He grabs my hand and shifts. We become mist together, traveling through the dim morning shadows that tuck behind each tree. With each second, the morning sun becomes brighter, and I can only hope that Larkin doesn’t hate me even more for being late.
We land in a small pocket of trees just outside the house grounds. Silas pauses for a moment, catching his breath, and I step forward, gazing through the trees toward the house. A tall figure rests on the porch, long legs spread out across the wood. Two horses dip their heads to the ground, sniffing and chewing.
Nerves crash into my stomach, and we step out of the shadows.
As we approach the house, Larkin sits up and crosses his arms over his propped leg. I am delighted to realize that Myah is one of the horses. Her bright white coat shines in the morning light, and a smile spreads across my face. I rush up to her, placing both hands on the bridge of her strong nose.
Myah huffs, and I chuckle. “Hello, sweet girl.”
I glance back at Larkin and notice a few shining weapons in the morning sun. A sword the length of my entire torso lies next to him. The beautifully decorated hilt is adorned with orange gemstones, and I gawk at its beauty. Next to the sword, I see my axes. The stunning gold shimmers like the sun’s rays.
“I can’t say I’m surprised you two are late,” Larkin snarks.
“It’s literally all his fault,” I say, wasting no time playfully ratting Silas out.
“Oh, quit your bitching, Spiridon,” Silas barks back. “We are barely late.”
The horse next to Myah is as dark as the fresh night sky. Black hair is brushed perfectly alongside the horse’s velvety neck, and a few braided strands decorate its mane. I reach gently toward the beast, and it huffs in response before turning its large head away from my touch.
“Wow, Larkin.” I cross my arms. “Your horse hates me, too.”
Silas laughs. “That’s Atlas, and I believe he’s grumpier than Larkin most days.”
“Impossible,” I reply, extending my hand toward the horse’s nose.
“Watch him,” Silas says, still smiling. “He bites.”
“Larkin or the horse?” I respond, causing Silas to boom another laugh.
“Alright, for fucks sake,” Larkin barks. “That’s enough. We need to get going. I don’t want to be anywhere near this place come late afternoon.”
The morning sun begins to warm us, and Silas helps me mount Myah, handing me both axes so I can secure them tightly on my back. Larkin leaps, easily throwing a leg over Atlas with his sword strapped to the side.
Silas hands me the reins and pets Myah for a moment. I can see sadness swell in his eyes, and I know he’s thinking about Xena.
“We will get her back,” I whisper.
He shakes his head, clearing his thoughts. “Be careful. Leaving the kingdom’s limits isn’t safe, and where you are headed is worse. Stay alert every single second, and if your senses flare, listen to them. Don’t do anything stupid.”
I smile. “I would never.”
He chuckles, slapping my ass. “Go, before I change my mind.”
I nod.
“Larkin, if you let anything happen to her, I’ll kill you.”
“You got it, boss,” he responds.
Larkin gently taps Atlas’s ribs, prompting him forward, and I follow behind. We head toward the dense forest, deeper into the island. I glance over my shoulder to see Silas watching us from the front yard. I wave, and he returns the gesture.
I blink, then he vanishes, shifting into the shadows to talk to his mother.
Anxiety fills me as I turn back to Larkin, who is riding ahead of me. I gently kick Myah to speed up so I can ride beside him and Atlas. Larkin doesn’t meet my gaze; he continues to look forward at the small opening into the forest.
“We will ride the horses for as long as we can, but we will reach a place they can’t enter,” Larkin says.
“Will they be okay alone out here?” I ask.
