Page 601 - Fourth Wing

I start to tell her, but she holds up a hand and I wait. It only takes her a

minute to work it out, too.
She points to my rebellion relic and says, “Melgren can’t see the outcome

when more than three of you are together. That’s why you’re not allowed to

assemble.”
I can’t help it. I smile. This brilliant fucking woman is mine. Or was

mine. Will be mine again if I have anything to say about it. Which I

probably don’t. I sigh, losing the smile immediately. Fuck.
No, I’m not giving up until she tells me to.

Things might be complicated, but so are both of us.

“That and we’re not big enough to warrant the attention of the scribes
anymore. We’re not hidden. We’re just not…advertising our existence.”

Which is also the reason this place is still technically…mine. Nobles
weren’t exactly eager to throw their money at a scorched city or be taxed on

unusable land. Eventually they’ll notice. Eventually I’ll lose it. Then I’ll

lose my head. “You can know whatever you want. Just ask.”
She stiffens. “Tell me one thing right now.”

“Anything.”
“Is…” Her shoulders stutter as she inhales. “Is Liam really dead?”

Liam. A fresh stab of sorrow pierces my ribs. Heartbeats pass in silence

as I try to find the right words, but there aren’t any, so I take from my
pocket the palm-size, freshly finished carving of Andarna Liam had been

working on.

She turns in my direction, her gaze immediately locking on the figurine,
and her eyes water. “It’s my fault.”

“No, it’s mine. If I had just told you everything sooner, you would have

been prepared. You probably would have schooled us all on how to kill
them.” My soul breaks all over again when she swipes at twin tears with the

backs of her hands. I set the carving in her hand. “I know I should have, but
I couldn’t bear to burn it. We laid him to rest yesterday. Well, the others did.