Page 46 of Flameborne: Chosen

I reluctantly turned to face her.

“The throne of Vosgaarde admires you, General Arsen,” she said formally, her expression unreadable. “It is a great honor.”

“It is,” I said, bowing my head. “I’m grateful—”

“Don’t allow your humility to trip you into disregard,” she said bluntly. “The crown of Vosgaarde will always exalt a man who knows his value and acknowledges it boldly.” Then she squeezed my arm again, her nails almost piercing the skin because I wasn’t wearing a jacket—I hadn’t had time to return to my quarters for another to replace the one I’d left with Bren. “Sleep well, Commander. If a woman is involved, tomorrow will be a very tiring day.”

Then she was gone, sweeping away with her nose in the air, the train of her robe sliding gently along the floors in her wake as the guards hurried to bracket her and return her to the King.

I was left alone, uncertain whether I’d been reprimanded, complimented, orthreatened.

12. A Vision

~ DONAVYN ~

“Sleeping late I see, Keg,” I grumbled early the next morning, striding into my dragon’s stable after only a few short hours of sleep.

Kgosi and Akhane were still curled in the straw next to each other, just inside the entrance. I wasn’t sure if he was guarding the girls, or if both dragons were simply offering Bren as much space as they could in her little room.

“We don’t have a lot of time,” I continued. “Were you bothered overnight? Or did the men listen and leave you all alone?”

‘You need to ask?’my dragon sent with disdain in his tone.

“Not really,” I chuckled. “But I like to see you prickle.” I smiled as Kgosi lifted his head, his nostrils slitted and ears pinned back in mock-anger. “Has Akhane heard from our newest Flameborne this morning, or should I knock on the door?” I turned automatically, looking at the door into the groom’s room to see if it was open or—

‘We allowed her to sleep. She is weary,’Kgosi said in my mind.‘Perhaps you should step out while Akhane wakes her?’

“I won’t enter her room—and you tell me if anyone else tries to without her permission. She may not tell me. She seems very submissive and might—”

“Oh.”

The gasp behind me was quiet and startled.

I whirled, wondering who’d approached so early—only to find Akhane’s head high, her wing lifted… and Bren pushing to her feet from within the curl of her dragon’s foreleg.

She slept with her.

I wasn’t sure why that thought gave me a pinch, but Bren had gasped because she’d seen me. She scrambled to her feet.

“Am I late? I’m very sorry, Sir.Verysorry. Terra left me a wash basin—I’ll only be moments…”

She continued to speak, reassuring me, I thought. But I didn’t hear a word of it.

Her hair tumbled around her shoulders, which were bare. The nightdress she wore hung precariously from the point of each.

I suddenly fought the urge to hook a finger under one and let it fall,knowingthe weight of the fabric would send it sliding down her arm and leave that gathered front hanging from her breasts.

Her breasts.

Sweet rounds that had been innocently swathed in my jacket the day before, but now were emphasized by the rippling folds of soft fabric that molded to them like water and revealedeverything.

The sun beamed through the high windows behind her, making her skin and hair glow—and shining directly through that thin, white fabric so that her form was revealed in mouth-drying detail.

And where the fabric fell against her skin, the flush of it showed through. Especially the darker dusk of—

‘You asked me to advise you if you ever had something hanging from your nose, Donavyn. Do you also wish to be warned to wipe your chin when you’re salivating?’

Horrified, I whirled, turning my back on her, spluttering apologies and excuses like an adolescent boy caught peeping on his sister’s friends.