Page 35 of Flameborne: Fury (Emberquell Academy #2)

He raised his voice again to be heard by the men behind him. His voice was rough, but strong.

“And so, it is unanimous. Brennan Kearney, the Chosen of Akhane the grayscale, you are measured willing, able, and ready. And so, on behalf of all the Furyknight ranks, I welcome you among us. A Furyknight of Specialist rank. Forever one of us—and forever a member… of the Fang Wing!”

Shouts and curses rose from the audience and even my brothers—I heard everything from cheers to groans, and for a moment I was confused.

As Donavyn slipped trembling fingers under my lapel and punched the pin through the leather, his eyes twinkled and he smiled.

“The bets were all that you’d be named a Flyer,” he murmured under the noise of the crowd, chuckling as he leaned in, pretending to concentrate on pinning me, but getting close enough for me to hear him over the hubbub around us.

He straightened, but didn’t turn away, waiting for the crowd to quiet. When they did, he spoke directly to me but projected his voice so the auditorium would hear.

“Furyknight Brennan Kearney of the Seventh Squadron, I see you!” His eyes were so warm, so full of delight my heart squeezed and I swayed, desperate to throw myself back in his arms and reassure myself that he was more than simply my Commander.

“Your path to this moment required the scaling of summits, and overcoming hurdles no Flameborne has faced before you. Only by determination, strength, and perseverance do you stand here today. And so, we are witness to your worthiness. Your appointment makes history and changes the face of Furyknights forever. The Creator has blessed you through Akhane. All our lives are improved by adding you to our number. All our days are bettered for knowing you.”

A great roar rose from the watching crowds and my vision blurred again—a small sob broke in my throat when Donavyn leaned in and murmured under the chaos, “Especially mine,” as he slipped a black blade with an etched-bronze handle into the sheath at my side.

Then he met my gaze with a smile and offered his hand to shake, his eyes crinkled with pride and delight. I almost threw myself into his chest and had to take a moment to gather myself.

Donavyn’s eyes softened. “Well don, Bren,” he whispered, then nudged his offered hand forward another inch.

I trembled as I took that calloused hand and held it like an anchor in a storm—and he held mine just as tightly.

“ Very well done,” he murmured, and his eyes spoke all the words and intention I felt rushing through the bond, but we weren’t alone so I couldn’t touch him as I wanted to, or weep on his shoulder.

Instead, I swallowed back the emotion and nodded. “Thank you.” The words were a bare whisper in my throat, but he nodded and smiled.

But the moment was broken when, fingers slipping out of mine, he turned on his heel and marched back to the side of the stage where the Queen stood, clapping her hands along with the throng.

I should have been so grateful that she’d come—humbled by it. But the way she leaned into Donavyn’s side when he returned to her side, and the casual intimacy with which she reached for his arm and held it…

It turned my stomach.

A new wave of reassurance and caution reached me through the bond, but there was no time to examine it because Olve called over the crowd that I was officially a Furyknight— me!

— and the men all leaped to their feet. The dragons on the walls raised their chins to herald and flapped their wings, and the cacophony buffeted me from every side.

Moments later my brothers rushed me, lifting me to their shoulders the same way they had after I was raised to Second Rank, cheering my name, squeezing my hands and legs as they carried me off the stage to a tumult of applause and cheers.

The moment was so overwhelming, I froze in their grip, praying I wouldn’t crack open with the emotion coursing through me.

They carried me past Donavyn and his eyes followed mine and those words came back to me again.

Bren, you’re my mate. I love you.

I bit my lip and held his gaze as long as I could, as sound and movement erupted in the auditorium behind us. The Captains and Donavyn and the Queen followed us off stage, but peeled away as soon as we were out of sight of the watchers.

I knew Donavyn had to accompany the Queen back to the King, and the Captains would go with them, all of them preparing our orders for meeting this threat. I was proud because he was needed, and not just by me.

But watching him walk away with the Queen on his elbow, while he glanced at me over his shoulder and shoveled pride through the bond… it hurt as much as it gave me joy.

When they passed out of sight, I blinked. It was so hard to regather my wits as my brothers set me back on my feet and surrounded me, cheering and clapping my back, shouting over the noise to congratulate me and welcome me formally into the squad.

I should have been grateful—and I was. I could barely believe this was real.

My brothers gushed and cheered and teased, but none of it sank in.

We stood together for a long time as they asked me question and teased each other.

Ronen said we’d wait for the auditorium to clear and the dragons that had perched on the walls to fly away before we left, otherwise I’d be overwhelmed.

