Page 31

The path widened ahead, just enough for me to ride up next to him. I held out my waterskin, attempting to make the movement look natural. As if I was just taking advantage of the increased room.

Lorian took it. “We’re surrounded,” he ground out, his voice so low I could barely hear. “We’re at a disadvantage here, so we need to get to a clearing. I want you on my horse.”

He leaned over, and I was suddenly in his arms. He’d plucked me off my horse like I weighed nothing. Lorian slapped my horse on the rump, and she took off. I managed to get my leg over the saddle just as he kicked his own horse into a gallop.

It was dangerous—riding this fast along such a narrow path. But a male shout rang out behind us.

“What do we do?” I yelled into the wind.

“I’m going to hide you somewhere and take care of them. I’ll come back and find you once they’re dead.”

“No, you’re—”

“Duck!”

I was already hunched in the saddle, and Lorian clamped me to him, curving his huge body around mine.

An arrow went whistling past our heads. It lodged itself into the tree next to us, and Lorian cursed as his horse bucked.

“The iron guards,” he snarled.

“How do you know?”

The arm around my waist somehow became even tighter. “I recognize those fucking arrows.”

CHAPTERSIX

Another bolt flew far too close for comfort. I sucked in a breath. Ahead, the trail curved to the right. Perhaps we could lose them.

Or perhaps I was being far too merciful. If they lived, they would continue to hunt us. And they’d continue to hunt the people I loved.

“Kill them, Lorian. I know you can do it.”

“If I use my power in a wide arc, there will be no survivors. We need at least one of them alive for questioning. I want to know how they found you.”

My heart raced at the thought of his being hunted. Instant denial shot through me. “Lorian.”

“I’m going to drop you off the horse. You’ll hide. Freeze time, and I’ll circle back.”

It was a good plan. I pulled at the threads of my power as the path veered to the right.

Crippling pain burst through my arm. I let out a choked scream, and behind us, someonecheered.

Lorian cursed. “Fae iron. I can scent it. You’re fine. You’re fine, wildcat. But you won’t be able to use your power until I get the iron out.”

His voice was very calm. But I knew him. And I could hear the wrath buried beneath the calm.

The horse was still galloping, jolting my arm with every movement. In the corner of my eye, I could see the bolt, straight through the flesh of my upper arm. My vision darkened at the edges, and fresh panic coursed through me. Powerless. I was—

“Breathe,Prisca.” Lorian curved his body even tighter around mine.

I complied, sucking in deep, steadying breaths. They cleared my head enough that I no longer wanted to pass out.

“That’s it,” Lorian crooned. “I don’t know how many of them there are. I need a better visual. There’s another curve coming up. You’re going to jump.”

I nodded. I’d jump, pull the arrow out of my arm, and circle around from behind. Then I’d help him hunt these bastards down.

We were just foot-spans from the curve of the path when Lorian let out a strange grunt. A gurgle.