Chapter 13 Tighten the Screws
~ brEN ~
As Hanson circled me on the dancefloor, I could barely focus.
I was too busy watching Donavyn, eyes narrow and dark, watching Ruin.
I knew he’d let go of his revenge fantasies, but that didn’t mean it was easy to stand there with the prick in front of him.
And, as much as I wanted to smack the smug smile off of Ruin’s face, I didn’t want to see Donavyn in trouble.
“You are a puzzling woman, Brennan,” Hanson said quietly, yanking my attention back to him. I cleared my throat and made myself focus.
I didn’t pretend that I was comfortable or happy. I fixed him with exactly the glare I’d given Ruin. He levered one brow high, but let me speak.
“I am not, sir. However, you are. And frankly, unwise, if that is the kind of man you align your wealth and word with.” Tell the truth until you can’t.
Hanson’s one, arched brow was joined by the other. “I see we aren’t mincing words this evening.”
“Someone once told me he preferred brutal honesty.”
“I did, indeed.”
“Then, don’t pretend you’re surprised. You know who he is—and likely what he’s been up to.”
“I had no knowledge of his history with you.”
I gave him a measuring look and decided he was probably telling the truth. “Yet, clearly you do now.”
Hanson fixed me with that intense gaze of his, like a bird of prey on a mouse. “I know what he says happened. But I’ll admit, I smell a man who covers for his own choices.”
“And that’s all you can ever expect with Ruin Galdec,” I said darkly.
“Oh? I would be happy to hear your side of the story. If you were willing to—”
“I said yes to a dance because I didn’t wish to be rude. But I will never willingly work with anyone who aligns with that bastard. So, please, forgive me, Lord Hanson, but I will decline your kind offer.”
His eyes flashed. “That sounds rather emphatic.”
“Perhaps because it is.” There were other couples on the dance floor, but a gap opened so I could see Donavyn, standing at the side looking strong and handsome, and my belly ached for him.
Why had I been pushing him away? Why had I—
Hanson tugged me more firmly against his chest and whipped us into a turn. “Would you wish to be dismissed on the basis of another woman’s conduct?” he muttered through his teeth.
“It’s not another man’s judgment I’d be trusting.
It would be yours, in choosing him,” I said briskly, but quietly.
I had no desire to draw the attention of others.
“If that little fucknugget has been helping you with the dragons, then at minimum he wastes kingdom time for his own personal gain while on a mission. More likely, he has abandoned his mission and is not to be trusted in the slightest.”
“Oh, I don’t trust him. But I need him.”
“No, you don’t. Not if your intentions are good.” I met his gaze evenly. “You need people who can be trusted to remain loyal and not self-serving.”
“So, come with me. Be my Furymaster.”
I actually laughed. “You reveal how little you know of the dragons that you even believe that’s possible. I can’t be a Furymaster without speaking to a large number of dragons—and I don’t know how to do that.”
“Ah, but a dragon can speak to them for you—bring yours… you said her name was Akhane?”
“Akhane isn’t mine,” I said firmly, though I was beginning to sweat. Was this a test? Was he testing to determine what I’d lied about? Or did he simply not understand?
“But she speaks with you!”
“By her choice. I don’t have control of her—the dragons are sentient beings, Lord Hanson—”
“I told you—”
“—they are not mindless beasts. Though some men definitely are.” I glared at Ruin as we passed that side of the ballroom and Hanson followed my gaze.
“You truly despise him.”
“I do, and you should too. If you are a man of your word as you claim, and one who does not take what is not offered, he is not someone with whom you should wish to align yourself. And if that doesn’t make you uneasy… well, I have my answer about you.”
Hanson’s head eased back, his eyes narrowing. I worried I’d gone too far. But Donavyn and I had agreed that when I did finally get Hanson in a private conversation, I would be the thing he couldn’t get for himself—and be on the attack. No weakness.
“You show a great deal of courage for a woman who claims to be common.”
“I am common, there is no claim. But I am also in a conversation with a man who told me numerous times he preferred brutal honesty and fire, over fluttering and etiquette.”
“I told you true.”
I stared directly into his dark eyes. “Then tell me this: How do you control those dragons? How do you gather them like that and keep them there? How could you just hand me one of my own selection? From the dragons I’ve watched, and the one who has been kind enough to speak with me…
that is not only wrong, but also impossible. ”
A wary shadow crept into his gaze. “You say you won’t work with me, why should I tell you my secrets?” he asked quietly.
I tipped my head. “Four days ago you offered me my pick.”
“That was before I learned you’d pursued my Furymaster across kingdoms in some kind of… romantic trap?”
I choked in his face, pretending to swallow laughter rather than nausea.
But my skin crawled—a romantic trap? For Ruin?
“He… he told you I pursued him? Dear God, his arrogance is truly astounding. Lord Hanson, the brutal truth is, there is no face on God’s green earth I would rather see less.
Your so-called Furymaster lies to you. Does he claim to speak to more than one dragon?
Is he giving himself any other title he hasn’t earned?
I know he is no fool. He is, however, a sick, cruel fucker.
In fact, it makes me ill being in the same room.
If you will excuse me, sir, I find myself in need of some air. ”
The dance hadn’t finished. There was no polite way for me to extricate myself.
But I was beginning to shake. I needed a moment to ground myself, otherwise I risked saying the wrong thing.
So, I stepped out of the circle of Hanson’s arms, bobbed a barely sketched curtsey, then turned on my heel, ignoring his widening eyes and the bulging gazes of those nearby who noticed the offense, and walked straight for the door to the balcony outside, fanning my face, praying they would all put my retreat down to womanly flutters.
