Page 61 of Ashborne: Defiance

Voski, still hunched over his bag, stared at me, his dark eyes intense and locked in. Suspicion and wariness written in every line of his posture, but he looked as if he wanted an answer.

I shook my head. “I’m not quite able to believe that I’m here,” I said honestly, pushing to my feet, grimacing at the aching in my legs and tailbone—then I almost tumbled straight back to the dirt, because I tried to take a step and my knees didn’t work properly.

Which, of course, made him snort with laughter.

I shot him a glare and he stopped immediately, but he was stifling a smile as he went back to digging through his bag. “You’re going to have pain for several days,” he said tightly. “Best to take a short walk now. Stretch a bit—do you know how? And when you can trust your feet, we’ll get going. Here, eat this while you walk.”

He tore a small loaf in two, then thrust a hand toward me with half of it twisted in his fist. I blinked, but tried not to let my distaste show as I took it, then the small wedge of hard cheese he offered.

I could eat food from dirty hands if it meant I got to fly. Nodding to myself, I turned carefully and walked stiffly into the trees. I could sense Koa in that direction, and I needed a moment’s privacy. And I hoped if I got deep enough into the forest, he wouldn’t see if I did fall over.

I felt very unstable on my feet. My calves and thighs hurt so badly I didn’t want to bend my legs. And when I took a step, jolting pains shot through my knees and ankles. There was also a strange heaviness in my chest.

But I pushed it all aside and made myself walk as I ate, chewing and swallowing as quickly as possible with the dry food.

It didn’t matter if I hurt. Or didn’t sleep well. Or my body was sore.

I would fly.

The rest was worth it.

~ VOSKI ~

I’d told myself before I woke her that I wouldn’t be cruel today, and I would tell her my name. We were only days from Vosgaarde where she’d find out anyway. And much as I hated to admit it, Kham had been right that she should know.

It was just so hard not to think of her as an enemy, especially with the skill she showed in tracking and stealth. But Kham was also right that his mate was good, and wouldn’t have chosen her if she was dark.

I didn’t know why Grace made my chest jump, or sent my thoughts into a spiral. Usually, when I met someone who immediately made me wary and jumpy, they were the target on a mission, and my instincts screamed alarm.

Grace had made me skittish from the start—an impression only strengthened when I’d caught her sneaking through secret passages in the castle the day before I left.

But now, we were bonded by our dragons. For good or ill, we would be connected in some way for the rest of our lives.

She needed to know my name.

I’d talked to Kham for an hour before sleeping, and knew he was right. I was a leader, and needed to act like one. So, before I nudged her with my booted toe to wake her, I reminded myself that I had a job to do, and she was merely a new soldier to train.

But then she woke with a soft sigh. And when she sat up, rubbing her eyes like a child, I was frozen at the pink flush of her cheeks, and the messy tendrils that had fallen from her braid.

It had always been a unique pleasure to see a woman mussed.

Then, when I finally got the word out and told her my true name, she forgave me? Looked me in the eye like we’d made a pact, and just said it?

I couldn’t decide whether to be touched, or offended. Th echoes of the past were unsettling.

The comment about her giggle was meant to be a joke. But I was so tense, fighting the rush of want that coursed through me, it came out sounding sharp. Like a correction. And her face fell. Right after she’d forgiven me. Shit.

Swallowing hard, I dug out a wedge of cheese and the small loaves that would only remain fresh for another day, breaking one bread in half and handing it off to her while avoiding direct eye contact.

When her fingertips brushed my palm, my skin tingled.

Fuck.

Thank God she walked away, though the sight of her ass in those trousers threatened to undo all my resolve. I did grin at her stiff, jerky steps.

Her pain would get worse before it got better. We’d all been through that early on. But hers would be even worse than usual, because traveling like this, she didn’t get the breaks to move and relax her muscles.

When she disappeared into the trees, a part of me felt relieved. And another piece of me stabbed with loneliness. Which baffled me, because I deeply wished she wasn’t here. She destroyed my peace and required time and energy I didn’t have. But there was no choice.