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 her enhanced 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?”
“Rayna rode out of here as if she were being chased by a horde of Kandoran. I kept waiting for you to come out and fly after her, but you never did.” She wagged a finger at me. “What did you do?”
“The potion wore off today,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “I tried convincing her to take more, but she refused. Killing dragons is more important to her.”
My mother crossed her arms. “I thought you were smart enough to know this was coming. She would never give up a core part of who she is, and you need to learn to accept that. Zorya knows she’s accepted all your faults.”
I clenched my fists. “It’s not that I didn’t consider it, but there are no good options. Either she hunts nearby and potentially kills my allies, or I fly her to Kandoran territory while she’s in a rage and hope we both make it there alive, where she could be captured again.”
“That will always be a risk, Galadon.” She sighed. “Nothing in this life is guaranteed, but if you don’t find a way to get past her being a slayer, you’ll lose her for certain.”
“Then what do I do?” I asked, throwing my hands up in frustration.
She shook her head sadly. “As much as I wish I had all the answers, I don’t. The two of you need to find a compromise you can live with long term. No one else can do that for you.”
I sank into my chair and planted my face in my hands. “Give me some space to think.”
“Very well, but don’t take too much time,” she said as her footsteps retreated.
With every minute that passed, I knew Rayna was getting farther away from me. There was no quick and easy way to track her except not to go south. Still, I couldn’t race after her without a plan. We’d be right back where we started, except her need to hunt would be even worse. Recalling her half-crazed look earlier was bringing back the painful memories of Amari and the look in her eyes the day she attempted to kill me. They weren’t dissimilar. That slayer had also loved me, though in a different way, but it hadn’t stopped her in the end.
How did Aidan do it? His mate was a slayer, and they didn’t face this level of trouble even while he stayed busy leading his toriq. Bailey went out to hunt regularly before she became pregnant again. I should have taken the time to ask questions at the bitkal when I’d had the chance, but I’d foolishly thought I could handle the dilemma myself.
It occurred to me that Bailey had been on edge right before the war began, having gone without hunting as they completed final preparations, but I’d overheard someone say Aidan managed it somehow through his bond with her. That he had a way of temporarily sating his mate. A plan began to form in my head at that thought. Maybe my mother was right that I had to find a compromise if Rayna and I were to have a chance at happiness together.
I raced outside to the landing pad to shift.
“She went east,” my mother shouted from the door of her house.
At least I had a definitive direction now. “Thank you.”
I willed myself to change faster, but it still took five minutes. As soon as I finished, I leaped into the sky, flapping my wings hard to gain momentum. A little over half an hour had passed since Rayna left, but it would take her almost an hour to reach the Takaran border on the east side with her horse. I had to hurry to catch her before she reached it.
Thanks to well-used trails near my home base, I knew which way she went at first, but after those ended, I had to slow down to track hoof prints. By the time I caught sight of her, she was less than five hundred feet from the border.
I landed a short distance in front of Onyx, ensuring he had just enough space to come to a halt. Flames overtook me as I began my transition, but through them, I could see Rayna’s angry and frustrated face.
“Damn you, Galadon. I need to hunt!” she screamed at me.
She tried urging her stallion to go around him, but Onyx refused to budge. The look on the slayer’s face said the horse had his own thoughts on the matter and telepathically told her as much. Rayna finally gave up and dismounted.
Thankfully, I finished shifting a moment before she passed me. “Stop. I need to talk to you.”
“No.” The look in her eyes was even wilder than in my chambers. “I can’t hold on much longer, and you need to let me go.”
“The dragons patrolling this stretch aren’t my allies or friends, but they aren’t bad, either. They don’t deserve to die because you can’t calm down,” I said, grabbing her arm so she’d have to face me.
She balled her fists. “Fine. I’ll get past them and go deeper into their territory to find other dragons.”
“You think you can control yourself enough to do that?” I asked skeptically.
She closed her eyes. “For you, I’ll try.”
That was when I knew without a doubt that she belonged to me, and I couldn’t let her go. Even now, when every instinct in her screamed to kill a dragon—any dragon—she still tried to protect me and accede to my wishes.
Rayna jerked, trying to free herself from my hold. “Let me go!”
I only pulled her closer as she wrestled against my strength and even began pounding on my chest. The fact that her blows didn’t hurt said a lot. I couldn’t help admiring the control she had over herself even now. She’d sworn she’d never hurt me and meant it.
“Listen,” I said, taking her by her upper arms to hold her still until she finally met my gaze. “I’m not letting you go until you hear what I have to say.”
She dragged in a heaving breath. “Then hurry up.”
“I love you, Rayna.”
“You…what?” she stuttered.
We gasped as a powerful burning sensation ran through our bodies as the bond forged a connection between our souls, bringing us to our knees. No one had mentioned this happening. I pressed my forehead to hers as we shook with the lightning sensations passing between us. It didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t comfortable, either. All we could do was wait it out. Minutes passed before it ended, and we met each other’s gazes.
