Page 34 of Flameborne: Fury (Emberquell Academy #2)

~ brEN ~

I couldn’t believe it was happening.

The high auditorium wall swept a massive circle from one side of the stage to the other, leaving room below for hundreds of Furyknights to sit on terraced level blocks that followed the curve, so every seat faced the stage.

Those tiered levels of hewn stone must have required dragons to move the blocks.

But its black, onyx walls were dragon-flamed and gleamed even in the dark, so slick they reflected starlight.

To make the space even more impressive, the dragons hadn’t stayed outside the walls as they did when we entered the buildings.

At least a dozen were perched atop the black exterior wall like enormous birds on a fence.

If Akhane had been among them, I might have laughed.

But I could feel her, still distant. To the east, I thought.

I wished she was here, but I wanted everyone else alive more, and bringing Akhane in her heat and Kgosi with her into this relatively small space with so many other males was just asking for disaster.

So, I’d been relying on my brothers to steady me, keeping my eyes on their beaming faces to remind me that standing on this stage was a good thing. I wasn’t being disciplined, I was being raised. I had earned my pin. And everyone was about to see it.

It was surreal.

The shocking part was how many of the Furyknights had come to watch, despite the late hour.

I watched as they continued to file in from the entrances at the side and back, along with the sounds of more dragons rising outside the walls, unseen behind those perching above. I never imagined so many would come.

The Wing Commanders had called my raising without any warning, after the dinner hour. An urgent call because I had duties to attend the following day.

Furyknight duties.

I couldn’t believe it. This was impossible. And yet, here we were. And the growing hum in the auditorium came from the crowd of male voices—Furyknights, stableboys, servants, and staff, all of whose lives centered on the dragons.

And they were here to see me get pinned.

I had hurriedly bathed in the servants quarters, braided my hair still wet, and now stood at attention at the center of the stage, wearing fresh uniform leathers and an empty sheath at my hip that strapped to my right thigh, as I’d been instructed.

The Wing Commanders stood to my left at the corner of the stage, talking under the noise of my brothers who were lined up behind me and the gathering crowd in the auditorium.

The three Commanders expressions were stern and worried, and I had no doubt their quiet conversation focused not on me, but on the impending threat of our enemies that Akhane and I had discovered.

Ronen had already warned me the ceremony would be brief because I was the only one being raised, and because the leaders were all meeting with the King afterwards to finalize their strategy to contain this mess.

We walked to war. Or, to battle, at least.

That thought cooled my blood.

I had no doubt we’d succeed in putting down the small army I’d seen. Our forces were far too strong, and I hadn’t seen any sign of dragons.

But Ronen said it was also possible that the men I’d seen were only a foot-camp, and there was more hidden miles beyond them. Possibly including dragons and their riders if they’d kept to the unclaimed Pyre swamps.

My head spun with the risks, as well as frustration that I hadn’t thought to have Akhane fly beyond them to check if other groups were following. A fresh wave of nerves rose in my chest and made my trembling worse.

“Don’t worry, Bren, this will be over soon.

We’re just waiting for the General—” Ronen cut off as a roar went up from the watching Furyknights.

I turned my head sharply to see Donavyn stride out of the wings, the Queen on his arm, marching towards the gathered Captains, his eyes bright and gleaming with intensity.

My guts quivered at the sight of the beautiful Queen, but Donavyn looked for me the moment he was on the stage.

Our gazes locked and my breath stopped. Joy flooded through the bond.

Bren, you’re my mate. I love you.

We both turned from that look—we couldn’t let anyone guess how we’d bonded—but in the same moment my heart swelled and I almost broke and ran to him as another memory echoed across time to make my stomach churn.

I love you, Brenny. You’re my g—

Donavyn had just reached the Wing Commanders who bowed to the Queen.

He stood aside until he received their salutes.

But as the memory filled my mind, he froze, his eyes snapping back to mine and a cold shudder rocked through him.

From the outside I wouldn’t have known. He barely twitched.

But I felt the panic in him through the bond.

I scrambled, trying desperately to offer some form of soothing or reassurance in the link, while frantically shoving the memory away, back into the dark corner of my mind where it belonged.

But even though Donavyn blinked and outwardly returned his attention to the men around him, I could feel the protective alert in him.

