Page 18 of Urn My Love

Sitting on the dirt outside the tent, I quickly cut several strips from the leather. Task finished, I cut the remaining fabric into two narrow lengths. Winding them around my feet, I used the leather strips to hold the makeshift shoes in place.

Thankfully, I wouldn’t have to walk most of the journey, but it would make things more comfortable when I did.

Tying the last piece of leather, I stood and tucked the knife in the pocket of the baggy pants August had brought us that morning. As I bent to gather the blankets, a book slid from between them.

“What’s this?” I murmured under my breath, picking it up and flipping through the pages.

My stomach dropped as I read page after page of notes on experiments. Most of the notes talked about subject 2447, which I quickly figured out was Jazriel, but it also referenced several other subjects.

Had they been freed when Amaryllis and her mates shut the facilities down? Or were some of them still being held captive like Jazriel?

Unbuttoning the pocket on the side of the pants, I slipped the notebook inside. I would study it later and then send it to Xerxes or Anzac. They could have their team check up on the other paranormals mentioned inside it and make sure they were safe.

August had already saddled several of the horses, and I quickly tied the blankets to one of the saddles. Hurrying back to where I dropped the canteens, I carried them to another saddle and secured them, planning to fill them when we found a stream.

“Are you ready?” August asked, striding up beside me.

“You really don’t have to stay, August.” I tilted my head to look up at him. “I can make it back to the lodge. We both know you could fly back to the lodge much faster than it will take us to travel on the ground.”

August checked his saddle, not bothering to respond.

“I am not your responsibility.” I rested my hand on his arm. “You made your decision clear the first time we met, and I’ve accepted your terms. If it is guilt holding you here, then just know you don’t need to feel that way.”

The words tasted sour on my tongue. I may have accepted that he didn’t want the mate bond, but that didn’t mean my heart didn’t ache over it.

August’s arm circled my waist, pinning me between his chest and the horse. “This has nothing to do with guilt.” His lips dropped to my neck, close enough I could feel his heat, but not actually touching my skin.

My brow creased. If it wasn’t the mate bond and it wasn’t guilt, then why on earth was he still here? Especially when he didn’t exactly enjoy my company.

Chill bumps rippled over my skin and my heart ached at his closeness and his heady scent filling my lungs.

“Then why?” I asked, voice breathy.

Instead of answering me, August lifted me into the saddle.

“If Pony Boy is ready, we should head out.”

“He has a name,” I pointed out, frustrated that he seemed to be toying with me.

“I know.” August mounted the horse in front of mine. “I just don’t care.”

Jazriel trotted by us, accidentally smacking August in the head with his wing. At least I think it was an accident.

As Jazriel moved down the trail, the horses quickly fell in line behind him and our journey began.

The ride went well that first day, right up until a squirrel scurried in front of my horse. My horse darted away from the ferocious rodent and into the woods.

Focusing on keeping my seat, I stayed relaxed and tried to reassure my mount. I didn’t consider bailing. In hindsight, that was a mistake. Branches whipped my face and legs, tearing at my skin, but my only concern was calming my horse before he hurt himself.

I clung to his back as he weaved between trees at a dizzying speed. It would definitely have helped if I’d possessed my ability to open portals on Earth, and could have portaled us to an open field, but that was a skill that unfortunately I hadn’t been able to use since leaving Cucalas.

None of my abilities were going to help in this situation, other than my inability to stay dead.

“Whoa. Easy. You’re okay.” I tried to keep my voice confident and reassuring.

The ground suddenly gave way beneath the horse’s hooves. Despite my death grip, I was flung from his back. My body flipped midair, and I came to a stop when my back collided with a fallen tree in the dry creek bed.

I could have survived the tumble.

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