More importantly, she was descended from a long line of war horses.
"Forget this," the shorter one said, starting forward. "She's an insignificant girl. We can take what we want."
"Caia, forget everything I said about biting."
"What?" the short man asked.
The sound Caia made was gleeful as she reared. A scream ripped from her throat. Her front hooves hit the ground and she charged. The men dove out of her way, but Caia was faster. She whirled, lifting her legs high as she tried to stomp the shorter of the two into the ground.
Eva would have snickered at the high-pitched screams if the situation hadn't been so dire.
The taller of the two found his feet, charging toward her. Desperation lent Eva strength. The rope split and she jerked at the netting around the mythological’s wings.
A hard arm grabbed her around the waist, yanking her back. The netting came with her.
"What have you done?" the tall man shouted. He screamed at his friend. "Quit playing with that horse. He's almost free."
Eva sagged in the tall man's hold, a nasty smile on her face. "If I was you, I'd run very far, very fast. If he doesn't kill you, the Trateri most certainly will."
The mythological busied himself shaking free of the rest of the netting.
"Fuck you. I'm not playing. This horse is trying to kill me!" The shorter man scooted on his back as Caia chased him. He might not be playing with her, but she was certainly having fun playing with him.
Caia grabbed one of the man's pant legs and dragged him across the ground like a dog with a bone.
"You like him so much. You can be the first one he eats,” the tall man hissed.
Her captor shoved her at the mythological. Eva caught herself on the winged horse’s side, looking up with trepidation, very aware the man's prediction might actually be her fate.
Dark, intelligent eyes regarded her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Eva watched the man reach slowly into the pack at his side and withdraw a rope.
It had a loop on the end, meant for roping livestock, and barbs ran along its length. Ones that matched the bloody, raw wounds at the base of the mythological's neck.
Eva laid her hand next to the marks.
"I'm sorry they did this to you." No creature deserved what they'd done to him.
If he blamed all humans, so be it.
A primal scream came from the mythological. His wings flared, hitting Eva in the head. Lancing pain shot through her and she slumped to the ground, unconscious.
*
Ahand lightly slappedEva’s cheek, pulling her from the cool grasp of darkness.
She groaned, abruptly becoming aware of the slight pounding in her head.
"That's it, lass. Come back to us," a voice Eva knew well said.
"Hardwick," she murmured, blinking up at him in surprise and curiosity.
"Finally," someone muttered.
"There you are, Eva," Ollie said in relief from her other side.
"What are you doing here?" Eva asked groggily. She raised her head gingerly, slightly surprised when Hardwick reached out to steady her, his hands gentle as he helped her to a seated position.
