“Keg, what’s going on?”
‘I love you, Donavyn. You are precious to me.’
I swallowed a sudden lump in my throat.‘As you are, to me. And I love you too, but—’
‘If I were to allow my fear to overcome me, I would shield you from all of this,’he said in a low, heavy voice.‘I would curl you under my wing, and allow none of it to touch you… and eventually, you would die. Because you were not made to sit in the safety of my shadow. You were made tolead.If I were tohold you from that, to keep you safe so that I did not fear, it would be the end of you.’
Oh, God. I thought I knew what he meant and I shook my head because I didn’t want to—
‘Donavyn, would you choose a life in which you acted, led, and worked—and perhaps died in your purpose—or one in which you were kept safe, swaddled from the world, and did nothing?’
I swallowed hard. “I’d choose to die pursuing what fills me,” I said hoarsely.
Kgosi rumbled approvingly.‘And what do you think your mate would choose?’
I closed my eyes, quavering—until I thought of her in the hands of that black-haired shit and I shuddered.‘This isn’t that. Kgosi, I was made to lead—as you said—and also to protect! You said, our mates were given to use for our protection, and our guidance—’
‘Protection from themselves, because none of us are perfect. Protection from evil only we might see on their behalf. Not protection from their purpose. Not protection from the plan made for them since before time.’
He blew a heavy breath from his nostrils, steaming my feet and legs. I almost turned away. I didn’t want to hear him be right.
I knew he was right.
But it meant…‘I can’t let her go into the hands of a man that would destroy her.’
‘That’s the key, Donavyn. You don’t. You let her go into the hands of the Creator, who will empower her to fulfill every purpose she was given.’
‘But—’
‘You want Talon dead because he harmed her, because he hurt her. But without him, she would never have reached you.’
‘So, he shouldn’t be punished for destroying her? Abandoning her?’
‘Yes, he should be punished, and hewill,’ Kgosi intoned, with every ounce of authority in his ancient bones. His dominance so heavy, it made me quiver.‘But let the Creator select the time and place of his punishment. It isnotyour purpose to choosethat.’
My head reeled.‘But I would die for her, Keg. This isn’t selfish, I’d die for her.’
‘You’d also kill for her, and could you imagine what that would do to her, watchingyoube punished for what those men did? What do you think it would do to her? What do you think she would choose between your hands on his throat, and your execution, or his continued life?’
I slumped. ‘It would destroy her. She’d want me with her. Free.’
‘So, why do you cling to this hate? Why do you wrestle with vengeance?’
I swallowed and tried to do my dragon justice. Why was I so afraid? Why was I so angry?‘Because I want to be the one who saves her,’I said finally, shaking my head to clear it, though it didn’t need clearing. It was possible I’d never been clearer in my life.
I just wished I didn’t hate what I saw.
‘You want to be her God. You want to be her Savior. You want to be admired—and to indulge your rage with prideful hate. It’s not about her, Donavyn.’
‘I love her! I want her safe!’
‘Those are things you can continue to dobetterby living in health, and wisdom, and selflessness.’
Would I really choose my own grim satisfaction in killing Ruin, over her continued protection in a world in which he existed?
I hated what my dragon was saying. Hated to admit it to myself.
But so far, the answer to that question had been yes.