Was it possible he really did love me? That his attraction wasn’t simply desire fueled by the bond and Akhane’s heat?

My heart said yes.

My mind screamed that I knew men could lie about this—or change their minds.

Yet, I didn’t have time to find my certainty before this public spectacle began. The men here to raise me were important, powerful, and needed by the King tonight.

As soon as Donavyn and the Queen entered, the watching audience of Furyknights recognized them both and leaped to their feet to offer their honor and salutes. Then Captain Olve, the Commander of the Fang Wing called them to be at ease and prepare for the ceremony.

Which was how, moments later, I found myself standing before my brothers, under the eyes of the Queen, our Battle Commander—and my mate—and other leaders of the Furyknights, as my brothers each stepped forward to acknowledge me and announce my suitability for raising.

And even though I was moved by their smiling faces and enthusiastic proclamations to the watching crowd, I barely heard a word because Donavyn’s eyes were on me and shining with pride.

While the men who claimed me as sister told the ranks why I deserved to fly alongside them, my mate—my proud, capable, powerful mate stared at me with such love and admiration in his eyes that my vision blurred.

It wasn’t until Ronen, the last of my squad to speak, stepped forward and Olve leaned into Donavyn’s ear while he handed him something, that I was able to tear myself back to the ceremony.

“Seventh Squadron, attend!” Ronen barked.

Behind me, my brothers stomped forward one step, stopping at attention, their boots thudding on the stage floor as they saluted and answered in unison.

“Yes, sir!”

Then Ronen stepped to my side and snapped to a salute as well, calling the Captains and Donavyn to approach, which they did, their faces solemn. The Queen was left standing with her guards while a tense hubbub of anticipation began in the crowd.

“Sirs! The Seventh Squadron present, Brennan Kearney, a Flameborne of the Second Rank. We attest to her skill and courage. We attest to her strength. We attest to her intelligence and capability. We present her for your approval to be named among our ranks and a sister to eternity. A Furyknight in truth.”

I blinked rapidly trying to clear my vision as the three Captains nodded and Donavyn scanned my brothers—but his eyes lingered on me.

“Flameborne Kearney!” he intoned, his voice projected so everyone in the auditorium would hear it.

“When a man—or woman—is Chosen by a dragonfury, they are made new.

True life begins. When that same man—or woman—is named Furyknight, they embrace the sacrifice to honor the new life. A life of service, honor, and unity.

“You were Chosen by the She-dragon Akhane and made new. Now, you have been measured able and deserving of the very great honor to be called a Furyknight. But the choice to walk into that purpose is yours. Do you accept the responsibility, the duty, and the call to serve? Are you willing?”

My heart rose to flutter in my throat, but I didn’t hesitate. “Sir! Yes, Sir! It is my honor!”

I caught the glimmer of a smile on Donavyn’s lips and felt the rush of warmth and pride in the bond that brought a whole new wave of tears I had to blink away.

Behind him, a murmur rose in the audience. But Donavyn and the others ignored it, so I did too.

The three Captains, Mont, Gunnar, and Olve, leaned into a huddle, all of them nodding and reaching into the center between them with one hand.

Donavyn turned to them. “Captains of Flyer, Flame, and Fang, Flameborne Kearney accepts the responsibility and blessing of being raised Furyknight. Tell us: for which Wing will she fly?”

There was a beat before anyone moved. Fear rocketed through me—would they refuse me?

But then, to my shock, Captain Olve, the Captain of the Fang—the stealth Wing—turned from the other two, one hand clenched to a fist, and walked to stand before Donavyn.

“Sir, we hear the proclamations, and we are in agreement. Flameborne Kearney is Flameborne no more. She has proven her worth and strength and will be raised Furyknight.”

The hum of the crowd grew louder and my heart raced.

I’d known why we were here. Anticipated and worked for this moment.

But when Olve extended his fist to Donavyn, and my mate took something from him with a short nod, then turned to face me again, pride shining in his eyes, I almost broke down as he reached for the lapel of my uniform jacket.

Then he stepped forward to stand right at my toes, his back to the Captains, and his eyes shining as he stared down at me.

There was a breath when our eyes locked again and the rush of love and admiration from him stopped my breath.