Chapter 43 If Only They Knew
SOUNDTRACK: Weak by Grace Blue
~ brEN ~
I was so staggered, so shocked, at first no words came.
My father thought I was listening, and he stepped closer.
“You don’t have to lie for them, Bren,” he muttered.
“I know they want us to believe that, but you don’t have to lie.
I came here to tell you that you can come home.
I shouldn’t have said the things I said.
I was shocked and afraid. But I can see what’s happened.
Your mother raised you for such sweetness and honor, you have been deceived.
That isn’t your fault. I know your options are limited now, but I will watch over you, and you’re strong enough to take the farm when we’re gone—”
“Father, hear me. I am not lying.” I was done arguing with him. “I’m a Furyknight. Trained, tested, and pinned. Exactly like Ruin was.”
But my father just shook his head, his upper lip curling back. “I knew he was here.”
It was like speaking with a wall. A blunt, unlistening wall. I dropped my face in my hands to gather my wits, because I refused to stand here batting away his accusations.
I sucked in a breath and raised my chin, pinning my father with a gaze as sharp as any blade.
“Ruin is not here,” I said through my teeth.
“I won’t repeat it. No one is lying to you.
I was Chosen after he left, and I’m glad he’s gone.
He hurt me. I didn’t choose the things that happened—you should have known that.
You should have seen that at the time. You should have offered to protect me then—”
“You told me you loved him,” he said pointedly.
Sickened, I nodded. “And I did. But he lied to me. I no longer care for him in any measure. I’m—”
“She’s someone you should be very proud to call your daughter.
” Donavyn growled as my father opened his mouth, clearly prepared to take another shot at me.
I turned to plead with him not to give in to violence.
But he stood without the others holding him, his arms folded, his eyes glinting with righteous rage.
“And she’s being far more gracious with you than I would be. ”
Father bristled, but I jumped in.
“Papa, this is General Donavyn Arsen. He is—”
“I’m far more than her Commanding Officer. I am her mate. Our dragons are bonded, and so are we,” Donavyn said bluntly. I wasn’t the only one who gasped. I prayed the door was closed tightly and we had no eavesdroppers outside.
“What does that mean?” my father asked suspiciously.
Donavyn stepped up to my side. “It means your daughter is the most precious thing in this world to me, and while I am grateful to you for bringing her into this world and raising her, Sir, you will answer for the rejection and abuse—”
“Abuse?! I never abused—!”
I opened my mouth, but Donavyn shot me a look like he knew what I’d say, and bristled, leaning closer to my father.
He stood over him by inches, and inches broader, too. “You should be grateful your daughter is a woman of grace. Had I learned of your offenses towards her when she first arrived, I would have dragged you before a magistrate.”
My father flinched, but then his eyes narrowed. “Wait… her mate? So, you two are… well, of course. Did you at least have the decency to marry her?”
Donavyn went still and my father’s malicious smile rose.
“Of course you didn’t. Men of honor, my ballsack. This is only more proof that the Furyknight men are immoral.” Then he turned to me. “So, you’ve left Ruin to take up with this rogue, and the rest of them too, I suppose? Is that what you—”
Donavyn’s hand shot out. The men behind us rushed forward, but they were too late.
Donavyn grasped my father by the throat and stormed him backwards, straight into the wall, with such force that my father’s eyes glazed for a moment.
Then Donavyn shoved him a second time, knocking his head against the panel, before leaning right into my father’s ear.
“You will shut your filthy mouth, or I will strangle you and call it judgment,” he growled.
“Donavyn, don’t!”
But Donavyn didn’t even look at me, just kept talking in a low, seething voice, through his teeth, while my father clawed at his grip on his throat.
“I will give you one, final chance to address your daughter with the love and care that she deserves. And if you do not, I will—”
“Please don’t hurt him. Please.”
We all turned at the sound of my mother’s shaky voice. She was in tears and clutching herself. I hurried to her and she grabbed me up in a hug that surprised me so, that it took a moment for me to embrace her back. But when I did, tears pricked my eyes too.
“You can trust him. He’s a good man,” I whispered in her ear, then pushed out of her arms. “They all are.”
At my look, Donavyn reluctantly released my father, who coughed and spluttered, his eyes watering, trying to speak, but little more than a croak left his throat.
My mother reached for my face and cupped it, turning me to meet her eyes that were still welling with tears. “Are you well, Bren? Truly?”
“Truly,” I whispered back, nodding. “And Donavyn is… he’s wonderful, Mother. Truly honorable and… just a good man. The bond we have is from God. And my brothers are brothers. They’ve done nothing but help me.”
