Page 51 of Restored

I try to take some steadying breaths but with the tight bandages and my hurt rib, I barely manage a few unsatisfying gasps.

Archie appears, holding up a flask. “To help with the pain.” He glances back. “Don’t tell Ledger,” He winks.

“Thanks, Archie.” I grab the flask from him, unscrewing it and taking a sniff. It has a sharp, stringent odor that nearly makes me retch. Before I can talk myself out of it, I take a sip, sputtering. “That has to be the most disgusting thing I have ever tasted.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, grimacing.

“That’s how you know it’s the good stuff.” He wiggles his eyebrows and walks away.

Ledger approaches, and I keep my eyes stubbornly ahead. Archie and he have a hushed conversation, and I nudge Apollo with my ankles.

To my surprise, he complies and begins trotting. I have to bite back my smile at the stunned look on Ledger’s face as he jogs after us, grabbing Apollo’s pommel and sweeping up behind me gracefully.

It takes him a moment to recover, but once he does, he reaches for the reins. “Brace yourself, blondie, this isn’t going to be a pleasant day for you.”

“No day that I’m stuck on this horse with you is a pleasant day, Ledger.”

With that, he gives Apollo a soft kick and we set out for the day. The first hour of the ride is rough. Every jostle of myribs sends shooting pains throughout my chest. I wince as I take small sips of the liquor, gritting through the pain.

My head spins as I shift, trying to find less painful positions.

Visions of the knife sinking into Anders’ neck fill my thoughts, but I can’t seem to find any remorse. I channel my indignation at the events into resolve. I should have shown up to more of Maddox’s training sessions. I’m sure he will be thrilled when I tell him he was right.

I struggle to breathe sucking in pitiful gasps of air. My back aches from trying to keep still and straight. Ledger’s hand eventually snakes around my injured rib, warm and steady.

“What are you doing?” I tense under his touch

“I don’t enjoy seeing you in pain, and now that I’ve gained control of my emotions again—I’d like to attempt to ease it.” I don’t have a clue what he is referring to but realize when I lean into his touch that some part of me innately trusts him.

“You can do that?”

“I can attempt. It’s difficult to do and if my concentration slips, I could siphon your power. If you can, hold completely still.”

His power cools my heated skin as it seeps into me. It feels so different than I remember. It isn’t unpleasant. I can feel the pull of him drawing from me, but it’s not accompaniedby pain. Instead, relief throbs through me, the twinges of pain fading until they are a faint pulse.

I take a deep breath as his power recedes back into him. His palm falls away.

My hand replaces his prodding the area gently. I turn my head to the side to peek up at him.

“Thank you.” I know little about siphoning power but can tell by his change in posture that he’d taken my discomfort and made it his own. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“You would have done it for me, or anyone here for that matter.” He shifts in the saddle. “You can save my life twice and I can’t take some of your pain?”

“Well, when you put it that way,” I smile. “I guess now we’re even.”

When we arrive at Westray,the sky is a dark gray. As we approach the castle, the guard yells something I can’t quite make out.

“Welcome back, Your Highness; we have been awaiting your arrival.” The guard nods to us as we pass him.

“Thank you, Orion,” Ledger responds.

We cross over a large bridge. It is hard to see much, but I can make out beautiful white stones and see the moon reflecting off the calm water surrounding the castle. Westray already appears much grander than Bellehaven.

As we pass more guards they bow their heads in respect.

“We must get to my father; do you feel strong enough to see him tonight?”

My power rumbles from the depths of my belly, and Inod. “Yes, I do.”

We ride a while longer before Ledger dismounts Apollo. He reaches up and places me on the ground next to him.

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