Page 41 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Reluctantly, I ushered her back to the circle of nobles clustered around Ruin. His eyes scanned both of us as we approached, as if checking for weapons, but his smile never faded and he continued his chatter with the women, who were very clearly taken by the handsome, young Furyknight.

“…then how did you come to be in Fyrehold, Lord Ruin, if you didn’t travel with the General?”

Ruin’s eyes flicked to mine before he responded. “I’m just passing through on my way back to Draeven—excuse me, Vosgaarde. I came from Draeventhall. But Vosgaarde is home. I’d heard that my comrades were here and I wished to see them. Especially the General, of course.”

I smiled to myself, oddly encouraged by that trip-up. Ruin was charming and charismatic, but his weakness had always been words. He’d barely known how to read before he was Chosen, and while he’d learned quickly, any man’s weaknesses came to the fore in times of stress. If he was slipping on words, he wasn’t as assured as he appeared.

Good.

“Of course,” the woman said with a knowing glance at Bren. “Well, it is our delight to have you join us in Fyrehold. I, for one, hope you might stay a while. The General and his… colleague are staying for the entire festival. Will you do the same?”

Ruin rubbed his jaw and looked around the crowd of women leaning towards him with avid eyes, his smile growing broader. “If the General doesn’t change my orders, then I hope so,” he said vaguely.

The women all turned to look at me. “Please, General!”

“We so love making new friends.”

“The Festival will be so much more fun if you all stay!”

I raised my hands to quiet them, frustrated by Ruin’s grin, knowing I couldn’t possibly assure the women of any such thing. “Our duties as Furyknights are never predictable,” I said firmly. “But God willing, we will all be able to stay and share the Festival days with you.”

The Festival lasted two weeks, with increasingly exuberant celebrations as it progressed. I had no doubt Ruin would love to be here to partake of whatever was on offer during these days. But I would also do everything in my power to keep the women here safe from him.

That thought sent me straight to Bren, reaching for her through the bond with reassurance and caution. ‘I’m won’t have him anywhere near you—’

‘It’s fine, Donavyn. He’s toying with these women. I know what you’re doing. It’s fine,’ she repeated, but I could feel the creeping unease in her and held her hand more tightly.

God, I wanted to take Ruin by the throat and shake him until his neck snapped. But the grim thought lacked the fire of my earlier urges. I was strangely relieved to find this thought was… cold.

I wanted him punished. But no longer at the expense of my integrity, or Bren’s safety in the aftermath. I prayed God would bring this fucker to his knees. And until He did, I would keep as close an eye on him as possible. Because we needed to figure out if Ruin was only connected with Hanson as an entrée to this society, or were the dragons truly tied in?

Or was this entire situation a ruse for our benefit? Was the king of Fyrehold also connected to Ruin?

Had Ruin sold himself to this kingdom?

‘I’m going to talk to Grace,’ Bren sent, slipping her hand out of my grip and drifting to the edge of this circle of men and women, to the young woman who’d stayed in Ruin’s periphery.

‘I’ll make Ruin regret showing up tonight,’ I sent, then shoveled reassurance at her when I felt the jolt in her at the thought. ‘I mean, as a subordinate. Nothing else.’

I watched Bren lean over Grace and invite her to sit apart from the others. Grace looked up at my mate with relief, and I smiled. But when she leaned over another woman to excuse herself from the conversation with Ruin, I caught the glance Ruin shot at Bren.

Luckily, I was positioned to step in front of him and block his view of my mate as she drew Grace away.

“No offense, sir, but you’re ruining the view—”

“Furyknight, attend!” I barked, not too loudly—not so loudly as to echo in the ballroom over the music, but loudly enough that several of the women startled and a few male heads turned in our direction, looking for the conflict.

Ruin, with no other choice, shot out of his chair and to attention, standing in front of me, the muscles at the back of his jaw flexing again and again.

I smiled. “I am, of course, so pleased that you’re here, Ruin. But I’m afraid our duties may interrupt us for a moment. Don’t worry ladies, I’ll return the puppy to you for play very soon,” I said with a patronizing smile towards Lady Faye who fluttered. But when I turned back to Ruin, I made certain my expression was calm and assured. “Time to report, soldier,” I ordered quietly.

Ruin’s expression blanked, but we both knew he couldn’t defy me outright without drawing some very serious questions. He nodded once, eyes focused on the wall behind me. “Sir. Yes, sir.”

“The king has been very generous to offer one of his nearby offices in the event of official duties. Move, Furyknight. Straight to the corridor, then right. I’ll direct you.”

Ruin’s gaze flattened, but he turned on his heel and started straight for the door as he was ordered.

I smiled at his back and reassured the women that he’d be free to return once he had reported, then marched after him.