“You lied to me,” Bren whispered.
‘You’ve hidden this in your heart, and it eats at you,’Kgosi intoned. And before I could respond to either of them, he continued.‘But the Creator has saved you from yourself—the men are dead already.’
I instinctively turned to look over my shoulder, though I couldn’t see him through the stable walls.
‘What?!’
‘The squad are disbanded—dead, or fled. Either, they were uncovered by our enemies, or all the dragons learned the horrendous truths of their riders’ conduct. Because the man was wounded before he fled to Ciar. In the pain and fear, his mind was unguarded. Ciar saw offenses even worse than thoseagainst Bren, but my kin will not share them. Still, I am certain he was right to execute, though I barely believe I must say those words.’
I was stunned. I couldn’t fathom what must have gone on between the dragons and their riders.‘They’re gone? All of them?’
Even Ruin?
‘If they aren’t dead already, their dragons will find them and ensure that they are. No dragon of honor would allow their rider to live on, remorseless of those atrocities.’
‘Can you reach them? Tell them to bring the men back here. Letmeexecute them so we don’t lose the dragons. I’ll show those fuckers how it feels to be physically overwhelmed and used and—’
‘You must release your heart from the pursuit for revenge, Donavyn. These men are gone. Their true colors revealed. They have been stripped of their honor and taken down by those they claimed to respect. I believe none of them will return.’
I couldn’t take it in.
“What’s going on?” Bren asked bitterly. “What’s Kgosi saying?”
“They’re gone,” I breathed, returning my focus to her, sending a wash of love and pleading through the bond. “Forgive me, Bren, for hiding it from you. I knew… I knew whoTalonwas. I knew it was Ruin the moment that name was spoken. I knew where he was. And with whom. I vowed I’d make him pay. I vowed I’d make themallpay.”
Her brow furrowed, her expression a strange mix of anger and worry.
“But now… Kgosi’s saying this dragon learned the truth about his rider because something happened on their mission. Either their stealth was uncovered or—” I cut off and sent the detail silently, unwilling to speak it.
‘They were Shadowfang, Bren.The most trusted. They were supposed to be the mostworthy.But they weren’t. They proved that. Whatever happened, Ciar’s rider was desperately hurt by it. In his pain, his dragon learned that they’d betrayed all of us—but you most of all. And I… I want them to pay.’
Her face crumpled. “I thought when you saw the dragon you were so tense because of his sickness. In my shock, I slipped when I mentioned Ruin. I didn’t even realize I’d done it until Akhane and I got back here and I realized you weren’t telling me about the dragon because youknew—”
“I love you, Bren. That’s all. I just love you and I want you safe. I wantallof us safe.”
Her eyes snapped back to mine. I resisted the urge to say more, just shoveled love and care and need to her in the bond, silently pleading with her to forgive me, to see that everything I’d done was out of love for her. A desire to see her safe and well, and never having to think about those fuckers ever again.
Her eyes welled, the tears spilling over her lashes as she stared. I stumbled forward a step, desperate to comfort her, but she tensed, and it almostkilledme.
“Bren,please.”
“Is there anything else you haven’t told me?” she asked in a broken voice.
“Nothing.”
I stood there, arms open, eyes pleading, heart on the line as she stared at me. But finally, she broke and rushed towards me, throwing herself in my chest.
I groaned with relief and caught her up, held her to me so tightly it must have been difficult for her to breathe, but I couldn’t loosen my grip. She was here. She was safe. She wasmine.And she was trembling.
Holding her to me, tucking her head under my chin, I carried her closer to Akhane, meeting the dragon’s eyes to plead for hermercy. Akhane blew a tiny puff of smoke from her nostrils, but then she crooned and relaxed, lifting her wing to invite me under it.
I curled myself around Bren, and nestled us into the corner of Akhane’s elbow, leaning against the dragon’s warm side and grateful for the shadow of her wing, not only to keep the shaking Bren warm, but to hide us from any eyes. And once we were settled there, without any other eyes on us, Bren finally took a breath—but it came rushing out on a choked sob.
I held her, whispering to her, combing her hair with my fingers, reminding her that those men were gone, and I was there. She was safe.
She clung to me like a child, hissing swears between her sobs, cursing the men who’d hurt her, cursing this broken world, and vowing never to cry over them again. Then cursing herself for crying this time.
I didn’t shush her. Didn’t argue with her, though I was certain this wasn’t the last time she’d cry over those pricks. I just held my sobbing mate, pleading with God to help her heal, and thanking Him for removing them, even if it wasn’t at my hands.
