Page 168 of Flameborne: Chosen

‘The Primarch… He wants me to explain something. I need you to listen as if he spoke to you directly.’

I blinked, but nodded, suddenly afraid I’d gotten her into trouble.

Akhane fixed one eye on me and blew out a long, slow breath full of steam and vapor.‘Your questions grieve my heart, though I understand why they came to you. The Primarch says I must make it clear to you: it wouldn’t be a kindness toChooseyou if you weren’t intended to be great. It also wouldn’t be a kindness to your brothers. We dragons don’t Choose for kindness. We Choose because we recognize in a human the shared purpose for which we were Made.’

“So, Iamsupposed to be a Furyknight?”

Akhane looked at Kgosi again, which I found strange, then she tossed her head like a tense horse before turning back to me.

‘Bren, I didn’t Choose you for Furyknight, or messenger, or any of the roles which you humans assign to each other. No dragon does.’

I frowned. “But, that’s what the Chosen humans do—isn’t that from you?”

‘Your people determined many, many years ago that those who’d been Chosen should serve the crown and its people. But that’s a human matter. It isn’t ours.’

I was confused. “Then what is?”

I had the distinct impression Akhane was unsure of herself, which was strange. I’d felt her nervous or irritated—though never as much as I was. But I’d never felt her genuinely unsure.

“Akhane—”

‘Bren, I Chose you because we were made for each other, you and I. Made to be stronger together, each of us part of a larger whole. I Chose you for who you are—who you were made to be. The rest is merely the trappings of your humanity. Whether you become Furyknight, or messenger, or any other thing, you are mine, and I’m yours. That is as it’s meant to be.’

“But, if the Dragons aren’t Choosing based on who’d make the best Furyknights, what—”

Kgosi’s low, deep rumble of a growl rolled through the floor and walls. A warning. For me or because someone was coming?

I tensed and Akhane dropped a wing over me, but she removed it again a moment later when Kgosi heaved himself to his feet.

‘Get up, Bren. Quickly.’

I did as she asked without hesitation, but fear rocked through me. Who was coming?

I hurried out from under her wing and past her leg so she could stand without hurting me, freezing when Kgosi barked a greeting. A moment later, Donavyn appeared, slowing from a run, his eyes wide and brows high.

Everything went quiet. Even my heart stopped pumping.

He wasmagnificent.

His jacket was unbuttoned to reveal the black shirt he wore underneath sucked up against his skin, hinting at the ripple of his abs and the hard planes of his pecs. His hair was messy, strands pulled from the tie to fall over his eyes… those penetrating, hazel eyes appearing mostly green behind the tines of his dark hair, bright over the shadow of stubble on his cheeks.

His hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles red and raw, already swelling. There was a mark on his cheek. But I couldn’t tear myself from his gaze.

He’d searched the stable when he came around the corner and slowed to a walk as he reached the straw. Now his brows drew down as our eyes locked. And it felt like he lookedinsideme.

Visions of him punching Faren, snarling, pummeling the man who’d hurt and frightened me—my belly twisted in an uncomfortable braid of embarrassment and thrill.

He was here. I could breathe again.

I caught the sound of my own thoughts and shoved them away, becauseit wasn’t like that.I was left standing awkwardly next to Akhane’s leg, one hand back and pressed to her scaley skin because I felt unmoored and I needed something to ground me—

“Bren? Where’s Terra?” His tone was gruff.

Adrenalin shot through me. I stared at him, tried to respond, but my voice caught in my throat, so I had to swallow first.

“She already checked me. I’m fine. I just need to rest.”

Donavyn’s brows pinched a V over his nose. “Bren, I didn’t send her just to check you for wounds. I think you need—”