Page 77 of Flameborne: Fury
“Sir, we hear the proclamations, and we are in agreement. Flameborne Kearney is Flameborne no more. She has proven her worth and strength and will be raisedFuryknight.”
The hum of the crowd grew louder and my heart raced. I’d known why we were here. Anticipated and worked for this moment. But when Olve extended his fist to Donavyn, and my mate took something from him with a short nod, then turned to face me again, pride shining in his eyes, I almost broke down as he reached for the lapel of my uniform jacket. Then he stepped forward to stand right at my toes, his back to the Captains, and his eyes shining as he stared down at me.
There was a breath when our eyes locked again and the rush of love and admiration from him stopped my breath.
He raised his voice again to be heard by the men behind him. His voice was rough, but strong.
“And so, it is unanimous. Brennan Kearney, theChosenof Akhane the grayscale, you are measured willing, able, andready.And so, on behalf of all the Furyknight ranks, I welcome you among us. A Furyknight of Specialist rank. Forever one of us—and forever a member… of theFang Wing!”
Shouts and curses rose from the audience and even my brothers—I heard everything from cheers to groans, and for a moment I was confused.
As Donavyn slipped trembling fingers under my lapel and punched the pin through the leather, his eyes twinkled and he smiled. “The bets were all that you’d be named a Flyer,” he murmured under the noise of the crowd, chuckling as he leaned in, pretending to concentrate on pinning me, but getting close enough for me to hear him over the hubbub around us.
He straightened, but didn’t turn away, waiting for the crowd to quiet. When they did, he spoke directly to me but projected his voice so the auditorium would hear.
“Furyknight Brennan Kearney of the Seventh Squadron, I see you!” His eyes were so warm, so full of delight my heart squeezed and I swayed, desperate to throw myself back in his arms and reassure myself that he was more than simply my Commander. “Your path to this moment required the scaling of summits, and overcoming hurdles no Flameborne has faced before you. Only by determination, strength, and perseverance do you stand here today. And so, we are witness to your worthiness. Your appointment makes history and changes the face of Furyknights forever. The Creator has blessed you through Akhane.Allour lives are improved by adding you to our number. All our days are bettered for knowing you.”
A great roar rose from the watching crowds and my vision blurred again—a small sob broke in my throat when Donavyn leaned in and murmured under the chaos,“Especially mine,”as he slipped a black blade with an etched-bronze handle into the sheath at my side.
Then he met my gaze with a smile and offered his hand to shake, his eyes crinkled with pride and delight. I almost threw myself into his chest and had to take a moment to gather myself.
Donavyn’s eyes softened. “Well don, Bren,” he whispered, then nudged his offered hand forward another inch.
I trembled as I took that calloused hand and held it like an anchor in a storm—and he held mine just as tightly.
“Verywell done,” he murmured, and his eyes spoke all the words and intention I felt rushing through the bond, but we weren’t alone so I couldn’t touch him as I wanted to, or weep on his shoulder.
Instead, I swallowed back the emotion and nodded. “Thank you.” The words were a bare whisper in my throat, but he nodded and smiled.
But the moment was broken when, fingers slipping out of mine, he turned on his heel and marched back to the side of the stage where the Queen stood, clapping her hands along with the throng.
I should have been so grateful that she’d come—humbled by it. But the way she leaned into Donavyn’s side when he returned to her side, and the casual intimacy with which she reached for his arm and held it…
It turned my stomach.
A new wave of reassurance and caution reached me through the bond, but there was no time to examine it because Olve called over the crowd that I was officially a Furyknight—me!—and the men all leaped to their feet. The dragons on the walls raised their chins to herald and flapped their wings, andthe cacophony buffeted me from every side. Moments later my brothers rushed me, lifting me to their shoulders the same way they had after I was raised to Second Rank, cheering my name, squeezing my hands and legs as they carried me off the stage to a tumult of applause and cheers.
The moment was so overwhelming, I froze in their grip, praying I wouldn’t crack open with the emotion coursing through me.
They carried me past Donavyn and his eyes followed mine and those words came back to me again.
Bren, you’re my mate. I love you.
I bit my lip and held his gaze as long as I could, as sound and movement erupted in the auditorium behind us. The Captains and Donavyn and the Queen followed us off stage, but peeled away as soon as we were out of sight of the watchers.
I knew Donavyn had to accompany the Queen back to the King, and the Captains would go with them, all of them preparing our orders for meeting this threat. I was proud because he was needed, and not just by me.
But watching him walk away with the Queen on his elbow, while he glanced at me over his shoulder and shoveled pride through the bond… it hurt as much as it gave me joy.
When they passed out of sight, I blinked. It was so hard to regather my wits as my brothers set me back on my feet and surrounded me, cheering and clapping my back, shouting over the noise to congratulate me and welcome me formally into the squad.
I should have been grateful—and I was. I could barely believe this was real. My brothers gushed and cheered and teased, but none of it sank in. We stood together for a long time as they asked me question and teased each other. Ronen said we’d wait for the auditorium to clear and the dragons that had perched on the walls to fly away before we left, otherwise I’dbe overwhelmed. I was grateful. I already struggled to take it all in—my mind kept turning back to the bond with Donavyn, afraid it was somehow lost because of the distance between us. I clung, thrilled and afraid as the surges of love and comfort that reached me through the bond began to fade because Donavyn was drawing too far away.
I ached, but swallowed it back. I had to keep it together!
I don’t know how long we’d been there, but the auditorium emptying and all that hubbub and noise fading into the distance, when Ronen beckoned me aside from my brothers. I thought we’d leave, thought he might suggest we celebrate as a squad—and I would have to tell him that I had to prepare to fly in the morning. But instead, he leaned down and murmured in my ear.
“There’s a few others who want to congratulate you personally.”
