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He stopped as they reached the mare’s side. He grabbed the bridle as Iseris steadied herself, reaching for the pommel. No—untie the reins from the tree, you fool. They wouldn’t be going anywhere without that. He frowned.

They? No. Her.

He would throw them off the trail by separating from her. That was it. It was the only way. He turned to say his bleak goodbyes, but Iseris was still standing where he’d left her, frowning at the saddle. He almost shouted at her and lunged forward, but a sound stopped him short.

A growl. A close growl. No echo.

He turned. One dark hound crested the hill they’d struggled down. Even in the dim forest, the creature’s eyes glinted yellow.

Jav wasn’t prone to swearing, but this was the time. Especially when two more pairs of eyes eased up beside the first.

He waited a beat, then swallowed. No more eyes appeared in the darkness. Three dogs—not the usual six. That was something. His loosening of the latches must have let the other three escape.

Still, it’d be impossible to throw even three of these off her trail. Or to hide.

He’d have to go down swinging. And he couldn’t stop there, he’d only slow them. With only his fists? The price would be his life.

A worthy sacrifice.

“Get on the horse, Iseris,” he whispered, using her name. The only luxury he could afford at the moment or maybe ever again. What were they going to do, kill him for it? “Please. I’ll delay them.”

“I don’t know how,” she whispered. “I never learned. I don’t …. I mean, I can’t?—”

He almost forgot the wolves—no, they were ordinary dogs, weren’t they?—and stared wide-eyed at her.

Now that… That was one thing he hadn’t figured into his plan.

Chapter 13

One Horse, Two Riders

“I’ll lift you up. Throw your leg over,” Javarin was shouting as he seized her hips.

“Jav—” It was all she could do not to buck and elbow him in the face. The waves of fear from the horse were almost overwhelming, and the growling hunger from the dogs behind them made thought almost impossible.

Only Jav’s voice reminded her she had a body of her own. But she had no right to ride this powerful, majestic creature. And no idea how. And people died being thrown from horses.

“Leg over, then just hold on.” He was preparing to lift her.

“It’s not as simple as that!”

“Sure it is.” He hesitated. “This is life or death. Hold on tight, squeeze your knees against her to go faster. You’re clever. You’ll figure it out.”

She glanced at the dogs behind him. They had slowed upon their arrival, easing forward, growls and heads low. Stalking their prey. Fresh waves of desperate hunger rolled off them, crashed against her mind.

Too late. It was too late. She was a shivering rabbit. She was dinner.

“Now, Iseris,” Jav demanded. He gripped her hips again, braced to lift. The mare’s anxiety was already stirred. Jav was throwing logs onto the fire.

Not just Jav. Iseris too. Was it her own fear frightening the mare in the first place?

This gigantic, restless, frightened creature didn’t trust her—quite reasonably. But if Jav thought she could simply mount this noble creature for the first time in her life and just ride away and save herself, he’d gone quite mad.

No. There was another way.

“You must hurry.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”

“Liar. Your voice gives you away, you know.” She pushed his hands from her hips.