Page 121 of Scourged

Andrian growled, low and deep in his chest. “I have to get her back to the palace.”

Sebastian reached for Mariah. “Iwill take her.”

Andrian turned his snarl and glare on Sebastian. His brother, his fellow Armature, held his stare, his jaw working and anger sparking in his hazel eyes.

Until his shoulders sagged, conflict still warring in his expression as he leaned away.

“Fine. I’m trusting you, Armature,” Sebastian said. “I don’t think you deserve it, but I’m going to do it, anyways. Don’t make me regret it.”

Andrian bared his teeth but said nothing. He only slid an arm behind the back of Mariah’s knees, another arm wrapping around her neck and shoulders, and lifted her from the ground.

“Find Ryland. There may be more to learn from this place.” He turned on his heel and stormed toward the exit.

Everything about him was sizzling energy, shadows snapping around his shoulders, icy flames igniting in his vision. The only thing that kept him grounded, kept him from exploding and decimating that entire gods-cursed building, were Mariah’s soft exhales against his neck, the warm and steady thrum of her heart where she lay curled against his chest.

Ryland started in surprise when Andrian rounded the corner, then backed away as his eyes darted between Andrian and the unconscious Mariah in his arms.

“What …”

“Find Sebastian. Search the building. Make sure my horse gets back to the palace.” Andrian’s orders were harsh and biting as he pushed past the captain. He stepped into the afternoon sunlight, the setting spring sun casting golds and oranges across the Bay of Nria just visible beyond the edge of the rundown slums.

Not that he was noticing things like the sunset.

He rushed to the waiting horses. Kodie lifted his head, ears pricking, intelligent brown eyes focusing on his mistress.Andrian stepped to the buckskin’s side, shifting Mariah in his arms.

He knew Mariah would kill him if she found out he’d left Kodie behind. And, given what had just happened, he wasn’t sure he trusted any other beast to carry them safely back to the palace.

Standing still as a statue, Kodie waited as Andrian carefully settled Mariah into the saddle. Kodie lifted his head and caught her as she slumped forward, her hair falling over her face. Andrian placed his foot in Kodie’s stirrup, swinging himself behind her in the saddle. He reached around her, grabbed the reins, and pulled her body back so she rested safely against his chest.

“Back to the palace, Kodie,” he whispered, pressing his heels into the gelding’s side. “Quickly.”

The horse tossed his head and surged forward, hooves clipping on the ground as he leaped into a gallop.

They flew down the streets, now significantly less crowded as the evening hours crept nearer. They left the slums, twisting up and up through the colors and rows of the market district. Andrian’s fear was still ice in his veins, and when the rise of the orderly buildings of the mountain district rose before them, he quietly urged Kodie faster.

They had just rounded a bend in the golden-cobbled street when he felt Mariah shift. Her head rolled to the side, just slightly. A soft groan spilled from her lips.

Once again, everything in his world stood still.

He pulled back on Kodie’s reins, pushing his seat into the saddle. The horse slowed, his gallop dropping into a steady walk, before he stopped, snorting and tossing his head, sides heaving and drenched in sweat.

Mariah groaned again. She lifted her arm, running a hand over her eyes and down the side of her face. Andrian watched, everything still frozen, a bit of disbelief coursing through him.

If what she’d touched was what he thought it was … shereallyshouldn’t be awake right now.

And yet …

“What happened?” Her voice was low and groggy as if she’d merely been taking a nap.

“Are you alright?” He was still holding her, one hand wrapped around her midsection. Slowly, he leaned around her so he could see her face, his hand moving to the juncture of her hip.

He tried, desperately, not to think about how his thumb grazed the sliver of flesh on her stomach.

He also tried not to think about how when he saw her face, she wasn’t looking at him but at that same hand.

“Yes,” she said, somewhat slowly, before lifting her gaze to meet his. They were so close, too close, and he was sure she would pull away. There was something unreadable in her forest green eyes, but …

“What happened?” she repeated. Still not moving away. Still not pushing his hand away.

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