Secondhand Garagyre

Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Four

LAITHOG

I cannot lose control.

Paisley’s terror beating at me through our bond isn’t helping. It’s igniting every protective instinct I have. Inciting me to eradicate the threat to her. Taking deep breaths, I silently repeat that mantra.

I must not lose control.

Paisley will be in danger if I cannot keep myself contained. My glamour must not slip. Thus far, no one has approached our small group, but there are humans watching from afar. Thankfully , out of earshot.

Excluding the shriek of rage Rulzik emitted upon the revelation of my mate bond with Paisley , our conversation has been in low tones. Even he isn’t stupid enough to reveal his presence to the humans. From what Paisley tells me, this “human” has a choke hold on this town, but…they would turn on him en mass if they learned he wasn’t human.

It’s just what the species does, well…most of them do.

Rulzik isn’t going to want to relinquish his life of ease and domination over this village. He’s probably been here for generation, hopping from one body to the next, exerting his malevolent influence here and there until he created a small empire to rule. I was shocked when the revelation of my mate bond with Paisley enraged him enough that he lost control for a split second, revealing his demon form to the punishing rays of the sun.

Not that he let that slip last long.

Without the protection of the human body he’s infiltrated, his true form began to burn in the light of the full sun. It’s good to know that he doesn’t have a protection amulet such as mine.

With that thought in mind, I taunt Rulzik with what I have, and he does not. “ It must be demeaning to have to hide yourself inside something you consider to be a lesser being. How unfortunate that your gods chose not to bless you with a protection amulet…” I taunt as my words trail off, my tail pulling Paisley closer to my back as I keep my hands down by my sides, ensuring the onlookers that nothing untoward is happening between the three humans having a conversation.

Rulzik isn’t stupid. He picks up on the innuendo instantly and rage-filled gaze fixates on my left wrist, eyeballing the amulet there with avarice. If it’s possible, his fury grows. “ Your gods blessed you with a protection amulet. How quaint. I was mildly curious as to how you were out in the sun. I should have known. It is of no matter; I will cut it from your arm as your hearts beat their last. After that, I’ll defile your mate on your cooling corpse to solidify my mate bond with her,” he hisses his threat through clenched teeth, his eyes darting to and fro to ensure the nosy human loitering about don’t hear his threats.

Without another word, he spins on his heel and saunters away, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. Waiting until I can no longer see, scent or sense his presence anymore, only then do I turn to gather Paisley up into the comforting embrace of my arms. I know she felt the echoes of my pain at realizing just exactly who the demon is.

Conflicting emotions war within me.

Terror .

Grief .

Remorse .

Love .

Guilt .

Soft hands appear on either side of my face in the void between my jawline and curved horns, thumbs feathering over the rough scales hidden beneath my glamour. “ Shhhh . There is no need for you to feel guilty. You are allowed to have an emotional response to what just happened.”

I do not deserve her compassion. How can she tolerate to be mated to a male that has such a visceral reaction to a nightmare from the past? I know she felt the swell of grief, loss, and love, unfaded by the passage of time for my Ilayahan . I am the one that should be comforting her, not the other way around.

“ Laithog , look at me.” A gentle pressure on my jaw follows her stern words, urging me to lift my head from where I tucked it against my chest in shame.

“ There is no need for you to feel guilty or to be ashamed. I can feel you, remember? Ilayahan was a large part of your life for longer than I’ve been alive. Just because you still feel love for her does not mean that you are incapable of caring for me, or incapable of loving me. I know you love me. I may not have been the mate ordained to you by fate, but of all the beings that have spoken within your vicinity in the time since your Ilayahan was taken from you, my voice is the only one you heard. I know you love me just as much as you love her. You just love me in a different way than her, because I’m a completely different being. It doesn’t make your love for me less than the love you hold for her, nor does it detract from our mating in any way.”

Hope slowly builds within my chest as she takes a deep breath before continuing. “ I find myself blessed to be mated to a being that has so much love to give that he chose to take a chance on life a second time. So , don’t you dare feel guilty. You’ve done nothing wrong…not then, and not now.”

Pulling my face down to hers, she kisses me in an achingly tender caress as she pushes her emotions down the bond towards me, proving her point with more than just words.

Hope .

Pride .

Gratitude .

Warmth .

Affection .

And …maybe, just maybe, the first hint of…

Love .