Page 196 of Ashborne: Defiance

Had he changed his mind? He had said he’d consider me for a team. And if he had, if I was to be given a mission, that was precisely what I’d been aching for! Yet, the thought of it now twisted my stomach in knots. I couldn’t leave Grace when no one else knew.

I could tell others, I supposed. I’d meant it when I told her they’d support her. They would. I knew they would. It was what squads were for. And we’d all had our moments. Gil, in particular, would come alongside her with intention, watch closely, be protective without coddling her. He’d be strong and present. And the thought of that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

I kept walking, but found myself suddenly reluctant. My feet dragging.

This was a good thing! If Donavyn had orders for me, they’d be better than flying patrols.

Yet, my traitorous mind provided the image, the sensation, of mounting Kham, and flying away, leaving Grace behind, and my stomach roiled.

No.

My nerves shrieked. I had to tell Donavyn, this just wasn’t the time. Or, maybe she could come with me?

Of course not. Not on a Shadowfang mission. She knew nothing.

But the dragons. They wouldn’t be ready for a separation like that. I should never even have suggested it.

Mind reeling, I hurried to Donavyn’s office on the third floor of the officer’s administration building, rapping sharply on the door, pushing inside the moment he called for me to enter.

“Sir,” I said with a hasty salute. “I know we spoke about the mission. But my request to leave was hasty—”

“Voski, tell me why you were curled up in bed with Grace this morning.”

I stopped dead in the middle of his office floor, my jaw slack.

Donavyn stood on the other side of his desk, arms folded, and his eyes dark and stern.

“I…” How had he known?

Oh fuck.

Bren!

Fury washed through my veins like fire. “I told Bren not to speak to anyone until she’d spoken to me! She ignored an order—”

“Sit down and shut the hell up!” Donavyn snapped.

My head jerked back. Donavyn was strong, and certain. Angry at times, but only when it was warranted. And always measured in his responses. Always honorable.

To my surprise, he stood stiffly. He looked offended?

“I gave you time! I understood the need for it. Even understood the desire to hide it. I’ll admit, you had me questioning my assumptions for a time. But I know the bond, and I know the compulsion of it. It was ridiculous to think that perhaps you’d resisted. I gave you time to come to me and ask. But Bren discovered you this morning and thank God it was her. That could happen any day of the week with any stableboy—or Furyknight. If Grace was called in for training—”

“I told Bren not to say anything until I explained—”

“She is my mate,” he snarled, stabbing his thumb at his chest. “Do not expect her to lie to me!”

“I didn’t ask her to lie,” I growled back. “I asked her to keep my confidence until I could make her understand the truth of what she saw. But clearly she hared off and came to you anyway—”

Donavyn was around that desk, moving like lightning despite his size, standing over me, lips peeled back from his teeth.

“Do not pour judgment on my mate when you share a bond and know its intimacy. Do not lie to me—and do not expect my mate to do so, either! You knew we were bonded, how you expected her to keep that to herself when she cares for both of you and we know.”

“Know what?!”

Donavyn’s eyes narrowed. “You can stop playing the game now.”

“I’m not!”