Page 440 - Fourth Wing

mountainside for the outpost I spied earlier. My heartbeat quickens as I spot

it peeking out from a ridge, only one remaining dragon guarding it.
“Xaden! The egg is here!” I relay.

“Already on my way. We’re twenty miles out.” The edge of panic lacing

his tone puts a knot of fear in my throat, which only grows when I see
Deigh and Liam locked in battle above us with a familiar Orange

Scorpiontail—Baide.

Jack.
“We have to help Liam.”

“On it.” Tairn accelerates and Andarna falls away. Once I see her tuck

into the mountainside where she’ll be safe, I hunker down on Tairn’s neck,
giving him less wind resistance to fight as we climb faster than ever before.

Wind yanks at the halo braid of my hair, the loosened strands whipping at
my face as I keep my eyes locked on Deigh and Liam.

Baide snaps her tail at Deigh, the venomous bulb perilously close to

Deigh’s throat.
“His scales are thicker than you think. It’s Liam who’s in danger,” Tairn

warns, climbing higher.
We’re almost there when Jack unsheathes his sword and jumps from

Baide’s back to Deigh’s, catching Liam by surprise as the dragons grapple

close to the tower we’re approaching at breakneck speed.
There’s barely time for Liam to gain his feet before Jack thrusts the sword

through his side.

“Liam!” The scream tears from my throat as Jack kicks his boot into
Liam’s stomach, forcing Liam’s body off the blade…and Deigh.

No. No. No.

Liam falls, his arms flailing as he plummets ahead of us.
“Catch him!” I demand, afraid we won’t make it.

Deigh and Baide collide with the tower, and I glimpse Jack rolling to
safety on the highest turret, his sadistic grin wide enough to see from here