Ruthless 🗡️/ Fourth Wing

Chapter~18

The wind was bitter, but I didn't care. I had left the others far behind, walking through the open field toward the only presence that truly mattered right now—Arrax. His massive form loomed at the edge of the clearing, his black scales shimmering even under the heavy, gray clouds that rolled across the sky. The Rebellion Dragon. Powerful. Unyielding.

He was everything I needed right now. A constant in a world that felt like it was unraveling at the seams.

As I approached, his eyes—two burning coals—followed me, and for a brief second, I felt his piercing gaze in my chest, like he was reading every single one of my thoughts. But there was no judgment in his eyes, only a calm knowing that he could feel my turmoil.

"Did you kill them, Fireheart?" His voice rumbled in my mind like a distant thunderstorm, powerful and unwavering.

I stiffened at the question but didn't back down. "No," I said, my voice tight. "I didn't kill them. But I wanted to."

Arrax's massive head tilted slightly, as if considering my words. His wings stretched out to either side, and I could feel the ground beneath me tremble as his muscles rippled with power. The bond between us was still new, but it was already undeniable. I could feel his emotions as clearly as my own, and right now, there was a strange, quiet concern from him.

"Anger will consume you if you let it."

I clenched my fists, feeling the sting of his words. "I know. But right now, I can't control it. Not with everything I just learned."

His large nostrils flared as he stepped closer, his hot breath brushing over my face. It felt like a caress, the warmth from him both comforting and unsettling at the same time. "You must learn to control it, Nora. The bond between us—between you and me—will only grow stronger with time. Do not let your anger destroy you before it has a chance to make you stronger."

I met his gaze, frustration surging inside me. I wanted to scream, wanted to lash out, but I knew it would do nothing. I needed to focus. Needed to feel the connection between us that could ground me, even when everything felt out of control.

"I'm trying," I whispered, though I wasn't sure I believed my own words.

Arrax dipped his head down low enough for me to reach him, and I didn't hesitate. My fingers slid across his smooth, cool scales as I made my way toward the saddle that had been carefully secured to his back. I was so used to this now—riding him, feeling the bond growing stronger each time we connected. But today felt different. Today, it wasn't just a ride. It was a necessity. A need to escape the chaos that had become my life.

Arrax let out a deep, rumbling growl, almost like a warning, as I swung myself onto his back. The movement felt natural, like it was always meant to be this way. As soon as I settled, I felt the familiar pulse of the bond between us, the sensation of his power underneath me. He wasn't just my dragon; he was my partner. My equal.

And today, I needed him more than ever.

With a sharp flick of his tail, Arrax took off, his massive wings unfurling with a force that made the air itself feel alive. We soared upward, higher and higher into the sky, leaving the world below far behind. The ground became a blur of green and brown, and the cold wind hit my face, whipping my hair back. But none of that mattered. Not now.

We were one, connected by something ancient and unbreakable. The wind, the sky, and the earth—they all fell away as we flew.

"Let your anger go, Fireheart," Arrax's voice echoed through my mind, steady and calm. "Let it go, and learn to rise above it."

The wind hit my face like a whip, sharp and cold, but I didn't care. With every beat of Arrax's wings, I felt a rush of freedom—unfettered and wild. The world beneath me blurred, the ground so far below now it was barely a memory. It was just Arrax and me, connected in a way that defied explanation, our bond growing stronger with each moment.