Page 72 of Galadon
Galadon worked his jaw. “If you take the potion, I’ll figure something out so you can hunt next time. We can be more prepared.”
“It lasts ten days.” Rayna threw her hands up. “I will lose my strength again when I need it for our battle with the Kandoran nest.”
He gave her a pleading look. “Let us take care of it.”
“No.” She pointed a finger at him. “I am the one who found them and asked for this battle. Never mind that I wantrevenge for what Astaroth did to us. Do not ask me to give that up!”
He growled. “Very well. I will fly you up to the edge of Kandoran territory, so you can be there by evening to hunt.”
“You’re going to hold me that close for hours while my need to hunt gets worse by the minute.” Rayna fitted her sword into its scabbard. “You won’t even get near me right now.”
She’d been watching him through their whole argument, and he’d kept a healthy distance from her. His old fears were returning just as she’d suspected they would, coming out when she needed his support.
He let out a string of curses in the dragon language. “Rayna, what do you expect me to do? I’m keeping my distance to make it easier on you.”
“Bullshit, Galadon,” she said, taking a step forward.
He flinched.
That hurt her worse than anything because it felt like she’d lost all the ground she’d gained over the last week and a half. There was no hate in his gaze, but there was unease. She just didn’t know specifically what he feared about her. That she might hurt him? That she’d leave? Or was it about killing a friend or ally? Maybe it was all of them.
The need to hunt was getting stronger as they stood there arguing. Staying near him for much longer was a bad idea. Whether he liked it or not, Rayna had to go.
“I’m running out of time.” She ran a brush through her hair and then began braiding it. “Give me a direction to go so I’m less likely to upset you with whoever I kill. That’s the best I can offer because I’m not taking that potion again. It makes me weakand vulnerable. That’s not who I am, and you shouldn’t ask that of me.”
He stood frozen in fear and anger. “You’re forcing me to choose who among my kind will die. I’ve lived on this land for centuries and know everyone who patrols my borders. Even the ones I dislike don’t necessarily warrant execution, and I’ve already killed the dragons who deserved death.”
Rayna had to get out of there. Her rising anger only worsened the need to hunt, and he wasn’t seeing reason. “Fine. I’ll just doEeny, meeny, miny, moe.”
“You’ll what?” he asked, confused.
She tied off her braid and headed for the tunnel exit. “It’s a game kids play to decide which selection to pick.”
Rayna wouldn’t recite the rest, or he’d really think she lost it.
“Don’t go south,” he said in a pained voice.
Rayna didn’t look back. “Fine, I won’t.”
She hurried out of there like hellhounds were chasing her. Onyx came as soon as she mentally called for him, and she didn’t bother getting his tack. He could follow her directions when he understood her urgency.
They headed east since Galadon hadn’t ever mentioned anyone in that direction. Rayna hated that she had to consider it at all when she’d always been free to choose. Of course, she preferred to root out the evil dragons, but she usually didn’t let herself get to the point where she needed to kill fast.
For the first half hour, she kept looking behind her. Part of her hoped he’d come and give her better guidance on whatto do, but as Onyx ate up the miles, no red dragon showed up. Would he forgive her for what she must do, or would this be what tore them apart?
Chapter 28
Galadon
I paced my living quarters at a loss for what to do. The potion I’d given Rayna had put me in a state of denial for more than a week while her slayer urges were muted. For the first time, it was safe to let my guard down and truly get to know her. I’d refused to consider what would happen when the magic wore off because I’d been too happy for the first time in my life to ruin it. Perhaps if I had, we could have prepared better. It had certainly never occurred to me that her need to hunt would rise to extreme levels within hours.
It had been a shock when Rayna walked into my—no,our—quarters a short time ago. I’d seen it in her eyes the moment she looked at me. They were tempestuous and wild as she fitted weapons to her lithe body. Her expression was so close to the day she’d nearly taken her life to spare mine, and it had sent me back to that moment in an instant.
All I’d wanted was to return to the way things were over the past few days. One swallow of the potion and her slayer side would go dormant again, allowing us to focus on everything else. Yet she had a point. I was trying to cut away an intrinsic part of her. She was a slayer, and she’d become accustomed to herenhanced strength and speed, as well as hunting. Asking her to give those things up was a lot. Intellectually, I knew this.
“Have you lost your mind?” my mother said, entering the room in a blaze of fury.
I stopped pacing. “What?”
