Page 77 of Flameborne: Chosen (Emberquell Academy #1)

I met his bald gaze. “Yes, of course, but—”

“Then don’t question that we’ll do the same.”

“This is why one of the Furyknight’s tenets is humility, Bren—humility to be willing to serve, and humility to accept the service of others,” Ronen said pointedly.

I couldn’t help the tears that blurred my vision, but I blinked and wiped them away as quickly as I could.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “I’m sorry for crying all the time.”

“You’ve been carrying a lot for a long time, Bren,” Gil said quietly, staring at me intently. “Seems like maybe that’s why God brought you here, so we could share some of the burden.”

I was touched. “Thank you,” I breathed.

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen when you got scared,” he said simply. “I’ll listen next time.”

“It’s fine, I knew—”

“No, Bren. Please. Stop saying things are well when they aren’t,” Ronen said, frustrated, though he stayed calm.

“We all discussed it. The risk isn’t only that we might scare you, or you might need protection, but also that others here won’t understand.

So, from now on, we want you to have a signal.

A word you can say when you feel uncomfortable or afraid.

Something we know isn’t part of play. But no one else will know.

If you say it, we’ll know you need to be treated with care—or taken away from whoever’s nearby. ”

“A safeword,” Gil suggested—then went still when a couple of the others stared at him, though I didn’t know why.

I put a hand to my chest, touched by their thoughtfulness.

Ironically, the first word that came to mind was Ruin.

But his name would raise questions, and besides, it was also a word I might use innocently.

But I had always joked with Ruin that his bright blue eyes were the color of one of the tiny wildflowers in the fields. And they’d always reminded me of him…

“How about Rueflower?” I said softly. “If I ever say Rueflower, or use it in a sentence, it will mean there’s a problem and I need help.”

Ronen looked around the circle and they all nodded .

There was movement behind him and I glanced past him to see Donavyn standing, leaning against the stable wall, watching me with a penetrating gaze.

“I’ll remember that, as well,” he said gruffly. “And if there’s ever a gap in shifts, a time when you’re all gone for the night, tell me. I’ll make sure there’s a guard for her.”

I wanted to protest, but both he and Ronen shot me looks, so I swallowed it back.

There was a little more talk about details, but it was time for all of us to get some sleep. I thanked my brothers, accepted a few side-hugs, and waves, then swallowed back a new rush of emotion as they began to file out.

Ronen and Donavyn stood aside, talking quietly while the others filed out, but to my surprise, Voski hovered to my right, waiting until all the others were out of earshot.

His expression was blank, but his eyes were storms.

I looked a question at him and he cleared his throat.

“I’ve been in that place,” he said quietly. “I don’t talk about it,” he said abruptly when I opened my mouth. “I just wanted you to know, you’re not alone. And your dragon didn’t Choose you because of it.”

I waited, but it seemed like he was done. “Thank you.”

He nodded once, his jaw tight, then he turned and strode after the others without another word. Ronen saw him bringing up the rear, murmured to Donavyn, then followed Voski out into the stable aisle.

Which left me there with the two dragons—and Donavyn.

For a moment our eyes caught and all the emotion and sensation of that moment when he’d gotten close and reassured me came rushing back.

His eyes widened slightly and I thought he might approach again, but then he tore his gaze away and looked behind him for his jacket, hurrying to it when he spied it. He swept it up and strode towards the stable door with only one more glance over his shoulder and a simple nod.

I nodded back. It wasn’t until he was rounding the doorway into the aisle and he threw the jacket over his shoulder that I caught sight of his bruised and swollen knuckles again, and remembered what had passed.

I hurriedly linked with Akhane ‘Can you tell Kgosi to pass on to Donavyn that I’m so grateful for his intervention with Faren? And sorry he was hurt?’

Akhane replied a moment later.

‘Kgosi says not to worry. Donavyn knows.’

It was a strange, comforting, challenging feeling to turn then and walk back to my room alone. My limbs dragged like they were weighted. My mind felt sluggish. And my shoulders wanted to round with the weight of everything that had passed.

My brothers cared. And they meant it. I was sure of that. I still felt like my presence was a weight to them—but I believed that they wanted to help me .

And Donavyn? Well, that was a mess I wasn’t sure how to untangle, but when I remembered the rage he’d unleashed on Faren it made my heart flip. He cared too.

After a very brief wash, I crawled into bed, and even though I wanted to cry again, it wasn’t with grief.

It was with pure, unadulterated relief.

And a little bit of joy.