Page 41 of Blackheart

If he wanted the reins so badly, he could have them. I pushed away from Riven’s hold and threw myself off the stallion. I hit the ground, the pain laughable in the wake of everything else I had been through in the last few days. Anger rose like bile in my chest as I forced myself up, heaving through the heartache.

Riven quickly made his way back to me. “Move!”

A buzzing sound came flying toward me, piercing directly through my thigh.

Chapter 13

The Best Gift

“In the wake of this week’s treacherous Sapphire assault upon the Northern Wayward’s, several prisoners have fled their chains. The Crown Council claims its finest hunters now ride to reclaim what was lost.”

—Excerpt from The Lyonscliff Press, most recent issue

I dreamtof nothing but darkness.

When I woke, I found myself on horseback, my head leaning into Riven's shoulder. Dark fabric tied us together as my weight leaned back into his muscular chest. It was bright out, with nothing but trees surrounding us.

“Why am I tied to you?” I groaned, pointing to the band that held me.

“Holding onto you grew tiresome,” he grumbled.

I stared down. A white cloth was wrapped around my thigh, caked with dried blood, but no arrow.

It had been real. Everything was real. I gasped, panic surfacing again.

Riven gripped me. “Stop it,” he growled.

“Tell me what happened!”

I needed to get off the horse, to stop moving.

“To you? You got yourself shot with an arrow. To the Sapphire who shot you? I broke the hand that held the bow, and my blade claimed the one that released the arrow. Everyone else? Captured or free. Only time will tell.”

As flattering as it was that he’d made a handless man out of my attacker, I had no interest in being tied to him on horseback. I reached down and ripped the band, releasing myself so I could at least stretch my torso while I simmered in my dread.

“Ilikedthat sheet,” Riven muttered.

I turned to face him as he tossed the ripped fabric to the ground.

“I wasn’t aware you'd brought yourbedding.”

“Now you’ll have to share yours.”

My cheeks flushed. “I’ll share my bedding with a Draker the day Queen Delaina shares hers with a Blackheart.” I didn’t even have bedding. I had nothing except my bag, a deed to Castivian, and the King's Mark.

I had been unconscious long enough for the Sapphire attack to either be over, or so far behind us that only the wintry wind rustling the trees could be heard. If I didn’t know better, I’d have thought Riven managed to sleep at some point as well. He was alert and put together, as if he would not be caught dead looking out of order. The same could not be said for me.

I leaned forward, giving my best attempt to relieve the tension. The morning sun was just peeking through the trees. With every stretch, my body ached with protest.

“Do you need me to crack your back?” Riven asked.

“On horseback?”

He pulled the reins to a halt and hopped down. He didn’t bother to stretch his legs or show any sign that he had been riding all night.

“His name is Kostini,” Riven said, referring to the horse.

I stroked Kostini’s dark mane, and the horse snorted. I supposed he was grateful for a break, too. One leg after the next, I clumsily swung off, planting my feet on the ground. A shattering pain shot through my injured thigh.