“It’s perfect.”Smiling, he tugged her in front of him and wrapped his arms around her.“I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh?”
“Hopefully it works.”He chuckled.“I haven’t had a chance to practice with my magic much yet.”
Holding Daya in front of him, he nodded to their reflection in the water.Though it wasn’t still due to the current, she was still able to clearly see the two of them.
“Watch.”
Peering at their reflection, she watched intently as the air behind them darkened and started to churn.Was he… building shadows?
Fascinated, she followed the movements of energy as the shadows formed into thicker clouds and began to move, hovering around Raiden as if they waited for his command.
Arcing curves of darkness rose over his shoulders, forming a distinct shape as they stretched out and down, gracefully coming to a point near the ground.
She sucked in a shocked breath.“Are those… wings?”
He grinned.“They’re just shadows, I can’t actually use them.But I couldn’t resist.”
Daya turned in his arms.“They’re magnificent.”
“Tell me.”His voice dropped low and sensual as he bent his head to hers.“Are they what you pictured when you named me after the legendary sky hunter?”
A guilty laugh bubbled in her chest and she smiled.“Better.”
Joy stole into her heart at the look on his face, fluttering like a playful breeze.
“You don’t think Ember will laugh?”
“Oh, she will.But I love them.”
He grinned, the wings shifting just a bit as if he was flexing his magic.
The living shadows were the embodiment of his new self, his new purpose.They suited him.Suited the legendary warrior he was still becoming.
“I discovered this part of myself, fell in love with you, as Raiden.I’ve decided I’d like to keep the name.”
“As long as you’re here, I don’t care what name you use.But I think it fits.”She brushed her fingers over the shadowy wing hovering behind him.“Raiden, Shield of Hannelore.”
The warmth in his eyes when she met his gaze was bright and hot, sending fiery energy rippling through her.
“Show me what they look like through your eyes,” she said.
The image fluttered in their mental connection and then crystalized sharply.
To his magic, what she saw solely as shadowy swaths glittered with a rainbow of dark colors—a living embodiment of the precious earthen stones Hannelore used to create their guardian armor.Manipulating the shadows, he wrapped his ethereal wings around her to hold her close.
“Keep watching.”
It was somewhat like riding with the hawks yet different.With their minds and souls twined together, she was able to feel as well as see.The storm of shadow billowed up and out of him as he sent his magic out—up and away, into the sky.She watched it grow, felt his effort to direct it out around them.
It expanded over the land like a growing bubble, blanketing the area with his protection.His shield.The glade was soon surrounded by a protective orb of shadow, glistening with the dark rainbow of gem tones.
She felt Hannelore channeling through him, adding the ancient magic of the earth to his intention, powering it to cover even greater space.This was Raiden.What he was truly meant for.The beauty and rightness of it stole her breath.For the first time, she truly, fully believed that he was meant to be the Shield of Hannelore.
Hismatewaswatchinghim when Raiden turned his attention to her.Brown eyes, heavy with emotion.He picked up a strong sense of wonder and a bit of shock through their bond.
“What is it, love?”
