Jason's nod was faint, his eyes screaming the same reluctance to leave that Eva felt.
Drake flashed a crooked smile as Warin and his men rode toward the hills. The figures at the top plunged down the slope toward them, cutting off Eva and Jason's path back to the main body. "Caden was right; you have the makings of an Anateri. Now, go. We'll buy you time. Don't stop until you find safety."
Drake slapped Caia's rump.
The mare lunged forward, her hooves pounding over the ground as her gait flattened out.
Eva's heart was in her throat as she steadied Brisa, taking one last look at Drake standing silhouetted by the hills around him.
Caia carried them around a bend in the trail, leaving Drake and the rest behind.
Eva faced forward, her heart in her throat as they rode away from the ambush and the promise of safety lying on the other side.
"They're following us," Jason called.
Eva looked up, seeing figures running along the ridge to their right. As she watched, a few took their lives in hand as their horses leapt down the rocky slopes.
Foolish idiots. That was a good way to break a horse's leg.
Eva supposed that wasn't important to them. They only cared about catching her and Brisa. Eva tightened her grip on the Tenrin, being careful not to crush Brisa’s wings. It was awkward trying to hold the girl as Eva was forced to juggle Brisa’s wings while also not letting her fall. "This will hurt a little."
The girl was hanging on to consciousness by the thinnest of margins. Eva was afraid of the shock and blood loss but there was no time to stop.
Now that they were cut off, their ambushers between them and safety, their only chance for survival was stalling until Caden and his people could find them again.
Because he would come for her. Eva had no doubt about that.
With that thought in mind, Eva gave Caia her head. "Everything you've got, my heart."
Caia answered Eva with a burst of speed. Jason desperately followed. Eva's heart was in her throat as they rode for all they were worth.
Caia dodged around obstacles, leaping over those she couldn't avoid. Every second felt like an eternity as they thundered over the land until Caia's sides heaved and her breathing grew labored at her effort.
Soon, they found themselves in a canyon much like the one they’d traveled through earlier that day. A rain drop hit Eva's face. Another one followed a second later.
Eva lifted her eyes to the sky as the heavens opened with a furious roar. Rain fell in sheets, the deluge drenching them instantly.
They pressed on until they couldn't anymore.
Eventually, Eva had to slow, afraid continuing would result in a slip and a fall. The last thing she wanted to do was risk Caia breaking a leg, and that's exactly what could happen if they continued at speed.
Jason moved his horse beside Eva. "The storm's getting worse. What should we do?"
Eva shivered, hunching in on herself for warmth as she studied their surroundings. "We can't go back."
It was the only thing she was sure of.
“What about Sebastian?” Jason asked in a low voice.
Eva shook her head. “I’ve been trying to contact him, but no luck. Something about the storm is interfering.”
Or maybe it was just her. Maybe the Kyren were right, and she wasn’t ready for all this. Maybe she really was useless.
A low moan came from Brisa. Somewhere during the ride, the Tenrin had descended into a fugue, the pain rendering her nearly unconscious.
They were cut off. Enemies between them and Caden. Their only hope was to continue forward and hope to buy enough time for Caden to send help.
As a plan, it was lacking. There were so many ways things could go wrong.
