Page 58 of The Mirror and the Curse

He huffed a laugh. “I’ll try, Eddi. I didn’t know that I looked at her in any particular way, but I’ll do my best to look bored.”

They chatted about inconsequential matters as he walked her to her room, and when he paused as if working up courage to ask if he might kiss her, she simply patted his arm. “Good night, sweet prince. See you at breakfast.”

He blinked those big brown eyes, smiled weakly, and rumbled something affirmative, obviously disappointed. But he squeezed her hand and stepped back. “Good night, little Eduardi.”

Once inside, she leaned against the closed door and listened as he walked away. Her chest felt tight, and the strain of smiling had made her jaw ache. He was such a sweetheart, and he had sincerely apologized for his behavior—although she wasn’t sure he even yet understood her frustration.

On that note, the last thing she needed tonight was their first kiss. No matter how sweet it might be, no kiss could cancel out her hurt and frustration. He had a lot of ground to make up before she could trust him enough to share kisses.

The heavy pressure in her chest made her long to download on someone. But she couldn’t borrow Kai’s car at night again, so it would have to wait for morning. And what would Beatrice say?

Eddi sighed. She knew exactly what Beatrice would say. She would remind Eddi that love is a choice, and you can’t make choices for other people. Either Fidelio would choose to love her and put her first in his affections, or he wouldn’t.

One week before the Cup, everyone’s focus had sharpened. For the first time, Raquel scheduled an afternoon practice match, this one between the three girl jockeys, their course traversing two curved valleys south of the playing fields in a rough oval. At no time would the horses leave resort grounds, yet the terrain itself could be treacherous.

After helping the girls mount up, the three young men escorted them to the starting field. Chay pretended to wield a microphone, announcing, “For your viewing pleasure today we present the Battle of the Beauties! I would say we men should each champion a lady rider, but we all know better than to ask a certain person to choose only one . . .”

Prince Emenike snorted, and Fidelio glared, but the girls mostly ignored him.

Eddi sensed a determination in Raquel and Karishma to match her own. Karishma’s exotic-looking black colt, Arush, was wicked fast and agile, just as Kai had warned, and his rider could be tricky. Tirador? He was a splendid stallion who deserved a better rider.

When they arrived in the field, the three competing horses prepared for flight, stretching their wings and snorting in anticipation. Eddi glanced Raquel’s way in time to meet a stare cold enough to chill her blood. An instant later, the older girl laughed lightly at a quip from Fidelio, said something in a sultry undertone, then very deliberately blew him a kiss.

Fidelio’s jaw dropped, and his face turned pink, yet he appeared immensely flattered.

“She intends to take him from you,” Karishma remarked to Eddi while they both wrapped their hands in the leather straps. “One way or another.”

“This has been going on for a year now.” Eddi realized she sounded more resigned than resentful.

“Seriously?” Karishma’s dark eyes went wide, and her lip curled. “Is he worth it?”

Eddi nodded even as her doubt increased. “We’ve been friends forever. He’s pretty special.”

“If you say so. But I wouldn’t turn my back on her.” Karishma sounded grim. “She plays dirty.”

“She’s always trying to intimidate me,” Eddi explained. “I mean, she’s older, has more racing experience, and looks like a fashion model. But Fidelio and I go way back.”

The other girl raised one brow. “She’s two-faced and sneaky, orders the stable people around, and mistreats her horse.”

Before Eddi could ask what she’d seen, Emenike called out, “To your places. Let’s get this race started,” and Arush turned away.

As the three horses took their starting positions, Eddi sensed tension to match her own in White’s body and mind.

“Go!” The flag swept down.

Forget Raquel and Fidelio. Time to get her head into the game.

Arush took an early lead, and White settled in behind and just above him. With her hand wound up in White’s long mane, Eddi closed her eyes, trusting him to follow Arush for the moment, and attempted to connect with his emotions and thoughts.

White willingly opened his mind to her, his focus entirely on the race. When she nudged his side to remind him of an upcoming jink in the valley, he responded smoothly. Mountain peaks, forested slopes, and jagged ridges flashed past.

Tirador pulled even with White. Eddi glanced his direction just as Raquel pushed him to move ahead. White let him go, seeming content to breeze along in the rear. Eddi was fine with that. Her mount had plenty of speed on reserve for when the time came to make his move.

They completed that first lap with Arush in the lead and Tirador at his shoulder. Seeing several people below as they passed over the playing field and began the second of three laps, Eddi briefly wondered if Kai might be watching. She’d hardly seen him all week.

When the two leaders began to push each other, White coasted along in their wake, not even breathing hard. He maintained his altitude while the other two horses dropped closer to the ridges and skimmed the curving slopes.

As they rounded the south end of that second lap and headed north, White decided it was time to make his move. His body remained loose, almost relaxed, but his wings beat faster, still moving in smooth, powerful sweeps. He always flew with his forelegs tucked and his hind legs extended. Now his neck extended too, and Eddi nearly flattened herself on his back to improve his aerodynamics.

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