Page 51 of Galadon
One was a snow globe with a Christmas scene that amused her. Others included a glass unicorn, a Rubik’s Cube, and an antique spoon. All random Earth things that must have grabbed his attention at some point since returning. He couldn’t touch any of them without melting them, but she supposed he could use gloves.
She found an impressive weapons collection for someone who preferred to live in dragon form more than human. Then, there was her favorite shelf that held books. He only had about a dozen since it must have been difficult to obtain ones that didn’t singe at his touch, but there were several on dragon history, another on warcraft, and the rest were fables. Rayna couldn’t read the language, but she enjoyed looking at the pictures painted alongside them. They were all beautiful work.
That was how Galadon found her when he returned. She was in his sitting chair with her legs over one of the arms, engrossed in a depiction of a small dragon trying to fly. How she wished she could learn to read the language.
The lone shifter stood at the entrance with a strange look on his face she couldn’t decipher.
“What?” she asked.
“You just look…” He shook his head. “Relaxed.”
There was a wrapped package in his hand. He went to his wardrobe and set it inside, closing the doors. Rayna wondered what it was, but it wasn’t her business. They weren’t like that yet, and who knew if they ever would be? Galadon had been especially kind and caring these last few days, but was it out of a sense of obligation? Guilt?
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
She sighed and closed the book. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“It would break my vow to you,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ears. He’d never really cared about her thoughts or feelings before.
Galadon came closer to her and kneeled, expression unreadable. “You’re still abiding by the vow? After everything?”
“I take it seriously.” And maybe it protected her a little from the hurt he could continue to cause while she was constantly in his presence. “In another day or two, I should be better and hopefully have clothes again. I need to get Onyx from the Taugud fortress. He’s probably worried sick about me, and I miss him. Then I’ll be out of your way.”
His jaw hardened. “What if I don’t want you to leave?”
He couldn’t be serious. That was literally the last thing she expected him to say.
“You’ve always made it clear that I…” she began.
“Not anymore,” he interrupted, setting a hand on her knee that sent heat shooting through her. “You said the words that tied you to me, and now I consider you mine.”
Rayna sat up straighter, anger surging through her veins. “I’m not an object likethis...” She lifted the book as an example before setting it on the side table. “I don’t regret saying I love you, but that doesn’t give you the right toclaimme when you haven’t returned those feelings and probably never will.”
Galadon growled, grabbed her, and lifted her to her feet. “I can’t say for certain what I feel, but I know I don’t want you far from me ever again.”
She shook from shock and her proximity to him. He’d moved her so fast, yet as gently as possible. The look in his eyes was pure possessiveness. How was she supposed to handle it? The shifter could rip her heart out if he wanted, but nothing about his behavior these last days was like before. Could she trust him?
“You want me to stay here permanently?” she asked, attempting to read his intentions in his gaze. His arms were still wrapped around her, making it hard to think. Now that Rayna had recovered, her body fiercely responded to his touch.
“Yes,” he said, pressing against her so tightly she could feel his hard erection.
Despite herself, she grew wet between her thighs.
Rayna licked her lips. “I don’t understand.”
“You know that part of the vow you made where you promised not to seduce me?” he asked.
She nodded, nervous about where this was headed. “Yes.”
“That doesn’t apply in the reverse.”
He backed her up until she was against the wall and grabbed the hem of the tunic she wore. “Can I take this off?”
His gaze was fiery hot, and his touch fogged her mind of everything except wanting more of him. A part of Rayna knew she should refuse him, but the other part desperately wanted to let this play out. His body called to hers in a way she couldn’t deny. “Yes.”
“Good.”
