When I had a grip, they all looked at me.
“Repeat after me, Bren,” Donavyn graveled. And while his face gave nothing away, there was awaveof pride and joy—and nerves—in the bond. And as he spoke, it seemed the very air thickened. My tongue turned thick, and my lips numb. But my skin blistered with heat at the words that both lifted and seared my heart.
“I am the silent breath, the unseen flame. My loyalty is to Shadowfang—above blood, above name, abovelove.”
Donavyn’s eyes pinched. I felt a tiny scream in the bond, but then the rush of his love and warmth, and I kept going.
“I forsake comfort, favor, and the weight of my past. I bind my will to the mission, my heart to the cause, and my soul to the Creator’s flame that forged us.
“I will serve where others cannot, and walk with those I do not trust, if it leads to the truth that must be claimed. I will protect my brothers to the death, and carry what they learn for the sake of the kingdom.
“I am weapon and whisper, watcher and wraith. No duty shall hold me tighter, no oath but this shall try me.”
As I reached the final line, the clapping started again, then swelled, along with whistles and calls to a crescendo that almost drowned out the words. “Sworn in the darkness, witnessed bythe Divine. Bound to my soul… Until I am ash, under the eyes of God, I amShadowfang.”
Their cheering became a roar that buffeted the six of us, then the cavern echoed with the rumble of men rising to their feet in anticipation of victory, and rushing towards us. I swallowed hard, but Donavyn’s eyes hadn’t left mine and none of the men around me moved, so I stayed.
The vow was thrilling, but terrifying too. Surely it didn’t mean…surely he wasn’t saying…?
I barely noticed the rush of new brothers to surround us, cheering and stamping, shaking me and celebrating. It was only Donavyn’s eyes, locked on mine. Only his heart, reaching for mine. And only his voice.
‘Well done, Bren. Very, very well done,’he sent. I would have smiled. Would have cried happy tears at the pride in his tone. But that black seed on the blazing surface of his heart crackled and swelled, just a hair. Something in my chest went cold.
‘Donavyn, what’s wrong? Why do you feel so uneasy?’
My mate answered me with a rush of love, but I didn’t miss the churning in his heart as well.‘Don’t worry, Bren. It’s just the truth coming to rest on my soul.’
‘Truth?’I tried to give my smiles and thanks to my brothers, accept their congratulations. But all my attention on was Donavyn.‘Why would truth make your heart dark?’
It took him a moment to respond, and I was so nervous, I almost turned to look at him, plead with my eyes, despite the witnesses.
Then I felt the warm blanket of his love through the bond, underlined by his cold, steely determination as he replied.‘Because, I am Shadowfang, also. Yet, I’d break that vow for you.’His voice in my head was heavy with conviction.‘Godknows I’d burn the world for you, no matter my mission. And ask His forgiveness after the fact.’
Then he tipped his head at the Captains on either side of him and turned on his heel, disappearing through the crowd that had surrounded us, leaving me gaping at my brothers and scrambling to understand.
3. Tight Leash
~ DONAVYN ~
I had to leave her to begin her orientation and training. Had to speak with Olve and Gunnar to discuss strategies that would ensure she was trained and supported quickly, yet effectively, because we had so little time before she’d be assigned. But walking away from her while she was in the thick of all those men was like tearing off a limb.
When I stepped aside with Olve, the urge to pull her with me and snarl at them all to give her space was so strong, I was forced to roll my head on my neck to loosen it. The bond was a collar on my heart, and the leash tugged tight when other men were near.
Thank God, Kgosi wasn’t here. Our dragons were all-in on this bond, which deepened my connection with Bren, and made it even harder to leave her like that. But even though I’d seen Kgosi lose his shit twice now—something that hadneverhappened before—I was still more erratic and touchy than mydragon. I was deeply aware of the risk I ran, so, I held myself on a short rope.
Thankfully, it had been over a week since we’d discovered and acknowledged the bond. Akhane’s heat had finally passed. I couldn’t have endured this scene a few days ago. But even now, when I should have been focused on my comrades, I found myself standing on profile to my friends, eyes onherin the midst of that throng. It made my skin itch. But the others didn’t know about our bond, and for now, we needed to keep it that way. So, I gritted my teeth, and pretended I was only watching out for her because she was new.
God, her eyes sparkled. As more and more of the Shadowfang closed in around her to offer congratulations and brotherhood—justbrotherhood, I reminded myself—my skin grew tight. Anyone could see she was thrilled at the acceptance from her shadow brothers. But I could also feelher in the bond—her joy, delight, surprise, and that fragile hope she carried, because she’d learned the hard way that people, particularly men, couldn’t be trusted.
When Gunnar joined Olve and I, I had to turn my back and follow them to the shadows at the side of the cave where we could speak privately, under the hubbub of the men. It took every ounce of my self-discipline, gained over decades in training, not to simply rush back to her, throw her over my shoulder, and carry her out of there.
They were all touching her—
“At least we won’t have to worry about these ranks sabotaging her,” Gunnar said casually, tipping his head towards the buoyant men currently swarming my mate. “They’re delighted.”
“Yes, but why?” I muttered.
Olve’s brows rose at my jaded tone. “You aren’t truly worried for her wellbeing among them, are you?”
