Page 124 of Flameborne: Fury
‘Yes, she’d release me to it. And cheer me on.’
‘Precisely. So will you be bested in honor, Donavyn?’
‘It’s not the same!’I insisted. But Kgosi didn’t reply, because we both knew I protested out of my fear, not my conviction. And besides, new shadows were moving among the trees.
Bren looked at me quickly, cupped a hand at the back of my neck, kissed me softly, but swiftly, then crawled out of my lap and to her feet before those shadows materialized into men.
Her brothers.
Ronen at the front, Gil at his shoulder, then Voski, Oros, Harle, Einar and Jhoare… all of them. They’d all come—bristling and furious and, according to Kgosi, stinking of fear.
I’d made it to my feet when Ronen found her with his eyes and his entire posture sagged with relief. He rushed forward to hug her, calling to her brothers. They surrounded her, babbling and demanding explanations—was she was injured, or afraid? But amid their agitation, her Wing Leader raised his eyes to meet mine over her shoulder. And for the first time, it wasn’t simple respect and submission I saw there. But caution. Wariness. Distrust.
Bren kept reassuring them, repeating to each of them as they joined the throng that she was safe and unhurt—better, in fact, than she’d been in a long time. But none of them listened.
They scanned her like the brothers they were—defensive, worried, ready to fight for her honor. It set my teeth on edge.Male hands on her. Male eyes on her. Males separating her from me—
When I stepped out of the shadows, Ronen squeezed her shoulder, murmured something and weaved out of the others to meet me on the grass a few feet from where they’d surrounded her.
“Sir!” Ronen barked, his salute brisk and appropriate, but his eyes burned with questions.
My anger flared. He believedI’dlet her be hurt?
“At ease,” I growled, stepping around him towards the others who weretouching her too much—but Ronen side-stepped and put himself at my toes.
Silent rage coursed through me as I drew up short. I quivered with it and had to take a breath, turning slowly to meet his questioning gaze with a fierce warning in my own.
“I said, atease,soldier. This isn’t the time to tread above your station.”
“With all due respect,Sir,it’s you who told me to stand for my men even in the face of authority. True honor can bear scrutiny, you said. So, I need answers.”
I clenched my teeth so hard they threatened to crack, but he was right. And if our roles were reversed, I would have done the same.
I could feel Bren’s tension growing and it made me want to crawl out of my skin, but in my head Iknewher brothers wouldn’t hurt her. It was only my flesh, the heat of the new bond still between us, that insisted I pull her closer. So, I leashed my defensiveness and with hands clenched at my sides, I stared at him.
“Ask your questions—but be mindful of her purpose, and ouraudience,” I muttered reluctantly.
He nodded once, tightly. But his expression didn’t change. “Why did Kgosi order our dragons not to follow—was that from you?”
“No,” I said through my teeth. “That washisorder as Primarch.”
“What happened? Why did he rip the roof open and attack her? The dragons won’t speak about it.”
“Because it’s none of your fucking business,” I muttered. “It has nothing to do with—”
“She’s my sister. My charge. And she could have died.”
“Perhaps as I am your Commanding Officer you can trust my assessment of the situation?”
“It wasyourdragon, Sir.”
“Who stands in authority over yours, as I stand over you. Your concern is noted, Ronen, but step very carefully right now.”I can’t tell you the truth without revealing her deepest heart and—
“It’s okay, Donavyn. I’ll tell them.”
I startled because she’d appeared at my side. Ronen, apparently as distracted as I’d been, jerked to face her as well.
She stared up at me, her eyes pleading. Her throat bobbed and she’d balled her fists at her sides to stop her hands shaking. I couldfeelit.
