Page 152 of Cast By Flames (Dragon's Breath)
They didn’t understand why they survived and wouldn’t learn the truth until weeks later. For years, she’d blocked out that horrible day and never spoken of it. Why did it have to hit her now?
A minister came forward and spoke of Miles’ bravery and good heart. He said all the right things, but it was hard to concentrate if Rayna didn’t want to cry. Somehow, she had to regain her composure. She was here for Danae, even though they weren’t close friends.
Then, the widow moved to the pulpit and spoke of her husband, starting with a strong voice. “Miles and I had a rough start, as some of you know. He was the kind of guy who didn’t play around, and when he committed to something, he did it with his whole heart. I was young and dumb when we dated for the first time. It didn’t last and that was my fault.”
She paused to dab a handkerchief at her eyes. “It was only after the dragons arrived that I realized what I’d given up with him. He had a big heart, but that man could also hold a grudge like you wouldn’t believe.”
People in the audience let out a subdued laugh.
“But eventually.” She paused to swallow hard. “He forgave me, and we tried again. I swore I’d stay by his side forever and make up for lost time. We have a beautiful daughter…”
She looked at three-year-old Alyssa in the front row. Bailey’s son held the little girl’s hand as she quietly cried for her father. He whispered that it would be okay. The little boy’s solemn expression was so serious one would have thought he was twenty years older. He pulled Alyssa into a hug and promised he’d be there for her.
“You’re not alone,” he told her.
Weren’t those the words everyone wanted to hear?
It was so sweet and heartfelt that those in the room who hadn’t been crying began now. It was as if the floodgates had opened inside Rayna, and every barrier she’d erected to protect herself fell with a resounding crash. The years of traveling and loneliness since her father passed tore at her soul. She felt like she’d walked the Earth alone for far too long, and no one would ever say those soft words to her. People saw a killer and assumed she had no feelings. Even her own mother had turned her back.
Aidan stood in the same row, and when she glanced at him, she caught a look of pride in his tearful expression as he gazed at his son, still consoling Alyssa. It said a lot that even the pendragon couldn’t contain his emotions at this moment.
“…Ahem, sorry,” Danae continued, her voice hoarse now. She’d began crying again, too. “I guess I should be thankful that Miles left me such a beautiful gift. It’s only too bad he won’t be here to watch her grow up and become the amazing woman I know she’ll be.”
Rayna understood the sentiment. At least she’d made it to age twenty-seven before her father passed, and they’d had a full year together fighting as slayers. Then, one day, they ran into too many dragons, and her father had sacrificed himself so she could escape. That was when she’d stopped caring about the future and only lived for the moment.
At least, until she joined the present group of people. Escaping this place soon would be a good idea. Galadon had made it clear how he felt, so she had no reason to stick around much longer. It was bad enough that she’d begun to care about so many of the ones here today.
Miles had fought bravely by all accounts. Rayna wasn’t stationed along his border section, but she’d heard stories of how well he led his troops. Also, she’d seen how he trained at the dome and fought while traveling. There were too few men like him in the world. He loved hard, battled hard, and willingly put his life on the line to give his daughter a brighter future.
Danae took a deep breath and ran her gaze across the room. “Anyway, Miles will always be the love of my life. I hope we can all make his sacrifice, as well as everyone else who died on that battlefield, worth it. Let’s live our lives to the fullest.”
After finishing, she stiffly returned to her friends and daughter.
More people got up to speak and said nice things, but it all became a blur. As much as Rayna knew they were lucky to have won the war, the cost had been high. She had tossed and turned the last couple of nights while thinking about it. They couldn’t have done much differently, but she hated that the sorcerers put them in such a position in the first place. And for what? Power?
The service ended. Rayna started to make her escape, but Aidan and Titan pulled her aside. The pendragon appeared solemn. “We would like to invite you to Eliam’s burial this evening.”
She blinked. “Shouldn’t that be for Taugud only?”
“Normally, yes, but Eliam liked you, and he’d want you to be there,” Titan replied earnestly.
Rayna wanted to be honored. “I don’t want to cause friction while you’re grieving your dead, and you know not everyone will be happy if I’m there.”
“I don’t care what they think. They answer to me, and I say you’re welcome,” Aidan said, voice resolute.
She took a moment to mull it over, but she did want to say goodbye, and it would be her only chance to witness a shifter’s funeral. “Okay, I’ll be there.”
He nodded. “Good.”
Titan gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Thank you.”
Something cracked inside of her as she realized neither shifter showed a hint of fear or wariness in her presence. She only detected kindness in their gazes.
***
Freya, Bailey, and Phoebe stood by Rayna for the burial ceremony. They made certain no one looked at her twice, and the solidarity of the females felt…nice. Somehow, along the way, she’d won a certain degree of loyalty from them. They’dexplained beforehand that the service would be simpler than most humans’, but it would appropriately honor the dead.
Eliam’s body was laid out on a stone slab erected there for all ceremonies. He was wrapped in a black cloth. Normally, she’d heard, the face would be uncovered for attendees, but since the shifter’s horrific death didn’t leave that part, it wasn’t possible.
