Page 434 - Fourth Wing

his chest and studies the rigging. “Considering I had it made for you and

just about got myself burned alive in the process of trying to get it on him.”
He lifts a brow at Tairn. “Even though he helped design it, I might add.”

“The first models were unacceptable, and you had the gall to pinch my

chest scales when clumsily assembling it this morning.” Tairn’s golden eyes
narrow on Xaden.

“How was I to know the leather from the prototype would burn so easily?

And it’s not like there are a lot of manuals on fitting a saddle to a dragon,”
Xaden drawls.

“It doesn’t matter because I can’t use it.” I turn to face Xaden. “It’s

beautiful, a marvel of engineering…”
“And?” His jaw locks.

“And everyone here will know I can’t keep my seat without it.” Heat
stings my cheeks.

“Hate to break it to you, Violence, but everyone already knows that.” He

gestures to the saddle. “That right there is the most practical way for you to
ride. It has straps across your thighs to buckle yourself in once you’re up,

and theoretically, you should be able to change positions on long flights
without unbuckling, since we built in a lap belt, too.”

“Theoretically?”

“He wasn’t amenable to me giving it a test flight.”
“You can ride me when the flesh rots off my bones, wingleader.”

Well, that’s descriptive.

“Look, there’s no rule against it. I checked. And if anything, you’ll be
doing Tairn a favor by freeing all his power and taking the weight of worry

off his mind. Mine too, if that helps matters.”

My fingernails bite into my palms as I search for another reason, another
excuse, but there isn’t one. I might not want to appear different than every

other rider on this field, but I already am.
“Fuck, that stubborn, feisty look always makes me want to kiss you.”