Page 579 - Fourth Wing

A bloodied wyvern dives for us, and Tairn throws his wing over me. I

hear the sound of his teeth snapping and a sharp cry above me before his
wing retracts.

“We’re targets on the ground,” Tairn says as the wyvern flies away.

“Then let’s be the ones who hunt.” I stumble to my feet in time to see
Xaden running my way.

“Violence!” Xaden grasps my shoulders, determination lining his

features. “Liam told me to tell you that there are two riders with that
horde.”

“Why would he tell me and not—” An anvil sits on my chest.

“Because he knew I’d have to be the one who holds off the wyvern as
long as possible.” He studies my face like he’ll never see it again.

“And I’m the one who can kill them all.” It will kill me to wield that
many times, but I’m the best shot we have. The best shot he has to survive.

“You can kill them.” He yanks me close and kisses my forehead. “There

is no me without you,” he says against my skin.
Before I can react, he turns toward the valley and lifts his arms—

throwing up a wall of shadow that consumes the space between the
ridgelines. “Go! I’ll give you as much time as I can!”

Every second matters, and these are bound to be my last—our last.

In the span of one heartbeat, I look over my shoulder, past Tairn, and see
the flaming ruins of the trading post. Townspeople run from the city walls,

fleeing the wyvern that circle above. My stomach drops at our failure—we

haven’t managed to evacuate all the civilians.
At the second beat, I draw a stuttered breath of smoke-laden air as a lone

gryphon flies through the haze, followed by Garrick and Imogen on their

dragons, and I can only hope the others are still alive.
In the third heartbeat, I turn back toward Liam’s and Deigh’s lifeless

bodies, and rage floods my veins faster than any lightning strike I’ve ever
wielded. The horde of wyvern behind Xaden’s wall will tear into Tairn and