Page 157 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

He nodded and I returned the acknowledgement.

“You’ve got this, but I’m here,” I murmured to Bren. “If you need me, I’m here.”

She blinked rapidly several times as she nodded and turned back to Ronen and the others. “Let him go,” she said quietly.

Ronen took a deep breath and shot Ruin a warning look, but he nodded at the others and they all reluctantly pushed to their feet, shoving Ruin deeper into the ground as they rose, then stood back to let him stagger to his feet. The bastard wobbled, then found his balance, wiping the back of his still-bleeding mouth with his arm.

Bren’s throat bobbed as she stared him down. Ruin’s eyes were narrow. But then, Kgosi’s words boomed in my head, and the images and sensations he sent were so consuming, I staggered.

‘It is worse than we thought, Donavyn—the only reason Carnage’s scales never blacked is because he is still under my authority. He never severed from my dominance—because he knew I would sense that. But the dragons truly follow him in the manner that they know how. That means, they’ll leave him and I to fight. But if he beats me, he will become the Primarch of both herds, without further challenge. He will lead my dragons, Donavyn. We cannot risk that.’

‘No, we can’t,’ I agreed. ‘How do I help you?’

My dragon, wheeling in the sky, screamed once more, calling for the others to move aside and give them room to battle. When he responded to me, his voice was heavy with solemn determination.

‘We are matched in strength, but not in wits,’ he sent without any hint of arrogance or smug self-satisfaction. ‘This battle may hurt, but I will win it.’

‘How? If he’s as strong as you and willing to cheat—which he’s demonstrated since we found him—’

‘With intellect, and heart. A traitor is always, at his deepest core, a coward. He must maneuver for power, rather than being willing to fail, to grow, to claim it. I am many things, Donavyn. But I am not a coward. I have earned my growth. The Creator has strengthened me. I will win.’ Then, after another pause, he huffed. ‘Only pray that I am not injured in such a way that I cannot enjoy my mate in the wake of this. I need her.’

I gave a huff of my own, but my heart pinched.

I looked down on my own mate, and knew precisely what he meant.

Protect us, I prayed. Protect us all. And lead us back to safety. Please.

51. The Queen

SOUNDTRACK: History in the Making by 2WEI and Blackway

~ BREN ~

Despite my brothers’ misgivings at letting Ruin go, I insisted. I needed to stand against his lies and tell the truth. Let him see I wasn’t afraid. I’d show the others what honor looked like, whether they believed me or not. I knew Donavyn and my brothers wouldn’t let him kill me. But as long as he arrogantly mocked me, I would face him down. I wouldn’t walk away from this moment with any more shame or regrets.

I told the truth, and to hell with anyone who didn’t believe me. They could stand before God when their time came and babble about why they’d been deceived. I would walk away from this with a clear conscience.

But then Ruin staggered as he got to his feet and my heart rose. I wasn’t sure he’d swallowed enough of the powder I slammed into his teeth to actually knock him out, but it looked like he felt the effects of the portion he had.

As he made it to his feet, he made a great show of brushing himself off. But his movements were jerky. Uncertain. I watched him blink and frown as if he struggled to clear his vision.

And I smiled.

Then, above us, the dragons called and he looked up—and almost toppled over backwards. He had to take a quick, stumble step to catch his own weight, then spread his feet and arms to balance.

He caught my smile and his eyes narrowed. “What the fuck did you do to me, bitch?” he growled.

Donavyn tensed at my side, but I put one hand to his arm and shook my head without taking my eyes off Ruin. “I let you underestimate me one last time. It won’t happen again.”

“Fuckin’ poisoned me?”

“I evened the playing field,” I said and smiled at him just as maliciously as he’d smiled at me earlier. “But since you’re such a real Furyknight, I’m sure you’ll beat me anyway… right?”

“Bren,” Donavyn muttered, but I was done backing down from this asshole. Or anyone else who wanted to believe dark things about me.

“Where’s your mole, now, Ruin?” I asked quietly.

His eyes narrowed. “You’re the only rat here.”