Page 10 of Galadon (Dragon’s Breath #8)

Rayna

By the time they reached the Faegud jakhal, Rayna had managed to get her emotions under control. Being rejected by someone who was her soulmate wasn't easy, but she would find a way to move on from Galadon. If she wasn’t good enough for him, fine, so be it. She would shove all her feelings into the well-worn mental box with all the other things that had hurt her over the years. The idiot shifter didn’t deserve her.

At least, that’s what Titan had told her during their flight. He’d been kind enough not to judge and simply consoled her. It was too bad they had no chemistry together, or he would have been the perfect person for a relationship. Somehow, he understood her in ways no one else did.

Titan set them down on the landing pad in the central part of the jakhal. Though the Faegud had quite a few stone buildings dotting the area, everything was open in the middle for the rock formations designed to worship the dragon goddess, Zorya. They were in beautiful patterns that glinted in the moonlight with a mixture of colors that Rayna wished she had time to study further.

But by the time Titan finished transitioning to his human form, Lorcan stood waiting for them at the edge of the large, heavily scorched pad. Though it was fully dark outside now, she could see him well enough from this distance, thanks to a nearly full moon and enhanced slayer vision. The former pendragon’s son had a medium-large build with corded muscles, long brown hair that reached past his shoulders to frame his face, tan skin, and orange eyes. He was like something from a romance novel cover with his good looks and arrogant enough for the role.

Technically, Lorcan was single, but he had an arrangement with Aidan’s sister, Phoebe, and her female mate, Ozara. The latter had a daughter with him, and the former was due with his child soon. He visited them often, being a doting father, but his obligations to them ended beyond that. From what she understood, he was still searching for his permanent mate but not in any hurry.

“How is it going, Lorcan?” Rayna asked, forcing a smile.

He lifted a brow. “Well enough. I wasn’t expecting a visit from you, though.”

She shrugged. “I found a nest of over two hundred Kandoran, which is a few more than I can handle on my own.”

Lorcan chuckled. “Yes, perhaps two or three too many. I’m surprised you’re coming to us instead of the Taugud.”

“I did go to them first.” She gestured at Titan. “But Aidan can’t provide enough warriors to fully get the job done and suggested I come here to request your help.”

“I’m afraid to say this isn’t a good time for us. We have the Bitkal coming soon, and that’s a priority over everything else. After we’ve selected a new pendragon, that person can authorize warriors to assist you.”

Rayna sighed, frustrated that they needed to approve a new leader through a complicated process first. “Surely, you’ll win, right?”

She’d heard his mother, Hildegard, had been grooming him for years to take the position.

“One never knows.” He shrugged, uneasiness in his gaze. “But I’m certainly going to try winning.”

Something more was going on there, but his body language had stiffened. Lorcan didn’t want to talk about it with her. Rayna had never witnessed a Bitkal before, so she had no experience with the matter. She did know the competition could be cutthroat, and dragons weren’t above killing off the competition.

“Aidan said it will be a few weeks until his warriors are ready. Do you think—if everything goes well—you could possibly back us up by then?” Rayna asked, hopeful. She didn’t want to sit on the problem much longer than that in case the nest moved or acted on any plans they might have.

Lorcan appeared to mull it over. “Yes, if it’s me, we could likely manage it not long after that.”

“Let us know if you need anything,” Titan said, giving the other shifter a solemn look. “My pendragon wished for me to tell you that, along with reiterating that he will gladly act as a witness and adjudicator.”

“I appreciate it, though that should be enough.”

Titan nodded. “Of course.”

Lorcan gestured down one of the paths leading away from the worship area. “It’s getting too late for you to travel farther tonight. We have guest quarters over a tavern that are currently vacant. You can eat and rest before you continue.”

“No one will mind me staying there?” Rayna asked, surprised. She’d barely been tolerated by the Faegud in the past, even when fighting by their sides during the war.

“The humans running it won’t,” Lorcan said as they began walking down a darkened stone path. “As for the dragons, only a few shifters go there, and they’re all afraid of Galadon.”

Rayna scowled. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“He made it clear months ago that if anyone from the Faegud lays a hand on you, he’ll rip them into pieces.” Lorcan glanced over at her with a knowing look. “Everyone is aware that you’ve slept with him, and he’s assumed responsibility for you.”

She stumbled to a halt. “What? There’s no way he would do that.”

Titan also frowned at this news, so at least she wasn’t the only one confused.

The Faegud male turned to face her. “I don’t pretend to understand the lone shifter, but one thing I’m sure of is that he sees you as his in some manner or another. No one here will harm you.”

Damn Galadon. Every time she thought she had a handle on him, something like this happened. “He hates me and made that clear just a couple of hours ago.”

“No.” Lorcan shook his head. “He wants to hate you, and that makes a difference. No one here is foolish enough to think otherwise. Whether you see him again or not, he won’t let a slight against you pass, and Zorya help anyone who harms you.”

Titan grunted and gave Rayna an apologetic look. “I have noticed possessiveness in his eyes every time he’s near you—even today. Perhaps he doesn’t want to be with you, but he has difficulty resisting the urge to protect you.”

