“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll ride behind me.”
“I beg your pardon?” The words held the hint of a growl that put even Mauro’s rumbling voice to shame.
“Mauro is the only one strong enough to carry us both.” I settled into position on Mauro’s back, my legs on either side of him.
“What aboutmy horse?” Theron bit out. “Oranyhorse in the stables?”
“I can’t risk leaving a trail for others to follow. Stable hands can be bribed for information.” I tilted my head at him and narrowed my eyes. “Besides, I’d wager you spent all your coin on your generous helpings of ale last night.”
Theron’s gaze darkened, and, to my surprise, his cheeks flushed. I barked out a surprised laugh. I had indeed caught him. I was sure he was looking forward to providing yet another obstacle to our journey when he revealed his empty coin purse. He had probably expected the stable hand to call the authorities when Theron couldn’t pay to have his horse cared for. A few nights in a jail cell would certainly have slowed our travels.
“So, it’s your choice, Sir Hunter,” I said. “You can try to keep up on foot, or you can climb up behind me.”
“And if I refuse to leave until I find a proper mount?” Theron crossed his arms.
Mauro snorted in derision. “You won’t find a mount with half my wit or speed.”
“Mauro isn’t the only fae beast here, you know,” I said. “The forest is full of them, and they areallmy friends. Allwilling to help me.” I raised my eyebrows at Theron. “You can try to resist, hunter. But if you do, between me, the stag, the fox, and the dragons, I think we’ll be able to force you on this mount.”
Theron’s face paled. “Dragons?”
I beamed. “Yes. Dragons.” Never mind that Rogun was so big he could hardly move without falling asleep. Or that Kendra was so terrified of confrontation that she would bury herself in my cloak before approaching Theron.
The hunter didn’t need to know that.
A muscle worked in Theron’s jaw as he, too, glanced around the forest, no doubt searching for a way out of this predicament.
After a long, tense moment, he hissed a breath from his teeth. “Very well, princess,” he spat. “You win this round.”
A delighted chuckle escaped me as he stomped toward the stag, preparing to swing his leg over the side.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Mauro huffed. “Grab a log to use as a mounting block.”
“You didn’t demand a mounting block forher,” Theron argued, and I had to laugh again at the lunacy of this deadly assassin arguing with a stag.
“I trust her,” Mauro said. “And she’s much smaller than you.”
“Hey.” I gently swatted one of his antlers.
“Just a fact, princess. You are quite petite.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not as petite as Stella.”
“Even the mice are not as petite as Stella.”
To my annoyance, Theron was smirking. I snapped my fingers at him. “Mounting block. Now.”
“I don’t take orders from you, little princess.”
I refused to rise to his baiting, turning my head away so Ididn’t have to look at his smug face. A loud thump indicated he’d found a log. I scooted forward to make room for him as he used the log to hoist himself atop Mauro. To his credit, the great stag didn’t even groan or shift from the additional weight on his back, though I knew he wasn’t accustomed to carrying two travelers.
“You all right?” I asked, rubbing the side of his neck.
“Don’t patronize me,” he snapped.
I withdrew my hand as if he’d burned me, remembering that Mauro hated to be coddled. Theron adjusted his seating behind me, his chest flush against my back and his warmth surrounding me. I was irritated to discover he had a very pleasing scent of willow bark and something brisk and earthy that reminded me of the mountains.
“Don’t fall off,” I tossed over my shoulder before Mauro broke into a gallop.
