Page 78 of Ashborne: Defiance

I nodded, then tottered off to the trees. But I passed Koa on the way and she extended her snout. It was such a joy when she reached for me, I had to stop and hold her face and thank her again for choosing me.

‘You’ve changed my life. You’ve given me my dreams. Thank you,’ I told her sincerely. ‘I’ll do everything I can to honor you.’

Koa blew a heavy breath from flared nostrils and nudged me in the chest the way a horse would. If the horse was the size of the stable building. ‘You honor me good,’ she sent. I laughed and rubbed the top of her nose as I would with a horse, and she chirped and fluttered her wings.

“They like their eye ridges being scratched—and around the base of their horns, as well. It’s an area their scales dry and shed,” Voski said from behind me.

It startled me and I jerked to look, as Koa growled.

To my surprise, Voski didn’t get angry or disdainful with her. His hair fell over his eyes as he dropped his chin. His shoulders rolled forward as he gave a half-bow, dropping his hands to his sides, but open and slack.

“I haven’t greeted you appropriately, Koa, and I apologize. It was an oversight I should have corrected days ago. My dragon heralds you as his mate, and we welcome you together.”

His throat bobbed. I gathered the words meant a lot more to him than they seemed on the surface and made a mental note to ask her later.

‘His words are right. I protect you. He should as well.’

My heart trilled. “She said you’re saying the right thing. And she protects me.” I frowned, wondering if I should add the last piece, but as Voski straightened his brows rose. He shot a look at his dragon. But didn’t speak.

“Thank you, Koa,” he said tightly, his eyes darting back and forth to his dragon. “I’ll leave you two. Grace, we have a couple hours. You can sleep if you wish to.”

Then he turned on his heel and strode back to his dragon. Even though he didn’t say anything, I sensed unease and self-doubt in him.

I frowned. ‘Is he worried you don’t accept him?’ I asked Koa. ‘He seems upset.’

‘He is sad.’

I looked back to Koa, surprised. ‘Sad? Not the word I would have chosen,’ I said dryly.

She gave a low, frustrated rumble. ‘I learn your speaking,’ she sent after a moment. ‘But sad is true. He uses angry for sad.’

Oh. Oh. Surprised by her insight, I looked back at Voski, who’d walked to his dragon’s side. They turned away and walked into the forest together.

‘Does he know you told me that?’

‘Kham chooses what he knows,’ she said, with utmost confidence.

My heart ached. Whenever she spoke of her mate, warmth and surety swelled in her. I was so pleased that she was happy, but I envied her that sense of safety and delight.

‘I don’t think he’s only angry because he’s sad,’ I said gently. ‘He’s often angry about my choices. Not his.’

Koa tossed her head and gave a whistle, then shook it like a dog or horse would when dispatching a fly.

‘Kham explains… He was hurt. I do not understand all. He is… harmed by humans who live like Grace?’ Then she sent an image, little more than a flash. But in it, a boy in dirty clothes knelt in front of a grand woman in a gown, with an imperious air. There was a great deal of fear in that boy.

I swallowed hard and felt like I understood. He’d been hurt by nobles when he was young? That’s why he assumed I was selfish and uncaring?

He must have been a servant, or a stableboy to a cruel family. That would explain a lot.

I looked over my shoulder again, but they’d disappeared into the shadows of the larger trees.

I didn’t doubt what she’d shown me was true, but I was certain Voski didn’t want me to know it. ‘Thank you,’ I sent to her, reaching up to scratch where the bone and skin protruded to protect her eyes. She groaned happily and tilted her head so I could reach it more easily. ‘I understand.’

‘True, I hope. Your words limit me. But I learn. Kham teaches me.’

I smiled at the mental image of dragons schooling each other in English. ‘I had many classes for that when I was younger.’

‘Classes?’