Threat assessment?she asked the hawks.
The hunter, gray horse, chestnut horse, woman,Ember answered.
Agreed.
Which meant Raiden would take out the hunter first if things escalated that far.She’d have to deter the horses to give him time.A hunter would be of little concern if he was at full strength.As it was, it would likely be a difficult fight.
The gray horse was definitely trained to be a threat.Sheer power emanated from him, and not the magical kind.The darker mare had a serious look to her beady eyes that was a bit alarming.Daya had never intentionally thought about harming a horse before.Shifting her perspective to fighting a mountain lion helped dull the squeamish nausea that resulted in hurting an animal like her Melody.These were in no way harmless, though.
She could slow the horses and take out the other woman with her bow if she had the right vantage point.Being on the same level as them wasn’t ideal, especially if Raiden was fighting the hunter in the same area.She’d have to manage if it came to that.Trying to move into a better position would give away her presence.
Worst-case scenario formed, she focused on the voices outside.
“You know me, Connor.”The woman sounded close to tears.“I took over our family after Mom died.You helped me raise our baby sister, Cat.You came here on an important mission and got injured.”
Connor.His name was Connor.
Chapter 10
Wavesofconfusioncrashedthrough Raiden, and the pounding of his heart drowned out all sounds.They weren’t here to harm Daya; they were rescuing him.
The woman—his sister, if she was to be believed—had tears running down her face, not hiding her emotions at all as she tried to convince him of her sincerity.Her words muddled in his state of shock, but he caught enough.
Instincts leading, he shifted to keep himself squared with the hunter.The woman would never hurt him, but this man was a stranger.
Movement drew his eye as the warhorse tossed his head impatiently, balking at standing still against his wishes.Watching him intently and waiting.
The chaos in Raiden’s mind went quiet, the horse grounding the wild emotions tumbling inside him.
The woman—Celina—proceeded to confirm what his mind was suddenly very clear on.A soft command from her released the horse, and he flew toward him with focused intent, slamming to a perfect halt right in front of him.
“Rogue.”The name settled with rightness in his mind as the horse butted against him with a forceful but affectionate shove.His horse.“My rogue beast.”Fingers trembling, he greeted his partner.“I knew you were out here somewhere.”
The huge, brutal-looking gray beast nuzzled his chest, nipping at his shirt.He bit back a wince as Rogue grazed one of his scars.The flash of pain was cleansing as it sparked through him.He flexed his bad arm, knowing he needed to make a choice soon, before the hunter decided Celina’s attempt was going nowhere and forced the situation.
“You have to decide, Connor.Are you a warrior or not?”The mentoring voice he kept hearing whispered in his memory, the woman crystalizing in his mind as she spun the sword she’d just picked up and offered it to him.Blonde hair tied back, her expression serious yet somehow full of warmth and encouragement.Willing him to make the choice to follow her.“The rest of the decisions stem from that one.Make that choice, and the rest will follow.”
Raiden struggled as he pressed his free hand to Rogue’s neck.He didn’t want to make the choice that would tear the peaceful solitude he’d come to know away from him.Tear Daya away from him.
He’d just wanted a moment to clear his mind with all that she’d shared.He wasn’t going to get it.
“You’re a warrior, Connor.Trust your instincts.”The hunter’s deep voice was firm.His time at the mountain was up.“We’ve traveled a long way to find you, brought you your horse, and we need your help.So, either fight me or we’ll call a truce and talk.Innocent lives are at stake.”
It was the final words that broke through his desire to hold on to who he’d become at the mountain.An overwhelming need to guard someone precious rose inside him.The memory his mind gave him had nothing to do with Daya or his sisters.The fierce pull on a tender bond bloomed in his chest.A very new bond.
Small arms wrapped tightly around his neck as the girl curled trustingly into his embrace.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.I’ve got you,” he murmured as he stroked her golden-brown hair.
He hadn’t felt such a strong pull on his guardian instincts since he and Celina had taken over raising their baby sister so many years ago.
“Please don’t leave us.”The girl’s voice was a muffled sob in his shirt.“We’ll be found and sold again.”
Over his dead body.He hugged her tighter.“We killed those men.They can’t hurt you anymore, sweetheart,” he said softly.“And no one is selling you ever again.”
“Even later?”she asked.“You promise we’ll be safe?”
“You’re safe, and you won’t have to hide anymore.”Following instincts that had yet to lead him wrong, he tipped her head so he could see her eyes.“I’ll guard your heart and soul with mine, and give my life for yours, Veda.My vow.”
