Page 2 of Galadon
This woman wasn’t only a slayer but also a sorceress. She had two primary abilities—shooting lightning and telepathy with animals. Dragons were included as part of the latter, which was the reason I could speak mind-to-mind with her. Usually, I could only do that with my own kind while in beast form.
Your horse is odd,I said.
It was a fact that anyone who came across the animal quickly realized. Unlike normal equines, this one snacked on dead dragons, engaged in battle, and had the ability to communicate with me. Even her mount had to be as unique as her.
Rayna took a few more steps toward me, completely unashamed of her nude body. “No, he’s highly intelligent.”
I barely breathed as she ran the tips of her fingers over my left wing in a soft caress. I wanted to rumble in contentment at the sensation. The damned woman was teasing me and must have known what it did to me. Perhaps Bailey, another slayer who’d mated with a shifter, had given Rayna tips. How else would she know about the sensitive places on my wings?
Attempting to focus on other matters, I kept my gaze on her hazel eyes and asked,Where are your clothes?
“In the tower over there,” she replied with a knowing grin. “Am I offending your delicate senses, dragon? It’s nothing you haven’t seen and touched before.”
She needn’t remind me.Go get dressed. We need to talk.
Rayna sighed, wrapped the towel around her body, and strolled away. I didn’t move from my position until she entered the tower and shut the door. After she was out of sight, I launched into the air and flew over the lake, landing on top of the hill near her abode. Layers of her fresh, fragrant scent were everywhere—some old, some new. She’d been staying here for a while, which I’d suspected since she seemed so comfortable in this location. Rayna was playing a dangerous game to inhabit a place alone in enemy territory.
Ten minutes later, she came outside in loose pink pants and a white tank top that didn’t hide the rouge of her nipples. The fabric told me that none of it was fireproof. If I sent a breath of flames at her, she wouldn’t burn, but she’d be naked again. She lived to tempt me.
Rayna put her hands on her hips. “Why are you still in dragon form?”
It’s safer that way.
“For you or me?” she asked, quirking her lips.
Both.
If I shifted, I’d be liable to grab her and drag her into that tower, burn her clothes off, and have my way with her. I didn’t doubt for a moment that she’d let me. She’d made that clear many times in the past, but I’d made her promise not to try seducing me in the future. My willpower wasn’t nearly as strong as I needed to resist her. Of course, she was pushing her vowtoday, but I was the one who showed up while she bathed. No matter how much I wished to do so, I couldn’t blame her for her behavior.
Her face turned stony as her friendliness faded. “What do you want, Galadon?”
There is a nest with hundreds of Kandoran—dragons and humans—less than ten miles from here. If you continue to reside this close, you’re risking death,I said, glaring at her.
Rayna crossed her arms. “It’s my job to take them out. I chose this place to pick them off a few at a time when they venture out to hunt.”
They’re not stupid. I’ve scented at least two tainted sorcerers in the area, which is likely why so many have congregated. It won’t be long until they figure out what you’re doing and send in a force to kill you. You won’t be able to fight that many.
I’d caught many telling scents while following her trail. Most were faint, but they told me a lot. We’d suspected there might be other sorcerers among the Kandoran, but we only confirmed it weeks after the war ended during scout patrols. No one believed the remaining magic users were very powerful, but they might be able to exert some control over the infected dragons.
She stared at me for long moments. “What do you care? The war is over, and so is our truce. If I die, it’s on me. No more need to protect your arch-enemy.”
She wasn’t wrong. I shouldn’t be here at all, tempting myself.
You’re right,I forced myself to say.I’ll leave you to your suicide mission.
I flared my wings, readying them for flight. She blinked, and I caught a flash of longing and pain in her hazel eyes—emotions she’d hidden until now. My inner beast clawed at my mind, demanding I stay and protect her. I didn’t dare listen to it. All I had to do was think back to the early days of my childhood to remember why I could never trust a slayer. She’d kill me the moment she lost control of herself, whether she wanted to or not.
“Wait.” She took a step forward. “Just…help me fight them so I don’t have to do it alone. Imagine how many Kandoran we could kill if we worked together.”
It was tempting, so tempting, and wise of her to suggest it. If I thought for a moment I had the strength to battle at her side and not touch her, I’d agree to the offer if only to keep her safer. After all these months apart, though, my ability to resist Rayna was weaker than ever. She’d been at the center of too many of my heated dreams.
I’ll check in again sometime to see if you’re still alive,I said. It was all I could give her.
“Seriously?” she screamed, picking up a rock and slinging it at me. “Stop giving mixed signals, you asshole.”
I didn’t bother to dodge it, deciding to let her have that one. It was round and smooth. I barely felt it as it hit me in the back. If only she would throw many more of them so I could prove why we couldn’t be near each other.
I lifted into the air.Take care, Rayna.
