Page 85 of Galadon
Shock filled her hazel eyes. “Really? I didn’t think you’d be into that sort of thing with how you grew up and me being a slayer.”
“The bond is enough for me,” I said, grazing my knuckles across her soft cheeks. “But exchanging words before those closest to us and giving each other official bands lets the world know how serious we are without question. It will also give you another reason to wear one of your new dresses.”
Rayna laughed, the tone so light it sounded like music. “I’d love that, Galadon. After we handle the Kandoran, we’ll arrange it, but I want it on your land, and only those closest to us should be there.”
I nodded, liking that idea. “Agreed.”
Then I leaned down and gave her a kiss meant to sear this day into our minds forever. She didn’t hold back, tangling her tongue with mine and holding onto me tightly. After a fewpassersby made rude comments and sounds, I reluctantly pulled back. As much as I wished to burn the annoying people to ash, that sort of thing was frowned upon in Norman.
“Do you wish to keep looking at the shops or find a restaurant?” I asked, deciding we should probably get moving.
“I want to find a gift for Phoebe’s baby, but we’re probably better off looking at one of the fortress shops so it will be fireproof. Let’s do food next—I’m starving.”
It was good to see her appetite had fully returned since our ordeal. “Any preference?”
“I’ve heard the new Italian place is good, but I’m not sure how shifters do with that,” she said, uncertain.
I leaned down to kiss away her hesitant look.
“They got steak in there, too, in case any carnivores visit,” came a loud, vexatious voice behind me.
I’d barely touched her lips when I recognized it and pulled away. “Conrad. Have you come to ruin a perfectly good day?”
He was one of Bailey’s closest friends and had transitioned to a full slayer last fall, but most of us shifters had difficulty tolerating the man. Rayna didn’t seem to mind him, though I couldn’t imagine how she found the patience to endure his presence. She leaned to the side to look behind me, where the annoying male stood a few feet away.
“Conrad!” she said, pulling from my arms to smile at him.
I turned and yanked her into my side. Sure enough, the male slayer stood closer than I liked. He had short black hair, dark skin, and brown eyes. His height was average for a human male and half a foot shorter than me, but he was far moremuscular than most of his kind. Bailey had mentioned once that he exercised a lot while working to become a slayer. The expression on his face as he took us in was priceless and almost worth seeing him again.
“You two are…together now?” he asked, shaking his head as if he thought he’d lost his mind.
Rayna put a hand on my chest. “Yes. We fully mated a few days ago.”
“I mean, I heard you slept together because that was all the talk after the war.” He rubbed his eyes next as if that would correct his vision. “But everyone said you were more likely to kill each other than actually mate. Guess I’ll have to pay up on that bet.”
I lifted a brow. “There was a betting pool?”
Conrad nodded his head. “It started when Rayna began helping at the pre-war training and grew from there. You two havin’ to work together and bickerin’ all the time had everyone wondering what would happen, but I guess ya’ll finally settled your shit.”
It was just as well I hadn’t known about the betting since it would have annoyed me before. Now, I truly didn’t care. I got what I wanted, and I was happy with the end result.
Rayna cleared her throat. “Where is Rosalie?”
“Gettin’ her nails done over there,” he said, nodding to a place across the street. “One of Javier’s proteges has some kind of special magic that can make ‘em last longer. That place has some seriously strong smells and too many females who give men the stink eye if we come inside, so I always come out here and walk while I wait.”
“That’s good that you take the time to bring her and wait,” Rayna replied.
He cocked his head. “You ever go in there?”
She shook her head. “No. You know how it is with our job, but occasionally, I find some nail polish in an abandoned home that’s still good, and I paint my toes.” Rayna glanced down at her boots and sighed. “The Kandoran ruined the last polish I put on and stole the bottle.”
Conrad winced. “I saw how shitty you looked when we came to the rescue. Sorry. I know that must have sucked ass for both of you, though I guess I can see how that might have bonded you together.”
“Thanks for coming for us,” Rayna said, giving him an appreciative smile.
I supposed I could stop glowering as much at him since he had dropped everything to help save us. Still, it wasn’t easy to soften my attitude since Conrad had witnessed me at my weakest. I tried not to think of everyone who’d seen our pulverized bodies or how I’d failed to protect Rayna.
The male slayer shrugged. “You know I don’t like to miss a good fight. I’ll be there for the next one tomorrow, too, not to worry.”
