Page 24 of Tethered In Blood

She wasn’t used to being handled, then.

She went rigid when I swung myself into the saddle behind her, as straight as a damn spear. She straightened, and her spine locked in place as if sheer stubbornness alone could prevent her from acknowledging our proximity.

“Hold on tight,” I said firmly. “If you think you might fall, lean into me. I’d prefer not to hear an earful from Calder because of your stubbornness.”

Her head turned, revealing the tension in her jaw. She likely wanted to deliver a sharp retort meant to create distance where there was none. But I didn’t give her the opportunity. With a flick of the reins, I urged Neryth forward.

The rhythmic pounding of hooves shattered the early morning silence as the deep, steady beats of Neryth’s stride echoed through the ground. The scent of wet leaves and turned soil was cool, carrying the lingering bite of dawn. Around us, the forest enveloped the world. Towering oaks and slender birches swayed in the wind, their golden-green canopy rippling like silk.

A soft mist clung to the ground in the shaded hollows where the sun had yet to reach, curling around the undergrowth. Birds stirred in the branches, their wings rustling against the leaves as they took flight. A frost hare darted across the path ahead, a blur before vanishing into the brambles. Somewhere in the distance, a raven’s low, throaty call echoed through the trees.

Quinn remained unmoved. She was still rigid. Too proud.

I huffed loudly enough for her to hear. “You ride as if you’re waiting for a blade in your back.”

The tension in her shoulders tightened even further.

She had gone silent. Her breaths were steady yet restrained, focusing on maintaining her composure. This was how she held herself, despite the fluid motion of the horse beneath us. It was control. She refused to let herself slip and insisted on not relying on anyone else to keep her upright.

Her stubborn independence would have amused me had I not been grappling with my own growing discomfort. I was accustomed to riding, to the speed, the rush of wind through the trees, and the ground’s pulse beneath thundering hooves. I lived for the thrill. However, I wasn’t used to sitting behind someone, feeling each shift, each breath, and every subtle movement of the person in front of me.

Her thighs pressed against mine with each stride. The proximity was unavoidable, but that didn’t make it any easier. Every bounce of Neryth’s gait rocked our bodies together, and no matter how much I tried to focus on the ride, the awareness settled deep in my bones. Unwelcome heat curled up my spine.

Quinn, of course, was oblivious to my distress.

She leaned forward and adjusted to the horse’s rhythm. Her hips swayed in time with Neryth’s movements, a gesture that was graceful in a way she probably didn’t even realize. I gripped the reins tighter, forcing myself to look ahead, only to glance back at her a second later. The gentle curve of her back, the way the fabric of her uniform molded against her frame, and how the strands of her hair whipped against my cheek with the wind were cool and silken. I shifted, cleared my throat, and adjusted the reins to keep myself occupied.

The faintest trace of herbs and the elduven tang of the infirmary still clung to her, mixed with that floral smell that was unique to her. The lingering chill of the morning air sharpened it and weaved it into the damp smell of the forest floor, of moss and fallen leaves. It was an oddly soothing combination.

Until she started talking.

Or rather,yellingover the pounding of hooves against the dirt path. “Are you always so pleasant in the morning, or is it just me?”

Hoping she would take the hint, I remained focused on the path ahead. At the very least, her constant chatter relieved the tension that had settled between us.

But I should have known better.

She interpreted my silence as a sign of encouragement. “I understand. You’re a big, brooding knight. You have to maintain that image.” She shifted her position. “But you could at least pretend to be friendly. Maybe even smile. Have you ever tried that? Smiling, I mean.”

My fingers flexed against the worn leather as I tightened my grip on the reins.She couldn’t sustain this forever. Her voice would eventually give out from yelling.

She kept proving me wrong.

“I bet you’re grumpy because you didn’t get enough sleep. You should take a nap when we arrive. Oh, wait. You probably sleep with one eye open, considering the whole perception thing and all.”

The corner of my eye twitched.

“Farn.”

Enough.

With a subtle flick of the reins, I urged Neryth forward in a sudden burst of speed. Quinn released a startled yelp, and her hands scrambled to grip the saddle.

For a blissful, perfect moment, there was silence.

“How rude!” Her head whipped to the side, eyes flashing as she scowled at me. I hissed through my teeth and bit back a groan as she twisted in the saddle to glare at me over her shoulder. “I’m sure most people have conversations while traveling; it could help pass the time.”

“I don’t need conversation,” I warned. “I need silence.”

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