Cethin glanced at Razik, and he only arched a brow. This was Cethin’s bride, not his. He could figure out how to deal with her without his help. Plus, he found it comical when Cethin became irritated by her mannerisms but had to try to hide it.
Scratching his temple, Cethin said, “A horse, Kailia. Do you know how to ride a horse?”
The female slowly turned to him, and Razik swallowed his amusement at the look on her face. This side of her was just as entertaining as she stared at the king as though he were stupid for asking such a question.
“Yes, king,” she replied curtly. “I know how to ride a horse.”
“It was a valid question,” Cethin argued. “I’m assuming you normally use your magic to travel?—”
“So do you,” she interjected.
“I don’t know how you were raised or where,” Cethin said in obvious exasperation. “I simply wanted to ensure you knew how to ride rather than find out when you cannot control your horse in the forest.”
“My upbringing contained all manner of training, including riding a horse,” she retorted, as she lifted her foot to the stirrup and expertly hoisted herself up.
Cethin’s horse whinnied at the action, dancing back several steps and tugging its reins from his hold. Her ears flattened, and there was a wildness in her eyes anyone could see and should be wary of.
“It appears you are the one who needs to control your horse,” Kailia said with an air of nonchalance.
Cethin smiled knowingly. “Thera and I will be fine. You worry about your own mount.”
He turned back to his mare, the horse stilling at his approach, and he ran his palm down her neck a few times. The mare’s eyes took on a soft silver glow, and Razik didn’t need to see his face to know Cethin’s eyes were doing the same. She lowered her head, her nose nuzzling into Cethin’s shoulder.
Kailia watched with interest before she twisted to look at Razik from atop her horse. “He keeps a horse at the abandoned castle?”
“It’s not abandoned,” Razik answered, mounting his own mare and wondering why that was the question she asked instead of the obvious one.
“But you said the capital moved.”
“It did. We didn’t say this castle was no longer used.”
“Who lives here then?” she asked, turning her horse to look up at the structure once more.
“It is still in the family,” Cethin answered, his horse coming up alongside hers.
“Are we going to sit around and chat over tea all day, or are we going into the forest?” Bram teased, joining their company on his own horse. Then a grin curled up at one corner of his mouth as he said, “Wren, always a pleasure when you join us.”
“Why aren’t Fallon and Ariadne keeping you in line?” Razik growled, maneuvering his horse between Bram and Wren.
“We have better things to do than mother grown-ass males,” Fallon said, passing by on her horse. “You abandoned us, so I suppose it’s up to Jarek now,” she added with a fake sigh of resignation.
“As if Jarek can keep anyone in line,” Razik said flatly, the male coming to ride alongside Fallon.
“Says the one who left us for a cushy post in the castle,” Jarek volleyed back.
“Agreed. I don’t get to see Wren nearly as often now,” Bram cut in.
“You’re about to be eating horse shit, Bram,” Razik growled.
The male chuckled under his breath before moving ahead of their company, but not before looking back over his shoulder to wink at Wren. Jarek and Fallon followed, leaving Ariadne and Draven to bring up the rear and keeping Cethin and Kailia in the center. Last year, he’d been leading at the front with Valric. Now he was stuck in the middle, getting constant shit from the rest of the Cadre. It was all in jest, but it was still annoying as fuck. Andyeah, it struck a chord considering he was roped in with Cethin’s company, even if it had been his choice.
“I am confused,” Kailia said when they all started making their way into the forest.
Razik didn’t even want to know what was about to come out of her mouth. It was bound to be something unexpected, and he was proven right when she continued.
“You and Wren have relations, but she also has relations with Bram?”
“No, she does not,” Razik answered tightly.
