Page 115 of This Vicious Dream

I’ve pushed him hard. Too hard. But he gives me a gallop, legs stretching as he eats at the distance. I push my power into him, giving him everything I have left, well aware that I’ll be weakened when I find Madinia.

Dread burrows into my stomach. Madinia Farrow is a survivor. But she likes Haldrik. And she won’t see this betrayal coming.

My rage is endless, but it’s the helplessness that burns hotter than even Madinia’s fire.

Stay alive. Just stay alive.

It takes hours to retrace my path. Twice, I have to stop to let Fox rest, impatience burning through me. And then I hear it.

Hooves pounding against the ground. Multiple horses.

I mount, turning Fox toward the road.

Even in the dim light of the evening, it’s Madinia who I see first. Her hair catches the last faltering rays of the sun, and my heart stops.

Mottled bruises cover one side of her face, and she’s splattered with blood. Her mouth is set with grim determination, and her eyes are narrowed, filled with wrath.

She slows, as do the three others she rides with. But I only have eyes for her.

“Calysian?” Madinia’s voice is quiet, more hesitant than I’ve ever heard.

“Who hurt you?”

Relief flashes across her face and she dismounts from her horse. She stumbles, and I launch myself from Fox, catching her.

She freezes. “I’ve never seen you movethatfast.”

My hand trembles as I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, taking in the blue and purple bruises. “It was Haldrik, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” she murmurs. “He’s dead.”

The others dismount, and I pull her close, breathing in her scent. “I shouldn’t have left you. I’m sorry.” The words stick in my throat.

“It’s not your fault. We’ll talk about it later.” She pulls away. “Calysian, this is Asinia, Demos, and Rythos.” Her eyes shine in a way I’ve never seen before. “They’ve been looking for me.”

I nod at them, ignoring the suspicious looks aimed my way.

Madinia glances at Fox. “He needs to rest.”

Remorse flashes through me as I walk to him, taking in his lowered head and heaving sides. “I’m sorry, old friend.” It will be at least two days before I can risk mounting him again.

Madinia approaches, stroking his nose, and Fox nuzzles her hand. “Let’s make camp. And you can tell me about Haldrik.”

Demos, Rythos, and Asinia have brought plenty of supplies. Within an hour, we’re seated around a fire, and flames are flickering across Madinia’s bruised face as she tells me about Haldrik’s betrayal. She curls her arms around herself, and I want nothing more than to turn back time and kill him for her.

Eventually, Madinia tells the others about her capture and the three years she spent in Kyldare’s tower. She keeps her voice light, glossing over the worst of the horror, but I catch the sorrow in Asinia’s eyes, the way Demos’s hand flexes on his knee.

“He’s dead,” Rythos vows, and I meet his eyes.

“That task belongs to me.”

“No,” Madinia says cooly. “It belongs tome.”

The others are quiet, but Asinia begins talking about life in the hybrid kingdom, and eventually, Rythos teases Madinia about their time spent imprisoned together during the war.

As much as I would like to listen, to learn all I can about Madinia’s past, there’s something else I need to do.

I caught sight of Eamonn earlier, following Madinia in his leopard form. With a nod at the others, I get to my feet, heading in his direction.

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