Page 49 of Ashborne: Defiance

“What do you mean, she followed you? Where did you lead her? Did she have something to do with Donavyn’s disappearance?”

My lips twisted in distaste, but a quick glance around revealed no one close enough to overhear. There was no legitimate reason not to tell him. “She followed me. I didn’t catch her at it until I’d almost reached the dragons.”

“What?!”

Gil’s shock was gratifying. All my brothers knew that I was virtually impossible to catch off-guard.

I rolled my shoulders to loosen my neck and try to ease the tightness in my chest. “It’s a long story, like I said, but the end result is: she was Chosen by a feral dragon, then Kham mated her female.”

“Wait, what?!” Gil actually stopped walking and turned to face me, catching my arm. “Is this a joke?”

“I wish it was,” I muttered with a warning look. I was still his wing leader. “We’ve been stuck out in the forest while the dragons mated. Kham wouldn’t consider leaving her. I was trapped.”

Gil’s brows drew down. “She trapped you? Is she—”

“No, no,” I hurried to reassure him. “We couldn’t leave because of the dragons and—look it’s been a shitshow. One day I’ll tell you the whole story. But right now, I need to know if you’ve uncovered anything about Donavyn, and what is being said about her disappearance. Did anyone associate that with me?”

Gil shook his head. “I haven’t heard you or your description mentioned at all. Ruin’s the only one who might have known you were here and he’s been gone since Donavyn disappeared. Did… did he kill him?” Gil asked, dropping his voice despite our isolation.

“I pray not,” I replied grimly. “But I couldn’t find out before a feral dragon mated mine, and a noblewoman who can’t ride was bonded to her. I was hoping you’d made more progress than I had.”

We stared at each other. He looked as grim as I felt.

“We have to go back,” I said, because it was my job to make the call.

Gil’s lips tightened. “There might still be—”

“It’s been a week. Either he’s dead, in which case Bren needs to know, and the herd will be in pieces. Or he’s not, and we need help to find him.”

Gil brightened. “Was Kham worried about Kgosi? Did he sense anything that would indicate—”

“No, but if Kgosi’s out of his range, he wouldn’t. And we don’t know. Kham thinks he went south. There was a… a migration, or something, he said. Wild dragons across the whole kingdom flocking and flying south. But he didn’t see Kgosi, or link with him. He only remembered that in the wake of everything else that happened. We’ve been a little distracted,” I said, almost laughing at the depth of the understatement.

Gil didn’t miss my dry tone. “And Grace is alive?”

“More than alive, she’s fucking kicking,” I muttered, clawing a hand through my hair to cover the flinch because when he mentioned her name, my chest panged again. Then I caught his wary gaze. “What is it? Did you learn something about her? I don’t trust her, but I can’t yet prove that she’s lying—”

“You need to get her out of here—don’t let anyone see her.”

I frowned. “I already planned to take her to Vosgaarde—the dragons insist—but why?”

“The nobles think she ran away, either alone, or with a man, because all of her things and servants remain. She just disappeared.”

That made no sense. “Why would nobles believe she had run? Surely they’d suspect kidnapping for ransom, or—”

“No. Apparently she’s been betrothed to some older lord, and she’s not excited about it. She was supposed to return home and marry him. He’s sending messages to the king.” Gil leaned in. “He’s accused her parents of hiding her away so they can pretend they have nothing to do with it, and keep the dowry.”

My heart dropped to my toes. Pure, undeniable panic clanged through me.

But Gil wasn’t finished. “The whole court is gossiping about it, Vos. It’s the best scandal in years. Emily’s a lady’s maid. She said it’s all they talk about. If Grace was truly chosen, get her out of here. If anyone sees her, they’re going to drag her off to this lord’s estate. Her dragon will defend her and—”

“Kham will lose his mind and fight to protect them both,” I finished faintly, a pit in my stomach.

And not just Kham, a quiet, inner voice offered.

I swallowed hard.

“The court thinks she ran away because she’s scared of the lord. They haven’t made any connection with you. It’s better if everyone keeps believing that. No one’s going to look for her in Vosgaarde. They think she’s hiding in the city. Get her out of here, Vos. Get her to the Keep and Acknowledged by the herd. Once she’s a Flameborne, she’s protected. Unless she doesn’t want to train as a Furyknight?”