Page 54 of Flameborne: Chosen

I blinked, then tried to mimic their style. Hands at my sides, I took one step toward them and spoke as clearly as I could.

“I see you,” I said, uncertain if that was the right return. “I am Bren Kearney. I am your sister. And… thank you!”

I stepped back next to the Commander, my cheeks burning. But either I’d done it right, or no one cared, because the men broke the line immediately, clapping each other on the shoulders, grinning, chatting, and turning around to leave?

I watched them each run back to one of the dragons who’d lined up behind them, then gaped as each took hold of long, thick leather straps that were attached as part of harnesses that crisscrossed at the base of the dragon’s neck, then around their legs and under their chests.

Each man leaped up his dragon’s shoulder, grasping the leather strap to climb further, feet braced against the dragon, hand-over-hand on the leather until they reached their dragon’s withers and threw a leg over tostraddle the base of the neck, just in front of the shoulders, their knees hooked over the dragon’s wing ridges.

There was laughter and some instructions back and forth before the dragons spread out, two of them—the Wing Captain and his Lieutenant, I thought—lumbered over to stand in front of me, a long, wide netting edged in thick, black ropes, strung between their dragons like a hammock stretched flat.

Then both dragons eased down onto their bellies so the netting lay flat on the ground.

“Kearney, as your Wing Captain, I give your first order. Please sit between the dragons, on the sling, facing the Commander.”

I frowned, but when I looked at the Commander he just stared at me expectantly. So I hurried over to where the grass poked through the netting, and sat down, cross-legged. “Like this?”

Ronen, the Wing Captain, nodded.

“Seventh Squadron,salute!”he barked. The seven men all clapped their fists to their chests.

“Sir! Commander, Sir!”

I hurriedly followed their example, though I was too late to say the words. Then, I waited, uncertain what would happen next.

“Good luck, Flameborne,” the Commander muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. Then he nodded to Ronen, and suddenly there was a greatwhomph, whomph, whomphas both dragons snapped their wings wide and began to flap.

I ducked with a little shriek as the wind buffeted me, but then suddenly every man and dragon in the clearing roared as the earth lurched. I screamed as the dragons on either side of me took off, and the net drew up around me, caging me as the dragons climbed into the sky.

15. Follow the Leader

~ BREN ~

By the time the roar of the crowd of Furyknights was overtaken by the roar of my pulse in my skin and the wind from the dragon’s wings, I stopped screaming.

I crouched on feet and hands, panting, wobbling as the net moved under me. I was tipped forward and being dragged like waterskin catching air behind the two dragons holding the corners of the net in their talons that werefeetlong.

The two that had picked me up flew close, the corners of the net twisting together as my weight caused it to turn in the air so that one moment I saw sky, and the next a dizzying view of the ground. The very distant ground.

‘Little Flame, take a breath… Little Flame…Bren!’ Akhane spoke in my head with increasing urgency, but I couldn’t answer her. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’tthinkbeyond chittering terror.I had been taken. It had all been a ruse.

A female Furyknight? Of course not—why had I been so easily swayed? So quickly convinced? There were no women here. Of course they didn’tChoosewomen.

These were men already aligned in a society. They were warriors.Furyknights.These men had already proven they were deceptive, why had I forgotten? Why had Ibelieved?

“Head east. That way if she falls, it’s over the ocean,” the Wing Captain called over the rushing wind and thewhomphof the dragon’s wings.

Horror and dread rippled down my spine.

This was a game to them. I was nothing but a game.Prey.Why hadn’t I remembered? Why had I let myself be swayed? They had asked if I had family, if anyone would miss me.Why had I said no?!

A scream lodged in my throat as the net twisted again and my stomach spun alarmingly. Yet it wasn’t the plunge to the ground that my mind conjured, but images of this group of men, this group that had greeted me as brothers but would kill me.

Or worse.

Oh God, I was going to be sick.

‘Bren, you’re not in danger! The Squad will protect you. This is training—do not fear. Who taught you such things?’