Page 44 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

“You’re very kind to find me,” Grace said, unaware of my preoccupation. “The other Ladies are… I don’t know. They seem bored… or perhaps merely uninterested in me.”

Actually, they’re pompous, and only interested in other women when they think they might gain something, I thought. But I didn’t want to hurt her. “I was happy to see you,” I said honestly. “But… I hope you don’t mind, I wanted to warn you about one thing.”

Grace’s brows popped up and she looked to our left where the others were still gathered, the women whispering, the men chuckling, all of them looking off in the direction Ruin and Donavyn had disappeared.

“What is it?” she whispered, her eyes widening.

I grimaced. “I’m not certain how to say this without sounding… indelicate,” I said quietly.

Grace’s chin jerked back, but she looked me right in the eyes. “If your intent is for my good, there’s no need to be delicate,” she said.

I was impressed by the qualification she gave. I nodded and patted her knee to reassure her. “I assure you, I have no intention but your good,” I said with a smile, though it faded quickly. “The thing I would warn you about is the Furyknight who joined us this evening. Ruin Galdec.”

Grace’s interest turned to surprise. “Oh?”

I nodded. “He is… not a good man. Very capable,” I assured her. “But his conduct with women…” I trailed off and shook my head. “You’d said that you found the dragons fascinating—I don’t blame you. I did also. But he will use that. I just wished to warn you. He is not safe.”

Grace frowned. “A Furyknight? I thought they were men who—”

“They are. Usually,” I added hurriedly. “But I have… personal experience with Ruin.”

Grace’s cheeks warmed.

I looked away and sighed. “I just didn’t want to see him hurt you, that’s all.”

“Thank you, Brennan,” she said quietly, her hands curling in her lap. “I should have known that any man who took an immediate interest like that was probably… not being honest.”

“I have no doubt his interest was very real,” I said flatly. “I just don’t trust him to have your best interests at heart.”

She nodded, but I hated the sad look on her face. “Thank you for warning me. I’ll take great care with him.”

I didn’t respond, because I suddenly wasn’t sure what to say. She looked deflated. As if she’d come here tonight with hope, and I’d just destroyed the last of it.

‘Akhane?’ I reached out wondering if the dragons were still close to the castle. Thankfully, she was still in reach.

‘I weary of this night, Bren. As do you.’

‘What wearied you? Are they making you do—’

‘No, no. I simply don’t enjoy frightening people as Kgosi does,’ she sighed, which made me want to giggle.

Then, a young Lord who hadn’t been a part of Faye’s group approached, and I got to watch Grace blush as he asked her to dance.

After smiling my encouragement to her, when he took her to the dance floor, I walked to the tables at the entrance of the ballroom where the food and drinks were laid out and took a cup of the sweet juice. I took a sip and pretended to watch the dancefloor, considering whether to slip out and wait for Donavyn back at the room—could I really stomach facing Ruin again tonight? I didn’t want to. But before I could ask Akhane about the wisdom of disappearing, a hand brushed my elbow.

I turned quickly—too quickly, I almost spilled the juice—to find Hanson standing next to me, his head tilted, and eyes fixed intently on mine.

“Oh!” I gasped, then froze when he leaned right in until his breath fluttered in my hair.

“I am not your enemy,” he whispered. “And we are not finished.”

Then, before I could think of an appropriate response, he stepped back, bowed, and walked away.

Watching his broad shoulders disappear to the other side of the ballroom without a backwards glance, I didn’t know whether to cheer, or sink into despair.

~ DONAVYN ~

Late that night when we were finally able to extricate ourselves from the drunk nobles, Bren and I both walked back to our chambers utterly silent. I’d already told her what happened with Ruin, and she’d already shared with me what Hanson said. But we’d been dragged into more frivolous conversations, and tittering dances…