“Is that a yes?” he asked me breathlessly a little while later.
“Yes,” I sobbed, and pulled him back.“Yes.”
44. A Dragon’s Cry
~ DONAVYN ~
I found myself awake before Bren. Dawn light bled through the thin line between curtains as the sun rose. We’d fallen into bed the night before, clinging, the moment we returned to the apartment. I’d intended to talk with her, to make certain she was at peace, but she’d fallen asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillow. She hadn’t moved since.
Her hair fanned out on the pillow, hands curled under it and her knees drawn up almost to her chest. She curled up, as if even in sleep, she protected her heart. She hadn’t stirred. I prayed this deep sleep was the rest of a heart as peaceful as her expression right now. She’d been wrung out by the confrontation with her father. And no wonder.
I’d wanted tokillthe man.
Kgosi had remained in my head throughout, warning me, reassuring me—reminding me of my purpose and responsibility to be an example to the younger men. I would have to thankRonen today for stepping in. There had been a moment there when I’d almost taken him. God, this day would have looked very different if they hadn’t been ready to catch me.
I sighed, but didn’t move, watching the light in the room slowly rise, turning her pale cheeks peach and gold.
The greater part of me was so fucking proud of her for standing in the face of that onslaught. I knew she’d been terrified to walk into that room—I’d felt hershrinkingin the bond. But she overcame it. The timid girl who’d arrived in the Keep in Akhane’s shadow had disappeared. She’d truly become a new Creation. And I loved being there to witness it. I’d seen that change in so many men. But there was something unique about seeing it in a woman. Any woman. But my mate?
That was a treasure.
And yet…
Once again, I was left with the unsettling truth of the world that she faced, and how differently it would treat her than it treated me, or any of her brothers.
Here we were, preparing to throw her into that frayon purpose.And she lifted her chin and beckoned us forward. But was it truly the best for her?
I wavered on that point.
If she met it and succeeded, I could see the battles we were about to fight becoming milestones of growth in her life. But if one of them defeated her?
‘We cannot choose the stepping stones the Creator has planned for us, Donavyn. Only how we will meet them,’Kgosi sighed wearily in my head.Sowearily, it alarmed me.
‘What’s happened? You sound—’
‘Donavyn, you did right by your mate last night—and her heart was bolstered. Akhane crowed victory. Bren will be well. You must give her room to spread her wings.’
‘I know. I saw it. I did. Only that bastard would have stripped her right back to the beginning if he could. He would have torn down everything she’s built here—and she had to fight to keep it.’
‘And she did. With your support, and her brothers’. And that will remain.’
Alarm fluttered in my chest at Kgosi’s weariness. My dragon rarelysoundedtired, though I knew his burdens were heavy.
‘Keg… what’s happened? You sound exhausted.’
It took a moment for him to respond, as if he resisted the words.‘Ciar is fading. I stand with him. But he has given up.’
Shit.‘Has he shown you anything new?’
‘Not yet. But I press. His time is short. And he’s losing his grip. I’m asking him to cleanse himself—I believe his pain comes, in part, by not sharing his burden. But he continues to resist.’
‘Should I come?’
‘It cannot hurt. And bring Barak. Perhaps he feels his curse has removed my authority? I do not see it, he remains submissive. But I’ve never met this before. As if he would live, but his heart is being eaten alive, and he will not tell me why.’
That didn’t sound good at all.‘Is it possible the men did something to him? We know those bastards were dark. Could they have hurt him? Poisoned him in some way?’
‘I do not know. It seems unlikely if he brought judgment, but I do not know, Donavyn. And the Creator has not seen fit to reveal it to me. Yet.’
