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17

Aucun Désir

Evander

The wind lashes my face as Étoile carves a path through the trees, hooves sinking into the sodden ground.

The further I gallop, the more the irritation seeps into my bones, a weight I cannot shake.

Every word of his addressed to Isobel flares up again in my mind. His voice, the way he spoke those phrases to her, makes me tighten my fists on the reins without realizing it.

If he dares come near me again, I truly will break those fingers of his, one bone at a time.

Slowly.

Excruciatingly slowly.

Distant thunder rumbles through the trees, a flash of lightning illuminates the woods in fits and starts. Étoile jolts, ears pricking, but I do not yield. His frenzy brushes against me, I feel him faltering in his steps, but I urge him on with only the pressure of my legs.

The more he advances, the further I leave the group behind, moving away from the noise, the words, and his shadow that seems to follow me everywhere. My heart beats rapidly, and with every gallop, the insufferable restlessness grows, insatiable.

Stupid fucking man.

I hate him.

I hate his voice.

I hate his insufferable face.

I let myself be carried deeper into the forest, but a sound behind me makes me wheel around sharply.

Lord Dorian’s horse is chasing me through the trees, its mane rising with the chase. My blood boils in my veins, my hands grip the reins with force, and with a kick of my legs, I push Étoile faster, trying to carve a void between us.

“Wait!” he yells behind me.

Thunder rumbles closer, lightning illuminates the rain that is beginning to fall, thin but insistent.

Étoile whinnies. I feel him hesitate, tempted by the slippery mud, and I encourage him with my body. I turn again, and he is there, closer, his horse neighing, the rain falls thicker now, cold drops cutting my neck, my cloak becoming heavy and drenched. The ground is wet, treacherous, but I do not slow down.

“Stop!”

His voice, now a true shout, echoes through the trees.

“Fuck—Evander! Stop!”

The sound of my name sparks the anger I was trying to hide beneath my skin even further. With a sudden movement, I shift my weight back and rein in Étoile decisively. The horse stops dead, hooves sinking into the mud, nostrils trembling as he snorts and kicks slightly. I turn, short of breath, my eyes searching for Dorian through the veil of rain.

The water lashes my face, my hair sticks to my skin, my wet shirt weighs heavy on my shoulders.

He is close.

“What the hell are you doing!”

“Why did you come after me?” I hiss. “Go back to charming everyone else!”

My chest rises and falls violently, every breath is a blow that shakes my body.

He pants beside me. “We must go back, the rain is getting worse!”