This was so utterly ridiculous. How could they not see what she did, and why did this revelation only hurt her more after Galadon’s rejection? He confused her even when he wasn’t present and scowling at her.

“Fine. Please take us there,” she said, looking forward to a good drink or two to drown her sorrows.

Lorcan turned on his heels. “Follow me.”

***

The craggy peaks of the mountains south of the Taugud fortress came into view. Titan beat his wings harder to gain altitude so they could fly over them. They’d hardly spoken during their return trip, with each lost in their thoughts after a night of heavy drinking to help them forget themselves for a while. It had almost worked.

Rayna was coming to grips with the fact that no shifter other than Lorcan had gone near her during her brief stay at the jakhal—just as he’d predicted. The few who entered the tavern sat far away. Oh, sure, they didn’t hide their disgust, but wariness had also reflected in their gazes. At least the humans running the place had been friendly and given her a massive feast with delicious foods one would expect from natives of Texas. They’d also kept their mugs full.

She just couldn’t understand why Galadon granted her his protection even as he made it clear he never wanted to see her again. Why would he do that? Did he still mean it, or had he done it during a moment of weakness months ago? All questions she couldn’t ask him.

Titan reached the mountains, landing on a semi-flat peak.

“Why are we stopping?” she asked as he released her to take a step back.

His dragon face revealed little of his thoughts. I wanted to speak to you before we arrive at the fortress. Something tells me you don’t plan to stay long, and I want to make something clear before you disappear again.

It would take too much energy to shift so he could speak aloud for a few minutes, but she was still surprised he wanted to have a discussion. The tone of his voice in her head was stern.

“Titan, I’ll be fine. No lectures needed.”

Says the slayer who will recklessly put her life in danger because she thinks she doesn’t matter to anyone. He paused and let out a growl. But you do matter to more people than you realize—even to that fool, Galadon.

Rayna crossed her arms and glared at him. “I don’t want to hear his name anymore.”

She really didn’t. If she never heard it again, it wouldn’t be long enough. The absolute best thing for her to do was forget him and move on with her life. She told him to stop saving her, and she hoped he kept his promise.

Fine, if that’s what you want, but it doesn’t change facts. There are others who care about you—Bailey, Aidan, Conrad, Rosalie, and even Freya. He referred to the people who she’d worked closely with last fall before and during the war. Most of all, I care. I already lost my best friend, but somehow, you’ve grown on me, and I won’t lose you as well.

Her eyes misted. The pain in his gaze was always there to some extent, but it especially gleamed there now. She could also see the concern that weighed heavily on him. Though she’d known since Eliam’s memorial that he’d grown attached to her, it still shocked her. A shifter who truly ignored her slayer status and saw her as a person. For too long, she’d accepted that no one cared about her like that. Even Rayna’s mother had written her off years ago.

She ran a hand through her tangled, wind-blown hair. “I promise I won’t get close to the Kandoran nest, okay? All I plan to do is return to my tower and hunt to the north, away from them. You know I have to do that much.”

Rayna would never be free of her duty, but that was okay.

Titan pulled her into a tight hug, and she didn’t mind it in the least, though that sliver of need to kill dragons was always there. Even the ones who mattered to her still triggered her instincts to some extent. Only her well-honed discipline kept her blade hand at bay. Galadon wasn’t wrong that she’d never change in that regard no matter how hard she tried. Still, she’d rather die than hurt him or any of her shifter friends.

I merely wanted to make it clear to you that you’re not alone, even when it feels that way. No matter what, I’m here and will come anytime you need me. Don’t ever take on more than you can handle by yourself. Okay? he asked, pulling away to stare down at her.

Rayna took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Good.

He took hold of her again and lifted into the air, swiftly moving past the mountain range toward the valley below where the Taugud fortress lay. It was late afternoon. Dozens of shifters trained in beast or human form, typical for nice weather days.

At the other end, near the village, she noted that numerous adults sat on the grass while children played before them. It was such a beautiful scene, but she didn’t know how Bailey handled it on a daily basis. The more dragons in Rayna’s presence, the harder it became to control her instincts. At least, that was true when she hadn’t killed one for a few days. Only soon after a hunt did the urge fade to almost nothing. At least right now she hardly felt it after her kill in Galadon’s territory yesterday.

As they set down on the landing pad closest to the fortress gates, numerous heads turned their way. Rayna lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. Let them look. She wouldn’t be ashamed of her identity any more than they should be. No one should be judged for circumstances beyond their control, especially with their genetics. It was why she’d always done her best not to kill dragons who didn’t deserve it because so many were good and innocent. They were all simply trying to survive in a world full of chaos.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped off the pad and waited for Titan to shift. He was covered in flames, and halfway through the process when, Phoebe, Aidan’s sister, came walking toward them from the fortress gates. Her stomach was well-rounded since she was due to deliver her baby in a few weeks. She wore her dark hair with its one silver strand in a simple braid, and her blue and black camrium tunic and pants were loose fitting. The tall shifter female walked with a waddle since, apparently, even their kind struggled to be graceful at this stage of pregnancy.

“Rayna, it’s good to see you!” she said with a genuine smile.

