Page 74 of Flameborne: Fury
Who had given me the orders? Was it another plot to sabotage me? Where were the enemy troops? How many? How did I find them? Was Akhane brooding?
I answered anything I knew and told the truth when I was ignorant about the rest. Their questions were endless. I itched to get to my room and pack my things, to sneak to Donavyn’s quarters. To see him again. To reassure myself that it wasn’t a fever dream—my brothers’ reactions to what they heard was evidence of how insane this had become.
Then I felt a surge of need and anger in Donavyn that twisted my guts into knots, and I had to take a moment, running hands through my hair and breathing deeply to keep myself from running from the stable and back to my mate.
But to my relief, Ronen stepped in again, quieting the others, then turning me.
“Well done, Bren. You did an incredible job. Truly. A job worthy of a Furyknight.”
I huffed, but I couldn’t help smiling. “You don’t know that. I could have fucked it all up. But there was enough for Donavyn to bring back to the King and—”
“No, Bren, you didn’t hear me, I don’t think,” Ronen said with a small smile. The others were all smiling too, looking back and forth expectantly between me and Ronen.“I said,you did a jobworthy of a Furyknight.”
I went still, afraid to even hope this was really happening.
Ronen’s smile grew broader. “I assume you’ve had no chance to bathe properly?” he asked slowly.
“No,” I breathed.
“Best you go clean up,” Ronen said, grinning like a cat who’d caught the bird. “Get clean, and a fresh set of leathers, because the orders have already come down: Brennan Kearney passed her final trial, and she’s to be raised to Furyknighttonight!”
My heart swelled as my brothers clapped and whooped and beamed at me while Ronen explained.
“The Commander made it very clear: You’re needed to reconnaissance back to the site you found, but you deserve to dothat as a pinned Furyknight. We’re to raise you tonight, even if we have to call a Conclave to make it official. But I don’t think we will. The Keep is buzzing with the news.”
He kept going, but my head spun so I couldn’t think straight or follow anything else.
…You deserve to do that as a pinned Furyknight. We’re to raise you tonight…
It was happening.
It was really happening.
And they saw that I’dearnedit.
~ DONAVYN ~
I was still reeling when the King waved me off and insisted that I go clean up and rest. “Take time while you can, Donavyn, because there won’t be much. I’ll bring inallthose reports and we’ll sift through them, figure out each source and try to identify who led us astray. Then you’ll help me find the very best strategy for disarming this weapon we find on our border—and how we can what we learn about them against these fuckers who thought they could outwit me.”
“Yes, Sire, of course, but—”
There was another knock at the door. We all turned as a servant opened it to reveal the messenger I’d sent to Ronen.
For a moment I was chilled. Was there a problem?Was Bren safe?
The messenger bowed to both the royals, then kept his head down as he straightened. “Your Majesties, I’ve been sent with an urgent message for the General.”
The King’s brows rose, but he only opened his palm towards me. “Speak it, son. We don’t have time for waffling tonight.”
The messenger bowed again, then turned to face me and saluted. “Sir! As you requested, Wing Commander Ronen sends word that they have prepared. The female Flameborne will be raised in one hour, in the auditorium.”
My heart leaped, but I kept my expression blank. As calmly as I could, I nodded, frowning because I didn’t want to miss this, but—
“Go, Donavyn. Get her ranked. And make sure she knows we expect her to fly in uniform in the morning. I’ll have the accounts gathered and the council convened. Be at chambers by midnight.”
I wanted to dash for the door the moment he released me, but I couldn’t let them see that I was any more invested in her than I should be. “Sire, if she flies, I’ll need to go personally. Kgosi is her dragon’s mate, and she’s in heat. Separating them right now would be catastrophic.”
Alexi grimaced, then flapped a hand to dismiss it. “Figure it out, man. Just get back here by midnight with a plan. We need to capture those troops before they get any closer. You’ll both be needed for that. Figure it out, and advise me accordingly later.”
