Page 357 - Fourth Wing

nothing compared to what I owe him.”

“Yeah. I got that part.” I hurry ahead and open the thick, heavy door into
the citadel so he can pass through. “Maybe I should rephrase my question.

If I were to tell you something and ask you specifically to keep this one

thing between the two of us, would you agree? Are we friends, or am I just
your assignment?”

He pauses while I shut the door, and I can tell he’s thinking by the way he

drums his fingers on the handle of the cart. “Would me keeping it to myself
alter your safety in any way?”

“No.” I catch up to him and we start along the incline that will eventually

split into two tunnels—one toward the dormitory and the other toward
commons. “There’s nothing you can do, and that’s the point.”

“We’re friends. Tell me.” He grimaces. “I’ll keep it to myself.”
“Jack Barlowe is going to be allowed to challenge me today.”

He stops walking, so I do, too. “How do you know that?”

“And that is why I’m asking you to keep it to yourself.” I cringe. “Just…
try to trust that I know.”

“The instructors can’t let that happen.” He shakes his head, panic
creeping into his eyes.

“They’re going to.” I shrug, forcing a tight smile. “He’s been asking since

the first day, so it’s not like we didn’t see this coming. Point is, Jack is
going to challenge me today, and when he does, you can’t step in, no matter

what.”

His blue eyes widen. “Vi, if we tell Riorson, he can put a stop to it.”
“No.” I reach for his hand and lay mine on top of it. “He can’t.” My

stomach twists, but at least I’m not puking like I did when I found out.

“There’s only so much Xaden can do to protect me both here and once
we’re on the front lines. You and I both know that if he stops this, there will

be an uproar in the quadrant after what happened to Amber.”
“And you expect me to stand there and watch whatever happens…