A responding zing of energy wove through his magic as the commitment took hold, binding them together by his vow to become her soul-guardian.Tension leeched from her as she nodded and dropped her head to his shoulder, relaxing into him trustingly.
He focused on the delicate bond and knew the memory was true.Remembered taking his own soul-guardian’s pendant from around his neck and putting it around hers.Claiming her as his to protect.His soul-daughter.Veda.What had he done?
Daya’sheartchurnedwithdistress as she made her way to the back corner of the house.Heavy silence echoed in her wake, as Raiden had already taken the other two inside.
Breathing in the cool air, she tried to settle her turbulent emotions before she joined them.She was in no mood to be accommodating to a bunch of strangers, especially since they’d come to take Raiden from her.
Something had changed in him, those last moments before he’d made his decision.The small flinch followed by complete stillness a hallmark of one of his memories taking over his mind.She’d felt the visceral shift in her world right then.His reluctance disappeared, and the seriousness of the man she’d first found on the mountain came back to life in front of her eyes.
They wouldn't have to drag him.He'd be going of his own accord.She breathed the pain of that knowledge away.There would be time to grieve later.He was still here.Hers to guard until he returned to his former life.
Mind refocused, she reached out to Ereven.Where are the others?
They had to be somewhere close by.Holding back your deadliest skill until you needed it worked well when hunting.She presumed warriors would act the same and keep the most dangerous member of the group out of sight.
Ereven immediately let her into his mind to see the other pair skulking in her trees.A second Eldrin hunter and a warrior kept hidden, observing and waiting.Their horses were not with them.Probably stashed somewhere.
There was something about the female warrior that had Daya narrowing her eyes.An energy that was contained yet brimming over.
The warrior woman.Does she have magic?
Lots,Ember responded tartly.
Yes,Ereven confirmed.She vanishes into shadow with it.
Like Raiden does?
No.He hides.She vanishes.Different.
That could be a problem.Can you track her when she’s using it?
Only when she reappears,Ereven explained.
She moves like a predator, even without it,Ember added.
Careful, you sound almost impressed,Daya admonished.
Almost,Ember said.
Let them be for now, but watch them.
Until they were positive about the situation, separating the visitors was a good choice.
Feeling the need to get to Raiden, she resumed her path toward the house.The hidden entrance looked very much like a piece of the mountain because it was, in part.Pressing the earth lock with both hand and magic, she opened the crevice in the earthen wall that made up this corner of the house.
Entering, she crept quietly past the bedrooms toward the front of the house.Resting against the dividing wall where she could hear soft voices but not be seen, she paused to gain her bearings while she listened to them discuss his healing progress.
Ereven and Ember kept lightly linked with her mind but stayed outside, watching the rest of the rescue party hiding in her forest.Little did they know they were being hunted in turn by her winged companions.They’d have to be dealt with before dark, but for now, she needed to confirm their intentions.Rescuers or not, they were trespassing and brought enough skills to the mountain to make her wary.
A familiar, ravaged cry ripped her from her hiding place.No!Raiden!Bolting into the living area, she found the man she loved convulsing in pain.
Ember shot through the open window with a screech and darted at the strangers until they backed up.Landing on the nearest perch, she faced them with wings stretched out in a threatening manner, shrieking in warning.
The shock on Celina’s face indicated that this was not the intended result of whatever had occurred.She completely ignored the hawk as she stared at her brother.
Trusting Ember to guard them, Daya dropped to her knees in front of Raiden.“It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
“Hurts.Too much, too fast.”His head dipped to her chest, breathing still erratic, voice hoarse with pain.
