Page 76 - Fourth Wing

warning in his relic-covered arm on full display as a third-year next to him

says something that he blatantly ignores.
My heart jumps and lodges in my throat. There’s maybe twenty feet

between us. My fingers twitch, ready to grab one of the blades sheathed at

my ribs. Is this where he’ll do it? In the middle of the rotunda? The marble
floor is gray, so it shouldn’t be that hard for the staff to get the blood out.

His head tilts, and he studies me with those impossibly dark eyes, like

he’s deciding where I’m most vulnerable.
I should run, right? But at least I can see him coming if I hold this

position.

His attention shifts, glancing to my right, and he lifts a single brow at me.
My stomach pitches as Dain emerges from behind the pillar.

“What are you—” Dain starts as he reaches me, his brow furrowed in
confusion.

“Top of the steps. Fourth door,” I hiss, interrupting him.

Dain’s gaze snaps up as the crowd thins out around us, and he mutters a
curse, not-so-subtly stepping closer to me. Fewer people mean fewer

witnesses, but I’m not foolish enough to think Xaden won’t kill me in front
of the whole quadrant if he wants.

“I already knew your parents are tight,” Xaden calls out, a cruel smile

tilting his lips. “But do you two have to be so fucking obvious?”
The few cadets who are still in the rotunda turn to look at us.

“Let me guess,” Xaden continues, glancing between Dain and me.

“Childhood friends? First loves, even?”
“He can’t hurt you without cause, right?” I whisper. “Without cause and

calling a quorum of wingleaders because you’re a squad leader. Article

Four, Section Three.”
“Correct,” Dain answers, not bothering to lower his voice. “But you’re

not.”
“I expected you to do a better job of hiding where your affections lie,