I was grateful. I already struggled to take it all in—my mind kept turning back to the bond with Donavyn, afraid it was somehow lost because of the distance between us.

I clung, thrilled and afraid as the surges of love and comfort that reached me through the bond began to fade because Donavyn was drawing too far away.

I ached, but swallowed it back. I had to keep it together!

I don’t know how long we’d been there, but the auditorium emptying and all that hubbub and noise fading into the distance, when Ronen beckoned me aside from my brothers.

I thought we’d leave, thought he might suggest we celebrate as a squad—and I would have to tell him that I had to prepare to fly in the morning.

But instead, he leaned down and murmured in my ear.

“There’s a few others who want to congratulate you personally.”

I frowned, but suddenly, Benji was there, babbling about how he was telling the other stableboys that he was my personal hand and if Akhane had any needs, he had to be the one to fulfill them.

Eventually, Gil ushered him away so that several of the Furyknights who’d been evaluators on my Trials, or instructors in the Academy could shake my hand and offer their congratulations.

When those men said their goodbyes and turned away, leaving me stunned, I thought we were finally finished and I could run back to the stable to pack. But a warm, thrilled voice shouted from off to my right.

“Bren!”

I turned in time to see a rush of several men, cheering and swearing, and pumping their fists, and before I could place them, Saul was in front of me, beaming from ear to ear, his cheeks pinked and hair tousled, his brothers shaking him and clapping him on the back and shoving him forward as he towered over me and smiled sheepishly.

“Congratulations, Bren,” he said sincerely, taking my hands. “You did amazing. You made it!”

“Thank you. I thought it was just a trial. I’m as surprised as you.”

But then Saul shook his head, his smile softening. “I’m not surprised. I knew you could do it. I’m only glad I get to do it with you.”

Then he glanced at his brothers, then back to me. And before I found a response, he suddenly swooped on me, and kissed me.

Time slowed.

Everything else left my mind like a fog under blazing sun.

But when I realized there were lips brushing mine that weren’t Donavyn’s, I gasped and shoved him away, stumbling back, barely aware of my brothers rushing forward with curses and shouts, followed by Saul’s squad roaring forward in Saul’s defense.

There was a short struggle—squad on squad—and my heart screamed.

Strong arms pulled me out of the melee. I stumbled, shaking like a leaf, yet managed to keep my feet. But my heart sank when I turned back to face the chaos. The men pushed and shouted at each other, on the cusp of coming to blows.

“Stop! Just stop! This is a celebration. I’m fine!” I insisted, catching eyes with Ronen on the other side of my brothers to plead for his help. My heart pounded so hard it hurt in my skull.

Ronen and Saul’s Wing Leader both barked and shoved between the others until the men separated and stopped jostling each other. But Oros and Voski had Saul, and his brothers were still crowded close around mine who’d circled them, tense and scowling.

I was heartbroken. And speechless.

“Everyone, calm the fuck down,” Ronen growled. “Furyknights who harm other Furyknights will be punished double. You idiots aren’t worth the executioner’s axe. And besides, this is a celebration, not a fucking battle.”

The men all eyed each other, but Saul’s Wing Leader stared at him, his face a tense mask as he nodded to Saul.

Saul’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Ignoring my brothers who held him on either side as he stared at me, eyes wide with regret.

“Bren, I’m sorry, I thought—” he croaked.

One of his brothers tried to step in, and Voski strong-armed him with a warning growl. Saul’s other brothers protested and I clawed hands into my hair, afraid they were about to fight again—

“It’s fine. I’m fine!” I squeaked. “Please, stop. All of you!”

Ronen looked furious, but he called my brothers off while Saul’s Wing Leader did the same with his squad.

There was a great show of posturing and muttered curses and my heart flipped three different times when shoulders knocked or teeth were bared, but a few moments later the squads were separated and letting their hackles lower.

Oros shoved Saul back into his brother’s arms, while I stood behind Ronen and Gill, shaking my head as Saul stared at me, anguished.

“Please don’t fight,” I said as strongly as I could so they’d all hear me. “Saul didn’t hurt me. And we’re all brothers now… right?” I gave a weak, shaky laugh.

Saul looked sheepish and miserable. “I’m sorry, Bren. I thought we were… connecting. My brothers encouraged me to take the first step—”

“I… that’s… it won’t happen, Saul,” I said miserably, embarrassed and frustrated and shaking. “But I’m not hurt, so let’s just let it go. All of you, th-thank you for coming to celebrate with me. But I need to rest now because I have to fly tomorrow. So, thank you.”

And then, while they murmured their responses and eyed each other, I fled.