Page 100 of Ashborne: Defiance

“Yes, and no,” I smiled. “Koa is a dear heart. But she was wild. She didn’t communicate much with humans, so her language is limited.”

“Oh! I hadn’t thought about that.”

“I’m not worried. I like the way she talks. And the sensations she sends, I feel them. So I know she’s happy. I just don’t always understand what she’s trying to tell me when things are moving quickly and she can’t find the words.”

Bren frowned. “She bonded with Kham—Voski’s dragon?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. So, you and Voski—?”

I leaned back, shaking my head. “No. No. Please don’t… no, Bren. It’s not—”

She looked up and down the hallway, then leaned closer. “You don’t need to hide it. The Furyknights are still learning about how the bonds work differently with women, but they’ve accepted Donavyn and me. And he’s won’t make anyone else have to hide like we did—”

“No, Bren, please!” I rushed, grabbing her hands. “Don’t—it was difficult between us when the dragons mated, but we managed. Why? Do riders usually give in to that?”

Bren went still, staring at me. Her brow furrowed. “You didn’t… I mean… you two aren’t—”

The sound of heavy, booted feet on the stairs at the end of the hallway echoed and she broke off, turning to look, then standing straight up and saluting as a group of men marched toward us.

“The captains, and some of the other officers,” she whispered through her teeth. I tried to mimic her stance, but she squeezed my arm. “Just be polite. You aren’t sworn in yet.”

But I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I just stood there and kept my eyes down as I would have for a member of the court who outranked me, curtseying when the men—mature, hardened, intimidating men, all dressed in the same dark leather and foreboding expressions—passed in a cluster.

The men nodded to accept Bren’s salute, eyed me warily, then knocked on the door and awaited the command to enter. All while Bren stood at attention, and didn’t move until they’d disappeared inside.

34. Decisions, Decisions

~ VOSKI ~

“I’m very relieved that you’re here, and safe, sir,” I told Donavyn honestly, after we’d debriefed quickly on the most important points—Gil, the king’s death, the queen’s succession, and the fact that Grace had abandoned a marriage contract in Fyrehold.

We’d gone around in circles on that, but Donavyn agreed there was nothing we could do. Grace couldn’t have parted from Koa. And as long as they didn’t know she was here, hopefully the scandal would pass. It was something we’d take the queen’s advice on when things settled down.

Now, we back-tracked to cover the more personal ground and decide how to move forward from here.

Donavyn nodded to accept my relief. “And I still lay gratitude firmly at your feet, Voski,” he said quietly. “I’ve told the captains, and Ronen here, how you identified the scheme, and your willingness to follow me to thwart it. We can’t tell anyone outside Shadowfang, of course. But let me assure you, your loyalty won’t be forgotten.”

We held gazes for a moment. Pride and gratitude surged in my chest. I admired this man. But I was glad there’d be no announcements or medals. I found the attention on those occasions extremely uncomfortable. It was half why I loved my role in the Shadowfang, and lower rank in my usual squad. I didn’t have to deal with all that shit.

“Thank you, sir,” I said sincerely. “I’m just glad that we’re all here, and there hasn’t been a coup. I was very worried—”

“Tell him what you told me. About the dragons.” Ronen looked at me darkly.

I frowned. “That they’re bonded?” I asked. I was confused. Everyone had seen that. Why did he want me to tell Donavyn, as if it were secret?

But Donavyn, who stood in front of the windows on the other side of his desk, leaned back on the sill and folded his arms. “I gathered as much from Kgosi’s agitation,” he said, scratching his jaw with one hand. “But, they’re your dragons? Yours, and Grace’s?”

I nodded, frowning deeper when Ronen gave Donavyn a pointed look.

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? Koa submitted to Kgosi. At least, I thought she did. Has there been a problem? Isn’t that why they all flew off together?”

Donavyn nodded and waved off my concern, but he’d caught Ronen’s gaze, and his expression was tense. Neither Ronen, nor the general spoke.

“What?” I asked. “What am I missing?”

Donavyn rolled his jaw. “Grace is bonded to Koa, and you’re bonded to Kham. The dragons bonded each other—after Grace was already bonded to Koa?”