Page 337 - Fourth Wing

“Always thought that was a ridiculous rule.” He sighs. “All right. Crash

course. Only because I’ve been where you are and woken up with more
than a few regrets.”

“You’re actually going to help me?”

“I’ve been helping you for months.” His hand flexes at my waist, and I
swear I can feel the warmth of his touch through my cloak and leathers.

“No, you sent Liam to help. He’s been helping me for months.” My

forehead puckers. “Weeks. Almost months. Whatever.”
He has the nerve to look offended. “I’m the one who burst through your

door and killed everyone who attacked you, and then I removed the other

threat to your life with a very public, very polarizing display of vengeance.
Liam didn’t do that. I did.”

“The crowd wasn’t polarized. They were all for it. I was there.”
“You were torn. In fact, you begged Tairn not to kill her, damn well

knowing she’d just come after you again.”

That point was still debatable.
“Fine. But let’s not pretend that you didn’t do most of that for yourself. It

would be inconvenient for you if I died.” I shrug, blatantly poking at him to
help ignore the rising tide of lust thundering through me.

He stares at me with disbelief. “You know what? We’re not fighting

tonight. Not if you want to learn how to shield.”
“Fine. We’re not fighting. Teach me.” I tilt my chin. Gods, I barely reach

his collarbone.

“Ask me nicely.” He leans closer.
“Have you always been this tall?” I blurt the first thing that comes to

mind.

“No. I was a child at some point.”
I roll my eyes.

“Ask me nicely, Violence,” he whispers. “Or I’m gone.”
I can feel Tairn at the edge of my mind, his emotions ebbing and flowing,