Page 13 of The Mirror and the Curse

“How do you know he was captured? That’s illegal! And wildwhat?”

“I learned of his capture while he lay sleeping under the potion’s influence. I doubt he would have revealed his past to me otherwise. Trapping wild fterotá is illegal in most countries, but not everywhere. And the word means ‘winged ones.’ My uncle picked up the term for them in Euronyme years ago.”

“I like it,” Eddi declared, still trying to process this revelation of White’s traumatic past.

Kai looked pleased. “The singular form isfterotó.” As the filly approached the path, he said, “Princess Eddi and White, may I introduce Spring Flurry? Flurry, meet my friend Eddi and her companion, White.”

The filly tossed her head and snorted as if in amusement.

“It’sSnowWhite,” Eddi corrected. “He had that name before I got him.”

Kai’s brows bunched. “Wait. Isn’t your name . . .?” His voice trailed off.

“Yes,” she admitted sheepishly. “Edurne Zuri translates to Snow White. That’s why my father bid on him at the auction right after I won the Cup race last year. Dad says the name convinced him White was the perfect horse for my birthday gift. But if you tell anyone else that story, I’ll never speak to you again.”

Kai’s dimples appeared while he kept his gaze on the horses. “My lips are sealed.” He clamped them shut.

Eddi elbowed him in the side, and he laughed.

Meanwhile, White and Flurry had approached each other much as ordinary horses would, posturing cautiously, yet curious. Flurry gave a squeal or two, feigning irritation, but White didn’t react.

Now that she gave the filly a closer look, Eddi realized Flurry had awkward-adolescent angles too. She must be near White’s age. “When did you get her?” she asked.

Kai seemed uncertain how to answer. “Actually, Flurry more or less got me,” he said after a pause, shrugging one shoulder. “I met her in the mountains during an excursion with my uncle, and she took to flying here and hanging around me while I worked. When she grew strong enough to carry my weight, we started flying together.”

Staring at him, Eddi realized abruptly that her mouth was hanging open. She snapped it shut, swallowed hard, then blurted, “Do you mean . . . she was wild?”

“In a sense, she still is.” When the filly walked directly to Kai and shoved her face into his chest, he reached up to rub her ears. “She comes and goes as she pleases, although it generally pleases her to please me. We enjoy each other’s company.”

A little twinge, something like jealousy, squeezed Eddi’s heart. It must be wonderful to be loved that way, so freely. She turned her gaze upon White, wishing she might have befriended him in a similar way. Her colt met her gaze, walked directly toward her, and gently pushed his nose against her shoulder.

Kai chuckled. “He reads you easily.”

“He knew what I was thinking?”

“Not word for word, but he gets the gist. You’re the one who needs training, not him.”

“Oh.” Eddi suddenly felt inadequate. Unworthy.

To her surprise, White shook his head, tossing his long mane, and laid his chin on her shoulder. She reached to run her hand up his face, then stroked his muscular cheek. “He’s never done this before,” she admitted in a tone of wonder.

“What is he feeling right now?” Kai asked. “Don’t guess. Try to open your mind and let him tell you.”

Standing there in the open field, Eddi focused on White. Silvery lashes framed the dark eye she could see. Was that affection she read in its depths? She felt affirmed, certain that she had changed this horse’s life for the better. “I love you, White.”

“He knows.” Kai’s raspy voice further warmed Eddi’s heart.

White lifted his head and trotted a short distance away, his long tail high and sweeping behind him. Like any adolescent, he could handle only so much sentiment.

“He dislikes it when you get down on yourself,” Kai said.

“Is that what he was feeling?” Eddi sighed. “I thought he wanted me to know that I’ve made his life better.”

“He did.” Kai sounded breezy. “Good work.”

“You mean, I actually interpreted his thoughts?”

Could it really be that easy?

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