Page 96 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Donavyn’s gaze darkened. ‘He knows?’

‘For certain. But I’m confident he didn’t before tonight. He thought I was a distraction. A ploy. Now he’s nervous because whoever he’s talking to hadn’t told him the whole story. It just came to me, and it felt right. Now he needs to communicate with whomever, back home.’

Donavyn’s jaw rolled and he turned his head aside, his eyes darting left and right as if he were looking for something in the reaches of his mind.

I waited for his verdict, terrified I’d spoken hastily and not—

Donavyn’s eyes snapped back to mine and he searched me. “It’s a valid choice,” he breathed. ‘He won’t know what to think of that—and you’ve provided us another opportunity to intercept his writings—and to gain insight into whomever he trusts the most.’

My heart rose in my chest and I breathed a little bit easier, though my hands were still shaking.

He stared at me a moment longer, then cleared his throat. “You’re trembling,” he said in a low rumble.

“It’s just nerves,” I whispered.

He’d been scanning my body again, but now he locked in. ‘Tell me the truth—are you well enough to do this tonight? Hanson’s waiting impatiently for you. But no doubt Ruin will also appear soon. If it’s too much—’

‘No,’ I sent more confidently than I felt. ‘We need to press the advantage. Let Ruin see me with Hanson, knowing that I have a lot more to offer than he thought. And we have so little time… I can’t lose an opportunity to get more out of Hanson.’

Donavyn’s jaw tightened, but he cupped my face. “Well done.” He said the words like a comfort and something inside me broke open. I sank into his chest, grateful when his arms wrapped around me and he held me. Tears pricked for a moment—I’d had to touch Ruin!—but I swallowed them back quickly.

Well done. God, it felt so good to hear that.

‘Did he hurt you?’

‘Only with words.’

‘What did he—’

‘Not now. Please.’ I pulled back to meet his worried gaze again. ‘I can’t focus on that right now. I need to get back there before Ruin does so they don’t think I’m with him.’

‘You’re arriving back on my arm. They’ll assume we’ve been off somewhere arguing about you making me wait… or having a tryst.’

A surge fizzed in my belly at the mental image that word conjured, and Donavyn pulled me back into a hug and kissed my temple. But I knew we didn’t have time for any kind of real comfort. And to distract myself from thoughts of it that would only frustrate me, I took those seconds to question Donavyn.

‘How did Voski get out of his rooms before I left? We were standing right outside!’

‘I didn’t know to ask. But I’m sure he’ll tell you. The dragons don’t call him Goldfinger for nothing. Nothing he touches seems to go wrong. He’s a good man to have nearby in a pinch.’

Donavyn squeezed me tighter for a moment, before letting go, then cupping my face. “Are you certain you’re up to doing this tonight?”

I nodded, and held his forearms. My smile was shaky, but genuine, as I nodded. ‘I am. I was scared—you felt that, I’m sure—but I got through it. And it felt so good to shake him up. He didn’t know about me, Donavyn. I’m certain of it. So… he can’t be the mole, right? Because it really bothered him that I could surprise him. And… I told him that I have the queen’s ear, and the king raised me to First Rank—he was unsettled. I know him. He was covering, but I know him well enough. He’s uneasy now.’

Pride and fury chased each other across Donavyn’s features, but he didn’t give voice to whatever angered him about Ruin, instead, he shook his head slowly and smiled.

‘My mate, the spy.’

I snorted, but then grew brave and asked him the last of my questions. ‘Are you upset that I spoke to him? Touched him? That I told him about me—the real me, I mean? It seemed so right at the time, but I wasn’t thinking things through. Just reacting. And I was worried—’

‘I said, well done, Bren, and I meant it. I loathe that you had to touch him, but you made a call. Now we use that. I’ll get Benji into the city, just in case.’ I smiled and felt a little easier—until Donavyn pulled me closer and his gaze grew dark. ‘Just, please… don’t take any more risks with him. Don’t approach him again alone—not unless it’s necessary.’

‘It was.’

‘I know—that’s why I’m applauding you. But don’t let it make you complacent. He may be unsettled, but he’s also more experienced than you. He’ll be on edge now until he gets his answers. Don’t push him further. You landed a blow. Now let him simmer on it. Let him send his missives and see what he gets back.’

‘I would happily never lay eyes on that man again.’

Donavyn huffed. ‘That makes two of us.’