Page 74 of The Twisted Throne

“Not sure anything can kill that woman, much less that idiot horse,” Will said, then he gripped James’s shoulders. “I have nothing but total confidence that you’ll bring her back to me in one piece.”

Will walked away to join his friends, the trio bypassing the mules to begin the long walk up to the Sky Palace.

Georgie approached. “The gelding came last,” he said. “Slow off the start and couldn’t rally in the homestretch. Will took it badly. Likely because he lost a great deal of money.”

“I don’t care about the horse,” James snapped. “Do they know why he’s here?”

“Interestingly, it seems he gave his friends the same explanation as he just gave to you.” Georgie watched the trio circle the tower. “Maybe it’s the truth. Maybe he plans to make the best of things, for once.”

“Maybe,” James said, without feeling, because he wasn’t convinced.

The clip-clop of hooves caught his attention. Ahnna was leading Dippy out of the stables, the groom offering suggestions.Sighing, James approached. “Saddle Daisy,” he said, naming Virginia’s placid mare. “This isn’t a horse on which one learns to ride.”

Nor was that a dress suitable for riding, but that he kept to himself.

“I’ll learn to ride my own horse.” Ahnna carefully lifted the reins over the tall gelding’s head, the animal eyeing her with far too much interest.

“He’s only half broke.” James took hold of the reins. “The only thing he knows how to do is a mad gallop around the oval with a boy trained to ride since birth clinging to his back. You’re going to get hurt.”

Ahnna shrugged, the prospect of pain clearly not enough to dissuade her. “He and I will learn together.”

“That’s not how it’s done.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he regretted them.

Especially when she shot him a grin. “That’s how I like to do everything, James.”

“You’d like Daisy saddled, then, sir?” the groom asked.

“No,” Ahnna said, right as James said, “Yes.”

Her smirk turned into a glare. “This is my horse, which means this is the horse I wish to ride.”

Further protest would not dissuade her, so he said, “Fine. If you can get on him, I’ll teach you how to ride him.”

Ahnna didn’t answer, only went to Dippy’s saddle, taking hold of the stirrup.

“Mount on the left,” he said. “Or your weapons will catch.”

“I’m not wearing any.”

“Yes, you are.” He grimaced at the admission he’d been looking at her thighs for long enough to see the outline of a knife, but she made no comment.

Ahnna circled the animal’s rear, dodging as the stupid horse tried to kick her.

“I suppose not doing that again is self-explanatory,” he said, and was rewarded with a glower.

Catching hold of the left stirrup, she lifted her foot, making excellent use of both her height and her apparent flexibility as she maneuvered her silk slipper into the opening. “You should be wearing boots,” he said.

“Well, I’m not,” she retorted, trying to keep her skirt from sliding up her thigh, hold the reins, and grip the stirrup. For a heartbeat, he thought the horse might stand for her and that she’d get it on the first try, but then Dippy snorted and sidestepped, rotating away from her.

Ahnna hopped on her right foot, trying to keep up with the animal as he circled James, skirt sliding up her leg to reveal a very bare muscled thigh, but the horse only shuffled faster. With anoof,she landed on her ass.

James huffed out an amused breath, hoping that would be the end of it.

“You don’t need to look so happy,” she growled, ignoring the hand he offered to pull her to her feet.

“You know what would make me happy, my lady?” James said. “For you to learn to ride on a horse with half a brain between its ears. A horse that is well trained. A horse that isn’t likely to get you injured or killed. But as is your habit, you seem intent on doing the exact opposite of what makes me happy, even if it spits in the face of good sense.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. This has nothing to do with you.”

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