Page 129 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

When I was packed, I turned to Donavyn, to find him standing over me, also redressed in clean leathers, his face taut.

And then it was time.

Holy shit. I wasn’t ready for this.

He stepped up to my toes and took both my hands, standing over me, his bloodshot eyes searching mine. “I won’t give up,” he said hoarsely. “I believe in you. I know you’ll do this. I know you’ll make the right judgments when the time comes. But… I vow to you, Bren. I won’t give up. If God delivers Ruin into my hands, I will kill him. No matter what… I’m coming back for you.”

My throat ached with tears I swallowed back convulsively. I put both hands to his face and pulled him down, kissed him deeply, then stepped back. “I have to go, or I won’t.”

He nodded, but his eyes never left my face.

I kissed him one, final time. “I love you,” I breathed, then turned and practically ran to the door, because the urge to stay there with him, to take him and remain was so strong, if I didn’t run, I’d give in.

My vision blurred as I hurriedly pulled the door away, unlocked the door, and stepped into the hallway, pulling it closed behind me. Then froze.

I was leaving.

The words were a death knell in my chest. The bond shrieked. I let go of the ornate handle and took one step back.

Donavyn was on the other side of that door. Did he stare at it, as I did? Would he—

The lock clicked and I flinched, even though I knew it was right.

‘I love you.’

‘I love you more.’

I turned and fled.

42. The Ache of You

~ BREN ~

Only one corridor deeper into the castle, dashing tears from my cheeks with the back of one hand, I was heading for a less-used wing, planning to take the servants’ stairs out to the courtyard and run to Akhane from there. But two shadows separated from a dark corner of the landing in the middle of the stairs and I sucked in a breath to scream.

Gil clapped a hand to my mouth, and Voski hissed in my ear. “It’s just us!”

My heart hammered so loudly in my head, I struggled to hear him, but I pulled myself together, gripping the straps of my bags and fixed them both with a glare.

“What are you doing here?”

“We were coming to find you!”

I gave Voski a flat look. “I don’t need you. I’m just flying. No one will even know I’m gone. I’m safe.”

“Like fuck,” Gil muttered. “Flying where?”

“Home for me—and you’re reporting to Donavyn in the morning to help him, so get some rest,” I whispered checking over my shoulder. “I can’t… it’s too… look, I have orders. You have to help Donavyn. Both of you.” God forgive me for hiding his wishes from them. Forgive me for the lie, but I knew Donavyn needed them more than I did.

Voski eyed me like he’d heard the thought, but I kept my face straight and glanced over my shoulder again, feeling a pang from Donavyn that matched the ache in my chest because I wanted nothing except to be close to him again. But when I turned back to them, both of them glared.

Voski was too perceptive, and Gil was too suspicious. If I didn’t do something to distract them, they’d figure out that I was hiding something, so I remembered Gil’s advice about the best defense is an offense, and I leaned in, whispering like I shared a secret.

“I’m not supposed to tell you, but… Donavyn’s going after Ruin.”

Voski went very still. Gil smiled.

“When?” Voski asked abruptly.