Page 140 of Ashborne: Defiance

“No, no. God,” I dropped my face into both hands. “No, Grace, this isn’t about you. It’s me. I’m sorry. But, I can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what?”

“You,” I breathed, sincerely. Honestly. Brokenly. But I rushed on because she flinched. “This is too much for me. It’s not your fault—”

“Then perhaps it isn’t yours,” she said with a wry twist of her lips.

“I’m sorry, what do you mean?”

“I know I speak without thought. And insert myself where I am not welcome. It has been a problem—that is to say, perhaps, while you must douse the flames, the fault isn’t entirely yours.”

“No, Grace—”

“You aren’t the only one. You can be certain of that. I hoped with the men here it might be different. I thought Furyknights were a different kind of man. But it seems there’s simply something about me that raises a man’s hackles.”

She smiled softly. And so sadly.

I felt sick. “Grace, that wasn’t what I meant.”

Her eyes welled, but she blinked rapidly and straightened her posture, raising her chin, but not meeting my eyes. “Not to worry!” she said, far too brightly.

“Grace—”

“Thank you for tending the fire. I will give you the signal. But I’m certain you will honor your words,” she said bowing her head. “I’ll leave you to…” She looked around the empty clearing and frowned, “…your solitude?”

“Wait, Grace—” I took a step closer as she bent to pick up her bundle, but she snatched it and scrambled back a few paces, eyes averted, but her posture tense.

“Please, Voski. I don’t need you to repeat it. I heard you. And I appreciate your honesty.”

“But you didn’t—”

“Yes. I did,” she said, a thread of steel entering her voice. I opened my mouth to insist, but then my dragon spoke in my head.

‘Sometimes a male must accept that he has defeated himself and simply do what is best for the other. Let her go, Voski. Koa will comfort her.’

‘But—’

‘Hear wisdom when it is given to you,’ Kham sent—not angrily, but with a resigned sigh.

I just stood there like an idiot as Grace gave a little nod, then darted away into the trees.

I prayed she’d find her dragon quickly, that Koa had already reached her mind as well.

‘She shouldn’t be alone,’ I sent.

‘No. She shouldn’t,’ he replied. I waited for his insight and instruction. But he didn’t send anything else. And suddenly the power of his disapproval weighed heavily—and only grew when, within a few minutes, I felt him drawing away with Koa and Grace.

49. Throw Down Your Weapons

SOUNDTRACK: Mother Theresa by Barnes Courtney

~ GRACE ~

I stood on a small, grassy area at the top of the launch hollow, in the fading evening light, frowning at a tree fifteen paces away. My squad lieutenant, Gil, stood at my side, his arms folded, also frowning at the tree. Bren stood at my other side, hands on her hips and her head tilted slightly.

“Is that how it’s supposed to be?” I asked breathlessly, staring at the blade buried in the tree trunk, piercing through a broad, flat leaf that Gil had tied to the bark, the handle quivering because it had come to such a sudden stop.

“Yes,” Gil said, rubbing his chin with one hand. “That’s very good actually.”