Page 42

“You have heard of horses, haven't you?” Reid sneered.

I glared at him. I had ridden a horse once years ago, around the time Gran had gifted me the red riding cloak. I had nearly been unseated, and the terrifying experience had left me afraid of the beasts.

“I just didn't realize Wolven Mages needed to ride horses when you could just shift into wolves,” I said tersely.

“Well, we can't exactly take you with us in our wolf forms,” Alaric said, his tone full of annoyance.

My stomach roiled at the thought of being dragged behind them as they romped through the forest as wolves. Perhaps riding a horse was the best option.

“I—I’m not a very good rider,” I muttered.

“You think we would give you your own horse?” Reid scoffed.

“You'll be riding with me,” Alaric said firmly.

My mouth went dry. Riding with him? My body pressed alongside his? Me, the filthy witch, still pungent from her time in the prison cell, with Alaric, the hardened warrior with more muscles than I could count. The idea of us riding so close together was both laughable and terrifying.

But judging by the look of disgust Reid was giving me, Alaric was the better choice.

“I must warn you,” I said bluntly, “I smell awful.”

Reid snorted, his nose wrinkling. But Alaric merely looked me over, his gaze traveling up and down my body, as he stated, “I’ve smelled worse.”

I frowned at him. He was behaving unusually, but I couldn't explain how. He was still being cold and aloof like before, but there was something strained about his posture and manner. Before, he had seemed more at ease, even if his dislike for me had been obvious. Now, however, he seemed… unsettled.

The two Wolven Mages led me to the stables, which were down another set of stairs in the opposite direction of the courtyard we had come through before. Reid immediately saddled a large white horse, while Alaric approached a huge black stallion, who nickered softly at his approach.

I froze, pulse pounding as I eyed the massive beast. It was nearly as big as Alaric's wolf form, and it would probably be effortless for it to trample me to death.

“Relax,” Alaric said without looking at me as he readied the saddle bags. “He won't hurt you.”

Once more, I wasn't sure if I believed him. I trusted that the horse would not harm Alaric. But me? I was a witch, and it was clear that everyone here detested me. It was easy to believe the horse did too.

“Is it…” I trailed off, then cleared my throat and tried again. “Is it a shifter like you?”

Reid laughed with derision. “You witches are so clueless.”

“No,” Alaric said, his jaw tight. He drew closer to me, and I stiffened. Before I could process anything, his hands grasped my waist, and he lifted me onto the saddle. I let out a squeal of alarm as I frantically grasped the saddle horn in my efforts to stay atop the horse.

“You’re fine, witchling,” he said in a bored voice, clearly unperturbed by my discomfort. The bastard.

He lifted himself up behind me, his arms on either side of me as he gripped the reins. The heat of his chest enveloped me. I immediately sat up straighter, trying to put distance between us, but the saddle didn’t allow for much space. His form was hard and solid as a rock behind me. His scent of rich spice and loam surrounded me, a pleasant contrast to the filth of the prison cell I was accustomed to.

I hated how good he smelled.

Blinking rapidly, I fixed my attention on something else. My eyes landed on Reid, who was watching me carefully, as if expecting me to lash out or attack them.

I wanted to scream at him. I was no threat to these powerful Mages, and even if I were, I was still chained by Alaric's cuffs. What danger could I possibly pose to them?

Alaric tugged on the reins, leading the horse out of the stables. The horse’s movement elicited a yip of terror from me. Behind me, Alaric huffed in exasperation, his breath hot in my ear.

“Will you calm down?” he said. “I assure you, you’re safe.”

A strangled noise was my only response. I gripped the horn so tightly my knuckles turned white as I expected to lose my balance and fall off. I could feel the horse’s muscles moving even through the saddle. My stomach churned, and nausea rose up inside me. Alaric's strong arms tightened around me, almost imperceptibly. It was still jarring to be so close to him, but his strength was reassuring. With him there, I knew I would not fall.

Reid followed us as we trotted down a stone path and toward a road lined by trees. It was similar to the path we had taken leading up to the castle, but this one was wider and filled with more people—some atop horses, and others on foot. There were even a few wagons and carts.

“How large is the Isle?” I asked, glancing around as I realized it spanned a much greater distance than I had originally thought.