The shifter lifted a brow.
“Wanna race?”
A broad grin was her only answer before she kicked her horse into a gallop.Emmeric cursed, then did the same.Iyana shrieked and gripped the pommel.Pryn quickly caught up to Kaz’s horse and Emmeric held them level.They both knew Pryn was faster—he’d been trained by Zane and it showed.The two riders exchanged grins, and then, crowing out to the sky, Emmeric urged Pryn to add more speed.Iyana still clung to the saddle, but Emmeric made sure his arms were tight around her while holding onto the reins.
When the landscape changed from the dry desert to a lush, green forest, Emmeric pulled the reins back, and Pryn slowed to a stop.The horse’s sides heaved underneath them.
“Good boy,” Emmeric said, patting his neck.
Iyana’s entire body trembled in front of him, her hair windswept and gorgeous.
“Are you okay?”he asked.
She nodded.“That was terrifying.Yet also exhilarating.”
Emmeric smiled broadly.“Most of the best things in life are a mixture of both.”
Kaz arrived then, skidding to a stop next to them.Both she and the horse were breathing heavily.Her face was frowning and hard, but there was still a twinkle in her eyes.
“That wasn’t a fair fucking race,” she complained.“You have a royal Athusan horse and I have this nag!”Her horse nickered like it understood Kaz and took offense.“I want a rematch.”
He swung his leg over the saddle and dropped to the ground.“So I can kick your ass again?Sure, you’re on.”
As Altair and Okab trotted into the oasis at a much slower pace, Kaz jabbed her finger at them.
“You’ll be on one oftheirhorses to even the playing field.”
“Yeah, okay.”Emmeric chuckled and reached up to help Iyana out of the saddle.“I’m still going to win.”
Kaz huffed, but she dismounted her own horse and began leading it away.Emmeric had been so distracted by the race and then lowering Iyana’s body off the horse that he hadn’t been able to appreciate where they were.But now, he was able to take in the rich green trees with leaves as big as he was, tall palms laden with coconuts, and a nearby turquoise pool of water.It was larger than he expected, and he could hear a waterfall in the distance.Birds chirped and swooped through the canopy overhead, creating a tranquil environment.
Iyana was taking everything in, a soft smile on her face.“I’ve always loved stepping into an oasis.It’s like another world.”
Emmeric leaned over until his nose brushed the shell of her ear.He smirked when she shivered.
“Come with me,” he said, his voice low and husky.Threading their fingers together, he tugged her into the surrounding brush and followed a small trail uphill.The sound of the waterfall became steadily louder until they walked out into a clearing and stood before it.
Water poured heavily off the rocks and pounded into a pool below.They stood on a rocky precipice above the pool, and while it wasn’t a far drop, toppling over the side would still hurt with the pressure of the falls.Plus, it was impossible to tell how deep that pool was, especially as it snaked down into a river that most likely fed that tranquil pond where they had entered.Emmeric glanced over the edge and swallowed hard.
“Scared of heights?”Iyana asked, a teasing tone in her voice.
“No,” he said, frowning.“I just don’t enjoy falling.”
She tugged on their still connected hands.“Come on, it looks like there’s a cave or something behind the waterfall.I want to check it out.”
“I don’t know, Mouse…”
Iyana smirked as she sauntered back to Emmeric and slid her hands up his chest and behind his neck, playing with the hair at his nape.Her heated gaze dropped straight to his cock.
“Afraid, Sully?After everything we’ve gone up against, a waterfall will best you?”
With a resigned sigh, Emmeric said, “Fine.”
Iyana grinned with her victory and carefully picked her way across the slick rocks to the edge of the falls.Once, she slipped, and Emmeric’s heart lodged in his throat, but she righted herself with those bare, deft toes of hers and continued on.Frigid water sprayed on their faces as they neared the side.At first, only a light sprinkle, but soon it was enough to actually sting his skin.
They edged around the waterfall, their backs pressed against the rocky wall, and they inched slowly into the grotto.It was small, but curved slightly, and as they followed the bend, the deafening roar of water was dulled.There was an outcropping of rocks in the back of the cave, but otherwise, it was completely empty.
“Wow,” Emmeric drawled.“I’m so glad we risked our lives to see this.”
