Page 112 of Flameborne: Fury
Mine.
I love you. I’ll always love you.
45. Justice vs. Vengeance
~ DONAVYN ~
Nothing in the world had ever made me feel more helpless than watching my mate fall apart in my arms, knowing it was men who looked like me that had destroyed her.
My chest was a tumult of grief and rage, fear and love, vengeance and the desire to protect.
Watching her break was the most frightening thing I’d ever seen. And watching her set that pain aside to rise from it was the most admirable courage I’d ever witnessed.
I had no idea how long I held her—long enough that the dragons had disappeared into the nearby woods, and early morning turned the meadow gold. But as I despaired that she’d never take an easy breath again—and so neither would I—Bren slowly calmed, then opened like a flower to that rising sun.
From crumpled and shaking, crying with such force that she coughed, her sobs eased.
From curled into my chest like a fearful kitten, to holding herself, then slowly wiping her eyes.
From jagged choking, to hitching breaths, to deep, intentional sighs.
I watched the emotion pour from her like a bucket. And like the bucket, the source was not endless.
She gave it out. Gave it away.Gave it to me.
And I took it gladly. Begged her for it. Wanted it.
So many things now made sense—and so many new purposes rose in the ashes of that revelation. So many ways she should be protected, and so much admiration for what she’d endured.
As well as so much hate.
I did my best to shield her from it when the first wave of rage consumed me—as she cried and called herself the despicable names her father had called her, I prayed fervently that God would have mercy and give me just a few moments with this so-called father. But even that rage was nothing compared to what I felt towards this man—thisFuryknight—who’d used her with such careless cruelty. Stolen not just her sanctity, but her safety.
How she’d walked into the Dragon Keep at all, let alone fought to become a Furyknight while surrounded by the reminders ofthatevery day was beyond me.
I’d seen men overcome abuse and poverty, even some of the fear she’d faced. But for her to walk into a worldsurroundedby men, the very men who’d done this? I wanted to vomit. And I wanted to clamp my hands around more than one neck—first and foremost among them, the man who’d lied and told her he loved her. The one she’d tried so hard not to reveal. But there was one clue in that memory that burned in my gullet. One name she hadn’t veiled.
A dragon’s name for its rider.
One Iknew.
But those thoughts were for later when I could examine them carefully. For now, there was a whisper in my heart that said her fear wasn’t over. That she’d struggle to believemylove because of this fucker. The events of that night were a specter,and the things it had told her about herself lay on her skin like the puckered scars on mine—forgotten sometimes, but all it took was a mirror…
‘Kgosi?’
‘She is not yet calm. We won’t return until she’s ready. Whenever that might be. Your King can use trackers to find his enemy.’
I grimaced. It wasn’t as straightforward as that, but that wasn’t why I’d reached out to him.
‘I agree that we won’t move until she’s ready. But I need your insight. Did you see the faces? Did you catch any names? Identities? Are they a squad? Or—’
‘A mate protects their mate in whatever way is needed. She showed you the truth, Donavyn. That’s what was needed to renew the bond.’
‘But they’re why she’s so frightened all the time. Why she panics when the men get close. She thinks they’re coming for her!’
‘Donavyn, I, too, am angry, and I will not forget what we’ve seen. If the Creator provides opportunity to use me as a tool against those men, I will walk into that purpose withfire.But vengeance is not justice. Do not become the creature you now despise. What you do in anger will also destroyyou.What you do in pursuit of justice will make your heart shine. When the moment is right, when justice can prevail, you’ll know. Until then, focus on your mate.’
I shuddered with frustration, but when Kgosi said no, he meant no. And this wasn’t the time to challenge my dragon. My mate was beginning to breathe. Her body growing looser in my arms.
