Page 539 - Fourth Wing

my shoulders dip from the weight of it. “You knew what he was doing.”

“We both chose you,” Andarna says, like that makes it any better.
“But you knew.” I look past where Liam dares to stare at me with sorrow,

to Tairn, whose lethal focus lies straight ahead like he hasn’t quite decided

if he’s going to burn Xaden alive or not.
“Dragons are bound by bonds,” he explains as Xaden approaches.

“There is only one other bond more sacred than that of a dragon and its

rider.”
A dragon and its mate.

Everyone knew but me. Even my own dragons. Oh gods, is Dain right?

Has everything Xaden’s done been a ploy to earn my trust?
The sweet glow of happiness, of love, trust, and affection that burned so

brightly in my chest just a few minutes ago sputters painfully, gasping for
oxygen like a campfire put out by a bucket of water once it outlives its

usefulness. All I can do is watch as the embers drown and die.

Xaden watches me with increasing apprehension the closer he comes, like
I’m some kind of cornered animal about to fight her way out with teeth and

claws.
How was I ever foolish enough to trust him? How did I ever fall for him?

My lungs ache and my heart screams. This can’t be happening. I can’t be

this naive. But I guess I am, because here we are. His entire body is a
fucking warning, especially the dark relic that’s so glaringly visible on his

neck right now. His father may have been the Great Betrayer, may have cost

my brother his life, but Xaden’s treachery cuts just as deep.
He flinches as my eyes narrow into a glare.

“Were we ever really friends?” I whisper at Liam, searching for the

strength to yell.
“We are friends, Violet, but I owe him everything,” Liam answers, and

when I glance up, he’s watching me with so much misery that I almost feel
sorry for him. Almost. “We all do. And once you give him a chance to