Page 98 of Galadon
He nodded. “That is fine. I don’t need much to get by these days.”
I noted the sadness that haunted his gaze before he covered it up. Eliam’s death still weighed him down, which was understandable with how close they’d been to each other.
“Are you certain this is what you want? You have a good position with the guard,” Aidan said. There was no censure in the pendragon’s tone, only concern. He understood a toriq member was hurting, and he’d do what he could to help.
Titan nodded. “There are too many memories at the jakhal, and each day gets harder to stay there. Coming down here and doing what I can to help feels right.”
“Very well, then you have my permission as long as you check in with me every three months…and get word to me somehow if you do end up leaving for another world,” Aidan said, regret in his gaze as he turned to me. “I’m trusting you with him.”
I knew he meant he was handing over a valued warrior, but also someone in a fragile state of mind. How did I get myself into these odd situations? Still, Titan would fit right in with us. We were all working through painful pasts and trying to find peace with them.
“I will treat him as family,” I said, earning a grateful smile from my mate and a pleased look from my mother. She likely looked forward to more people being around our home. Rayna and I were terrible about disappearing for much of the day in my den, and I doubted that would change anytime soon after officially bonding.
Aidan dipped his chin. “Thank you.”
“Excellent.” Kade clasped his hands together. “Now that we’ve gotten important matters out of the way, perhaps we could move on to food and drinks?”
My mother nodded. “I only have a few finishing touches once we return, and then the food will be ready. Drinks can be served right away.”
Bailey rubbed her stomach. “Great. I’m starving.”
We flew back to my home and enjoyed a small celebration together. It was odd having so many people on my land, and that everyone knew about the secret location. The rare times I had visitors before, I’d spent all my time worrying they’d discover it. Aidan, Bailey, and Kade had to leave first to meet Verena and portal home. Lorcan stayed another hour to drink and ask my mother questions about the Craegud since he hoped to visit them sometime in the next year now that he was the official pendragon. He was considering trying to find a mate from one of the other shifter toriqan, but he’d take his time about deciding until he’d visited both.
After he left, I led Titan along a trail to the tunnel quarters where he’d be staying. He looked around the sparse chamber with only a bed, wardrobe, table, and two chairs, and said it would be fine for him. The next time Rayna needed to go on a hunt, we agreed he could come with us up north so he could collect some of his things from the fortress at the same time. He had a spare set of clothes in shiggara he could use for now.
Finally, I found my mate in our chambers. She put her arms around my neck and kissed me thoroughly. I detected a great deal of gratitude and, of course, a bit of lust from her through the bond. She truly was happy.
Rayna drew back to look up at me. “Thank you for doing the ceremony and for letting Titan stay. I know it can’t be easy letting so many people into your life after how long you’ve lived alone.”
I ran my fingers through her hair, marveling at the colors in the torchlight. “You’ve made me more open to…possibilities, and I meant it when I said I’d do whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“Even letting another male shifter live this close?” she asked, lifting a brow.
I laughed. “I’m secure enough in our bond as long as he never starts looking at you with interest, but I truly doubt that.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
Unable to help myself, I traced my fingers along her bare neck and shoulders. This dress held so many possibilities, and I had the rest of the night to discover them. The gleam in Rayna’s eyes told me she knew exactly what I was thinking, but she stopped my hand and gave me a serious look.
“Today is the first day we are officially bonded.”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“No more regrets about the past. You had a lot to work through, and so did I, but I don’t want you to feel bad about how you treated me before. Your fears were valid.” She kissed my hand, where she clasped it against her chest. “I just want us to start over and be happy.”
That was a lot to ask, but I could tell it was important to her. “I’ll try.”
“Good.” She let go of my hand and let her own wander downward. “Now we can get to the fun stuff.”
Would she always amuse me this way? For the first time in my life, I truly looked forward to the future. No matter what happened, I'd have her by my side, and that was all that mattered.
Epilogue
Galadon
Nineteen years later…
I stepped from the portal and crossed the silver ring with carved stones onto solid ground. Inhaling deeply, I breathed in the familiar scents I hadn’t encountered in many years. The dry grass, muted-green trees, and soft blue sky had once been all I’d known, but now, they seemed foreign to me.
