“Talon!” Emmeric yelled. His friend only chuckled, but Iyana smiled as well.
“Drink it or don’t,” she said, shrugging. “You’ll just have to take my word I’m not trying to ruthlessly pick you off one by one.”
Talon’s eyes twinkled. “There are worse ways to die, I suppose.” He uncorked the vial with his teeth, spit the cork to the ground, and drank down the entire potion. They all waited with bated breath, but nothing happened.
Zane ventured, “Are you sure that one worked?”
“Of course I’m sure,” Iyana snapped. A minute later and Talon’s eyes lit up.
“I feel great!” he shouted, lifting Iyana into a bear hug, spinning her around. She squealed and giggled. “Thanks, Smalls.”
“Any time,” she said, smiling. Leave it to Tal to befriend the prickly Mouse.
They continued on through the late morning and afternoon, mostly in silence. Iyana still attempted to keep as much distance from him as was possible in a saddle, which wasn’t much. It was obvious how uncomfortable she was, fighting against the motions of the horse.
“Relax,” he told her softly. She scoffed, lifting her bound hands and flipping him off over her shoulder. He lowered his voice further. “I tried to help you. I didn’t tell him anything other than I was in your village, and I ‘escaped.’ Uther is the one who asked for you specifically.”
She turned slightly in the saddle, her brown eyes wide. “Uther asked forme? Why?”
“Gods only know, but it can’t be for anything good.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you more back in Huton.”
“Sorry doesn’t change the situation, Emmeric.”
“You’re right,” he conceded. “That doesn’t mean you need to be uncomfortable for the next three days.”
She grumbled, but slowly eased back, relaxing against his chest, sighing in relief. “What does he know about Altair?” she murmured.
“Nothing,” Emmeric said quickly. “I swear.”
“But Talon knows.” It wasn’t a question.
“He does. But he’s aware of me also, and I trust him with my life.”
“Sonowyou’re accepting your role in things?” Iyana asked skeptically.
He shrugged one shoulder. “The evidence is stacked against me. The further I drifted from you, there was this tightness coiled in my chest that worsened with almost every step. And now that you’re here, I can breathe easily.”
“I felt it too,” she murmured, rubbing her chest. He couldn’t take it anymore and reached around her. She stiffened, but he only untied the rope’s knot. Red rope burns encircled her slim wrists, making Emmeric wince in shame. Iyana rubbed the ache and shook out her hands. “Thank you.”
“Oh, so the mouse does have manners,” he chuckled, sensing her frown. “Why did you give Tal the potion earlier?”
“I remember you and Grandmother,” her breath hitched, “said what your friend had done. You called him Talon then, and I recognized the name. I wanted to thank him, without getting him in trouble.”
“It gets easier,” he said, leaning into her further. A small shiver coursed through her.
“What does?” she asked, a little breathily.
“The loss. I know how it feels to lose a loved one. It never goes away, not completely, but it does ease. And before you realize it, you’re recalling happy memories instead of sad ones. There are times, though, that are harder than others—birthdays, holidays, the anniversary. Soon, other things take precedence over the grief, but they continue to hold a special, warm place in your heart, and it gets easier.”
“Who?” she whispered.
“My parents. When I was fifteen.”
“I’m sorry.” He heard the sincerity in Iyana’s words. In response and thanks, he squeezed her thigh lightly. The gesture seemed to break any unspoken truce they had just developed, because she slapped his hand away. “Don’t get any ideas back there.”
Emmeric rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry. I don’t like mice.”
Iyana wiggled in front of him, shifting side to side and forward to back. He gritted his teeth, waiting for her to find a comfortable position as her ass ground all over him. When she didn’t immediately stop, he felt himself hardening. He halted her movements by gripping one of her hips. Hard. “Iyana,” he growled in her ear.
