Page 41 of Flameborne: Fury (Emberquell Academy #2)

~ DONAVYN ~

“Y-Your Majesties,” I stammered, scrambling for the way to divert them. “I have to disagree. She’s simply too young and inexperienced to handle the Kingdom’s fate like this—”

“It’s why she’ll work,” Alexi growled.

“If we can insert her into the Court in a way that offers her no weight politically, but puts her close to the people who’ll know…

they’ll never suspect,” Diaan said with a sly smile that I recognized.

She was delighted with her own cleverness and would celebrate the plan no matter how it might affect those involved.

“She’s unpolished, as you said—they’ll never suspect her as a Furyknight.

It won’t even occur to them. She could probably even keep her dragon nearby—her bond is new, so not as deep. You told me that, Donavyn.”

“Yes, not as deep, but still very—”

“She could be anything. A server, a seamstress—”

“A whore,” the King suggested, without an ounce of humor. “Many an intelligent man has fallen to the wiles of a woman.”

The King and Queen shared a smile at that comment, but I couldn’t respond. I was too busy swallowing back the roar of rage at the King’s suggestion that my mate—

‘Donavyn, don’t act in anger. This is very delicate.’

I blinked at Kgosi’s voice in my head, my breath huffing, hands clenched to fists. ‘You’re back?’

The King laughed at his Queen who’d made a sly comment about whores that I was glad I hadn’t heard. “Regardless of the role she’ll play, she’s the one. There’s no more discussion, Donavyn. She’s clearly made for this kind of work—you said so yourself.”

“Made for this work in time. It would be irresponsible to put her in a position to fail the entire Kingdom when she has no experience. I know you said she was no loss, but the fact that you see her as a tool for the kind of mission you’re suggesting means you understand her value.

If she had more time and could grow into it, she could be an invaluable resource—”

“She already is. That’s precisely my point, Donavyn.

I’ll admit, I didn’t catch your vision early on.

You were disgruntled that I sent her false orders without care for her worth—well, here we are.

I’m trusting her with what is possibly the most important mission in Vosgaarde in a generation.

That is value.” He eyed me sharply. “Do you want to suggest otherwise?”

There was a moment between us, a shadow in his gaze.

A warning. My rage fought my integrity, which battled my need for my mate.

Yet even through that storm, a zing of alarm sang in my head—if I handled this wrongly, Alexi would take the responsibility for her out of my hands and give it to someone who simply followed orders.

I knew I had to remain close to this if I was to have any chance of getting her through it safely.

Reluctantly, like pulling teeth, I made myself shake my head. “No, Sire. Of course not.”

“Very good. Then our next step must be how to plant her in Fyrehold. With no noble background she can’t be sent as a servant and we have no valid excuse to insert her into the court of a royal. We need a reason to take her to their kingdom without suspicion.”

“Sire, her training—”

“Yes, yes, Donavyn. I’ll leave that to you—handle it.

Handle her. However you need to do so. But I’m concerned with inserting her into Fyrehold.

” Alexi frowned and rubbed his chin. “That two-faced twatwaffle did invite me to visit when he was here for the summit. I could take him up on his offer and—”

All I saw was the harrowing image in my head of Alexi in a carriage, taking Bren with him and the hours they’d spend alone. I almost tackled the man.

“No,” I spat through my teeth. Diaan sent me a pointed glare, as Alexi scowled.

I raised my hands to imply surrender, though there was no fucking way I was leaving Bren alone with the King.

“Sire, it’s too dangerous. For you,” I ground out.

“We believe we have a mole. If they aren’t an assassin themselves, they’ll certainly have one to instruct.

It’s too risky to put you in our enemy’s hands with a suspected traitor’s network among them. ”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t underestimate my husband,” Diaan purred, but the King raised a hand to stop her.

I thanked him. “It’s my job to protect you, Sire, and the Kingdom as a whole. Vosgaarde cannot remain stable if our ruler is at risk. Whoever takes her into Fyrehold must be welcomed by the King, but not seen as a threat. Someone whose presence implies trust. Not a scheme.”

“Then who do you suggest?” Alexi asked.

“I should go,” I said promptly.

Alexi scoffed. “You’re a military man. There’s no greater—”

“They’re already aware of our breeding difficulties, Sire.

I could tell them I come to explore a mutually beneficial exchange of breeding stock.

To observe their herd for insight on how ours might be improved.

The King won’t even be part of the talks.

There’s no political nuance involved. Quite the opposite, it will appear that I’m humbling myself, coming hat in hand, because we’re in dire need.

It’s purely a trade deal, but given the respect of my position, I’ll be granted access to the Court while staying there. She could be one of my team.”

I felt the Queen’s eyes on the side of my face, but she said nothing.

I watched Alexi the way a mouse eyed a cat—ready for flight.

If he didn’t accept this explanation, if he didn’t allow me to keep her with me, I’d have no choice but to reveal the bond and pray that Bren would forgive me.

I was not allowing her to walk into that hellscape alone and unprotected.

“It’s a good idea, especially if it gives you a chance to view their dragons and gain intelligence on their might,” Alexi said thoughtfully.

“But what role would the girl play? How would you gain her entrance to Court if she’s not introduced as a Furyknight?

You can’t be the one pursuing our mole. You’ll be watched too closely. ”

I swallowed hard. “I’ll keep her close as an assistant. Something to do with the herd management—”

“Surely, they’d expect you to bring the Furymaster if it’s to identify stock? Fyrehold won’t allow more than two dragons across the border as part of a peaceful gathering.”

I nodded, suddenly relieved and thanking God for orchestrating details I couldn’t have foreseen.

“I’ll tell them the truth: Our dragons have mated.

The Primarch’s bond with Akhane is too new to be challenged by distance.

It would tear them both apart. And the Primarch’s virility will affect the herd.

This issue has become urgent because we want to take advantage of that.

The Furymaster cannot be separate from his dragon.

And in the interests of the herd’s fertility, I had to come immediately. Hence, my dragon’s mate must come too.”

I kept my eyes on the King whose gaze was suddenly speculative.

“They won’t know she’s a Furyknight—won’t even know she’s bonded to Akhane.

They’ll see her as part of my team. But meanwhile, we’ll have a legitimate reason to have Akhane there—which will soothe Bren’s bond as well.

We couldn’t separate those two for months.

Instead, she’ll accompany me, and I’ll bestow humility and honor on the Fyrehold Furyknights. It all works. It’s necessary,” I said.

The King frowned, but nodded slowly. It was Diaan who spoke up.

“I had forgotten your news,” the Queen said quietly. “How do they work, these mates?”