Page 55 of Galadon
I hurried outside, stopping only long enough to grab a bite to eat from my mother’s house. She promised she’d wait half an hour and be especially loud going to my lair to bring the slayer a meal. Hopefully, Rayna would be dressed by then.
My patrol was thankfully uneventful, but it took nearly an hour to do the full circuit. By the time I returned, Rayna wasoutside and fully dressed in her black camrium pants. Her top had a simple scoop neck, but it laced on each side to tighten to her preferences. The pants fit her hips and ass nicely, so I had to work not to stare too much. How I’d ever managed to look away from her before mystified me. It was as if I had no control left in her presence.
Did you eat?I asked telepathically since there was no point in shifting.
“Yes. Your mother made sure of it.”
Thank you for feeding her,I said privately to Ujala.
She was in her red dragon form since she planned to fly over to our cow herd to check on them. It was one of the many duties we alternated handling.
She dipped her chin.Of course, son. She is nearly my daughter now, and I’m happy to do it.
We aren’t mates yet,I said, though I was glad my mother liked Rayna so well and looked after her.
Ujala snorted.You might as well be with the way you two have been going at it. She is covered from head to toe with your scent even after bathing this morning. Her scent on you is just as strong.
I cannot help myself with her.
She swished her tail.Good. All is as it should be.
Before I could respond, she took off into the air.
I directed my gaze to Rayna and lumbered toward her. Her body went lax the moment I scooped her into my arms. I savored having my slayer so pliant against me momentarily before spreading my wings and leaping into the sky. The jakhalwas about an hour and a half from my home. If we moved quickly, I could get all my business dealings out of the way with time remaining to prepare for the bitkal before it began.
Rayna was silent while I flew, resting her head against my shoulder while I cradled her closely. The only times I’d held her like this while in flight before were when she was injured. Otherwise, I held her facing away from me. With our newfound intimacy, I couldn’t bear to do that anymore. It wasn’t as if we were trying to hide our relationship, regardless. Our scents were so intertwined from the last few days that it would be impossible to deny that something strong lay between us. Zorya help anyone who said a bad word about it.
As soon as I landed, I set Rayna on her feet. The night before, I’d explained to her that I’d stay in dragon form unless I needed to fight as a human. It was best not to waste too much energy directly before a duel by shifting.
It wouldn’t affect my ability to handle my business dealings, anyway. Since over half the toriq couldn’t change forms, the jakhal was designed to accommodate dragons. Unlike the Taugud fortress, which was constructed to repel those in their beast bodies.
People stared as we made our way to the east side of the jakhal for the market area. I didn’t hold my power back at all, and one glare from me sent them scrambling far away. Rayna walked confidently by my side.
One had to know her quite well to interpret her tense shoulders as nervousness. I’d brought her—a known slayer—into a dragon stronghold while she was weakened from the potion, and that wasn’t lost on me. We’d spent a little time yesterday testing her strength and speed, verifying she was at near-human levels. She was trusting me to protect her while she was at hermost vulnerable, and I appreciated that she’d extended that kind of faith.
I led her to the farthest building—a small stone structure with a wide-open front. A burnt-orange dragon sat inside it imperiously, watching the activities around him. His gaze caught on mine, and he dipped his snout in acknowledgement.
We entered, stopping several paces from the male. He couldn’t shift, but I knew he’d mated a female who could, and his two children were like their mother. It was trickier finding ways to earn income when one had to stay in their beast form all the time, but Clyde did quite well for himself.
His nostrils flared, and he turned his surprised gaze toward me.You’re not even trying to hide it, are you?
There was amusement in his voice. He didn’t judge anyone for anything, making him easier than most to be around. I made a point of including Rayna in my response.She’s mine.
He chuckled into both their heads.He pretends like we didn’t all see this coming months ago. Slayer or not, Rayna is the perfect match for you, and anyone with any sense can see it.
She frowned.But I don’t know you or most of the Faegud here.
There are many of us, but only one slayer who can wield lightning and speak mind-to-mind with dragons. Every toriq who participated in the war has heard of you, and how well the two of you fought off hordes of Kandoran with lightning storms. When the two of you work together, enemies fall in droves. It’s in our best interest to approve of your pairing.
Rayna grinned.Well, it’s nice to meet you, Clyde.
It’s an honor to meet the female who finally tamed the lone shifter,he replied with amusement in his gaze.
I snarled, not appreciating that anyone considered me tame.
Rayna set a gentle hand on my shoulder.I promise you that he is not all that tame, even in his lair.
Clyde made a chuffing sound that was the dragon version of a laugh.
