Page 53 of When Ashes Fall

“It’s good to see them looking so healthy,” I said. “You’ve done well.”

Briar blinked at me. “Was that… could it be… a compliment… for me?”

Her hand went to her chest as her lashes fluttered and a grin tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“It was an observation,” I stated, but I couldn’t help being amused by her teasing. Was I actually smiling in return?

“It was a kind observation. Be careful, Knox, I might start to think you have some decency in you after all.”

“Don’t get carried away.”

She chuckled as she shifted her attention to Magnazius. “Which horse will I ride?”

“You’ll ride with me.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. I have no chance of fleeing from you on horseback. You’d hunt me down in no time. You can trust me to ride on my own.”

“I know, but if we encounter any danger, you’ll be with me.”

If any of the other shifters tried to ride with her, I’d kill them, and it would be easy enough to protect her if she rode a different horse, but I wanted her with me for more than that reason. Despite being determined to hate her as we rode to Wildwood from the harem, I couldn’t deny I enjoyed feeling her body against mine.

The beast purred as blood flowed into my shaft. It would be best if I saddled Lyra’s horse for her, but if I were going to spend the day with Briar, then I would enjoy it too.

Briar walked over to Magnazius and placed her hand on his forehead. She brushed back his forelock as she rubbed up by his ears. His head lowered, and his ears twitched as he leaned in to her touch.

Then his head pulled back a little, and he examined her as she studied him. Magnazius was the most intelligent horse I’d ever owned, and it shone from his eyes as his ears flicked back and forth like he was listening to her speak to him.

Then he snorted and she kissed his head.

“He’s a beautiful animal,” she murmured.

I was certain something had passed between them, but I didn’t know what it could be. “He is.”

She gasped as I grasped her waist, plucked her off the ground, and placed her on the saddle. I gripped the pommel and swung myself up to settle behind her.

She didn’t say a word as her back pressed against my chest and I gathered the reins, but the rodent turned to stare at me. If his cheeks weren’t still full of food, he might look a little intimidating.

“Does the rodent have to come with us?” I asked.

“He hasn’t been outside the walls in a while either; he’s as excited as I am about it.”

I had no idea how she could tell this, especially since he didn’t look at all excited. Instead, I believed he was contemplating ripping off my face.

Right back at you, rat.

When I nudged Magnazius, he started walking before breaking into a trot around the stable. His shoes clip-clopped against the bricks as we headed toward the gates, which started opening as we approached.

Briar remained rigid against me, but once we rode outside the castle, she relaxed a little. She’d probably doubted my intention to take her outside the walls.

I ignored the twinge of sadness such a realization caused me. I had every right not to trust this woman and hate her… in the beginning. The time for that had passed, and I had to let the past go.

We rode through the town and down the side roads, checking on the roses the sprites had been tending. If Briar felt some of them required a little extra attention, she asked me to stop and dismounted from the saddle. She made sure to stop at the hall to check on the roses there; they were looking better, but she still spent some time with them.

She informed me that she hadn’t brought the potion with the mushrooms; it would be too much for the roses after the sprites gave it to them. She’d brought the potion without the mushrooms and only sprinkled a few drops on those that required more attention.

Every time she dismounted, I missed the heat and smell of her. When we separated after being together in No Man’s Land, it would feel like I’d carved a piece of myself out and given it to her while I watched her walk away.

I’d never forgotten that hollow feeling, and it tugged at me now. Not with the same insistence or terror that used to accompany it, but it was there.