Page 16 of Legions

“Royal wants to watch,” he said. “When are you taking him out?”

I glanced down the stalls to see Miller talking to one of the new stable hands as he prepped Bloodline. “I’d say in about ten minutes.”

The gorgeous blonde at his side had long legs, the kind I had envied most of my life and every other perfect feature that the Lord could have handed out. She was also friendly, witty, and had a fire in her spirit. If she didn’t make Sebastian so ridiculously happy, I would be jealous of the other woman. She was everything I wished I could be but lacked in body and personality.

“I watched you on Nemesis last week, and that was incredible. Y’all were flying,” Royal said in her thick drawl that I was sure made most men’s knees weak.

“If we can get Thatcher to let her take Zephyr at full speed again, you’ll be really impressed,” Sebastian said, smiling downat her like she were his sun and he was orbiting around her.

“He’s the massive one that I won’t get near,” she asked.

He chuckled. “Yeah.”

“He’s Thatcher’s?”

Sebastian nodded again.

“Figures.”

That made Sebastian laugh.

Her ice blue eyes that had slate outer rings swung back to me. “You ride that beast of a horse?”

I sighed, glancing down to his stall. “Yeah. When Thatcher allows it.” One of those things I was working on accepting. Thatcher was terrified of me going too fast on Zephyr, especially in a race where I could be in an accident.

“Allows it?” she asked, her eyebrows shooting up and shoulders thrown back. “Don’t you let a man control you.”

I opened my mouth to explain when Sebastian tugged her against his side and kissed the top of her head. “It’s not what you think, Ace,” he told her. “My brother can’t stand the thought of Capri getting hurt. That’s all.”

Royal’s gaze softened some, but not entirely. She wasn’t completely satisfied with that answer.

My phone buzzed again in my jeans, and annoyed, I jerked it out to end the call, sending my mother to voicemail again, when I saw Esther, my former best friend’s, name on the screen. She hadn’t texted or called me in months. Not since I had returned from being abducted by Thatcher and told the media that it had been a misunderstanding. I had gone away with him willingly. My parents had been hurt, and she hadn’t agreed with my decisions or choice in men.

My finger hovered over the screen as it rang a third time before I accepted it and placed the phone to my ear. I gave Sebastian and Royal a brief smile and then walked down toward the East exit, where no one else was. I didn’t know what to expect fromher, but I also didn’t want others to hear. Esther had been my best friend all my life, and then she wasn’t. It had hurt, but I had found peace with it.

When forced to choose, I chose who I couldn’t live without- Thatcher.

“Hello,” I said, the hesitancy in my tone obvious.

“Can you not answer your mother’s calls? Seriously, Capri, who are you? What happened to the girl I knew?” the frantic, judgmental tone of her voice would have made me hang up if there hadn’t also been a slight hysteria in it. One I recognized because I knew her well. Almost as well as I knew myself.

“I’m sorry, Esther. But why are you calling me about my choice not to speak to my mother?” I asked, my hand tightening its grip on the phone.

“Because you won’t answer her. Do you not watch the news? Or do you just not care?” The anger in her tone lashed out at me.

“As a matter of fact, no, I don’t watch the news. But you would know that. I was unaware you’d started watching it yourself.” Esther had always said if there was any news worth hearing, she’d read about it on Facebook or see it in her TikTok feed.

“If you weren’t locked away on the Shephard compound then you would have been aware that everything in town is falling apart. And it all revolves around YOUR family.”

Her emphasis on the last part had made it clear she believed I had traded in my parents for Thatcher’s family. I also doubted the town was falling apart. Esther was as dramatic as my mother.

“What has happened?” I asked, crossing one arm over my chest as I stepped into the sunshine.

“Oh, let’s see. Where to begin. I know. Your mom walked into the church offices two days ago and caught your father banging Maelee.”

My arm fell to my side, and I froze. “What?” I asked indisbelief.

Maelee Phillips was three years older than me. She’d taken over as the Children’s director two years ago, which had surprised a lot of people, seeing as they thought Mrs. Dean would be taking the position.

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