They’d spoken a few times, but they didn’t interact often, so the kind greeting came as a surprise. Not wanting to spoil it, she grinned back. “You’re looking…vibrant.”

“Yes.” Phoebe ran her hand over her bulging belly. “I’m ready for this boy to come out. If he kicks my bladder one more time today, I fear what might happen.”

“Better you than me,” Rayna said with a laugh.

The female shifter shook her head. “You never know. Maybe you’ll change your mind someday once you find the right person.”

Titan cleared his throat, having just finished taking his human form. “I wouldn’t bring that topic up right now if I were you.”

“Oh.” Phoebe’s expression turned sympathetic. “Let me know if there’s a certain lone shifter I need to beat up after this baby is born. I’m sure I’ll be cranky from lack of sleep and up for the challenge.”

How was it that people who should be her enemies could cheer her up while hardly trying? She needed to leave soon, or she might turn mushy and ruin her reputation.

“Can’t we pretend he doesn’t exist instead?” Rayna asked.

Phoebe smiled. “Consider him wiped from my memory.”

“You’re now my favorite female shifter.”

The Taugud pendragon’s sister gave her arm a squeeze. “Naturally. Now I can see you’re antsy to get going, so I won’t keep you, but please don’t be a stranger. Among the slayers who are not Bailey, you are the most tolerable, and yet you don’t stick around to keep the annoying people away with your little lightning strikes. I wish I had that power.”

“Half the fortress would be scorched by now if you did,” Titan said, drolly.

“Is there anyone who needs singeing now?” Rayna asked, lifting a brow.

She sighed. “Sadly, I already ran off the ones I wish to teach a lesson.” She gazed around the field as if looking for them. “They’re hiding somewhere.”

“I’m guessing Ruari is one of them?”

Phoebe rolled her golden eyes at the mention of her second eldest brother. “He is perpetually a breath away from my blade, even after his mate shaped him into something more tolerable. Sadly, he still hasn’t mastered the art of conversation skills.”

“I don’t think that’s going to change,” Rayna said, thankful she rarely dealt with him. She’d seen and heard enough about his antics, though.

“Probably not.”

Ready to see her horse, she took a step back. “I’ll try to visit again soon and hope things go well with the baby.”

Phoebe pointed a finger at her. “I’ll expect a gift, you understand?”

Apparently, even shifters had that tradition. She’d have to come up with something, though she had no idea what. The old Kandoran territory was pretty much the Wild West, with few modern items left to pilfer that might be appropriate for a baby, especially a shifter that could burn almost anything made by humans.

“Of course,” Rayna said solemnly, not letting her doubt show.

She and Titan headed toward the village, working their way around the children running in human and dragon form on the field. Their laughter filled the air. A couple of them chased each other and blew flames at their friends. Of course, it couldn’t hurt them, but they made a fun game of it. They'd often come out last fall before the war, but there had been underlying tension then. Now, she detected only joy and happiness among the Taugud and humans who lived there.

It was about a five-minute walk from the landing pad to the village, so it didn’t take long to reach the stables, even with them at the far end of the long road that cut through the houses and businesses. Many people were either out doing chores like laundry or sitting on their porches chatting with friends. Seeing such normal behavior was so strange when she never saw it during her travels.

Onyx nickered as soon as she came near his stall. Her horse was undoubtedly restless and ready for exercise after two days. He’d needed the break, and it had given the farrier a chance to put new shoes on him. The stallion had been overdue.

After opening the stall door, she checked him and ensured his hooves looked good. The man who was previously from Watonga had done excellent work. Onyx would be set for a while as long as he didn’t do anything too crazy, which was always a risk with him. She let him nuzzle her chest as he showed her how much he missed her.

You return unharmed, he said.

She smiled. Of course.

It was hard to believe they’d been together for nearly four years now. Ever since Rayna had come away from a tough battle in a rural area of Kentucky and heard Onyx’s wild neighs from a nearby barn. It was clear the house next to it had been recently burned and his previous owners dead.

He’d been trapped and starving in his stall, unable to get free. She’d intended only to release him, but he’d followed her despite her discouraging him. Before long, they’d become friends with them telepathically speaking together often. It was tough keeping him out of danger that first year since he was brave even back then, but she’d eventually found a sorcerer who could make a potion to protect her horse from fire. After that, she’d felt a little more confident riding him while out hunting.

It’s lonely here.

“I missed you, too,” she whispered to Onyx, understanding how he didn’t like them apart.

Titan stood to the side quietly as she readied her horse for travel. Thankfully, the few items she’d left here while on her trip to Texas were still by the door to her room above the stables. It only took a few minutes to halter him and pull on her pack.

Rayna turned to Titan. “Guess I’m off then.”

“Try to stay out of trouble,” he said, hugging her tightly.

She squeezed him back. “I will, and you try not to work too hard. Take some time to relax now and then.”

The shifter gave her a pained smile. “It’s still difficult when everywhere I go there are memories of Eliam. Keeping myself busy helps, but I’ll try to relax if you will take care of yourself.”

“Fair enough,” she agreed.

Without another word, she mounted her horse and headed west.