Page 351 - Fourth Wing

“You didn’t ask.” I shake my head. “And after being told countless times

that I’m not tough enough for this place, not strong enough…well, what
happened on the flight field was a long time coming between you and me.

The worst part is that I knew you wouldn’t believe me. It’s why I almost

didn’t tell Xaden who it was, because I was sure he wouldn’t believe me,
either.”

“But he did.” Dain’s voice drops, and his jaw ticks. “And he was the one

who killed them in your bedroom.”
“Because Tairn told Sgaeyl.” I fold my arms across my chest. “Not

because he was already there or anything. And I know you hate him—”

“You have every reason to hate him, too,” he reminds me, reaching for
me before thinking better of it and drawing his hand back.

“I know that,” I counter. “His father put an arrow in Brennan’s chest,
according to battlefield reports. I live with that knowledge every day. But

don’t you think he sees me and remembers that my mother put his father to

death? It’s…” The right words are hard to find. “It’s complicated between
us.” Images of last night flood my mind, from Xaden’s first smile to the last

brush of his lips, and I shove them away.
Dain flinches. “You trust him more than you trust me.” It’s not an

accusation, but it stings all the same.

“That’s not it.” My stomach twists. Wait. Is it true? “I just…I have to
trust him, Dain. Not with everything, of course.” Shit, I’m tying myself into

knots here. “Neither of us can do anything about Sgaeyl and Tairn being

mated, and trust me, neither of us likes the situation, but we have to figure
out a way through it. We don’t have a choice.”

Dain mutters a curse, but he doesn’t disagree.

“I know you just want to keep me safe, Dain,” I whisper. “But keeping
me safe is keeping me from growing, too.” He blinks at me, and something

shifts between us. Like maybe, just maybe, he’s finally ready to hear me.
“When you told me that this place strips everything away from you to