Page 74 of Flameborne: Chosen (Emberquell Academy #1)

~ brEN ~

An hour after the ruckus with Faren I was in the stable, curled up inside Akhane’s leg while she lay in the nest she’d made in the straw, nudging my side and crooning if I stayed quiet for more than a minute.

The next time she nudged me, I petted her snout and sighed, trying to release the tension in my chest again. But it wasn’t working. My eyes stung from the tears earlier. And everything just seemed dark.

Nothing had happened the way I’d hoped. When I flew out to celebrate with my brothers, I thought the worst of the day was over. How wrong I’d been. But it seemed like the way things went wrong was my fault.

If I hadn’t overreacted to my squad, I wouldn’t have come back early and run into Faren and nothing would have spiraled out of control.

Now I was worried Donavyn would be in trouble too.

And yet, my mind wouldn’t stop echoing with those ugly words.

Royal whore.

Faren’s words had hit hard because they held exactly the same tone of contempt as my father’s. Were men taught that particularly ugly twist of disdain in their lips? Or, was it God-given?

Can’t even fucking harness a dragon.

You don’t belong and aren’t wanted.

Nausea churned in my stomach. Akhane crooned again and nudged me. I put my hand on her snout, but I didn’t want to move.

“Am I a fool, Akhane? Am I grasping at clouds? Am I just an indulgence to powerful men?”

‘No, Little Flame. You’re here for a purpose. ’

“What is it?” I asked her bluntly, but quietly. “Do you know? Does it have anything to do with being a Furyknight? Or are you just being kind to me?”

There was a deep rumble, followed by a snort strong enough to shift the straw. Kgosi had curled up in the doorway, ensuring his bulk blocked the view into the stable from the aisle. I wasn’t sure if he’d done it for me, or just to make a point. But I was grateful.

The hair on the back of my neck rose when he snorted, though. He clearly didn’t like what I’d said.

Akhane made a strange, high peep. I could hear Kgosi moving, and Akhane turned her head towards him, then went still. A moment later, she answered me.

‘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 to Choose you 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, I am supposed 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 was magnificent.

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 looked inside me.

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, because it 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—”

“I’m fine,” I croaked.

His frown deepened. “You don’t have to pretend.”

For some reason that made me angry. “I’m not. I’m fine.”

Donavyn sighed heavily, then raked a hand through his hair, which only made those wild strands messier. But he’d stopped staring, so I was able to breathe properly at least .

That is, until he took off his jacket and threw it into the corner, then rested his hands on his hips as he faced me in that tight flight-shirt that hugged him from neck to waist and down his arms, stretched across his chest and hugging his ribs.

It emphasized his broad shoulders and made me want to follow the lines—

Akhane made that strange, high sound again and I blinked and looked away from him, my heart pounding. Not looking at him made it easier to speak, so I turned to face her, pretending she needed comfort as I stroked her leg and murmured to him.

“Thank you for your help tonight. I couldn’t… that wasn’t… That is, I didn’t anticipate that he’d be here and—”

“Bren. Stop.”

I had my back to him. But when he spoke the words and they were so gentle, I froze.

He cleared his throat. “Ronen told me that you had a hard night tonight even before Faren,” he said quietly.

I clenched my teeth. Was I never going to appear strong to these men?

“I wasn’t—” I cleared my throat and tried again.

“It wasn’t a hard night . There was a moment.

I overreacted when my brothers played a prank on me.

We’ll laugh about it later. I’m sorry I worried Ronen.

I’ll apologize to them. In the morning when we—”

“Bren. Just fucking stop.”

I was so shocked, I whirled to face him again. Kgosi shifted to block the door again. But I barely registered that, because Donavyn strode towards me, his brow furrowed and hands clenched at his sides.

“S-stop what? I’m trying to reassure you—”

“Stop trying to reassure me,” he said bluntly.

“Stop saying that you’re fine. Stop pretending there’s no problem beyond being forced into the Keep by a Dragon’s Choosing.

Someone hurt you, Bren. I sent Terra to you because I know she’s trustworthy.

And I think you need to talk to someone about what makes you so afraid. ”

My chest punched in like he’d thrown a fist. I folded my arms over the blow and held myself tightly. “There’s nothing wrong with me,” I insisted through my teeth. “I’m just learning—”

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with you, Bren. Far from it. I’ve seen your strength, your courage, your perseverance. And your honor. There were many men who took a lesson from you today.”

“Hardly. I couldn’t even finish the task—”

“You could, and you did. You were sabotaged. I now have proof, and an order from the King: if either of those men ever speak to you poorly, or show even a hint of misconduct—towards you, or anyone else—they’ll be removed from the Flameborne ranks permanently.”

I blinked. He had proof?

But before I could ask, he took a step closer and continued, his expression somber, and his eyes piercing, locked on mine. “Bren, someone hurt you. I shudder to think how. And I wouldn’t ask you to tell me. That’s why I sent Terra, but—”

“I don’t know what you’re—”

“—Sovanne described your reaction to that man at the tavern. Ronen described your fear at your brothers’ hands. And I saw you with Faren. You’ve flinched numerous times when I moved in your peripheral vision when we were training. And it’s clear fear overwhelms you at times.”

I backed towards Akhane’s leg. I needed to touch something solid, to ground myself. “Those are all just bad examples. Yes, I was afraid of Faren, but he was so angry and—”

“Bren, I’ve seen your heart and your strength when you’re not afraid. Don’t let these men steal it from you. The things Faren said, they were sick. I’ll never allow another man to say such things—”