Page 83 of Ashborne Forged

I would fight to the death to protect her. But even Kham and Koa could be overwhelmed by numbers.

We needed our family. We needed the Keep, and the dragons, and the unity here. We all needed our queen.

To lose all of them, only to have some mercenary fuck discover our hiding place and take Grace from me anyway, because I had no support?

I shuddered.

“You’re a leader, Voski,” Ronen said quietly. He’d squatted, his back to the wall of the castle, watching me. “Grace is only the second female Flameborne, but we all know more women are coming. More and more of us will fight these battles. You have a duty here—to set an example. Just like Donavyn did.”

I bristled, not wanting to hear that he believed I needed the reminder. But he wasn’t done. When I turned back to face him, he locked eyes on me.

“Keep your shit together.”

“You wait until you have a bond, and we’ll see how together you keep your shit,” I muttered.

Ronen’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond.

Gil looked back and forth between us. “You know, I’m still happy to—”

“No!” Ronen and I barked in unison.

He smiled. I almost did. But I kept pacing. It seemed like forever since they’d disappeared into the castle. I knew it was probably only thirty minutes, but sitting here, doing nothing would drive me insane.

Some time later, pounding footsteps echoed from around the corner of the building, and a moment later, Bren appeared, puffing as she slid to a halt.

“You’re summoned, Voski. You need to come now, while Lord Assface is off finding his contract.” I started toward her as Ronen straightened, and both he and Gil looked at her with questions in their eyes. “Donavyn says you two need to come too—and keep him in line. If he touches anyone, it won’t go well.”

I grimaced, but didn’t argue when they caught up with me, Bren walking alongside, filling me in on everything that had been said before she left.

My blood ran cold.

The queen didn’t think she could override this?

I looked at Bren when she delivered that as we trotted through the halls of the castle. And her expression in response was sympathetic.

No. That was the last thing I wanted to see. We didn’t need sympathy. Sympathy meant we were giving up! We needed to fight.

“Show me where she is,” I muttered.

Bren picked up her pace until we were jogging. All I could see in my head was that wretch, holding Grace so possessively. Smug and arrogant, wholly believing that simply because of his birth and wealth, the world would give him what he wanted. No matter what it cost her.

God, I hated nobles with a fire that could melt stone.

‘It is time, Voski,’ Kham sent as we ran.

‘Time for what?’

‘It is that time we once discussed. For you to use the things you were once taught. The Creator prepared you for this, whether you knew it or not. The weapons you were handed for ill… use them for good.’

I shuddered at the thought. But Kham wasn’t finished.

‘You have been equipped to play this particular game, with these particular people. Use that. They will not expect it from you. Use it to unbalance this Lord. Focus on winning by the strength of your wits, not your body.’

It was a gift of mine that my instincts recognized wisdom when I heard it. Which was why my failings with Grace were so humbling.

It hit me that my mate didn’t know I had seen my error. She didn’t know I’d intended to claim her, claim us, even before this bastard showed up.

What if he took her? What if she never learned that I was surrendered—