Page 17 of Galadon
Without another word, I stomped toward my territory line, tail swishing behind me. I had hoped it would deter her from following me, but I lacked such luck. As I searched for the precise spot where I’d need to repower the hidden stone buried a foot down, Rayna silently followed me. At least she wasn’t talking.
After searching for several minutes, I found it lightly pulsing. It lacked enough power to shield my land, but it wasn’t inert. I took a deep breath and began pushing my magic into the stone. After fueling a storm, I didn’t have much strength left, but I had enough to raise the ward again. It just wouldn’t be as strong as the rest of my border. I’d come back later to add more power once I’d rested.
“You’re injured and tired, Galadon. Let me help,” Rayna said.
No.
I noted Titan standing to the side, still in his red dragon form. He glared at me, and I suspected he didn’t like how I treated the slayer. For whatever reason, Rayna had won him over. I would have worried he had some sort of romantic interest in her, but I knew better. He wasn’t attracted to her in that way. Titan saw her only as a friend, so it kept my jealousy at bay. I hated the idea that any other male touching her could bother me so much. She was free to do what she wanted with whomever she wanted, and I had no right to feel otherwise.
“You’re nearly burned out,” she said, speaking calmly.
As the last vestiges of my power trickled through my fingertips, I pulled away. The ward shimmered, thin but present. It would do for now. I’d give myself eight hours to recuperate and then come back to fuel it further, and perhaps again tomorrow afternoon for good measure.
I rose to my full height.My wards must only have my power in them.
“Of course,” she said, throwing her hands up. “Zorya forbid anyone help you even a little.”
Rayna was beautiful when exasperated, which only made me scowl. Deep inside my mind, my inner beast rumbled with discontent. He understood that we needed to resist the slayer’s charms no matter how much she called to us. She was the enemy and always would be, no matter what she did or said. Still, the need to claim her thrummed within us whenever she came close. Why had fate been so cruel?
I appreciate your timely assistance, but you can go now,I said, wanting her to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, I’d end up hurting her more, and I didn’t particularly enjoy doing it.
She crossed her arms. “I need to talk to you about something.” She glanced toward Titan, who crouched in wait in his dragon form. “Alone.”
This was personal and the last thing we needed to do.
I glared at her.As I've stated before, there is nothing more we need to say to each other.
Rayna stiffened under the weight of one of my fiercest looks that normally sent hardened warriors running. “Galadon. Please give me this one time to say what I need to say. After that, if you want, I’ll leave your life for good and never look back.”
I studied her face. The idea of never seeing her again created a physical ache in my chest, but it was for the best. Once I erased any doubt within her that I was not interested in anything further with her, we could both move on with our lives.
Tell Titan to carry you and follow me.
Without waiting, I launched into the air. Rayna was swift. Only a few moments passed before she’d reached the other dragon, and they flew close behind me. I stayed low, almost skimming the trees with my feet.
It occurred to me that if those Takaran hadn’t brought down my ward, Rayna and Titan couldn’t have entered the territory. My mother and a few members of the Faegud were keyed to enter, but otherwise, no one else could get past my magical forcefield. The pair could only remain now because I allowed it, but I’d cut them off after they left, hopefully within the hour. I was tired after the battle, injured, and not looking forward to the coming conversation with the slayer.
The landing pad came into view, and I dropped low once past the last budding trees before the clearing. Multiple small buildings dotted the area, though my mother’s new home was the most attractive with the large gray stones, front window, and wide doorway. I set my feet down and immediately began shifting as Ujala stepped outside.
Once I returned to my human form, I headed toward her, not looking back as Titan took my place to change form. “Mother, the slayer and I must talk. If you could provide her escort with refreshments, I would appreciate it.”
I didn’t wish to be a terrible host, especially to those who had just helped me.
She looked me up and down, concern pinching her brows. “You’re injured.”
“I’ve had much worse than this and will be fine.” My shoulder hurt, but the bite wounds were already knitting closed.
“What about Rayna?” she asked, tilting her head. “It must have been a long journey, and by the sounds of that battle, she undoubtedly exerted quite a bit of energy assisting you.”
She was right, though I hated to admit it.
“Very well. Feed them both, and then send her to my lair when she’s had her fill,” I said, stomping away without another word. I’d take this time to clean myself up before listening to whatever Rayna planned to say to me.
Chapter 8
Rayna
She entered the wide tunnel, dimly lit with glowing stones fixed into the walls about ten feet apart. The deeper she went into the labyrinth, the more an ominous feeling engulfed Rayna. There were small side rooms and various dead ends to confuse those who didn’t know the way. She had to turn around several times.
