Page 474 - Fourth Wing

July first, the anniversary of the Battle of Aretia, is hereby

proclaimed Reunification Day and will be celebrated throughout
Navarre on this date every year to honor the lives lost during the
war to save our kingdom from separatists and those saved by the

Treaty of Aretia.

—ROYAL PROCLAMATION OF KING TAURI THE WISE

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

There’s a knock at my door as I take an armful of clothes from the skeletal
remains of what used to be my armoire.

“Come in,” I call out, dumping them on the bed.

The door opens and Xaden walks in, his hair windblown like he’s just
come from the flight field, and my pulse jumps.

“I just wanted—” he starts, then pauses, surveying the wreckage of my

room from last night. “Somehow I’d convinced myself today that we hadn’t
done that much damage, but…”

“Yeah, it’s…”

He looks at me, and we both crack a smile.
“Look, this doesn’t have to be awkward or anything.” I shrug, trying to

ease the tension. “We’re both adults.”
His scarred brow rises. “Good, because I wasn’t going to make it that

way. But the least I can do is help you clean up.” His attention shifts to the

armoire, and he winces. “I swear it didn’t look quite that ruined in the
darkness when I left this morning. Turns out you set more than a few trees

on fire last night, too. Took two water wielders to get them out.”
My cheeks heat. “You took off early.” I try to make my tone as