Page 126 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

41. Stay Alive

SOUNDTRACK: Under My Skin by Ash to Eden

~ BREN ~

The skin on the back of my neck prickled as Donavyn took my hand, the bond glowing, pouring heat—and the cold chill of dread. Neither of us spoke as we traversed the rolling estate, back to the castle.

How could I leave him?

What choice did I have?

‘If we meet anyone in the halls, all they need know is that we’re dealing with tension in the dragons—an uneasiness with the feral herd.’

‘Yes.’

He didn’t mention that each step took us one closer to that yawning chasm of separation, but his grip on my hand tightened.

My heart raced.

The castle corridors hummed with bodies the closer we drew to the ballroom—servants rushing to and from the kitchens. Small flocks of noblewomen clucking and pecking their way to the powder rooms. The dull chuckles of handsome lords on their way to smoke, or find women who weren’t so noble.

So many bodies. So many lives. And seemingly not one of them aware of the death sentences already decided.

When one unknown Lord passed us, his eyes dragging from Donavyn’s face and down to where our hands entwined, the hair on my arms stood up.

Did they truly not know? Or had we been the ignorant, over-trusting minds in a plague of impending doom this whole time?

‘Relax, Bren,’ Donavyn whispered in my head. ‘As far as they know, nothing has changed.’

I nodded once, quickly, but tightened my fingers until my knuckles ground painfully between his. When we passed the main corridor, though outside of view, the music, tittering laughter, and jolly sounds of rich, powerful people enjoying the festival wafted to us over the footsteps of the hurrying servants.

Then we turned a corner, and within moments we were alone again.

Alone.

Being alone with Donavyn was usually the thing I looked forward to most of all.

The word held a hollow ache now.

Donavyn turned his head and met my eyes. I wasn’t sure if I’d inadvertently shared the thoughts, or if he simply felt my grief. But his gaze locked on mine, bright, warm, and longing. And then I could breathe.

“Donavyn—” My voice cracked and I felt him flinch.

‘Wait. Until we get to the room. Please.’ He looked over his shoulder, made certain we were alone in the hallway, then began to jog, pulling me with him.

When we made it to our rooms, he took care, urging me inside with a hand to my back as he stayed in the doorway, leaning out to ensure no one had followed, then softly closing the door and locking it, before pulling the wooden chair from the writing desk and propping it under the handle.

Then he turned to face me, and our eyes locked.

I’d stopped just a few feet into the room. I should have rushed to pack. Should have been mentally preparing the essentials list that had been drummed into me by Gil and Voski during those too-short training days. Should have checked my blades and strapped as many to my body as I could conceal. Should have been reaching for Akhane in my mind and making certain she was prepared.

But that moment hung in the air like a tear about to fall—the gut-wrenching promise of what was to come, yet still not upon us.

‘I have to pack,’ I blurted in the link.

He nodded, but didn’t move. Neither did I.

‘Bren… you know that I don’t want you gone? This isn’t an attempt to remove you from the mission.’