Page 106 of Ashborne: Defiance

I didn’t catch the words. Didn’t want to try, because my chest panged at the sound of that rough, deep voice offered with such warmth and tenderness.

I took a deep breath and stomped my feet, making a great show of turning the creaking door handle to open the bathing room door into their bedroom, clearing my throat so they’d hear me coming.

In the living area, they stood near the small kitchen—close. So close.

Bren stood at his feet, looking up, her head craned back because the general was so tall. He had a piece of fruit in one hand, but the other clasped her upper arm.

Voski, standing over me, his eyes dark with intensity. Those strands of hair falling between us, yet he searched my gaze with—

I cut the thought off as Donavyn frowned. Yet, Bren nodded and murmured something, as if she reassured him. And he smiled in return.

A man of such size and power. Yet, her words, her smile, soothed him.

My heart squeezed.

I cleared my throat, but Bren only turned, her smile stretching wider when she saw me. “Are you clean? That must feel so much better. My first bath after that trip was heavenly.”

I nodded, my cheeks warming because Donavyn had turned to look at me also, and I suddenly felt shy, though I was completely covered by the thick trousers and shirt—too long, so the sleeves were rolled up to my wrists. The coat the seamstresses had given me hung on a hook near the door.

“It was very nice. I think I fell asleep. Thank you for letting me use your home,” I said with a strange twisting, rush in my chest.

Home. I no longer had a home. Yet, I wanted this place to become that.

“You’re welcome, of course, Grace,” Donavyn said smoothly. “Until we find something better, it’s too cold to bathe outside, and we don’t ask you to share with the squad,” he said smoothly. “We will, however, need to find other answers with time. As a Flameborne, you can’t be seen to be offered special attention.”

“Of course,” I nodded quickly, but felt my cheeks heat. “Thank you.”

“Don’t let him make you embarrassed, Grace.” Bren rolled her eyes. “He won’t throw you to the wolves. He would have stabbed my brothers if they’d tried any of their shenanigans on—”

“I think we should let Grace meet her brothers and form her own opinions,” Donavyn said dryly.

Bren rolled her eyes, but I smiled.

It was the dinner hour. Bren told Donavyn we’d head to the dining hall for a meal, and he apologized for not being able to join us. I wouldn’t have expected him to do so, but there was no time to say so, as Bren leaned up on her toes to kiss him quickly, then started for the door, beckoning me to follow her.

“They aren’t on patrol tonight, so you’ll get to meet them all. It will make tomorrow less intimidating,” she told me as we trotted down the stairs outside their apartment.

I nodded. And I was looking forward to eating, and meeting these men. As long as they were friendly.

But then I had visions of Voski’s anger and my lungs went tight. “Will they be angry? About me?” I asked.

Bren frowned. “No. Why would you think that?”

“No reason. I just… Voski didn’t seem pleased that I was joining the squad. I worried the others might feel the same?”

Bren frowned, but went quiet.

We’d reached the ground floor and were crossing a spacious sitting room. Windows let in natural light at the front with a view to the courtyard outside, a low, stone wall, and the forest and mountains in the distance. At the other end of the large space, a handful of older men sat in big chairs, one of them smoking.

Bren looked at them askance, but didn’t speak, and none of them addressed her. I wasn’t sure if that was etiquette, or distrust, so I didn’t ask.

When we pushed through the wide, tall door and outside, Bren let go of a breath as if she’d been holding it, and turned to me, speaking as if there’d been no pause.

“Voski is different from the others. I’m sure they’ll all be glad to meet you. And if they aren’t, just make fun of them. They’ll warm up quickly.”

I laughed at her joke, but her brows pinched over her nose.

“Oh… you mean it?” I stammered. “About teasing them? I assumed—”