The cool night air was a relief, and it settled the nausea attempting to crawl up my throat.
I knew there was no way Donavyn hadn’t noticed me flee, and I hated myself for worrying him.
Hated that my hands shook, and my mind shrieked so that I couldn’t trust myself to make wise choices with my words.
Hated that just the idea of my name in Ruin’s mouth made me want to vomit.
The narrow door behind me creaked a moment later and heavy, masculine footsteps slowly crossed the balcony. I didn’t turn, assuming it was Donavyn, because I could sense him drawing closer.
My breath rushed out of me with relief, but I remained facing the gardens blow, breathing and blinking to clear my head. Instead, I reached for him in my mind.
‘That bastard is painting me as some devious little chit.’
‘Then he’s a fool. Stay there. I will only be a moment.’
‘That’s the problem, Donavyn! He is no fool! But… wait, what do you mean you’ll—?’
“I cannot discern whether I am being baited, or chastened.” Lord Hanson’s voice was quiet. Not angry. But there was an edge to his tone. “I am… unaccustomed to being uncertain of my position.”
I’d flinched at the sound of his voice. Still, I didn’t move away when the dark-haired Lord stepped up to my side, hands clasping the balustrade, and stood looking out over the moonlit lawns below, just as I was.
He didn’t touch me, thank God.
My heart thudded uncomfortably in my chest. “Neither, sir. I am being honest. I didn’t know Ruin was here, and if I had…” I let the words trail off, then sighed. “I don’t know what I would have done. But I wouldn’t have gone looking for him.”
Except maybe with a knife.
Hanson turned, and after a moment, he leaned one elbow on the balustrade, staring at me, his large body tilted so we were the same height. I didn’t meet his eyes.
“What are you doing here?” he asked me softly.
“We have issues with our dragon herd in Vosgaarde and I came to help the General—”
“Please, leave the bullshit for the stablehands. Can we just do that, Brennan? Can we ignore the fucking games and just speak to each other?”
Swallowing hard, I turned my head to meet his dark gaze and lifted my chin. “What do you wish to say?”
“I want to know why you’re here.”
I took a deep breath, then leaned closer by an inch, teeth clenched.
“I am here at the side of a man who will not lie to me, who will not use me, and who empowers me. He celebrates the skills I possess, and offers his own expertise to increase those I don’t.
He is a good man. He protects me, strengthens me, and would not ask me to work with an asswipe like Ruin-fucking-Galdec.
” I sucked in a breath and tore my eyes from his, because he hadn’t reacted in the slightest and now I was worried that I was reading him all wrong.
I stood there, praying silently that I hadn’t just signed my own death warrant, when Hanson cleared his throat.
“If that is true, why would you even be willing to consider my proposal?”
I huffed. “Because you offered me a dragon,” I whispered, then turned to face him again. “I just never imagined it came along with a bastard I prayed I’d never see ag—”
“Do you have need of me, Brennan?” Donavyn’s deep, guttural growl was menacing and near-bestial.
Hanson’s eyes tightened. He didn’t look away from me, but I tore my gaze from his, turning as if Donavyn’s approach had surprised me. I let dismay, and a flicker of fear cross my features, then sighed.
“I’m not feeling well,” I declared. “And I have no wish to be near your… subordinate.”
Donavyn nodded and turned, offering his arm as if to usher me back across the balcony. But as I took it, Hanson straightened and spoke sharply.
“Hold—General.”
I stiffened as Donavyn halted midstep, then turned back to look at Hanson, his eyes dark with warning.
“Ruin is… your subordinate?”
“Every man who works with dragons in Vosgaarde is under my authority,” Donavyn said quietly. “Did he tell you otherwise?”
“No, only… I understood he was free to pursue his work with the dragons… that the king had sent him—”
“The king sends all of us. A Furyknight’s vow is always first to the crown. But the orders? They’re mine to give. We are trusted with a great deal of autonomy in fulfilling instructions. But make no mistake, Ruin answers to me.”
Hanson’s forehead furrowed, then he looked at me. “So, you do work with men who associate with Ruin, Lady Brennan?”
I froze. My mind blanked. He was wrong, but how to explain without—
“I told you,” Donavyn growled. “Every person who works with dragons is under my authority. Whether they approve of my colleagues, or not,” he added with a grim look at me.
I pretended to shrink under that gaze. Pretended I didn’t feel the rush of love and reassurance and strength coming through the bond.
“I’m growing cold,” I whispered. “Might we go back inside?”
My chest was a riot of conflicting emotions—elation that Donavyn had gotten me away from Hanson’s intensity, despair that I would have to see Ruin before I could escape this madness, and pure exhaustion for the whole damn situation.
I wanted out. Out of all of this.
But I wanted to take Ruin down first.
Donavyn nodded once, tightly, to Hanson, before he started walking again, drawing me with him.
“Thank you for the dance, Lord Hanson,” I said over my shoulder, letting my voice quiver. “I beg your forgiveness that I left it early and thank you for your… consideration. But I don’t believe we have anything further to discuss.”
And then, praying I didn’t over-play my hand, I looked over my shoulder at him and locked eyes with him for long enough that his eyes narrowed, that intent gaze never leaving my face until I turned and followed Donavyn back into the ballroom.
‘You’re brilliant,’ Donavyn sent.
‘Just pray I’m reading him right, Donavyn. If he’s a better man than I think, he might just give up on all of us and then we lose the link to Ruin.’
There was no knowing. Because maybe Hanson knew everything. Maybe, we were all pawns on his chessboard. Or maybe we were one step closer to unveiling whatever Ruin was up to, and we’d just added pressure.
I could only pray it was so.