My mother looked at my father, and I saw the fear flash in her eyes.
Papa, still bent over, hands on his knees, raised one hand in warning when my mother’s lips thinned, then she approached Donavyn, but she ignored him, and after a moment’s hesitation, rushed to him, gripping his face and pulling him down to kiss each of his cheeks.
“Thank you for standing as her protector,” she whispered.
Donavyn’s face softened and my heart swelled. “It will never be another way.”
The moments that followed were a blur. I tried to explain just a little of the dragons and the bond, while my father found his breath again. Mother was clearly upset, but also happy for me. I felt her love and was suddenly glad that she’d come.
While we spoke, my brothers surrounded my father. At first, I thought it was to make certain he wouldn’t come for me or my mother. But then I realized Ronen had his back to my father, and faced Donavyn. Unspoken warnings passing back and forth between them.
Then, my mother pulled me aside, clearly concerned as my father straightened and began to breathe normally again, his expression hardening.
“This is all so different than we expected. He truly was worried about you, Bren. We both were. We knew you must be surrounded by all these strong men. But I’m so very pleased to see that you found a good one.
I’ll take your father away. We only came to make certain you were safe—and it’s clear that you are.
To me at least,” she added sadly, with a glance between my brothers to my father.
“I will sleep better now and… and I’ll be happy for you.
Stay, Bren. Stay here and be happy and strong and… everything that you can be.”
I wept as I hugged her, thanking her.
Then she leaned into my ear and whispered, “If you have children, please tell me. A letter to my sister will reach me.”
Before I could respond, my father rasped that they were leaving, and she released me to go with him.
“We’ll usher you out—” Donavyn started, but Ronen and Oros stepped up to stop him, as Harle and Einar hurried to open the door for my parents and followed them out into the hall.
As soon as they disappeared, I slumped, face in my hands, wondering how any of this happened.
I was still crying, but softly, and not really sure why, except my mother’s words had touched me, when a large, warm hand appeared at the back of my neck.
When I lifted my face to look at Donavyn, he pulled me into his chest, and I forgot about being in the barracks, or the risk. I just threw myself into him and clung, crying.
I wasn’t aware of how long we stood there, or what happened, only the warmth and strength of his arms, the pounding of his heart under my ear, and the rush of love and anger and churning agitation in the bond.
When I finally looked up, sniffing and wiping my eyes, the room was empty except for us, and Donavyn stared down at me worriedly. He combed back the stray strands of hair that had stuck to the tears on my cheeks and tucked them behind my ears.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and leaned up to kiss him. “Thank you.”
“Just breathe,” he said softly. “Ronen’s watching the hallway. We have some time. And we can leave separately.”
That was when it struck me—he’d told my parents! He’d named me his mate! My mouth dropped open. “Donavyn! What if they tell people? Rumors in the city will reach here and if they’re staying at an inn—”
“It’s too late to worry, Bren. It was right and good that he understand that an honorable man not only wanted you, but cherished you. I couldn’t let him keep speaking about you that way.”
“But, if he says anything—”
“Hopefully, it will be assumed he’s a citizen who doesn’t understand dragon bonds.
But given his attitude, I don’t think he’ll want to speak with anyone here.
” Donavyn looked off towards the windows for a long moment, then sighed.
“Sona and Kyan tell Kgosi that Einar and Harle are escorting them back to the city under the guise of keeping them safe. I feel sorry for the men, but they’re good to do it.
Any rumors in the city can be countered if necessary.
But we don’t have time to worry about that.
” He took my chin in his hand. “When we come back, I’m not hiding you anymore.
I won’t allow him—or any other man—to believe those things of you, Bren.
I simply won’t.” His throat bobbed as my eyes began to blur.
“I’m proud that you’re my mate. And I will be proud to make you my wife. ”
I gasped. “Donavyn, I’m not worried about that. Our bond is already more than—”
“I won’t let any more ignorant men think those things of you.
Will you marry me, Bren? When we return from Fyrehold, marry me.
I am proud to have you as mine. Proud for the world to see that.
Proud that God entrusted you to my hands.
I will never be ashamed of you—and I will not give anyone an excuse to think otherwise. Marry me. Please, Bren. Marry me.”
I laughed through tears and threw my arms around his neck, pulling him down into a kiss.
“Is that a yes?” he asked me breathlessly a little while later.
“Yes,” I sobbed, and pulled him back. “Yes.”