Page 7 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

Relief. It was Donavyn.

I was three steps around the bed when the door swung open to reveal thick shoulders first.

“Donavyn, thank God.” My voice pinched to a squeak as the door swung wider and the candlelight in the hallway silhouetted a leaner neck, and much shorter hair, the golden waves of which had been tousled by flight.

Bright eyes snapped to meet mine as I froze, and Ruin’s lips curled up in a smile. “There she is.”

3. Ruined

SOUNDTRACK: Survivor by 2WEI and Edda Hayes

~ BREN ~

“…There you are.” The sound of Ruin’s voice in the barn, a full hour early, made me want to dance.

I ducked under the neck of the horse I’d been brushing, and ran to him, throwing myself into his arms—welcoming his kiss, his hands on me, the warmth of his iron chest as he picked me up off my feet and devoured me, hands already clawing in my skirts.

“There she is,” he panted again, then stopped any reply I might have made with his tongue in my mouth, and the first of his touches on my legs, under my skirts.

My skin tingled and rushed.

My heart raced.

“Here I am!” I whispered happily against his lips as he set me back on my feet and began walking me towards the ladder.

I sucked out of the memory, staggering back a step as Ruin’s chin dropped and his grin tipped up on one side. “You always were good about waiting for me.”

“How the fuck did you find me?” The words should have been stronger. Angrier. A lot less shaky.

“How the fuck did you learn to fly like that?” he purred, then stepped all the way into the room and closed the door behind him.

He turned his back to me—

Stab him, right now, right between his ribs.

—locked the door and faced me again, that key disappearing somewhere into his leathers. His Furyknight leathers. Flying leathers.

His gaze was brilliant, and never left mine.

“Answer me,” I hissed. “How did you know—”

“Here’s the thing I can’t figure out,” he said, as if I hadn’t even spoken, keeping his voice low. “You’re riding dragons, flying like a fucking fiend, wearing leathers, and running straight to the safehouse only some Furyknights know about.” He tipped his head to the side and his eyes narrowed. “Yet, you’re a fucking woman. Not just a woman, a bloody farmgirl. They don’t even let women in the Academy.”

“Fuck off. Leave. Right now—”

“Donavyn’s assistant? A stupid Lord might believe that, but you won’t pull the wool over my eyes. He’s training you? Why?!” His expression was genuinely confused. “I mean, the sex was good, Brenny. But not that good.”

“Don’t you ever say my name again!”

His face hardened and he started towards me, his boots clomping on the wooden floor. “Now, this is where it gets strange. Because I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself. But every time I get to the part where women don’t ride dragons, and the Furyknights don’t train them, I’m reminded that I just watched you ride a fucking roll.” He tapped his temple and his eyes narrowed. “And then I’m right back at the beginning, asking myself what the actual fuck you could possibly offer Donavyn Arsen that would convince him to train you—let alone, convince a fucking dragon to let you ride it—”

“You bastard.” I hated that he could hear the tears pinching my throat, but I had to let him think that I was helpless again. Had to keep him cocky. He was confused and distracted, and walking towards me with that cocky swagger I’d seen a million times.

He shook his head, his expression half-mocking, and half-admiring. “I mean, you look great in the leathers. I can’t deny that. But this isn’t a costume, is it? You weren’t faking, so that means there’s really only one question left.”

He stopped within arms reach, head tilted, eyes pinning me to the floor. “Are you one of us? A spy? Or did you just make the most of hanging on to the next fellow’s arm? What am I saying—the General’s arm. Holy shit. Fabulous choice.” He began to clap slowly, mockingly. “A complete coup if you’ve actually done it. Even I can admit that.” He raised his hands like I’d pointed a weapon at him, shaking his head. But his eyes gleamed with malicious light.

Every fiber of my body hummed with anticipation—but not the kind it used to.