We slow down as we approach a wooded area, a worn path running through it. My chest heaves as we come to a stop, Aeron’s own torso moving mine with his rapid breaths. The others draw up alongside us, all looking even more gorgeouswith their windswept hair and sparkling eyes. The braid that Tarl wove into my hair seems to have held up, much to my surprise.
“Get down, Dove,” Aeron whispers into my ear, and it takes a moment for his words to sink in.
“W–what?”
Letting go of the reins, he lifts me up, forcing me to let go as he swings my leg over Samson’s neck and unceremoniously drops me to a crumpled heap at the horses’ hooves. Fumbling, I get up, brushing off loose leaves and dirt from my grazed palms, wincing when blood wells in the scratches.
I glare at Aeron; the others forming a semicircle around me, matching smirks on their faces as they stare down at me from the height of their horses’ backs. I’m reminded of those damsels from the bodice rippers, and I can say that, although my heart thuds painfully in my chest, my nipples are also hard as fucking diamonds.
“What the fuck was that for?” I snarl, glaring at each of them, settling on the leader of their fucking merry band of assholes.
“You were told earlier that we would punish you for your rudeness,” he replies, waiting for when my eyes go wide, flitting over to Knox. “This is your punishment, Dove.”
“W–what is my punishment, exactly?” I stutter, wanting desperately to take a step back, but holding my ground and refusing to show any weakness to these bastards or acknowledge the excitement that is currently running through my veins.
“We’ll be going on a little hunt,” Jude bursts out, practically bouncing in his saddle. I swing my gaze to him as his chestnut horse steps to the side and Jude has to tug the reins a little to regain control.Serves him right.
“And you are the prey,” Tarl adds in his sultry voice. I shiver when I look into his hungry, mismatched eyes, even though it’s a hot summer afternoon with no hint of a breeze.
“So, Dove?” Aeron demands, and I finally come back to him. Back to the dark glee that makes his ocean eyes sparkle.
“Yes?” I ask, my heart now thudding painfully in my chest, no longer exhilarated because of the fear coursing through my veins, and maybe, just a little, anticipation.
“Run.”
“YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT” BYLO-FANG
TARL
We all watch as, with wide sparkling eyes, our pretty little bird takes flight, turning tail and running into the woods behind her.
“This is going to be so much fun!” Jude exclaims, and I take my eyes off the spot she disappeared into, casting them over him. He’s bouncing in his seat, poor Maleficent—his mare named after one of his favorite Disney characters—whinnying and stamping her hooves underneath him.
I can’t blame him though, the thrill of the impending chase runs through my own veins, making my entire body tingle. I’ve always loved a good hunt, and I’ve never had prey as delicious as our beautiful bird before.
“Fifty G’s says that I get her first,” Knox states, and I look over to see the same hunger in his eyes that I feel as he trains them on the place where she vanished.
“I’ll take that bet,” I answer, his gaze swinging to mine. We’re all excellent trackers, we’ve been hunting Dead Soldier scum for the past decade, but I like to think that I have a certain edge, given my history, that the others don’t.
“Deal,” Jude adds in, and I can hear the excitement in his voice.
“Deal,” Aeron agrees, and I look to our leader to see he’s got it just as bad as the rest of us, his eyes sparkling as he, too, watches where our pretty bird took off. An alarm goes off on his watch, loud in the quiet. “Showtime.”
Jude takes off with a holler and whoop, the sound echoing in the forest and causing the birds to take flight from the trees as Maleficent’s hooves kick up clods of dirt when he crashes into the forest. Laughing, I follow suit, directing my horse—named Tiam on account of her beautiful soul-filled eyes—in his wake at a slower pace. I’ll see more if I don’t rush, the sweetness is in the anticipation, after all.
I don’t hear the other two behind me, clearly, they’ve decided to see if they can cut her off and go around. A smart plan, but not one that will win them the prize.
Looking around, I spot broken twigs to the left and my lips tilt upwards. Clever bird. Pulling Tiam to a stop, I swing my leg over and get off, landing silently on the dirt path.
“I’ll catch her better on foot,aziz-e delam,” I whisper as I stroke her soft muzzle. “Go find some nice grass.”
Turning her to face the way that we just came, I give her a light tap on her rump so that she walks towards the fields beyond. Then, I head toward the broken undergrowth, ready to catch my bird.
“SANCTIFY” BYYEARS & YEARS
LARK
My heart pounds as I rush through the woods, twigs snagging in my braid, pulling it apart and scratching my face. My entire body tingles, and I jump when I hear a shout and whooping, then the thunder of hooves behind me.
