Page 24

I look dumbly at his back, my brain and body still reeling.

“Do you need me to carry you?” Ledger’s back is still to me and my cheeks heat at his words.

God, I’ve never felt more pathetic than I do at this moment.

Indignation fills my veins at being assaulted and not being able to properly defend myself.

I am sick of being a victim, sick of being weak and compliant.

I never want to feel this way again. “I’d sooner throw myself down the stairs.

” I spit as I push past Ledger, ignoring the pounding of my head and the aching in my ribs.

Weakness was something I was done feeling and refused to show.

I march right out of the inn and straight over to our horses. Cam is in his saddle on high alert as he scans the area. Mia and Archie are whispering to each other and as I approach, they swiftly stop, looking at me cautiously.

Mia walks over as I grab the pommel of Apollo’s saddle. The movement sends a sharp pain radiating through my chest.

“You okay?” Mia’s voice is soft as she gently palms my shoulder. When I glance over at her, her brows are furrowed, and she looks genuinely concerned.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m glad you fought back,” she says, and I pause for a moment considering her words.

“Barely. He was seconds away from tossing me onto his horse and parading me back to Bellehaven. I want you to train me. I want to be able to really fight back.” I have been so sheltered my entire life and have relied on Maddox for too much.

I am sick of being a victim, sick of having not even a semblance of control over my life.

A small smile spreads across her face. “Gladly.”

“Okay, we start when we arrive in Westray.” I walk to Apollo. He nudges my middle gently. I wrap my arms around him and pat his neck as he nuzzles in further. “I’m okay, buddy; you did good back there.”

Ledger studies our interaction.

When I’m ready, I grit my teeth, stepping into the stirrup and pulling myself into the saddle. The pain steals my breath, and it’s an effort to keep my face blank .

I try to take some steadying breaths but with the tight bandages and my hurt rib, I barely manage a few unsatisfying gasps.

Archie appears, holding up a flask. “To help with the pain.” He glances back. “Don’t tell Ledger,” He winks.

“Thanks, Archie.” I grab the flask from him, unscrewing it and taking a sniff.

It has a sharp, stringent odor that nearly makes me retch.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I take a sip, sputtering.

“That has to be the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, grimacing.

“That’s how you know it’s the good stuff.” He wiggles his eyebrows and walks away.

Ledger approaches, and I keep my eyes stubbornly ahead. Archie and he have a hushed conversation, and I nudge Apollo with my ankles.

To my surprise, he complies and begins trotting. I have to bite back my smile at the stunned look on Ledger’s face as he jogs after us, grabbing Apollo’s pommel and sweeping up behind me gracefully.

It takes him a moment to recover, but once he does, he reaches for the reins. “Brace yourself, blondie, this isn’t going to be a pleasant day for you.”

“No day that I’m stuck on this horse with you is a pleasant day, Ledger.”

With that, he gives Apollo a soft kick and we set out for the day. The first hour of the ride is rough. Every jostle of my ribs sends shooting pains throughout my chest. I wince as I take small sips of the liquor, gritting through the pain.

My head spins as I shift, trying to find less painful positions.

Visions of the knife sinking into Anders’ neck fill my thoughts, but I can’t seem to find any remorse. I channel my indignation at the events into resolve. I should have shown up to more of Maddox’s training sessions. I’m sure he will be thrilled when I tell him he was right.

I struggle to breathe sucking in pitiful gasps of air. My back aches from trying to keep still and straight. Ledger’s hand eventually snakes around my injured rib, warm and steady.

“What are you doing?” I tense under his touch

“I don’t enjoy seeing you in pain, and now that I’ve gained control of my emotions again—I’d like to attempt to ease it.” I don’t have a clue what he is referring to but realize when I lean into his touch that some part of me innately trusts him.

“You can do that?”

“I can attempt. It’s difficult to do and if my concentration slips, I could siphon your power. If you can, hold completely still.”

His power cools my heated skin as it seeps into me. It feels so different than I remember. It isn’t unpleasant. I can feel the pull of him drawing from me, but it’s not accompanied by pain. Instead, relief throbs through me, the twinges of pain fading until they are a faint pulse.

I take a deep breath as his power recedes back into him. His palm falls away.

My hand replaces his prodding the area gently. I turn my head to the side to peek up at him.

“Thank you.” I know little about siphoning power but can tell by his change in posture that he’d taken my discomfort and made it his own. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“You would have done it for me, or anyone here for that matter.” He shifts in the saddle. “You can save my life twice and I can’t take some of your pain?”

“Well, when you put it that way,” I smile. “I guess now we’re even.”