Page 72 of Flameborne: Fury
I’d seen the King think twice about sending his favorite war horse into dangerous training exercises. Yet he threw my mate into the enemy’s grip alone,and called it no lossif she were taken and killed?
“Donavyn?”
I blinked, swallowing back the snarl that wanted to crawl up my throat.
He was King.He could send me, or any other Furyknight—or Flameborne—into the pits of hell if he so chose. I didn’t like it, but it was the life we led once the dragons Chose us. And we were honored to be tools in his hand.
He was right that she’d succeeded, and now she’d be raised as a result. And Diaan was right to be thrilled by that.
Bren would get what she wanted—she’d earnedit. And the King would get his way as well. They would all be pleased by the outcome of this night.
But those words he’d said left me breathless.
If she failed it was no loss to us…
No loss to him, as he saw it. But to the Furyknights? To me?
“Donavyn, speak up man. Why do you look like you swallowed a thistlebrush?”
I met the King’s eyes, desperately stifling a roar of rage. “Because, Sire, I consider whatmight have been.And I fear we almost lost an excellent soldier. But you’re right, of course, that the strategy was both brilliant, and successful,” I ground out.
Then Diaan stepped forward to put a hand on my arm and smiled up at me. “Your concern for your soldiers is admirable, Donavyn. I’m glad you don’t take lightly the lives of those serving us.”
I assured her that I didn’t, but my hands were clenched into fists, and I was forced to avert my eyes from Alexi’s gaze until I had myself more firmly under control. My heartsangwith rage and indignation and cold, hard vengeance—and all of it sent me into waves of yearning. To have her close again, to hold her tightly, to not let her into the reach of this fucker who wanted to use her…
I forced myself to put the angry thoughts aside. She was a Furyknight—or soon would be. It meant she’d face danger every day at the King’s behest, as we all did. I couldn’t steal that from her.
And Alexi was right that thisopportunityhad allowed her to earn her place. I needed to remember that.
She was here. And safe. And successful.I couldn’t steal that from her.
As Alexi clapped my shoulder and assured me that this was a win and I needed to start seeing it so, I nodded, but my body was tense from head to toe.
As he strode to the alcove in their Royal chamber where the maps were stored and pulled out the one for the region where Bren had found the intruders, I could feel Diaan’s eyes on me and had to avoid meeting her gaze.
But no matter what came of this night—these plans—I was certain of one thing: My mate wouldneveragain be declaredno fucking loss.
Never.
I just had to figure out how the hell I was supposed to defend her without letting others know of our bond. Because it was clear her fears weren’t unfounded. Which meant I needed to choose the timing of this reveal very, very carefully.
28. The Story
~ BREN ~
Walking away from Donavyn was a struggle—my heart felt like he’d closed it in that door as he turned from me. I forced myself away, but half of it was left there with him.
Yet, even with that aching hollow in my chest, I was elated as I trotted all the way out of the Palace and towards the Dragon Keep. I’d go back to Akhane and finally have the chance to discuss this bond and the mating.
When I reached the stables, I was practically skipping, so full of energy I started to run when I made it to the main aisle.
I reached Kgosi’s stable, only to find the door wide open and the dragons gone. But as my heart dove for my toes and I reached for Akhane in my mind to see if she was near, a great, masculine cheer rose, echoing through the stable.
I startled and drew back, only to be hit in the chest by a pair of man-arms that wrapped around my waist and lifted me off my feet.
“You did it, Bren!You did it!”
It was Harle. He’d lifted me high so the others could see me too. To my shock, my whole squad was there, cheering andwhistling, clapping and all talking over each other.
