Chapter 36

Galadon

The Kandoran dragon spit multiple balls of green fire from its wide-open mouth. It took every bit of Galadon’s strength and speed to avoid them, angling his wings to the left and right, then closing them so he dropped twenty feet before flaring them again. The heat from the flaming sphere sailed inches over his head.

It was rare to encounter one of the enemies who could produce the strange fire magic. This was his first since the war started ten days ago, but he’d heard of others facing them. Most hadn’t survived. They were so difficult to defeat that some speculated one of the three sorcerers directly controlled them and fed them their power. It corresponded with what Bailey faced months ago when she first encountered a Kandoran’s green flame balls.

Beating his wings hard, Galadon surged upward toward the dragon passing overhead. He lifted his arms and raked his talons into the soft underbelly. It was easier than usual. The scales were thin and brittle, allowing him to shred the skin underneath. Blood and guts poured out and fell to the earth.

The Kandoran let out a painful screech that pierced his ears.

He maneuvered backward a few feet and targeted the dragon’s left wing, biting into it. Small bones crunched between his teeth. Once he had a good grip, he began jerking hard. The wing tore further as Galadon dragged the weakened dragon across the sky while he fought his hold. Another ball of green flames soared past him, missing his head by a foot and dissipating before finding a target. The Kandoran began to fall, and most of the massive beast’s weight tugged at his mouth.

Not letting go of the wing, he worked to bring them down slowly so he could continue tearing the appendage to render it useless. Down below, the moonlight twinkled across the Red River. He’d been battling the Kandoran for a while, not realizing he’d migrated so far north. Galadon had avoided going near that area again, preferring to steer clear of a certain female slayer.

The wing he’d latched onto suddenly ripped from his foe’s body, and the dragon broke free, plummeting to the ground five hundred feet below. Sounds of bones crunching reached him as he made his way to the twisted heap.

As he landed, he noted the Kandoran’s raspy, uneven breaths. Its red eyes were open yet vacant. The sorcerer must have ceded control once it was clear the beast was lost. Galadon didn’t waste time ripping out his enemy’s throat, finishing the job.

He took a moment to spit the tainted blood from his mouth and used his magic to force out the traces that had entered his body. They leaked from his pores to fall to the ground, rendered inert. Only a powerful sorcerer such as him could do such a thing, and it took practice.

A moment later, he rose into the air again, searching for more enemies to kill. His gaze caught on a man on the ground, facing off against two green dragons and half a dozen Kandoran humans. Nearby, a large, black horse reared into the air and crashed its hooves against one of the red-eyed men. The stallion knocked him to the ground and stomped on his skull until it was flattened. Then he swished his tail as if to say “good riddance.”

Galadon knew that horseand the owner would never have allowed it onto the battlefield. He frantically searched the area. His blood ran cold as he spotted a female form lying still behind Onyx. Galadon recognized the coppery-brown hair framing a heart-shaped face.

Rayna’s torso had been ripped to shreds, and her left thigh had been sliced deep enough to reveal bone. She wouldn’t survive such injuries for long. Her slaying partner, Hugo, wouldn’t last much longer, either. He was swaying on his feet with numerous wounds as well. Four dead dragons and a dozen headless humans proved they’d been battling against overwhelming odds for some time.

As much as Rayna disturbed him, he couldn’t allow her to die. But first, he had to finish her enemies before he could get her to a healer.

Galadon flew at breakneck speed, aiming for the largest Kandoran beast. He rammed into the male and bit the back of his target’s neck while puncturing his claws through his shoulders. Bracing himself, he pulled a chunk of the enemy’s spine with his teeth, ending its life abruptly.

He spit the crunchy bits out.

Next, he swung his tail across several Kandoran humans and knocked them to the ground. As they attempted to rise, he blew flames to blind them. They were immune to fire, but it kept them from moving far. He went after each one between blasts, ripping their heads off with his claws or fangs. Onyx was right there with him, using his flat teeth to crush a human’s throat, drop him, and stomp the head. He’d been unaware that a horse could do such a thing, but this was Rayna’s animal, so of course, it wouldn’t be normal.

His and the stallion’s rage was so great that finishing all their prey didn’t take long.

Good boy, he said, patting the horse’s back.

He got a neigh in return. No one would believe this madness, but he almost enjoyed it.

The male slayer cried out. Galadon spun around to find Hugo half buried under the remaining Kandoran dragon. His sword was stuck in the beast’s side, but he’d missed the heart. Weakly, he tried to saw the blade up and down to pierce it.

Galadon ran over and took control of the hilt. His hands in dragon form weren’t as dexterous, especially with his talons, but he only needed to guide the sword. It had to go six more inches to the left. He muscled the blade over and punctured the heart. As soon as the light dimmed in the dragon's eyes and it gasped its last breath, he shoved the massive body off Hugo.

