Page 63 of Galadon
The elders’ council eagerly congratulated Lorcan on his win and made the official announcement. She was happy for him and relieved, though the poor guy was swaying on his feet from injuries and blood loss.
“I’m going to go congratulate him now and swear my fealty so I don’t have to come back tomorrow to do it,” Galadon said, making certain the Taugud around them heard him.
They moved closer to her as the lone shifter walked away.
“I’m deeply impressed with how well he moved there at the end despite the fact he couldn’t have seen much of anything,” Aidan said, lifting a brow at her.
Rayna gave him her most innocent look. “Lorcan is an impressive warrior, and he likely used his other senses to guide him. I spent some time practicing how to fight blind, so if I ever lost my vision, I could still put up a fight. It’s tough, but doable.”
The Taugud pendragon shook his head in amusement. “You are just as mystifying as your horse, Rayna Jones.”
How did he know her full name? She couldn’t remember ever telling him, but she had told Bailey soon after they met, so maybe the other slayer passed on that knowledge. Still, it was eerie how much Aidan could see since growing into his pendragon powers. She hoped Lorcan became even half as good.
“A woman needs to be a little mysterious,” she replied with a sly grin. “Even your mate knows that.”
“My mate has learned that secrets she tries to keep from me last only hours,” Aidan replied, then turned his gaze to Galadon, who was returning. “I have a feeling you’ll find he will figure out all of yours, too, with time.”
They still had a ways to go before they hit that point. There was still so much they didn’t know about each other, and it seemed like something pressing always kept them from focusing on those things.
“A healer is tending the new pendragon,” Galadon said as he walked up. “But he wanted to let you know he’d have warriors ready in a little over a week. He needs that much time to heal, consolidate his position, and organize who will come.”
That felt like too long when she wanted revenge so badly, but she’d take what she could get. “Okay, guess we wait until then.”
“I’ll have my warriors ready by that time as well,” Aidan promised.
They said their farewells. The Taugud would stay the night and enjoy the celebratory feast, but Galadon and Rayna were ready for the return journey. She found her horse kicking at his stall door in the human-built stables. He neighed loudly as she approached.
“I’m sorry you had to wait so long, Onyx,” she said, opening the door and wrapping her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much, too.”
Gone too long,he said.Worried about you.
The stallion rubbed his nose on her shoulder, and she breathed in his reassuring scent. They stayed like that for a minute before she moved farther into the stall to get a good lookat him. He didn’t appear to have any injuries, and when she checked his hooves, they were clean, and the shoes still looked good. Someone had piled all his gear off to the side as well. Rayna remembered Galadon mentioning the Kandoran hadn’t been interested in it, but she was surprised to find it here. It was a lot of heavy stuff to haul this far, though at least it was all spelled to be flameproof.
“Titan personally retrieved your horse’s things while you were still recovering and learned how to put them on before leaving the fortress,” Galadon explained.
She shook her head. “I’ll never understand why he’s so nice to me.”
“You earned his friendship and respect,” the shifter said, helping her as she saddled Onyx and got him ready for the long ride. He had no idea what he was doing, but he followed Rayna’s instructions easily. It was nice doing a basic task together.
“How are we handling this? I ride, and you fly above?” she asked. The time they’d ridden together before, it had been bareback and easier to fit both of them.
“Yes, but I’ll walk with you until we are beyond the jakhal,” he said.
Rayna nodded, excited to be with her horse again, even though it would be in the dark after a long day. “Sounds good.”
Chapter 25
Galadon
Contentment filled me as Rayna walked by my side along a path in the woods. There hadn’t been many trees when I was on Kederrawien, but they quickly sprang up and took over the area after my territory relocated to Earth. I had no idea how it worked, but I’d heard the terrain changed in subtle and great ways all over the planet when the dimensions merged. It wasn’t often I walked my land since it was easier to fly. Every time I did, I noticed something new, though it might be as simple as a plant species I’d never seen before.
“Why is it this place feels so different than anywhere else I’ve ever been?” Rayna asked, tilting her head to look up at me.
I kept us moving along as I thought of my reply. “My mother didn’t choose this location by chance. It felt different to me as well when I arrived, but even more so over the centuries. She’s only begun to explain the reason that is, and says she doesn’t have all the answers. Supposedly, they will come when the time is right.”
Rayna frowned. “That’s not very helpful.”
After spending so much time hiding the secret area, I hesitated to mention it to Rayna. We still weren’t fully settled,which made it risky. I preferred to be certain she was fully committed to staying despite her tentative agreement, but that would require a true bond. It was on me to complete it. I knew that, but first, I needed to see how we’d handle it when her slayer urges returned. Until then, I held myself back from full commitment. I only knew I’d do everything in my power to keep her.
