Page 416 - Fourth Wing

“Then shield him out the same way you do me—or start talking back,”

Tairn grumbles. “You have the power to be a pain in the ass, too. Trust me.”
“And how exactly am I supposed to talk back at him?” I give Xaden a

heavy dose of side-eye, but he’s engrossed in the ongoing battle we’ve

waged against an imaginary keep.
“Figure out which pathway into your mind is his.”

Oh joy. That should be easy.

We finish the hypothetical operation, each of us using our power to its
best ability…everyone except me. But when it’s time to take the gryphons

out in the air, Tairn overpowers every other dragon in the room.

“Good job,” Mira says, glancing at her pocket watch. “Aetos, Riorson,
and Sorrengail, I want to see you in the hallway. The rest of you are

dismissed.”
It’s not like any of us has an option, so we follow Mira out to the spiral

staircase.

She shuts the door behind us and throws up a line of blue energy that
covers the entrance.

“Sound shield,” Dain says with a smile. “Nice.”
“Shut up.” Mira spins on the top step, putting her finger in Dain’s face. “I

don’t know what bug has crawled up your ass, Dain Aetos, but have you

forgotten that you’re a squad leader? That you have a very real chance of
becoming a wingleader next year?”

Oh shit, she’s pissed, and that’s not anything I want a part of. I retreat

another step, but with Xaden beneath me on the stairs, there’s nowhere left
to go.

“Mira—” Dain starts.

“Lieutenant Sorrengail,” Mira responds. “You’re blowing it, Dain. I know
how badly you want his job next year.” She points a finger at Xaden. “Don’t

forget that we’ve grown up about ten feet apart. And you are blowing it,
because what? You’re pissed that Violet bonded his dragon’s mate?”