“Thanks, man,” the slayer said, gasping.

Both his ankles were broken based on their odd positioning.

Galadon wasn’t a healer and couldn’t help him. He turned to find Onyx standing near Rayna while gnawing on a dead dragon and consuming its exposed organs. The slayer had cut the Kandoran wide open before she’d fallen. He could have sworn horses didn’t eat meat, but this one appeared to be the exception, enjoying his feast with relish. The creature continued to get stranger.

He turned his attention to Rayna and crouched over her. Her torso was cut wide open with three deep gashes that exposed a portion of her lungs. Parts of her intestines hung out, and her leg bled heavily. Other cuts and scrapes covered the rest of her, but they weren’t as severe.

His chest tightened at the sight of her, knowing a human with her injuries would have already been gone. For a slayer, they could regenerate blood far more quickly and even survive organ failure for a while, but she would still be dead in the next few hours if she didn’t get to a powerful healer. Then she wouldn’t be around to annoy him anymore.

He sighed, knowing it would be so simple to walk away.

Pulling a blanket from shiggara, Galadon carefully wrapped it around Rayna while trying not to cut her with his talons. She moaned when he had to lift her partially. He felt bad doing it, but he needed to cover the wounds and keep anything else from spilling out during their travels. Next, he summoned his belt and tightened it around her upper thigh. It wasn’t easy since his hands were less nimble in this form, but it had to be done quickly. So much of her blood was already spilled on the ground and he needed to slow the flow.

“You’ll get her help?” Hugo asked from where he sat.

Galadon nodded, hating that he couldn’t let her go that easily.

Onyx, he called telepathically, gesturing at the animal.

The horse lifted its head and perked its ears forward. After a moment, it came to him and nuzzled Rayna’s neck. Genuine concern shown in the animal’s eyes. The crazy slayer had won his loyalty to the point he would risk his life on a battlefield with dragons to protect her. Galadon couldn’t imagine anyone else managing such a feat.

I need you to take Hugo to the bunker and get him help. He patted the stallion’s neck soothingly. Rayna needs a healer quickly, so I will fly her. It is the only way to save her.

The horse nickered, and he hoped that meant agreement. It must say something about his mental state that he truly believed Onyx would do what he requested. It amazed him further that he could communicate with the animal, but then again, it had never occurred to him to try with another kind of beast. Could he have done it all along, or was there something special about this one? It didn’t really matter at the moment.

He hurried to the male slayer, lifting and placing him on Onyx’s back. The stallion stood perfectly still.

“Save her,” Hugo said, glancing at the fallen female. “I’ll make sure her horse is okay.”

Galadon nodded and gave the horse a nudge to get it going.

As soon as the man and animal moved away, he carefully scooped Rayna into his arms. Her eyes fluttered open, shocking him that she’d regained consciousness. She drew in a wheezing breath, and he could only imagine the pain she must be feeling.

It hurts, she said into his head in a weak voice.

I will take you to my mother, he promised in a tone far kinder than he usually used with anyone.

She clenched her eyes shut in pain as he shot them into the air. I’d hate for you to trouble yourself on my account.

I’m certain you’ll make me regret this later.

A pained smile crossed her lips. If I don’t annoy you, who will?

Everyone else who crosses my path. He flew faster, noting her heartbeat was slowing. How did she stay awake and maintain her sarcasm? The woman would harass him from the grave if she could, no doubt.

Am I at least your favorite?

Her face was deathly pale, and he would have thought she slept if not for her faint voice in his head. You’re third in a long list, slayer.

Galadon should have spoken soothingly to her, but he wanted to spark her spirit more.

Asshole, she said, coughing up blood. He shifted her head higher so she wouldn’t choke.

It was the middle of the night, and only a sliver of moonlight blanketed the land, but he managed to make out the Faegud bunker ahead. He’d flown faster than was likely comfortable for her, but she needed help immediately. Galadon slowed his flight for the landing. The strong woman who normally appeared larger than life now felt like a fragile, broken doll.

As his feet touched the ground, he sensed the link between their minds fade away, and a peek under the blanket revealed her bleeding had slowed. The cloth wasn’t as soaked as it should have been after their journey. It wasn’t because the wound was healing, but rather, her body wasn’t making enough new blood anymore. She was fading even faster than he anticipated. Were there other injuries he’d missed?

He realized her breaths had grown shallower as well.

Galadon rushed for the bunker, calling for his mother with a growl since his dragon form wouldn’t fit through the doorway. She met him at the entrance. Her eyes rounded when she got a good look at Rayna.

“I’ve got her,” Ujala said, carefully taking the limp body into her arms and grasping the injured leg with extra care.

