Page 65 of Ashborne Forged

“I lied.”

My squad sister’s mouth dropped open. “Why? Why would you do that? What the hell were you thinking?”

“I was thinking it’s none of your damn business—yours or anyone else’s—what happens between us!”

“She’s my friend!”

“And she’s my mate!”

“Is she? Or will your story change again as soon as you don’t want her anymore?”

“Don’t you dare suggest I would use my mate—”

“Don’t glare at me like I’m the problem here. I bet Ronen’s having kittens. The whole squad should have been informed—even we told them!”

“Ronen doesn’t know. And you won’t tell him.”

Bren’s mouth dropped open in shock again. “You have got to be fucking joking—you’re hiding this?”

I gaped at her. “How can you of all people be shocked?! You hid a matebond!” I hissed.

“I was the first woman chosen by a dragon, mated to the Battle Commander. You agreed that the men wouldn’t believe I’d gotten here on my own merits if they knew. And we did tell you and the other brothers! You supported me taking time to prove myself!”

“Exactly. I had your back. So, stop pointing and swearing like I’m some kind of asshole. We all have our reasons, Bren. And I stood behind yours.”

“You saw the hurdles I faced—what hurdles are in your way?” she squeaked.

“Stop it, both of you.” The sound of Grace’s voice echoing in the stable, bloomed in my chest and set my heart alight, in the same moment that it dropped to my toes. I whirled to face her.

“Go back and rest. I’ll handle this.”

“You’ve done enough handling,” Bren muttered.

The rage scoured through me, burning my lungs. I whipped back around, snarling at her. “Just because you’re the General’s mate does not give you rank. You stand attention for your superiors and shut your fucking mou—”

A thick fist appeared from nowhere, grasping my shirt. I was thrown toward the stable door, stumbling in an effort to keep my balance. When I found my footing I turned, opening my mouth to tell Gil to stay out of this—only to find Donavyn, looking every inch our General and Battle Commander, standing between Bren and me, his jaw set and eyes ablaze.

“What did you say?” he growled, low and menacing.

I gaped at Bren over his shoulder. “You told him?!”

“Please don’t fight,” Grace breathed. Bren turned toward her at the same time I did, but Donavyn caught my shirt and shoved me back again. And when I’d caught my balance, shocked, and staring. He shoved me again.

“Get out of here. Leave this to me,” he muttered to the girls, pushing me when I tried to protest and return to Grace, following me, leaving them in the stable as he shoved and cuffed me until we reached Kham’s empty stable.

When I stumbled inside, Donavyn yanked the door shut, its heavy rumble echoing down the corridor, until it slammed into its latch. Then he turned on me and for the first time, a warning shrilled in my head.

The only time I’d ever seen him look this furious was the night another Flameborne pinned Bren to a wall and tried to intimidate her.

He’d beaten the man senseless. We’d had to pull him off the guy.

I swallowed hard. I would have stood up to any man when I was under attack, but he was my superior officer, my boss, the leader of the Shadowfang, and my squad-sister’s mate. He also looked like he’d bite my throat out if I wasn’t careful.

I put my hands up to soothe him. “Sir, I’m sor—”

“Furyknight, Attention!” he snapped.

I didn’t even have to think. The response was immediate and instinctive. I snapped to attention, eyes on the wall over his head, and saluted. “Sir! Yes, sir!”