Page 62 - Fourth Wing

I force myself to breathe. There’s a fucking smirk on Xaden’s arrogant,

handsome face.
I’m now entirely at his mercy, a subordinate in his chain of command. He

can punish me however he likes for the slightest infraction, even imaginary

ones.
Nyra looks at Xaden as she finishes assignments, and he nods, stepping

forward and finally breaking our staring contest. I’m pretty sure he won,

considering my heart is galloping like a runaway horse.
“You’re all cadets now.” Xaden’s voice carries out over the courtyard,

stronger than the others. “Take a look at your squad. These are the only

people guaranteed by Codex not to kill you. But just because they can’t end
your life doesn’t mean others won’t. You want a dragon? Earn one.”

Most of the others cheer, but I keep my mouth shut.
Sixty-seven people fell or died in some other way today. Sixty-seven just

like Dylan, whose parents would either collect their bodies or watch them

be buried at the foot of the mountain under a simple stone. I can’t force
myself to cheer for their loss.

Xaden’s eyes find mine, and my stomach clenches before he looks away.
“And I bet you feel pretty badass right now, don’t you, first-years?”

More cheers.

“You feel invincible after the parapet, don’t you?” Xaden shouts. “You
think you’re untouchable! You’re on the way to becoming the elite! The

few! The chosen!”

Another round of cheers goes up with each declaration, louder and louder.
No. That’s not just cheering, it’s the sound of wings beating the air into

submission.

“Oh gods, they’re beautiful,” Rhiannon whispers at my side as they come
into view—a riot of dragons.

I’ve spent my life around dragons, but always from a distance. They
don’t tolerate humans they haven’t chosen. But these eight? They’re flying