Page 404 - Fourth Wing

“Cranston?” I think back over the Battle Briefs. “We never learned about

that one. I…” Common sense tells me to shut my mouth.
“You what?” She takes another drink.

“I think there’s way more going on along the borders than what we’re

told,” I admit quietly.
Mira lifts her brows. “Well, of course there is. You don’t expect Battle

Brief to relay classified information, do you? You know better than that.

And honestly, at the rate our borders are being attacked, they’d have to
devote all day to Battle Brief in order to dissect each assault.”

“That makes sense. Do you guys get all the information?”

“Only what we need. Like, I could have sworn I saw a riot of dragons
across the border during this attack.” She shrugs. “But questions about

secret operations are above my pay grade. Think of it this way—if you were
a healer, would you need to know the details about everyone else’s

patients?”

I shake my head. “No.”
“Exactly. Now tell me, what the fuck is going on between you and Dain?

I’ve seen less tension on a crossbow, and I don’t mean the good kind.” She
gives me a look that leaves no room for excuses.

“I needed to change in order to survive. He wouldn’t let me.” It was the

simplest explanation for the last nine months. “I got his friend Amber
killed. She was a wingleader. And honestly, everything with Xaden just

pushed us so far apart that I don’t know how to repair our friendship. Not to

what it was, at least.”
“The execution of that wingleader is common knowledge. You didn’t get

her killed. She got herself killed by breaking the Codex.” Mira studies me

for a quiet moment. “Is it true Riorson saved you that night?”
I nod. “Xaden is a complicated subject.” So complicated that I can’t

identify my own feelings. Thinking of him only jumbles me in a way that
leaves me tangled in knots. I want him, but I can’t trust him, not in the ways