face. Andarna struggles, her wings beating

twice as hard, and Tairn flies up underneath her, taking her weight and
continuing on to the Vale.