Page 79 of Visions & Shadows

He shrugs. “Hey, at least I made you smile.”

Locking eyes with Storm, I say, “Thanks. I needed it.”

Everyone starts to move to their horses, and it has him saying, “Let’s move out so we can set up camp.”

“See you at the waterfall,” I tease him before I turn away and walk to where Raighne’s adjusting the straps on the horse.

When I reach my grumpy guardian, he doesn’t even bother looking at me as he mutters, “You and Storm seem to get along really well.”

I shrug. “He’s a good friend.”

His eyes flick to me for a second. “Just a friend?”

I narrow my eyes on Raighne. “What’s with the twenty questions?”

He lets out a sigh before climbing onto the horse without any effort. “Forget, I asked.”

He reaches down to me, and when I place my hand in his, he pulls me up to sit in front of him. Instead of sitting sideways, I straddle the horse with my back to Raighne.

“Comfortable?” he asks as his arms wrap around me to take hold of the reins.

I glance down at his forearms and shamelessly drink in the sight of the veins snaking beneath his tanned skin.

“Alchera,” he says to get my attention. “I asked whether you’re comfortable?”

My cheeks flame up, and I nod quickly.

Praying to all that’s holy he didn’t pick up on me drooling over him, I ask, “Did Roark train you as well?”

It’s the first question I could think of.

“No.” He nudges the horse to start galloping, then answers, “I was trained by my father.”

Hearing the love in his voice, I say, “It sounds like you respect your father a lot. I’ve heard only good things about him.”

“He’s the greatest guardian there is.” There’s a moment’s silence, then he adds, “He’s the only one who’s faced Adeth and lived to tell the tale.”

Feeling Raighne’s solid chest behind me and his thighs hugging my hips make it hard to focus on the conversation.

I can’t stop myself from leaning back against him as I ask, “He faced off with Adeth?”

“The day before your sixteenth birthday,” he murmurs near my ear, making goosebumps scatter over my body. “She tried to kill you, but she underestimated my father. Don’t you remember?”

I shake my head.

“I grabbed you and took you to Janak and Aster while my father fought her. That’s partially the reason why we sent you to Earth.” I feel as he takes a deep breath and exhales. “It’s said the ground shook from the fight.”

It’s so nice talking to him that I don’t want to stop, so I think of another question to ask.

“Are you okay with being bonded to me?”

He answers without any hesitation, “Of course. It’s an honor.” I feel his breath stir strands of my hair. “Our souls became one when we were bonded. You’re my other half.”

God.

Raighne wraps an arm around my waist, holding me tighter, and I practically melt against him.

I’m enjoying being close to him when a worry trickles into my mind. Before I can stop the words, they burst over my lips, “What happens when you fall in love?”

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