“You knew it was Ereven, not Ember, who came at you.Some of your senses were working fine.Tell me what happened.”
“A memory, I guess.”His body continued to shake as the adrenaline ebbed and he leaned back against the rock for support.
Her eyebrows lowered in a frown.“The sound of me dropping the deer to the ground triggered you?”
Deer… he glanced around her to see that she had, in fact, dropped an animal to the ground nearby.
“It sounded like a body dropping, and then…” He’d imagined a combat scene, tried to kill her.Thank the stars he’d failed.
Daya’s fingers stroked his face in a gentle caress, bringing his focus back to her.“Did you hear me?I said we’ll find a way to manage.It’s inevitable that things will trigger your memories.”
“It’s not.I should leave you.”It was best for her, the only honorable thing he could do.
“No.And I’ve had enough of you trying that already.”
“Then take the weapons,” he growled in frustration.“That’s the only way this works.That I’ll stay.”
Daya raised her brow in amusement.“You really think you’re up to an escape attempt?”
He wouldn’t make it an hour on his own, let alone a day, and they both knew it.Not without a horse and harboring debilitating injuries.But that was beside the point.
“I’m serious.I don’t want them near me, Daya.I’ll not risk you.Not now, not ever.”
Daya’s dark eyes were still staring into his soul, disagreement with his request giving way to his plea.“Alright.For now.”
For good.His mind had deserted him, left him with only his most basic and dangerous instincts.He couldn’t tell the difference between Daya and an attacker, and he had moved without thought or pause to kill.
What kind of violent creature am I?
Chapter 3
Daya’s Homestead, Hannelore Mountain, Realm of Eldridge
Dayasatonherreinforced fence railing and watched the sun set, the golden rays intertwining with the faint purple hue of rising moonlight.Her feathered companion, Neka, pushed into her hand with a soft purr, indicating she’d been missed the few weeks she’d been away.
The owlcat was a majestic creature.Perched next to her, Neka dipped her head in request.Daya obliged, stroking her hand through the downy soft fur and feather combination on the owlcat’s head.Though she couldn’t mind speak with Neka the way she could with the hawks, she’d raised her from an owlet and had no problems understanding her non-verbal language.
Arriving at her hidden mountain homestead the day before, she had felt strangely self-conscious.Keeping to herself and her unusual way of life as a guardian, she had rarely invited others into her domain.Neka, the hawk pair, and her horse were her main companions.
The owlcat had a natural lifespan of up to two hundred years.Having been altered by the magic of the mountain, Daya was happy to know she’d have a companion to confide in throughout her years as a guardian, which would be in the hundreds as well.
Raiden had crashed as soon as they’d arrived and hadn’t woken for nearly a full day.She’d let him sleep, checking on him frequently to make sure he was doing alright.It was strange to have anyone in her home, let alone a man.
She’d been less solitary in the beginning of her time as guardian, but that had ended in disaster.Her life was made up of secrets.After a time, they’d started to drive a wedge between her and Draven—the man she’d tried to love.He’d been willing to accept her.Draven had wanted to be with her enough to risk the dangers that came with becoming a guardian.A miracle, she’d first thought.Until he’d lost his life in the attempt.
Decades had passed since then, and she’d grown to accept the solemn nature of her life.Having Raiden with her was beginning to rouse yearnings she thought she’d left behind.
Neka rumbled, dipping her head to rub against Daya’s shoulder.Bracing slightly, she leaned into the display of affection so that she wasn’t pushed off the railing by her pet.Sounds reached them from the house as Raiden stepped outside.
Daya sucked in a breath at seeing him.He’d come outside without a shirt, his muscled chest tapering into a lean stomach.Though his shoulder and abdomen were heavily wrapped, he’d removed the bandage from the slice across his chest.Without blood covering him, he glowed against the backdrop of dark green and brown foliage of the mountain.
“We named him well,” she murmured to Neka.
The shimmering light of sunset reflected off his long, brushed-out hair, making it gleam in the light.He appeared to be a living version of his legendary namesake.The golden sky hunter reborn.There were multiple hunters of varying descriptions in their myths, but he was Raiden’s golden image come to life, save for the wings.She shivered as tingling fluttered along her spine.
In that instant, it was hard to remember that he’d been in danger of dying merely a week ago.
His stance wavered as he carefully navigated her front steps.His grip on the support beam the only thing keeping him from hitting the ground.
