Page 76 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
Chapter 22
Galadon
Nearly every part of him had been wounded in some manner or another. Galadon had spent his life fighting terrible odds, but this day had been the worst yet. The enemy had swarmed them. Their toxic evil was insidious, filling his nostrils with their dreadful stench. They’d attacked from every side and above until he saw nothing except tainted green dragons all around him. He’d battled harder than ever to stay alive, hovering over the injured members of his group as he tried to deflect as many as possible.
Then, a legion of shifters arrived from nowhere. Their force was so large that they quickly wiped out the Kandoran. Their scent was unfamiliar, but they must be allies since none tried to harm him.
After the fighting stopped, silence reigned on the bloody battlefield.
Something pulled at his senses, and he turned to spot a female shifter less than fifty feet away. She stared at him with love and sorrow in her gaze. He instantly knew who she was despite the time that had passed. Shock filled him.
Ama?he asked.
She raced forward and nuzzled his neck.Yes, it is me, son.
What are you doing here?Galadon didn’t know how to feel or react to her.
Remember how I told you long ago I had no choice except to leave you? The Craegud and Dagowan seers said keeping you would bring about our demise. Most called for your death, but one gave me another option that would redeem you. Your father died so that I could get you to the distant land where I left you. Now, the time is nearly upon us to show the world the good you can do. Today was proof of that with the way you fought so valiantly.
He shook his head, trying to make sense of her words. She had told him such things in the short time she stayed with him on his land before leaving, but he’d been young. He hadn’t understood her well. Now that he had better control of his abilities—except when near the Kandoran shield wall—he had learned how careful one must be with prophecies. Though he only saw up to a day ahead, his visions still had to be handled carefully to reach the desired outcome. Still, had it truly been worth what she’d done to him?
I have sworn allegiance to the Faegud,he said.
Her amber gaze brightened.I heard a toriq finally accepted you, and it brought me such relief. It tore at my heart the day I had to leave you. The news that occasionally reached me made my heart ache at the loneliness you must have endured for so long. I wish I could have come sooner, but I was told it could not be before now. It was the only way—please believe that.
While he was initially relieved to see his mother again, his emotions were in turmoil. Betrayal soured his tongue. She hadleft him as a child, practically helpless. No matter what the seers said, why couldn’t she have stayed?
Rayna stepped into the corner of his vision, or rather, limped. She was covered in as many wounds as him, and her coppery-brown hair hung limply around her face with traces of blood soaking it. The slayer’s hazel eyes reflected concern.
Is everything okay?she asked, using her unique magic to speak into his head.
Usually, he hated it when she infiltrated his mind, except when necessary, during battle.
This time, it didn’t bother him quite as much.I am speaking with my mother. She is…explaining her absence and her reason for returning now.
From what he understood, variations of his story had been widely spread. People often got the finer details wrong, but the one thing they always got right was how his mother had abandoned him as a child. He vaguely remembered his pure dragon father fighting others as they fled, but he hadn’t known his sire haddied. Galadon didn’t doubt Rayna had heard enough rumors to understand what his mother’s return meant.
The slayer stiffened.Wow, that’s a lot to process. I’ll leave you to it, but let me know if you need a diversion. I’ll play the bad guy and interrupt so that you can make a quick getaway.
He sent a chuckle into her mind. The damn female wouldn’t know boundaries if they smacked her in her well-shaped rear, but some small part of him appreciated the offer. Not that he’d ever tell her that. Rayna didn’t need anything else to feed her immense ego.
Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.
She limped away. Galadon forced his gaze from her departing form, hating that some absurd part of himself felt attraction for her. She was a slayer—with magical powers. He knew he should be the last to judge, but it bothered him anyway. So many things about Rayna irritated him, including her arrogance, complete lack of fear, beauty, impressive fighting skills, and utter rudeness in his presence. While others had the good sense to fear him, she spent much of her time antagonizing him. It was utterly galling.
Even Bailey was kind and respectful. She made him feel like part of the team and as someone who belonged. Not to mention, she’d given birth to a shifter child. It was why he’d gone to great lengths to protect her years ago when things went terribly wrong for her and Aidan. Galadon found himself able to give that one slayer an exception, but he could not tolerate any others. He’d learned the hard way from a young age how duplicitous their kind could be even when they appeared friendly.
Why come now?Galadon finally responded to his mother.
She stepped closer, and he caught a whiff of her scent—a mix of sage and aloe. Despite the centuries that had passed, he still remembered the comforting aroma. For a moment, he wanted to let it envelop him. Long ago, it had made him feel safe, loved, and protected. He’d long since discovered he would never be allowed such luxuries from his mother or anyone else. In the end, everyone always left or betrayed him.
We came to save you from the Kandoran. It’s complicated, which sounds like an excuse, but I really had no choice except to wait until now to return to you.
Anger and bitterness filled him.While I appreciate the Craegud’s timely arrival, I do not need you anymore, Ama. Please do not trouble yourself over me.
But son, I…
If you wish to do something good, help that dragon there.He glanced over at where Eliam lay, broken and struggling for breath. Another healer tended to him, but no one would be as good as Ujala.He needs you far more than I do.
