Dalton moved to stand in front of Arric, toe-to-toe. “I swear to Christ, man, you need to change your goddamn tone, or I’ll change it for you.”
“Oh my god,” I breathed out, my heart racing. “I’m to be bonded to an oracle?”
“What?” Dalton and Arric said, in stereo.
“He’s yourmate?” Andi asked.
“Mate? What the fuck are you talking about?” Arric hissed.
“I’m not claiming him,” I snapped at Andi. “Ever.”
“I don’t even know you, what the fuck does ‘claiming’ mean?” Arric continued. “And what kind of backwoods horse breeding bullshit do you mean, I’m your ‘mate’?”
His comment was like a dagger to my heart, and I glared at him. “You are the biggest—”
“Isla,” Andi said in a warning tone, rushing toward me. “Isla, honey, you need to calm down.”
My body burned. I had never been so angry in my life and my rage was focused solely on Arric. But I couldn’t hate him. I wanted to. Tried to tell my mind that I did, but my heart refused to cooperate.
“Jesus,” Dalton hissed, and my gaze swung to him.
Everything was red and even though I felt Hershey nudge me with his nose, I couldn’t stop focusing on Dalton.
“Why are your eyes red?” Arric asked.
The second he spoke, my focus was back on him, and he frowned.
“Bloody hell.”
My father barreled into the barn and grabbed Arric by the collar of his shirt. My mother rushing in from right behind.
“What the fuck, man?” Arric growled.
“You need to touch her,” Da said.
“She’s fuckin’ glowin’,” Arric snapped. “I’m not touching her!”
“If you don’t touch her, she will literally set this barn on fire,” my mother said, softly.
I was breathing heavily, and heat coursed through my veins. Everything was in slow motion, as if we were all suspended in molasses.
“Arric, honey, please,” my mom begged. “You need to hold her and breathe slowly.”
I hissed at Arric as he stepped closer and he paused, but my father shoved him forward.
“Con,” Mum admonished. “Go slow, honey.”
“I’ll fuckin’ kill him if he doesn’t calm my daughter,” Da snapped.
Hershey nudged my hip again and I whimpered. I was in pain. More pain than I’d ever felt in my life, but I couldn’t tell if it was mine or Arric’s.
“You’re gonna have to step into the stall,” my father directed, unlocking the door, and pushing him forward.
“No way. I fuckin’ hate horses,” he hissed.
This enraged me more and I glared at him.
“Okay, Isla. It’s all good.” He held his hands up and inched toward me. “No one here’s going to hurt you.”
