Page 76 of Flameborne: Fury
“Don’t worry, Bren, this will be over soon. We’re just waiting for the General—” Ronen cut off as a roar went up from the watching Furyknights. I turned my head sharply to see Donavyn stride out of the wings, the Queen on his arm, marching towards the gathered Captains, his eyes bright and gleaming with intensity. My guts quivered at the sight of the beautiful Queen, but Donavyn looked for me the moment he was on the stage. Our gazes locked and my breath stopped. Joyfloodedthrough the bond.
Bren, you’re my mate. I love you.
We both turned from that look—we couldn’t let anyone guess how we’d bonded—but in the same moment my heart swelled and I almost broke and ran to him as another memory echoed across time to make my stomach churn.
I love you, Brenny. You’re my g—
Donavyn had just reached the Wing Commanders who bowed to the Queen. He stood aside until he received their salutes. But as the memory filled my mind, he froze, his eyes snapping back to mine and a cold shudder rocked through him.From the outside I wouldn’t have known. He barely twitched. But I felt the panic in him through the bond.
I scrambled, trying desperately to offer some form of soothing or reassurance in the link, while frantically shoving the memory away, back into the dark corner of my mind where it belonged.
But even though Donavyn blinked and outwardly returned his attention to the men around him, I could feel the protective alert in him.
Was it possible he really did love me? That his attraction wasn’t simply desire fueled by the bond and Akhane’s heat?
My heart said yes.
My mind screamed that I knew men could lie about this—or change their minds.
Yet, I didn’t have time to find my certainty before this public spectacle began. The men here to raise me were important, powerful, and needed by the King tonight.
As soon as Donavyn and the Queen entered, the watching audience of Furyknights recognized them both and leaped to their feet to offer their honor and salutes. Then Captain Olve, the Commander of the Fang Wing called them to be at ease and prepare for the ceremony.
Which was how, moments later, I found myself standing before my brothers, under the eyes of the Queen, our Battle Commander—and my mate—and other leaders of the Furyknights, as my brothers each stepped forward to acknowledge me and announce my suitability for raising. And even though I was moved by their smiling faces and enthusiastic proclamations to the watching crowd, I barely heard a word because Donavyn’s eyes were on me and shining with pride.
While the men who claimed me as sister told the ranks why I deserved to fly alongside them, my mate—my proud, capable,powerfulmate stared at me with such love and admiration in his eyes that my vision blurred.
It wasn’t until Ronen, the last of my squad to speak, stepped forward and Olve leaned into Donavyn’s ear while he handed him something, that I was able to tear myself back to the ceremony.
“Seventh Squadron, attend!” Ronen barked.
Behind me, my brothers stomped forward one step, stopping at attention, their boots thudding on the stage floor as they saluted and answered in unison.
“Yes, sir!”
Then Ronen stepped to my side and snapped to a salute as well, calling the Captains and Donavyn to approach, which they did, their faces solemn. The Queen was left standing with her guards while a tense hubbub of anticipation began in the crowd.
“Sirs! The Seventh Squadron present, Brennan Kearney, a Flameborne of the Second Rank. We attest to her skill and courage. We attest to her strength. We attest to her intelligence and capability. We present her for your approval to be named among our ranks and a sister to eternity. A Furyknight in truth.”
I blinked rapidly trying to clear my vision as the three Captains nodded and Donavyn scanned my brothers—but his eyes lingered on me.
“Flameborne Kearney!” he intoned, his voice projected so everyone in the auditorium would hear it. “When a man—or woman—is Chosen by a dragonfury, they are made new. True life begins. When that same man—or woman—is named Furyknight, they embrace the sacrifice to honor the new life. A life of service, honor, and unity.
“You wereChosenby the She-dragon Akhane and made new. Now, you have been measured able and deserving of the very great honor to be called a Furyknight. But the choice to walk intothat purpose is yours. Do you accept the responsibility, the duty, and the call to serve? Are youwilling?”
My heart rose to flutter in my throat, but I didn’t hesitate. “Sir! Yes, Sir! It is my honor!”
I caught the glimmer of a smile on Donavyn’s lips and felt the rush of warmth and pride in the bond that brought a whole new wave of tears I had to blink away.
Behind him, a murmur rose in the audience. But Donavyn and the others ignored it, so I did too.
The three Captains, Mont, Gunnar, and Olve, leaned into a huddle, all of them nodding and reaching into the center between them with one hand.
Donavyn turned to them. “Captains of Flyer, Flame, and Fang, Flameborne Kearney accepts the responsibility and blessing of being raised Furyknight. Tell us: for which Wing will she fly?”
There was a beat before anyone moved. Fear rocketed through me—would they refuse me?
But then, to my shock, Captain Olve, the Captain of the Fang—the stealth Wing—turned from the other two, one hand clenched to a fist, and walked to stand before Donavyn.
