Page 411 - Fourth Wing

prepared.” She holds my gaze for a beat. “This kind of thinking will give

your squad—your entire wing—an advantage, since I guarantee your
wingleader is already assessing every rider for their own abilities.”

Xaden flips his dragon model over his knuckles but doesn’t reply. He

hasn’t spoken a word to Mira since arriving.
“So let’s do this.” Mira stands back. “Who is in command?” She glances

toward Quinn. “And let’s pretend that I don’t have three years of seniority

on even the highest-ranked of you.”
“Then I’m in command.” Dain sits up straight, his chin rising a good

inch.

“Our wingleader is here,” Liam argues, pointing at Xaden. “I would say
that puts him in command.”

“We can pretend I’m not here, just for the sake of the exercise.” Xaden
sets his dragon on the table and leans back in his chair, draping his arm

across the back of mine, a move that makes Dain grit his teeth. “Give Aetos

here the position we all know he craves.”
“Don’t be a dick,” I whisper.

“You haven’t even seen me start to be a dick.”
My head turns so fast that it swims, and my mouth drops open as I stare

at the side of Xaden’s face. That was his voice…in my fucking head.

He turns, the golden flecks in his eyes catching the light, and I swear I
hear him laughing in my mind, though his lips are closed, tilted in that

pulse-quickening smirk of his.

“You’re staring. It’s going to get awkward in about thirty seconds if you
don’t stop.”

“How?” I hiss.

“The same way you talk to Sgaeyl. We’re all gloriously, annoyingly
linked. This is just one of the perks. Though I’m starting to wish I’d tried it

sooner. The look on your face is priceless.” He winks and turns back to the
table.