Page 122 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

I huffed. Well, that would be true, wouldn’t it, if she were dead.

“Donavyn, please. What is going on?!” She looked back at Voski, but he’d turned from Gil to stare at me.

“I’ll tell you. I’ll fill you in on everything,” I said grimly. “But first you get in your leathers, make certain you’re armed, and we’re going to the dragons. We need to talk to them. Your brothers here will make sure we get out of the castle safely.”

She frowned for a moment, but without another question, picked up her skirts and darted to the bedroom. “I’ll need your help to change.”

Oh shit. Of course. “You two guard the door,” I muttered. Her brothers both nodded as I hurried after her into the room, swallowing the churning in my stomach as I tried to find the words to put this whole picture together for her.

Give me wisdom, I prayed as she reached for me in the bond, assuming I had been unwilling to speak because her brothers were there. Show me how to get her through this. Show all of us.

This is a world I never thought I’d have to face

40. The Plan

SOUNDTRACK: With Arms Wide Open by Tommee Proffit and Nicole Serrano

~ DONAVYN ~

The ball was still in full swing when we emerged from the castle by a servant's exit, courtesy of Voski’s reconnaissance. Still, our only certainty that we couldn’t and wouldn’t be followed, was to be outside and far from any human eyes. So, after assigning Voski and Gil to patrol, watching for any unwanted attention, we met the dragons out on the grounds of the castle estate, where the lawns had been manicured and there was no cover for hidden eavesdroppers.

At Kgosi’s urging, Bren and I both opened our minds wide, allowing our dragons unhindered access—and in that way, they relayed conversation between the four of us. It was a strange and wonderful sensation. I’d never heard Akhane before, though I trusted her implicitly. Yet, hearing her warmth and affection for Bren soothed my hammering heart.

Hammering in fear at what we faced, in grief at how we’d been betrayed, and in pure rage at the danger to my mate.

It didn’t help that Kgosi was furious. He’d given his grief away, something to be carried with thoughtful reflection when our enemies were defeated, he said. But until then… his power and offense—both because Alexi betrayed and deceived us, but also because of the danger to the girls—was palpable. And not just to me. Bren’s brothers had walked small as they ushered us out here.

Any angry dragon was a force. But an angry Primarch…

Kgosi was a presence.

I almost wished we could take flight and find Carnage, and to hell with the fallout. I burned to see Kgosi unleash his power on an arrogant little firestarter who thought he could walk in my dragon’s shoes.

But I held back speaking the thoughts because, as our minds opened and the dragons saw the final details we’d deduced, and agreed with our conclusions, while Kgosi swelled with power, authority, and defiant rage, Akhane had deflated.

Bren’s anxiety leaped in response.

‘Akhane, is there something else wrong, other than what we face?’ Bren breathed in the link.

‘Don’t worry. I am only grieved, Little Flame. At times, the darkness in this world feels… insurmountable.’

Kgosi crooned to her, even as his righteous anger rose. ‘We walk in the light. We walk in the Creator’s power. We walk with clear conscience. We will prevail.’

To my surprise, Akhane didn’t immediately submit. She raised her sad eyes and faced my dragon with power and authority of her own swelling in the shared bond. ‘Whatever has been done to these kin, whatever keeps them under the thrall of these evil men, it must be broken, Kgosi.’

‘It is our purpose, I have no doubt,’ Kgosi responded with all the gravitas I’d expect from him. But something like caution—the type I might offer the king when I was certain he walked the line between misstep and victory—resonated between the dragons. Akhane ducked her head, but her posture remained strong.

Interesting.

I eyed Kgosi from the side and caught him flicker his ears, but he spoke before I could ask.

‘The moment for questions and exploration has passed,’ Kgosi intoned. ‘You have done well to uncover this web of deceit, but it’s clear our time for inaction has passed. We have danger to avoid, and evil to address.’

Bren’s eyes widened at Kgosi’s words, but she nodded. ‘Hanson told me that Ruin’s going to the city tomorrow.’

‘I believe he’s either receiving word tomorrow to begin his plan, or sending his final missive to confirm his steps,’ I added. ‘Either way, it’s clear that we have a little over twenty-four hours before whatever he’s planning is unleashed.’

Akhane’s ears drooped further, and I felt Bren send a rush of reassurance to her. I was reminded how young Akhane was for a dragon, particularly in a rider bond. And for a moment, I feared she might waver in the face of this. But as if she’d heard the thought, her head shot up and Kgosi rounded on me.