Page 447 - Fourth Wing

He thought so? What the hell does that even mean?

“Listen to me, Sorrengail.” He lifts one hand to stroke loose tendrils of
hair behind my ear, his touch surprisingly gentle. “The world is a better

place without Barlowe in it. We both know that. Do I wish I’d been the one

to end his miserable life? Absolutely. But what you did will save countless
others. He was nothing more than a bully and was only going to get worse

as he grew more powerful. His dragon will choose another rider when she’s

ready. I’m glad he’s dead. I am glad you killed him.”
“I didn’t mean to.” It’s barely a whisper. “I was just so fucking mad, and

we’d just caught Liam. I thought my relic was backlashing finally.” My

eyes widen. “It was close, Xaden. It was too close. I had to do something.”
“Whatever you did is what kept him alive.” His thumb strokes over my

cheek, the motion completely at odds with his tone, and his eyes flare just
enough that I know he’s aware of what I did.

“I don’t want this,” I blurt. “Rhiannon can move objects through space,

and Dain has retrocognition—”
“Hey,” Dain snaps.

“You think I didn’t know that already?” Xaden barks over his shoulder.
“Kaori can bring his imagination to life, and Sawyer can bend metal.

Mira can extend the wards. Everyone has a signet that isn’t just useful for

battle. They’re tools for good in the world. And what the hell am I, Xaden?
I’m a fucking weapon.”

“You don’t have to use your power, Vi,” Dain starts, his voice soft and

comforting.
“Stop. Fucking. Coddling. Her.” Xaden bites out every word at Dain.

“She is not a child. She’s a full-grown woman. A rider. Start treating her

like one and at least have the decency to give her the truth. You think
Melgren or any other general—to include her own mother—is going to let

her sit on a power like this? It’s not like she can hide it, not the way she just
demolished one of the practice forts.”