Page 26 of Restored

Shouting fills the air. “Layla!” I barely recognize Maddox’s voice; it is desperate and scared as he screams my name.

We reach the horses, and Ledger throws me in the saddle. “Maddox!” I scream his name as Ledger envelops me with his body. I elbow and scratch at him until he ties the reins around my wrists to subdue me.

“We must make it to Grimwood. They aren’t as familiar with the terrain and we can lose them. It’s our best bet.” Mia jumps onto her horse and nudges it into action.

Apollo doesn’t hesitate; his hooves pound on the ground as we race through the dim woods. I’m unprepared for the speed at which he moves, and my bound hands clutch at the saddle.

I can hardly drag air into my lungs around Ledger’s grip on me but fear if he lets go, I’ll be sucked into the oblivion of this night. The wallop of hooves comes from behind us as Maddox and the soldiers catch up.

A ball of fire whizzes past us, singeing the skin of my legs. I turn my head to get a view of what is going on and can make out the silhouette of the pursuing men. The night flashes brightly as another fireball flies at us.

I’m sure it is going to knock us from the horse when Apollo veers to the left. Ledger pulls me further into him, but fire makes brief contact with my shoulder and Ledger’s arm.

I hiss at the pain. Ledger doesn’t falter; instead, he urges Apollo faster. His power pulses around me so intense itnearly steals my breath. He commands it, and I can feel the moment it projects behind us.

The air vibrates and a loud creaking sound pierces the night. Ledger’s hand is raised, and as we pass a towering tree, it falls crashing with a loud boom.

A gust of air blows my hair and shock courses through me. I crane my neck, praying Maddox is okay, and am briefly relieved to see him still in close pursuit behind us. He has a bow drawn. I remember the times I’d seen him use one expertly and with precision.

“Focus your efforts on him; if we get him, we get her,” Maddox’s voice commands. There are still four men pursuing us. The tree must have taken out the other two.

Maddox releases the arrow, and I gasp as it makes contact with Ledger’s shoulder. He releases a pained grunt but otherwise doesn’t react.

A large object comes whizzing past us, a boulder, I surmise. It crashes into one of the soldiers, knocking him swiftly off his horse. Archie lets out a victorious noise.

Another boulder comes careening past us, the wind from it brushing my cheek. This time, instead of making contact, it rebounds, flying straight back at Archie.

“Arch, watch out!” Cam yells and he barely has time to plaster himself to his horse before the boulder sails over his head. They must have a deflector among them, able to redirect someone’s power back at them.

Another grunt comes from Ledger, and even though I can’t see where the arrow went, I know it met its mark somewhere in his body. My power somersaults in my stomach.

They are gaining on us, and for a heart-stopping moment, I think they might actually catch us. Ledger’s grip on the reins and my body is loosening, an iron tinge stinging my nose.

What would King Sandor do to them if they caught us? A strange sense of dread fills me when I think of returning to my life at Bellehaven.

“Almost there,” Mia calls from somewhere in front of us, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Ledger’s body shudders as another arrow burrows into him. He lets out a rattled wet noise. Maddox gains on us, his horse running so fast they nearly pass us.

My breath stalls as we make eye contact. I wish it was light enough to make out the warm browns of his irises. I slam my head back, my body lurches sideways towards him. I pull at the reins trying to slow Apollo. Maddox reaches out his hand towards me and I extend my tied hands out. Our fingertips brush.

My eyes widen in horror as I catch the movement of vines. They bound out of the dirt, securing over his horse’s legs. The animal falters before it comes to an abrupt halt, sending Maddox careening off.

I shriek as his body soars through the air before slamming into the ground. We sail past his unmoving body. Irage against Ledger, and the binds digging into my wrists. I scream for Maddox until my voice is raw.

By the timewe pass the border into Grimwood, the sound of chasing hooves becomes distant.

Our horses keep galloping until all my hope of returning to Bellehaven is snuffed out. Ledger’s body sags into me, causing me to pitch forward.

I yank at the reins binding my hands, loosening them.

Ledger’s grip falters, and I turn in time to see his eyes roll back into his head. As he loses consciousness, we start pitching to the side, and I’m helpless to stop us from falling.

Apollo slows to a canter as we slide out of the saddle. My hands fall free of the reins, and I squeal right before our bodies hit the ground.

The air is knocked from my lungs as Ledger’s limp body lands on top of mine. Warm droplets of his blood drip over my skin as I struggle beneath him.

His bare skin blazes into mine the more I squirm. My hands push against his thick slabs of muscle uselessly.

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