Page 83 of Vengeance and Vipers

‘Because they’re your family,’ I say, ‘and because they were scared to go against the Council.’

He scoffs. ‘Follow the rules or be punished severely.’

I pale at his words, words that are burned into my mind, words I heard a million times and wish I could forget.

‘Want to race to the north bluff?’ I ask so I don’t keel over and vomit.

Not waiting for his answer, I use my heels to kick Pitch into a gallop, taking off down the dirt road before leaving it and racing over the meadow.

I can’t help the grin that spreads over my face. Krase was right. I do remember how to do this. And I’ve missed it. I feel free!

I see Iron out of the corner of my eye and urge my horse to go faster, my smile wide.

‘I’m going to win!’ I yell into the wind.

I think I hear a response, but whatever Iron says is lost as the distance between us is doubled, and I press on, my destination almost in sight.

Pitch thunders across the wide wooden bridge that goes over the brook, his hooves echoing on the slats. I hear Iron just behind us and let out a whoop as we leap over a short hedge and enter the next field. We sprint across it, but I don’t push Pitch anymore, my win all but assured when I glance back to see Iron only just clearing the same hedge.

I pull the reins and the black stallion skids to a halt by the tall oak tree we were aiming for. I look over my shoulder to find Iron almost upon us, and I cringe as he doesn’t slow his horse until the last second. When he finally jerks to a stop next to me, the same smile is on his face.

‘I told you you’d be fine,’ he says.

‘You were right, you were right,’ I concede.

Pitch whinnies, batting the hard earth with his hoof, and I stroke his flank, ‘I should have known you’d want more of a run than this,’ I croon to him as I gaze out over the misty valley and snowy mountains.

I glance over at Iron, who’s staring out at the scenery in front of us.

‘Thank you for letting me come out with you,’ I say.

He gives a curt nod, his smile fading.

‘Well, I guess we should get back,’ I mutter.

He turns his horse without a word, not saying anything until we arrive back at the stables a few minutes later. We dismount from our horses and take them into the paddock to unsaddle them. When they’re safely back in their stalls, he finally turns to me.

‘GiGi and the others aren’t my family anymore,’ he says. ‘My clan are my family, Julia.’

There’s a warning glint in his eye that makes me take a step back, but then he turns away, walking quickly back toward the house.

Left alone in the stable, I change back into my dress, leaving the riding clothes where I found them.

I go back to the house, entering through the kitchens and finding Tabitha at the stove. She gives me a smile.

‘I think Jayce was looking for you,’ she murmurs.

‘Thanks,’ I say. ‘I’ll go find him.’

She closes her eyes.

‘He’s in his room,’ she says very quietly, and I wonder how much she knows about what’s going on in this house.

Probably a lot. Probably everything. I let out a breath, hoping I can trust her as I give her another thanks and leave the kitchens.

I slip into the passages via the Parlor, and I knock quietly on Jayce’s secret door, and it opens a second later. He’s back in his paint-splattered jeans and no shirt on.

He looks surprised to see me, but he pulls me into his room and straight into his arms.