Page 81 of Vengeance and Vipers

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JULES

I leave the house and make my way slowly to the stable, wondering if this is a mistake. Iron took me out a few timesbefore. He basically taught me everything I didn’t already know from movies about riding.

And I loved it.

The idea of getting back on a horse fills me with anticipation, but I wonder if Iron will really want me there. He’s mostly avoided me since Krase’s game in the forest.

I go into the stable, pausing inside the door to let my eyes adjust to the gloom.

I move through the building, looking in each stall until I find Pitch. His black head pokes over the stall door when he sees me, his ears twitching. Even though I’ve ridden him a few times, his size still shocks me. He’s huge.

My lips curve to a big smile.

‘Hey, boy,’ I murmur, touching his silky nose. ‘You probably don’t remember me, but—’

His face is suddenly nuzzling against my hand, and he steps forward, butting it against my chest. Tears well in my eyes.

‘You do remember me, don’t you?’ I whisper.

‘Are you ready?’

I jump at the sound of Iron’s voice, wiping my eyes quickly before I turn around.

He looks me over and rolls his eyes at my dress. ‘There are some clothes that might fit you in the stall at the end,’ he mutters. ‘Lead him out when you’re ready. He’s all saddled up for you.’

‘Thanks,’ I say a little uncomfortably as I go into the last stall and find a shirt and some pants flung on a chair. They’re the ones Iron got for me last time, I realize, finding my boots there too. Why did he keep them?

With a frown, I don them quickly and grab one of the many jackets hanging from hooks on the wall.

I go to Pitch, open the door of his stall, and take his reins.

‘Ready for some fun, boy?’ I ask.

He comes easily, and when we get to the stable yard, I take him over to one of the mounting blocks. I step up onto the large stone cube, using it to get easily onto Pitch’s tall back, but, for a second, I’m afraid. What if it isn’t like riding a bike at all?

‘Are you okay?’ Iron asks, bringing his white and brown stallion up next to mine.

‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘It’s just … what if I can’t remember how?’

He regards me stonily, and I can’t help but think that maybe coming out here was a mistake.

‘Look, if you’d rather ride alone, I can—’

‘No,’ Iron interrupts. ‘You’ll be fine, Jules, I promise. I’m right here if you have a problem.’

I give him a wan smile.

‘We’ll take it slow first, okay? Just a walk down the lane and go from there.’

I grip the reins the way he taught me, and he gives me a nod when he notices. I try not to feel giddy at his silent praise, but I don’t quite manage it.

We leave the yard side-by-side and turn down the gravel lane. I reach forward and scratch behind Pitch’s ears.

‘When I found the stables empty, I thought Maddox had had the horses sold,’ I murmur.

Iron shakes his head. ‘When the authorities took us in, Maddox was given half an hour to tie up loose ends. He had them all taken to a nearby farm to be looked after until we could return.’