“Godr…”
“Trust me,” he chuckled, taking my hand and dragging me toward the field where the horses normally slept.
Now that it was cold, they slept around a big fire near where the horsemasters took turns sleeping. The newest horse hand, a young man who’d only come of age a few weeks ago, was asleep in a tent with the mare who had given birth. I thought Godr would bring me there to meet the new arrival, but he dragged me past it and all the way to the far end of the fenced-in field. We were out of sight of the clan and away from the fires. In the summer, it might be a fun spot to get frisky, but right now, my balls wanted to climb into my body, it was so cold.
Wrapping himself around me, Godr rested his chin on my shoulder. “Look up.”
I did, gasping as I took in the ocean of stars above us. Even in the middle of the night, torches were burning and lights spilled from inns and houses in the town I grew up in, so I’d never seen stars quite like this before. The night sky sparkled with them, and it seemed to go on endlessly.
“The stars are beautiful in the summer heat, but now, in the middle of winter, is when they shine the brightest. I have been out here many times alone, wondering about their meaning and my place among them. I never imagined sharing them with anyone. Not until I met you.”
I turned a little in his arms so I could look at him without giving up the view. That same sparkle shone in his eyes as he smiled at me. “I want to give you the stars, kolrav. I want to give you everything that will make you happy.”
“You make me happy,” I told him, leaning to press my forehead against his. “You didn’t just show me how to love again. You showed me how to be free. I’ve never been more happy than being here with you.”
GODR
It was in his eyes that he meant what he said. My Ambrose was happy. It was all I’d wanted since the moment he arrived and was put in my care. And since I’d gotten him back, and he accepted my claim, it was all I could think about. Rath called me a lovesick fool, like he was any better. I didn’t care. As long as my family was happy, I was happy.
“You two are gross,” a familiar voice spoke behind us.
I snorted, looking over my shoulder. Sebastian was bundled up in a fur, scowling at us both. I’d intended this moment just for Ambrose, to bask in his love for a little while, but I couldn’t even pretend to be unhappy that Sebastian had come to join us. When he was close enough, I picked him up, squishing him between us until he laughed, and his scowl went away. Ambrose looked just as pleased to see him, wrapping his arms around us both with a smile.
Jerking my chin skyward, I asked Sebastian, “Do you see the warrior?”
He frowned, looking up. I pointed a gloved finger in the direction of the group of stars my own father had shown me when I was Sebastian’s age. “He protects his clan with a spear made from stars.” My finger moved to another cluster. “The huntress is said to watch over all those who follow her footsteps, guiding their arrows to never miss. She is Rath’s favorite.”
Sebastian snickered. Rath had taken to being an uncle with great pride and had demanded more than once to teach Sebastian to hunt. To my great pleasure, Sebastian preferred the stallions in the field to hunting. Rath had vowed to change his mind eventually.
“What about the horsemaster?” Ambrose asked, leaning his head against my shoulder.
I pointed to the cluster directly above us, seeing its shape like an old friend. “The horsemaster is always with me, watching over the herd and keeping them safe. When my father first told me about him, I couldn’t look away. I snuck out of my bed that same night, looking up at the sky to see him again.”
“Why?” Sebastian asked, eyes still glued to the stars.
“To make a wish. The horsemaster is not only the protector of the herd. He protects all who have a stallion’s spirit in their heart. I asked him to become the greatest horsemaster in the entire world.” I chuckled to myself, shaking my head. “Silly, I know.”
Ambrose’s arm around me tightened, and he pressed a kiss to my shoulder affectionately. “Not silly. It’s sweet.”
I hummed, leaning to kiss his temple. My father had told me I could only make one wish to the horsemaster in my life. If I could go back, I would wish for this. My bondmate and our son cuddled together under the stars. I could imagine nothing better.
“Can I make a wish?” Sebastian asked.
Nodding, I jerked my chin toward him. “Go ahead. Make sure it’s good. You can only make one wish.”
His face settled into the serious frown that reminded me so much of Ambrose. He lifted his chin, screwing his eyes shut as he made his wish. When Ambrose’s eyes closed, I knew he was doing the same. I smiled at them both. I might not have gotten my wish, though I was confident I was one of the best. I couldaccept that because in exchange, I’d received something I never knew I needed.
“Okay!” Sebastian said as he finished. “Can we go back now? I’m cold.”
“Then you should have stayed in your bed,” Ambrose said with a smirk.
Instead of putting Sebastian down, I shifted him onto my back to keep him warm as we trudged through the snow back to our tent.
“If I’d stayed in bed, I couldn’t have made a wish!”
I nodded solemnly in agreement. “True. He had important business to attend to.”
Ambrose poked my side, fighting hard against a grin. “Don’t encourage him, brat. He’s going to be a troublemaker thanks to you.”
Leaning to rest my forehead against the light of my life, I replied, “He gets his smarts from you. He has to get something from me too.”
Ambrose barked out a laugh, and Sebastian cackled, pleased. I just smiled, leading my family back to our tent to warm up and get some sleep. Tomorrow would be another day filled with fun and joy and laughter. I couldn’t wait.
