Secondhand Garagyre

Chapter 42

Chapter Forty-Two

PAISLEY

Laithog is on edge.

And has been since we left the modicum amount of safety offered by the crowd. After I recovered from his…attentions. He didn’t waste any time gathering me up in his arms and carrying me to the driver’s side to ensure nothing snuck up on us while I was vulnerable getting in the pickup.

Once satisfied I was protected, he went back to the bed of the truck, scooped Merry and Pippin up, slammed the tailgate, and unceremoniously dumped my boys in the back seat before climbing into the passenger seat. He hasn’t stopped scanning the surrounding area as we left town, and it’s a bit unnerving. I haven’t seen this side of him since the first night we met and he saw my abused countenance. After that initial meeting, he’s been nothing but kind, caring, and considerate.

It’s not that I don’t understand that he was a warrior for centuries.

Because I do.

But …now I’m seeing it firsthand with a rational mind.

His body is radiating power. The blood he took from me in town appears to have restored his magick and then some. Focusing on the bond that connects our souls, I take a peek to see what feelings are circulating through his body.

Tension .

Concern .

Apprehension .

Worry . Angst . Terror .

Love . Devotion . Determination .

“ We’re being followed.” His blunt words chill me to the bone. It’s not like I didn’t expect something like this to happen, but speculating about it and it actually happening are not the same.

Pulling myself together, I ask. “ What do we do?”

“ We are not going to do anything. I am going to ensure you and the vexations get within the safety of my wards, if it’s the last thing I do. You are my mate. Not his. The only comfort I can give you is that if I fall, you won’t survive long enough for Rulzik to unravel the wards to capture you.”

A new fear fills me at his words. “ Laithog …what about Merry and Pippin ?” I hesitantly inquire, trepidation filling me as I glance from the road over to his granite face.

“ If we…die. They’ll be alone with no one to take care of them, and what if Rulzik gets ahold of them?” Tears clog my throat at the thought of that monster hurting my fur kids.

Snarling , his fearsome teeth bared, he looks over his shoulder into the back seat. Two sets of soulful eyes staring back at him in doggie adoration. “ I can’t believe I am about to do this,” he mutters to himself.

“ Do what?” My question goes unanswered as a silver glow, eerily similar to the light a full moon casts, fills the cab of the truck.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as three luminescent tendrils extend from Laithog’s chest and reach out towards me, Merry and Pippin . Flicking my blinker on, I make the left turn onto the dirt road that leads to my house, slowing the truck as we rattle over the cattle-guard. Once we are safely on the caleche road, I turn my head to the right and shock fills me when I see a sky-blue tendril emerging from Merry and a sea-foam green coming from Pippin .

Darting a look back towards the dirt road, to make sure I don’t wreck the truck, I slow down further. Fully invested in whatever the hell Laithog is doing, I ease my pickup to a stop right before the road narrows at the creek crossing, putting it in park before turning to the right to face Laithog .

I’m beyond curious right now.

Unexpectedly , a golden light appears from between my breast and extends out towards Laithog . One of the colorful coils darts towards me and I watch in awe as he weaves the silver and gold like braiding hair. Once he’s entwined the silver and gold, he drags them both towards the blue and green colors belonging to Merry and Pippin .

Laithog’s silver and my golden braided tendrils reach out and twine with the blue and green emanating from my dogs, creating a colorful triangle where all four colors are interwoven together, creating a four-strand braid. I observe Laithog as he inspects the weave between the four colors. With a decisive nod, he appears pleased with…whatever it is that he’s doing.

“ Ligatus , anima ad animam. Ut fiat fiat.”

The moment the last word leaves his lips, the silver, gold, blue and green colors surge in brightness, so bright I have to close my eyes against the brilliance of the strands. Cracking my eyes open, I check to see if the radiance has faded any, only to see that it has, and watch as the colors slowly fade out of sight. “ Laithog , sugar…what did you just do?”

“ I bound your dog’s souls to ours.” The words sound like he’s forcing them out from behind clenched teeth. Gazing over at Laithog , I see that his jaw is, in fact, clenched. The tendons in his jaw pulsing with his irritation.

“ You …did what?! ”

“ There is naught wrong with your hearing, little one. I bound their souls to ours. Now , if the worst were to happen and I fall, taking you with me. They will follow us into whatever afterlife awaits us. I will be stuck with them for all eternity.” He finished with a long-suffering, heavy sigh, his tone resigned.

As the realization of what he just did washes over me, I’m filled with joy. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I launch myself over the console and wrap my arms around his neck, raining kisses down on his beloved face.

Beloved ?

Yes , after the selfless thing he just did for me…a task that gains him nothing whatsoever, I can feel the love welling up from deep within me and filtering along the soulbond tying me to Laithog . I know the second he feels my love for him because his eyes fill with wonder, before a wave of his love washes over me. The tender moment breaks, however, by the sound of someone…or something bellowing.

“ LAITHOG , COME OUT AND FACE ME , THIEF .”

In unison, Laithog and I turn to look out the windshield to see Rulzik illuminated by the headlights in his horrifying natural form.