Page 132 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

‘Following others into their folly will never make you wiser, Bren,’ Akhane said gently. ‘And focusing on fear will never make you braver.’

God, that made my chest ache.

I swallowed and turned that over in my mind. ‘So, you and Kgosi discussed this? The risks? The… the ways this might go wrong?’

‘Of course we did. And just like you, we clung while we could. But… just like you, the moment came when we must walk into the purposes the Creator made for us. And tonight… tonight our purposes take us in different directions.’

‘You both agree on your purposes, then? You don’t argue about it?’

‘We do… at times. But not today. Today we are certain. There was no disagreement, only… yearning for another way.’

I felt that. My eyes stung again as my mind tripped back to those moments clinging to Donavyn, his strength covering me, his desperation, my fear… ‘I think I know what you mean. But the fear… the thought of losing him… it makes me feel sick, Akhane. ’

And to my surprise, she didn’t protest. But in the bond, her heart drew closer to mine. And that ache… that quiet, heavy ache.

‘I love you, Akhane,’ I sent, trying not to weep.

‘I love you, too, Bren. And our mates… they will win. We will be reunited. And we will all be stronger for this.’

I prayed she was right.

43. Watch for the Season

~ DONAVYN ~

The next morning dawned to my eyes open and stinging from lack of sleep. The first hours alone had been a torment of feeling my sense of Bren fade, from bright and torturous awareness of her grief and fear, to a formless shape of her presence, until finally, at some point in the small hours of the morning, it sucked to nothing but a warmth in my chest. I couldn’t sense anything of her, though I found my eyes turning south whenever I thought of her. Was that the bond tugging me, or only my awareness of the likely direction they’d flown? I’d never know.

I’d spent sweaty, agitated hours tossing and turning, mentally tracking how far Bren and Akhane would have flown in the passing hours, and fighting away images of Akhane set upon by Carnage, or Bren attacked on landing in Vosgaarde.

But as the sun rose, the truth settled behind my ribs.

They were gone, and I had a job to do. I could only help them by doing what I was here to do. And today, that had to start with Benji.

We’d left him at the Inn in the City to intercept any messages sent to or received by Ruin. But I had to have him at the stable by breakfast, to connect with Hanson—who would already be suspicious of Bren’s absence. But I knew how to work with men like Hanson who were, at their core, pragmatic. And very unused to not getting what they wanted.

I knew precisely how to play the man to keep him moving in the direction we needed, at least until later in the day.

I bathed, dressed in flying leathers, and had just strapped on my blades when a knock came at the door.

I was immediately wary, and pulled the blade free to keep it in my fist and behind the door when I opened it to see who’d come for me.

To my surprise, it was a Kingsman standing in the hallway. He saluted the moment I cracked the door and didn’t even wait for me to ask.

“General Arsen, sir. I bear a message addressed to you, and our Majesty bids me deliver it to you forthwith. It arrived moments ago from your king, the Most High, Alexi an’ Del Rei of Vosgaarde.” He proffered the parchment, which did indeed bear Alexi’s wax seal and my name in my king’s handwriting.

Alexi had sent something to me?

It wasn’t suspicious that it came through the castle messengers. I hadn’t hidden my presence in this kingdom, and the royal networks were swift and efficient. It was how Alexi and I had agreed to communicate anything that didn’t carry a need for subterfuge. But I didn’t expect anything from him. I’d sent my report the day Ruin appeared, assuring the king that I’d discovered his presence in Fyrehold and would investigate. That was two weeks ago. I hadn’t expected to hear anything from him until I reported again. Rather, this was the day I anticipated Ruin receiving his confirmation of orders—or something.

I took the paper and thanked the man, assuring him I would send for him if a reply was required, then waited with the door cracked to ensure he left the corridor, before closing the door again and staring at the paper with burning eyes.

That square was far heavier than its thick parchment warranted. My heart thumped in my chest, but there was no point delaying. Curious, and heavy with dread, I slipped my blade under the wax seal and opened the folded paper, reading the message inside with stunned eyes.

General,

Your report of our mutual friend was received with warmth.

I’m sure you have enjoyed the reunion with equal fervor, so it is with grief I ask you to sacrifice for the greater good. Watch for the season’s change, then offer your harvest.