Page 74 of Ashborne Forged

I hadn’t wanted to agree, and he knew it. But the estate was failing, and I was the only child.

“Perhaps there’s been some mistake,” Ronen said quietly. “Why don’t you join us at the Academy? We can review—”

“There will be no review. It is a mere courtesy that I speak to you. She has led us on a merry chase, and clearly seduced you all as well. She’s a known troublemaker, and I came with the approval of our king. I’ll encourage her to send letters of apology for whatever trouble she’s caused once we’re home and settled.”

He didn’t wait for a response, but turned on his heel, dragging me with him as he extended his free hand ahead of him and plowed through the men who wavered, uncertain if they had right to stop him.

But none of them did.

“No… no!” I gasped, clawing at his hand. “I’m not—I won’t—”

“Let her go!” Voski snarled behind me. I twisted to look over my shoulder, to plead with him not to hurt anyone—only to see him caught mid-leap by Ronen and Gil, one on each arm.

“…Dear Lord, you’re a dramatic lot, aren’t you? I paid good money to marry her, and she won’t leave my sight until we are married and she’s with child. Perhaps later she can return to play with your dragons again. But until she’s bred, she remains with me.”

I sobbed, and struggled harder, tears on my cheeks now as Voski lost all control, and was tackled by our brothers. It took four of them to take him to ground.

Voski cursed. The men shouted. Koa and Kham screamed overhead, and more dragons gathered. I fought, bracing my heels in an attempt to stop our forward motion, but Breckon was a strong man. He worked with horses, hunted regularly, and managed his own stables. I was drawn inexorably forward, scrambling, one moment looking back, pleading with Voski to stop, because Breckon would charge him, I knew. And simultaneously praying he’d find a way to remove this man from me, remove me from him, remove the threat—take me back.

“Grace! GRACE!”

“Stop—Voski, fucking stop!”

His scream tore my heart in two and I fought like a cat—grabbing, clawing, spitting, uncaring how it looked or sounded.

I would not go. I could not leave. He could not take me from my mate!

Breckon swore and gripped me so tightly, I felt the dig of his nails, even through the leather. I vaguely registered a fine carriage, and nervous horses trying to bolt, but held by tall, expressionless footmen who wouldn’t help.

Panic sang in my heart, and blinded me as I wrestled and twisted, trying to run back to Voski, who continued to bellow and roar, and was being held down by our brothers, while Bren stood between us and them, looking back and forth, her face pained.

“Let her go!” she barked, storming after us. “Let her go!”

Breckon glanced over his shoulder, but scoffed—then slid to a halt before running into a broad, leather-clad chest.

“Lord Breckon, is it?” Donavyn’s voice was low, calm, and edged with warning. “I’m Donavyn Arsen. General Donavyn Arsen.”

My heart flipped in my chest. “General, please—Lord Breckon is from Fyrehold and—”

“Silence!” the Lord snapped. I jerked, sucking in a breath to scream at him—until Donavyn shot me a look and I snapped my mouth closed. But I didn’t stop trying to pull free.

Breckon turned back to Donavyn, and I saw him hesitate. Donavyn was younger, but carried the air and authority of a man at his peak. No doubt Breckon had heard his name, and understood his rank.

“She is my betrothed, and here by duplicitous means.”

“I assure you, the dragons are far from duplicitous, and Grace was Chosen. As you can see, Koa is very concerned.” He pointed over our heads. Breckon eyed the dragons warily.

“You call the beasts off,” he muttered. “She is my betrothed. I have a contract with her father.”

“She’s a Flameborne, and in training.”

Donavyn’s tone was so resolute, spoke so certainly of my position here, for a split second, I thought Breckon would concede.

But then he raised his chin and braced himself.

“In that case, once she has married me and given birth, she may return to complete her training if she wishes to do so. But until then, if you’ll excuse me, we have a great deal of travel ahead of us, and an heir to produce.”

I thought it was Koa who screamed, the shriek jangled in my head with such volume.