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He grimaced, but met my eyes before hurrying ahead to open the door for my brothers. ‘I’m eager to fly with Kham,’ he admitted. ‘And I know you’ll be pinned in no time. But, truthfully, Grace, if I were required to spend the rest of my days reading codes and training Flameborne, sleeping at your side at night, and waking with you in the morning, I would be content.’

The sunlight beamed over us as my brothers continued to cheer and call out, carrying me across the lawn and down the path, toward the dining hall. I laughed, and my heart was full. But I caught Voski’s eye and my smile was ecstatic.

‘As long as you train this Flameborne, I’ll be forever content as well.’

“That’s enough, let her down!” Voski snapped suddenly.

I frowned—had it been the wrong thing to say? Had I made him feel as if he had yet another task? Another burden to carry?

But as my brothers complained and lowered me back to my feet on the path, Voski reached between them, grasped my hand and pulled me to him.

“Oh! What are you—”

“Mine,” he said quietly. One of the brothers spluttered, and someone else coughed. But then he smiled so wide, it lit up his whole, handsome face. Then he cupped my cheeks and kissed me, right there, in front of all of them.

And even though I tensed, because we had an audience, I didn’t back away from that kiss in the slightest.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, and gasped into his mouth, long after Gil groaned, “Get a room!”

~ VOSKI ~

“You steady, brother?” Gil asked me quietly as we stood in line for food in the dining hall.

I nodded, but didn’t take my eye off of Grace, who’d just been hugged again, this time by Trey, the officer who’d stood up for her conduct in the flying assessment. I appreciated the man, so nodded to him when he caught my eye, but it still burned, watching her be wrapped in yet another set of male arms.

Since when were Furyknights so… affectionate?

“You sure, brother?” Gil asked with a chuckle.

I shot him a look, but nodded. “She’s ready. So, she’s gotta be out here with the rest of us. I’ll just be glad when all the hugging is over.”

Gil laughed again, but quieted as Trey leaned in, speaking animatedly to Grace. “I know she’s ready,” he said. “My question was, are you?”

I resisted the urge to curse at him for the question, because I knew he was being thoughtful. The truth was, of the two of us, I was the one still struggling.

But I’d already been in talks with both Ronen and Donavyn. I’d received my pin. And while I hadn’t been put back on rostered flight, I was being useful where I could be without leaving Grace.

Except, that was Gil’s whole point, I reminded myself. This meant Grace was returning to training. Which meant I’d be returning to patrols. And we’d both be working again and…

Was I ready?

“Sometimes the only way to be ready is to start doing the thing you aren’t ready to do,” I said flatly.

Gil nodded, but stood close at my shoulder.

Bren had swept Grace up from Trey, linked their arms, and now the two of them twittered like birds as they walked back toward where Gil and I stood in line for food.

Ahead of us, Harle and Jhoare bragged and teased. The other brothers were behind us. All had been laughing and talking since we entered the dining hall.

I was doing my best to give Grace her moment. And hoping that in the hubbub, most of them wouldn’t notice that I’d returned as well.

For the last few weeks, while Grace healed, I’d been avoiding attention as much as possible. Though I wasn’t sure why. There were rumors—most knew we were mates now. But no one had been insensitive, or pushy. The men I’d run into on my way to or from meetings had been relieved to see me safe, and asking after my safety.

No one knew of the Cruors, or my family… I didn’t even think they’d heard about the baby.

Yet, it had still made my skin itch to feel eyes on my back, knowing I had to get back to Grace in the castle. So I’d been avoiding my brothers. Now, I wondered why.

But I still didn’t feel like talking.