“That was…unexpected,” I said.
Shock filled her expression. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“What?” I cupped her cheek. “Told you I love you—because I meant it. Perhaps I denied it even to myself for quite some time, but I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were the only female I’d ever want again. It was a surprise, and I admit I didn’t react very well to that realization, but I know it without a doubt now.”
She searched my face. “But saying it out loud meant you tied yourself to me forever. I thought maybe you weren’t ready for that kind of commitment.” She swallowed. “Especially not with me needing to hunt right now.”
“I am ready.” I rubbed my thumb across her jaw. “It simply took this argument for me to see what’s been there for a while.”
Rayna let out a breath. “The urge to kill dragons is still there, Galadon.” She paused, brows knitting. “But I hardly feel it against you anymore. The bond did something, so it’s a lot easier to resist attacking you.”
Easier, but not gone, and she’d likely still run for the border at any moment.
I took a deep breath because the next stage of my plan would be the hardest. It would mean testing our trust in ourselves and each other, but if it worked, our fears would finally be put to rest forever. That would make it worth it, should we survive my insane idea.
“There’s something we must do while you’re exactly like this and near rabid with the need to hunt,” I said.
Her brows knitted. “What?”
“I need you to do everything I say without question. Can you do that?” My plan rode on her cooperation.
“Will this help you get past what Amari did?” she asked, hazel eyes searching mine.
I nodded. “It will be difficult, but I believe it will put all our fears to rest.”
“Whatever you want, Galadon.” Through her turbulent emotions, I saw acceptance. “I love you and trust you.”
That was exactly what I wanted to hear. As I rose to my feet, I noted Onyx had wandered off to give us privacy. Rayna moved to stand with me.
“Stay on your knees and get a knife in each of your hands,” I ordered.
Her eyes rounded. “Are you crazy?”
“No.” I caressed her cheek. “This is about both of us being sure of your control without it resulting in you stabbing yourself or me.”
“Okay,” she said, reluctantly drawing a knife into each hand.
I took a deep breath because what I was about to do would be extremely dangerous. Even at that moment, the fear lurking in the back of my mind wanted to put distance between us. The love in her eyes helped, but I could see the wild need to hunt in them as well, and I was about to make it very easy for her to hurt or kill me. I had to believe the bond between us would prevent that, and we’d become stronger if we passed this test.
One more breath, and then I willed all my clothes and weapons into shiggara.
Rayna’s grip on her daggers tightened. “Galadon, you can’t be serious. This is insane. I could kill you in a second like this, and believe me, I’m so close even with my instincts dulled against you.”
“Trust me,” I said, taking my cock into my hand.
Her gaze fell on it. “Are you…?”
With my other hand, I ran my fingertips over her lips, gently nudging her mouth open. She didn’t fight me, and the first flash of lust appeared in her eyes. I was about to make this even more dangerous by putting myself inside a ruthless predator, but surprisingly, I was growing harder at the thought. She could turn me on even at her most threatening. Something was seriously wrong with me.
I slid my cock inside her mouth as she closed her lips over it, keeping her gaze focused up at me. Both her hands still gripped the razor-sharp weapons. I swallowed my centuries-old panic and pushed myself deeper inside, groaning at the feel of her warm, wet tongue. She began to suck, and I nearly lost myself. This couldn’t go quickly. I needed to push her to the edge again and again until we had no doubt she had control of herself, no matter how strong her slayer urges.
Watching her as I pumped myself inside her mouth, I caught equal parts lust and killing rage in her expression. It was beautiful. Twice, she started to lift a knife before drawing her hand back down. Once, she skimmed her teeth along my shaft in a mixture of pain and pleasure. Damn, if it didn’t turn me on more. I never knew this side of me existed.
Now, it was time to push her even harder. I gripped the back of her head and nudged it forward until the head of my cock reached the back of her throat. Right now, she wouldn’t be able to breathe. Her survival instincts could easily be triggered, and those knives could be in me in a heartbeat.
Several seconds passed as she trembled but didn’t move. I pulled back, letting her take a deep breath. The look in her eyes was almost entirely predator now. The slayer was fully clothed with a dozen deadly weapons at her disposal, while I had nothing to protect me, yet she didn’t attack. After she had three full breaths, I pushed into her throat once more and stayed even longer this time. Both her hands shook hard. I pulled back, and she inhaled deeply.
I repeated the action a dozen times, tempting death and surviving. Eventually, my own control slipped because seeing her like this drove me wild. The bond was growing by the minute, and I began sensing her emotions. She had grown wild with the need for sex and death. I knew if I checked between her legs right now, that she’d be drenched.
Pushing deep one last time, I released my hot seed down her throat while shouting my pleasure into the sky. It was so strong that it was all I could do to stay on my feet. When the last spasms finished, I looked down and saw she’d dropped her knives. I pulled from her mouth slowly, admiring how beautiful she looked in that moment.
Rayna dragged in several breaths. “Galadon, I…that was…”
“We’re not done yet.”
