Page 102 of Ashborne: Defiance

No one would argue with Kgosi about his mate’s choice in rider. Not now.

When Donavyn turned to me with a nod to dismiss me from the meeting, I wasn’t sure whether to be grateful, or terrified.

“Please wait outside. If we need further information about anything, we’ll call you back in. And once this is done, you’re free to bathe and sleep. Ronen doesn’t have you rostered for patrol, so you’ll have a few days to recover.”

“Thank you, sir, but—”

“Take a seat outside, Voski,” Ronen cut in quietly. “I’ll fill you in later.”

I nodded, uncertain why my nerves increased as Donavyn turned away from me and addressed the men while I weaved between the bodies now crowded into the office, heading for the door.

“It’s clear that we’ll have the same challenges here as we faced with Bren—the same rules will apply. For now. We’re going to have to reassess in light of the queen’s new openness. I’ll look for accommodations that are suitable for Grace, but other than that, she just needs the right squad. Of course, that’s easier this time. She’s Kham’s mate, and Seventh Squad has already been through a female Flameborne once.”

I’d just whispered my apologies to slip between the last two men, and reached for the door handle when, at those words, I froze. Every hair on my body standing tall.

“Yes, of course,” Ronen said as if it was of no consequence. “I would have suggested we take her anyway, since we’ve got Bren to help her adjust. I imagine it will go more smoothly for that reason alone.”

I whirled, caught myself just before I bellowed, you can’t be serious?! Because Ronen, who still stood beside the general, locked eyes with me and the steely, undeniable warning that gleamed in his gaze stopped me in my tracks.

My squad leader was a good man. A solid man. A man about to be promoted—as evidenced by his presence in this very room. He was difficult to ruffle, and entirely dependable.

And far, far too willing to sacrifice comfort for duty.

She can’t be in my squad. No. Absolutely not.

35. Keep Your Place

~ VOSKI ~

Ronen’s expression didn’t change as, behind him, Donavyn began to outline to the high ranking officers how they’d relay this decision to the wing leaders. Those men would usually be given a choice and allowed to vie for any new Flameborne that arrived in the Keep.

“…I doubt we’ll have too much resistance. Their dragon’s matebond alone makes it a clear choice. In fact, if she weren’t female, no one would even remark on it.”

“But she is.” The words just tipped off my tongue.

Ronen’s eyes darkened with anger at my presumption to speak after I’d been dismissed, while every other man in the room turned to look at me. Some shocked, some offended.

“Forgive me,” I said as humbly as I could. “But she is female, and that does change what’s needed, both for her, and for the squad.”

Donavyn folded his arms and raised one brow. “Your dragons are bonded. There’s no choice to be made.”

“Your dragons are bonded and Akhane still runs patrols—”

“That’s enough, Voski,” Ronen said starkly. “You and I will discuss this later. This isn’t the place—”

“These are the men who will make that decision, and none of you have dealt with her. I have. And I’m not exaggerating when I say she’s reckless! She’s bold, and fearless, and naïve. She’s a noblewoman—she thinks this is an adventure. She has no true understanding of the menial work, or consequences of selfishness. Whoever leads her will have to watch over her like a child at first, just to make certain she doesn’t harm herself or others purely out of ignorance.”

“Voski, you’re speaking out of turn, and without authority. The decision is out of your hands, and you were dismissed. I don’t want to discipline a man who’s just returned from exemplary service, but I will,” Ronen warned me quietly—and very sharply.

They all stared, and I felt it. The shift.

I’d just been on mission. In control of my decisions. Making judgments for the entire nation—and trusted to do so. But now? Here? In this room and out of it, when I was at the Keep, I was nothing but a Furyknight. A member of a squad. And definitely not an officer.

And yet, they all knew. Every man in this room knew that my rank matched Ronen’s when I was sent on mission. And in circumstances of even greater consequence, at times.

Yet they all glared, because technically, I was out of line. I needed to follow. I knew that. But this was the consistent struggle of returning from a Shadowfang mission—where we were required to think for ourselves and function independently. Coming home was rest, and safety, and routine… and loss of autonomy, and forced humility, and frustration.

“Son, it’s time to go,” Donavyn said, surprisingly gently. “I can tell you from experience, no matter how it may feel now, you and your dragon will ultimately be glad to have Kham’s mate and her rider close. The times we’ve kept pairs apart, we’ve always ended up uniting them eventually, because they can’t truly settle without each other. And in this case, both of them will be even more unsettled than usual. Combine that with the fact that Ronen has already trained a female—as have you, and with excellent results—” he added more kindly than I deserved. “This the wisest choice. Take a few moments outside to think and accommodate that. Now.”