Page 65 of The Mirror and the Curse

“Thank you,” she said breathlessly, afraid to meet his gaze. He released her and stepped back. Was there a hitch in his breathing?

While Eddi unbuckled Kai’s parachute and harness and slipped them off, he pulled hers from his bottomless sack. His thick lashes hid his eyes while they swapped, and then he hopped back up on Flurry. “Be careful,” Eddi said, reluctant to let him go.

He met her gaze for an instant, and a shy smile briefly revealed his dimples. “I will.”

Eddi knew she had to let everyone know of her safe return, but she really needed time to think things through. “You’re more important,” she informed White. “C’mon.” If he guessed she was using him as a delay tactic, he didn’t seem to care.

The grooms washing Arush and Tirador in the courtyard gave Eddi respectful nods as she and White passed. She briefly considered rinsing her horse at the washstand, but when he tugged her toward his stall, she gave in. Howurl and Miria actually hurried down the barn’s aisle to meet them.

“You’re safe!” Miria said, sounding somewhat pleased. “We heard you were lost in the mountains.”

“We were lost briefly,” Eddi explained, “but Kai found us.”

“Lady in distress,” Howurl observed, looking slightly less bleak than usual.

“No distress here,” Eddi claimed with a smile. She almost let slip that she’d had tea with an ogre and a centaur but managed to bite her tongue in time. These two brownies didn’t speak to many humans, but stories did have remarkable ways of spreading.

Once White was ensconced in his stall, enjoying a thorough grooming from the doting brownies while he nibbled at fresh hay, Eddi headed toward the starting field they’d used that day.

She’d scarcely passed the hitching posts near the main barn before people came running to meet her—from two pastures and a baseball diamond away. Foremost was Fidelio, who crushed her in his arms, lifted her off the ground, and spun slowly with his face buried in her neck. “Eddi darling, you’re safe! You’re safe!”

After months of longing for a public display of affection from her chosen prince, Eddi now wished for less drama. “I am. I’m perfectly fine, Fidelio.” With her arms pinned to her sides, squirming loose was a challenge. “It was just an equipment malfunction. All is well.”

Chayton, Karishma, and Emenike circled them, all asking questions. Once she’d persuaded Fidelio to set her down, she relayed the story Geoff and Kai had concocted, relieved when no one questioned it.

“Now I need a new saddle band before the Cup,” she grumbled. “At least I have a spare for practice.”

Fidelio gripped her shoulders and studied her up and down, which was embarrassing. “You’re sure you’re not hurt?”

“Maybe a bruise or two; I took a tumble. Nothing major.” She wriggled out of his grasp, so he claimed her hand with a proprietorial air.

All this time, Chayton had been observing her with narrowed eyes. He didn’t question her story, but Eddi expected he would when he got the chance.

“How is your horse?” Emenike asked.

“He’s fine. Not a mark on him.”

Raquel joined the crowd last. “Where’s Snow White?” she demanded. Her gaze took in the clasped hands, flicked briefly to Fidelio’s beaming face, then barely skimmed Eddi.

“In his stall, being groomed,” Eddi answered calmly despite an inward shudder. The hatred in Raquel’s eyes burned like acid. Could she possibly be a sorceress powerful enough to conceal her magic? “We’re both fine, but I’m sweaty and dirty and in need of a shower and a nap. So, who won?”

“It wasn’t supposed to be a race,” Chay grumbled. “I got chewed out for competing during our endurance run, but do the girls?”

“Tirador won by a nose,” Fidelio answered Eddi’s question. “But when you didn’t show up, everyone forgot about racing.”

Of course Raquel would win despite her ban on racing. As the other girl walked away, Eddi inwardly rejected her former suspicion. A sorceress powerful enough to fool everyone else, even the magic council, wouldn’t bother to hide her power . . . unless she didn’t want Fidelio to realize that she was enchanting him . . . Ugh! Nothing made sense!

“Sorry we gave you all a scare,” Eddi said sincerely. “I signaled right away and shot my flare. Funny, how you think you’ll never need emergency gear until you do.” Eddi scanned the subdued group, manufacturing a smile. “I guess we all knew our good luck couldn’t last forever, so now we can relax a bit, eh? See you all later.”

She tugged at her hand, but Fidelio held on. “Not letting you out of my sight until you’re safe in your room,” he stated with resolution. Eddi lacked the energy to argue.

As the others mumbled assorted farewells, Eddi waved her free hand, and she and Fidelio walked away. At first, he was quiet. He even shortened his steps for her while they climbed the hill. Glancing up at his profile, Eddi smiled fondly. He appeared to be deep in thought, his lips sucked in, his bushy brows drawn together. Such a sweet guy. So down-to-earth and real in his guy-ness. If he enjoyed the company of two different girls, had trouble understanding and controlling his own feelings, and struggled with knowing how to behave socially while in a relationship, she could hardly throw stones.

She was tempted to break up with him right then and get it over with, but discretion warned her to plan a kind and gentle way to end their dating relationship, to avoid additional regrets. Their friendship would never be quite the same, but maybe it could be more mature and genuine in the future.

An opportunity presented itself after breakfast the next morning when Fidelio invited her to play tennis. “I’m too stiff and sore,” she admitted as they crossed the castle’s main lobby.

“I thought you were in no danger.” He held a door open for her, his forehead creased with concern.

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