Xaydin pulled the black scarf from around his neck and used it to blindfold his horse. “You might want to do the same. It’ll make getting them on board the boat a lot easier and keep them calm during the trip.”
Since she wasn’t that familiar with dealing with horses, she’d trust him on that. But there was just one problem. “I don’t have a scarf.”
“Here.” Masakage handed her a long purple cloth.
Thanking him, she duplicated their actions and covered her horse’s eyes. Or at least she tried to. Unlike theirs, her horse had a mind of his own.
Just as it jerked its reins from her hands, Xaydin caught its bridle. “Easy, boy. Easy.”
The horse quieted.
He held his hand out for her scarf.
Sheepishly, she gave it to him.
Without a word, he blindfolded the beast, then handed the reins to her.
She blushed as she led the horse onto the boat. “Sorry. Horses and I aren’t exactly friends. They’ve never liked me.”
“It’s all right. I can’t ride a human horse.”
Those words confused her. “Human horse? You mean unicorn?”
Xaydin shook his head. “Horses that are used to humans. Trolls, oni, fey and such have different pheromones. Unless a horse is used to the scent, they tend to be skittish of us.”
That made total sense and it was something she’d never thought of before. “Oh. It’s not used to my scent.”
Those words caused Xaydin’s eyes to darken an instant before he cleared his throat and looked away.
Gisela froze as she realized he was attracted to her.
That thought sent a wave through her that was as disturbing as it was electrical. Not because she was offended.
Far from it.
Rather, she was thrilled, and that terrified her.
Blushing profusely, she stepped back and saw that Masakage was watching them both with an amused glint in his dark eyes.
She quickly hid behind her horse as she tucked it on board.
Xaydin clicked his teeth. “C’mon, Glory.”
“Glory?” she asked.
“Name of my horse. I forgot to ask about yours. Should we name him?”
She’d not thought about that. “Does Masakage’s have a name?”
“Bluden. And yours is called Gellen.”
Patting her horse’s neck, she was confused by Masakage’s words. “Gellen? How do you know?”
“Kage talks to animals. One of his many annoying gifts.”
“All animals?” she asked.
Masakage nodded. “It’s why X and I get along. I’m one of the few creatures who can speak his language.”
