Page 90 of Ashborne: Defiance

“No, no,” I reassured her. “I shook my head, because you look more afraid now than you did when I told you to jump off a flying dragon’s back,” I chuckled.

She frowned. “People are far more terrifying than flying,” she said bluntly.

I couldn’t argue with that.

“The dragons will be excited when we land,” I said, changing the subject because I didn’t want to explore that. “We’ll need to stay out of their way. Hold onto me, and dismount the moment I tell you. Kham will be agitated, working to keep other males away from Koa until they understand she’s his.”

“She’s… his?” Grace asked with a frown. “Like, he owns her?”

“No. But they’re bonded. Just like you and she are. They belong to each other. The males can get pushy when a new female arrives. Especially if there’s any hint of her heat still on her scent. We’ll need to get off Kham as quickly as we can, and leave him to deal with the dragons. That’s all.”

She nodded and turned back to face forward, swallowing.

As we flew on, I kept asking questions, which Kham asked Kgosi and the others, but he was growing more agitated, distracted by the anticipation of standing for his mate as we drew closer, so the details were garbled. I was just relieved to know we weren’t returning to a world we didn’t recognize, though Kham had gleaned enough that I was sure we had a story to hear.

But there was no more time to angst about what might have been because we approached the Keep. Dragons rose in the distance, circling and welcoming us home. My heart rose with them—relief warming me. But a thread of wary chill coiled tighter inside me.

I was just nervous about bringing a woman home. My brothers were going to ride my ass about her. I knew it.

Kham responded to the herd, his screams rising higher, and sharper, the closer we drew.

I tried to ignore them, focused on giving Grace instruction—she was tired and I didn’t want her to fall. But we also had to be ready to dismount quickly.

“Let me get down before you. I’ll cradle you down. We can’t risk you falling—Kham won’t be patient.”

She nodded, but I felt the jolt in her. She was scared. And not of dismounting.

“Grace, it’s going to be fine,” I said quietly, tightening one arm around her middle as the screaming dragons circled with us while Kham and Koa wheeled into descent over the launch hollow.

We were close enough now to see the men rushing out of the stables, and the dragons on the ground stamping their feet and lashing tails.

It was always exciting when those who’d been gone— to battle in the field, or in the ballroom—returned safely. Both dragons and any Furyknights present would celebrate.

But Kham rippled under us. Grace gasped and took a tighter grip on the neck strap as he surged.

“Relax, he’s posturing, warning the males that he’s coming in and they aren’t to approach.”

“Will he fight them?”

“If he has to. But with her already beyond her heat, I doubt any of them will challenge him for her—he’s high ranking in the herd,” I told her with quiet pride.

Then we dropped into the launch hollow, a deep depression in the earth that was wide enough to be seen from high in the sky. Its steep sides gave the dragons purchase to slow their pace in a much shorter distance than they’d normally need. Kham gave a deep call—almost a roar—as he hit the ground running, and galloped, back-flapping, his talons digging into the earth as he fought to slow his passage.

Grace squeaked and pitched forward, but even though I held her at the waist, she remembered to use the straps to pull herself into his spine. She bounced, but didn’t slip off sideways as she’d done the day before.

Then Kham drew to a halt and tossed his head, screaming and whistling in response to the chorus of cries and dragon song that rose from every side.

“Quickly,” I said, unclipping both of our safety straps. “Hold on while I get in position, then you put yourself in my lap and we just move, even if I have to carry you, you understand?”

Grace nodded. I leaned past her to grip the mounting strap and swing myself down, bracing my feet on Kham’s side.

But several males had come out of the nearby stables and were screaming.

Koa, who’d landed just behind and beside us, gave a squeal and tossed her head as she danced closer to Kham, who whirled, just as Grace was swinging her leg over.

She slipped, with a gasp, and fell into my arms at an awkward angle.

For a moment I feared I’d lose us both.