“What?” she gasped.
I reached out a hand. “Stand.”
I helped her rise on her shaky knees, and then I backed her into the nearest tree, ordering her to stay. Turning back, I took the knives she’d dropped.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“You’re close, Rayna, but you’re not quite on the brink yet.” Thanks to our mating bond, I now knew exactly where she was with her control. I stabbed both blades six inches above her head. “I want you a breath away from losing all your restraint.”
She shook her head. “Please don’t do this. I barely made it through what you just did, and I don’t want to risk hurting you. It’s like my lust for you is getting confused with my slayer instincts.”
“That’s precisely what I want,” I said, pulling one knife from her sheaths after another and stabbing them into the tree all around her. She wouldn’t lack weapons to use if she lost control. I knew this was insane, but if we survived this, our fears would surely be conquered.
For her sword, I rested it against the tree near her right hand. Then I tested a theory I’d wanted to try for a while now, but I had to wait until we were fully bonded. Pulling on my magic, I willed her clothing away to shiggara. All her garments disappeared.
Rayna looked down at her nude body. “How?”
“Our magic has always been complementary, and we’re soulmates. It stood to reason that once we bonded, there would be other advantages. Didn’t you feel how our powers joined when I told you I love you?”
“Yes,” she agreed, brows knitting. “But I didn’t understand what it meant.”
“If we survive this test, we’ll have the rest of our lives to figure it out.”
Before she could respond, I kissed her deeply. She didn’t hesitate to return it and meld her tongue with mine. I reached my hand between her thighs, finding her soaked with need as I’d expected. She moaned and wrapped her arms around my neck as I stroked her. Through the bond, I could sense the moment all that pleasure reached a crescendo, and I stopped.
Rayna pulled her mouth away. “Dammit, Galadon. I need to…”
“No,” I interrupted. “I want you so wild you can’t remember who you are except that you belong to me.”
“You’re killing me.”
I grinned. “It only feels that way, but it will be worth it.”
She whimpered as I grabbed her thighs and pulled her legs around me. Then I slid my hard length just inside her entrance. “Put each of your hands on a knife hilt, whichever you prefer.”
Rayna glared at me but did as I ordered. “I want to touch you, too.”
“Not yet, najeema.”
Her gaze softened a degree at my term of endearment.
I buried myself as deep as possible and then began pumping hard into her. It was good I already came once in her mouth minutes ago because her naked body and bouncing breasts would have been my undoing otherwise. I kept track of our bond, and as soon as Rayna got close, I pulled almost all the way out. She let out a string of curses every time, but somehow, she didn’t pull out her weapons. Some of my fears were melting away despite the wild look in her eyes.
Finally, when she was mumbling incoherently at my latest withdrawal, I knew it was time for the last stage. “You can let go of the daggers now.”
Rayna was so feral by this point that it took her a moment to comprehend my words. There was something wrong with me that I loved her even more like this. She was the sexiest woman I’d ever seen, despite the fact that she’d likely kill anyone who came near us right now.
She released her grip on the hilts and wrapped her arms around my neck.
“Need more,” she said.
I backed up to an even patch of grass and lowered us until I lay flat, and she straddled my hips on top. My cock was fully seated inside her. I spent a moment squeezing her breasts and playing with her nipples to heighten her need a little more. Surprisingly, she held still. The slayer was fully under my control even while under the intense need to fuck and slaughter. Every doubt I had about her fled.
“Your turn to play, Rayna. Use me.”
She stared at me for a long moment as my words sank into her. Then she began moving hard and fast. I held her hips steady, but I let her choose the momentum. It was the most incredible sight I’d ever seen as she worked herself on top of me. Her hair was a tangled mess with the braid having fallen loose, yet glorious to behold. Her full breasts bobbed with every movement, and I watched them, entranced. When she exploded, I went with her as we shouted our pleasure. Then she collapsed atop my chest, panting hard.
We stayed that way for a while before she lifted her gaze to mine. “That was incredible.”
“Are you back with me?” I asked, studying her gaze. She appeared entirely sated—no madness.
She smiled. “Yes. The urge to hunt is almost entirely gone.”
It wouldn’t last, but it bought us time.
“Good. I will take you to Kandoran land now and leave you to hunt.”
Surprise lit in her gaze. “You will?”
“Yes. However, I don’t want you straying too far from the Taugud border. I’ll be at their jakhal, waiting for you. I need to talk to Aidan so I can understand how this bond works, but I’ll send Titan down to retrieve you when you’re ready.” I was letting her hunt alone because I had to trust that she could handle herself. It also helped that I would know if she were in danger through our bond and would be able to get her help if necessary.
“Thank you,” she said, pressing her lips to my chest. “But can I use you one more time before we go? I think I earned it after what you put me through with the knives.”
I laughed, feeling myself growing hard inside her once more. “Whatever you need, slayer. I’m happy to accommodate you.”
Rayna grinned happily and started moving again.