I sat back in my chair and tried, yet again, to get my heart to slow.
But I couldn’t stop seeing it.
We were high in the clouds above the tower, making certain we had no impact on the field of the exercise, but watching everything. Bren had made a couple of nice dives and flames into the tower, though one missed its mark slightly. If she’d managed one more, I could have passed her as long as she didn’t get herself disqualified.
But then she disappeared.
We were all focused on the clash, determining whether the other Flameborne was killed, or only wounded, and what impact that would have on his score. So it wasn’t until he’d been disqualified and ordered back to the Keep—not a pleasant time for any of us—that I looked for her again. Unsuccessfully.
She remained out of sight long enough that I was growing worried they might have had a crash under the mists when we were distracted. But Kgosi rumbled.
‘They’ll make their move—and cleverly. Just watch.’
I loved the dark thrill in his tone that meant he was pleased and anticipated the downfall of someone’s pride. I just prayed it wasn’t mine.
When that plume went up, I smiled, expecting—as the other Flameborne did—to see Akhane suddenly erupt out of that smoke, flame awindow on her passing, then continue. I anticipated their passing mark and felt some relief.
But Akhane didn’t surface right away, and as the defenders, hovered and dove, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Akhane emergeon the ground.Watching her jump, then climb the tower made me chuckle. When she stopped, I expected her to flame the tower from that side, then launch from her spot—but I caught Bren leaping from her back before Akhane took off, and it was the moment my heart ran away from me.
At first it was simple thrill.
She was going for the flag. I didn’t think she’d make it. A battle-ready Furyknight wouldn’t have fallen for the dragon’s escape when they’d been unseen for moments on such a critical target. But of course, the Flameborne weren’t battle-ready. They fell for the ruse, and my heart rose again. She was going to get the flag.
Then I frowned. How was she going to connect with Akhane? She couldn’t run far enough for Akhane to land outside the defender’s pursuit range…
When she didn’t run back to the stairs, but straight across the tower, I actually shouted.
Then I watched in horror as Akhane whipped back and around the tower, my heart in my mouth.
I didn’t miss that Akhane corrected for her twice. Or that Bren almost lost her grip.
I should have been watching the defenders, evaluating their pursuit. I should have been looking for the final attacker, seeing if he made use of the distraction Bren provided.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off her, dangling from her dragon’s spine. It took everything in me not to urge Kgosi into pursuit.
There were already officers out there to watch for defense pursuit. They’d call for help if there was a problem.
But this wasBren.She’d just pulled a stunt worthy of our most seasoned soldiers, and yet equally deserving of a reckless, childish prank.
When the horns were finally blown, I almost didn’t fly back. It was only when Kgosi assured me that Akhane had confirmed Bren was clipped back in and safely flying home that I urged him back. I needed to be in that launch hollow when they landed.
I didn’t give two shits about what else had happened. The moment I leaped from Kgosi’s back I was looking for her in the sky, and as soon as Akhane landed I was on her, tearing towards her, grasping her when she didn’t see me coming, holding her,screaming.
“Are you crazy?! Bren, are you fucking insane?You could have been killed!”
She grabbed both my wrists and it was a balm to my aching, pounding heart to feel her warm, calloused skin against mine.
I stared into her eyes, barely aware of the audience, frantic,panicking.I silentlybeggedher to stop seeing her own life as so little, and to see me.
She locked eyes with me and the question rose in my mind.
“Holy shit,”I breathed. “Holyshit,Bren. You could have beenlost.”Didn’t she know? Couldn’t she see how that would change the world?Myworld? Couldn’t she see what she was and how incredible she could be?
And how dangerous that would be for her and Akhane?
Nothing was simple. Nothing was safe. Least of all, her .
Kgosi hummed in my head but she was speaking so I couldn’t give him any attention.