He watched her walk away while he lit into flames, shifting as fast as possible. It took several long minutes before the fire died, and he could hurry inside. There were only a few wounded shifters within the room. It was easy to find his mother hovering over Rayna on a cot in the back, her healing light working on the partially severed leg with one hand and another hovering over the slayer’s torso.

“Can you save her?” he asked.

Her lips thinned. “It’s too early to tell. She’s lost a lot of blood from the severed artery in her leg, one of her kidneys was nearly destroyed, and the other damaged. Her left lung is punctured. Part of her intestines are missing, which I suspect is from the dragon she fought eating them. Those are just the issues I’ve found so far. If she were anything other than a slayer…I mean, even a shifter likely would have died before now.”

It reminded Galadon of when they found Bailey’s father in a similar condition. He’d lived with his injuries for a day or two before succumbing to them, though his didn’t quite match hers. He’d once heard Rayna say it was the curse of her kind. They were incredibly difficult to kill, which meant when they did die, it was often drawn out and painful.

If he didn’t hate her kind so much, he’d almost feel sorry for her. Her cavalier attitude was likely because she knew each day could be her last, but if not, she would continue to suffer through death and pain until her end came. Still, they were only allies for now. He could not allow himself to keep seeing her as the fierce, independent woman who eagerly fought at his side whenever the opportunity presented itself. After the war, she’d no doubt attack and kill him with no remorse.

He ran a hand through his short hair, as conflicted as ever. “Do the best you can.”

“Why didn’t you leave her to die?” his mother asked, not looking up from where she continued to mend the slayer.

He sighed. “She’s a lethal fighter, worth ten human soldiers and likely two average shifters. We need her to win this war.”

“Is that all?” Ujala’s lips twitched, though she still didn’t look up. “Or is there something more to it?”

Galadon glared at her. “Why else would I save a slayer?”

“There was a frantic look in your eyes when you arrived that I doubt is usual for you.”

“She was dying,” he said with a growl. He refused to examine or name his feelings any further and wouldn’t allow anyone else to try. It was pointless.

His mother finished with the leg, and it was nearly closed. “Wrap that with a bandage, will you? I must conserve the rest of my strength for her other injuries.”

Of course. He went to the back room on the right and got a gauze roll and some tape. Returning, he knelt and gently wrapped it around the slayer’s leg. He tried not to notice the perfect shape of her uninjured leg or how close he was to the juncture of her thighs. She was a slayer—a rude, obnoxious, mouthy one—and would happily kill him after their alliance was finished. He could resist her beauty no matter how badly he wanted to run his fingers through her hair every time he caught it glistening in the sun.

“Done,” he said, backing away like she was a venomous snake.

His mother glanced at him. “What happened to Rayna’s partner? She has one, doesn’t she?”

“He was there,” Galadon said, moving to lean against the wall where it was safer. “The man was also injured, though not as badly. I finished killing the Kandoran surrounding them and had Rayna’s horse take him for help.”

“What was her horse doing there?” she asked, frowning.

He shrugged. “I’m not certain what brought it to the battlefield, but I found it killing and eating Kandoran while watching over the slayer.”

“A loyal yet odd creature,” she said with a twitch of her lips.

Galadon snorted, thinking he and his mother could agree on that point. “Yes.”

Ujala’s hands continued to glow as she healed Rayna’s internal injuries. “So, you and the fierce horse saved both slayers?”

“I suppose.” Where was she going with this?

A few minutes passed, and sweat began to bead his mother’s brows. “I’ve healed the worst of her injuries and feel reasonably confident Rayna will survive. She won’t return to battle tomorrow night, but perhaps the night after that. It’s good her partner will be alive to fight with her.”

Ujala implied he only helped Hugo for the female slayer’s sake, which was true.

“You should stop if she’s healed enough,” he said, though he didn’t like seeing Rayna’s abdomen remaining open. He couldn’t imagine the pain she must feel even while asleep. Her scrunched brows and clenched fists gave him some clue.

Ujala shook her head. “I’ve got to close the wounds most of the way if she is to finish recovering on her own. The severe blood loss has slowed her regenerative abilities.”

Galadon noted the slayer’s skin was still quite pale when it was usually sun-kissed.

“But she will live?” he asked.

His mother smiled at him. “Yes. You won’t lose her today.”

He worked his jaw, refusing to take the bait. “I will return to the fight then.”

Though he didn’t really want to go, it was best he did. Not only because he had no business hovering over the wounded slayer now that she wasn’t at death’s door, but also because they needed him out there battling the enemy. He had to keep his priorities straight.

“Take care, son,” Ujala said, wistfulness in her gaze.

They’d still barely spoken beyond when it was necessary. Galadon couldn’t forgive her for leaving him as a child with only the excuses she’d given upon her arrival with the Craegud. He knew she’d corner him eventually for a lengthier talk, but at least it wouldn’t be now.

“Just make sure she lives.” Then he walked out the door, resisting the urge to look back.