Chapter Thirty-Three

Violet and Xaden rush to dress for an urgent formation called at four fifteen in the morning. Xaden gives Violet his flight jacket before they separate, expecting to be sent to a mid-guard post if the attack is real. Violet slips into the crowd of riders unnoticed. In formation, Rhiannon spots the oversized jacket—marked by three stars, a Fourth Wing shield, and a wingleader emblem—and deduces Violet is with Xaden. Commandant Panchek announces the final event of the War Games: a simulated attack in which the wards are falling and gryphon riders besiege border villages. Colonel Aetos reads the scenario and assigns each wing a region; Fourth Wing goes southeast, with squads choosing outposts on a first-come, first-served basis. Xaden is assigned headquarters at Athebyne, a location beyond the wards. Dain plans to claim the northernmost outpost at Eltuval and gives the squad thirty minutes to pack and reach the flight field. Violet packs, throwing Xaden's jacket into her rucksack, and Xaden appears and tells her to wear every single dagger she owns; she is already wearing twelve. At the flight field, every dragon stands in formation beneath floating mage lights. Andarna wears a custom harness Xaden had made so she can hook onto Tairn for the long flight. Xaden then announces that Violet, Liam, and Imogen are joining his headquarters squad at Athebyne. Dain furiously objects, arguing she is a first-year and accusing Xaden of using her for revenge against her mother. When Violet agrees to go with Xaden, Dain realizes they are together. Hurt, he pleads with her not to go, then reluctantly accepts her choice, whispers that he will miss her, and walks away. Violet watches both men depart in opposite directions.