Page 42 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

My pulse speeds up again, this time for an entirely different reason.

Stop it. He’s your instructor. You don’t even like him, and for good reason…because he’s an ass.

Still chuckling, he shakes his head. I continue to stare. Until this moment, I’m not sure I believed this man even knew how to laugh. I’m reeling and have no idea what to say or do.

A faint smile lingers on his mouth. “I guess I’m lucky I don’t care what other people think.”

“You, not caring what other people think? Shocking.”

“It’s not always a bad thing.”

The gentle tone indicates that he’s not being unkind, but stating a fact, and I don’t know how to take this new side of him. It’s like something changed since last night, causing him to slip off his usual mask of cocky self-assuredness and stand bare before me without any pretense.

Truth be told, the transformation makes me a little uncomfortable.

“Um,” I stare at my boots, annoyed by my breathlessness, “I think you were about to lecture me on how to use a pitchfork.”

His mouth tips up again. “Have you ever used one?”

I shake my head. “Can’t say that I have.”

“Well, here’s a tip,” he nods at the pitchfork, “aim the pointy end at the straw.”

My jaw drops. First a laugh, and now a joke? Should I check for a big cosmic event in play tonight? “Great. Very helpful. But yesterday, I thought you said I didn’t have to muck the stable out.”

His shoulders lift. “I changed my mind.”

Irritation prickles my skin. “Is this some sort of punishment for rescuing me off the tower? Because as surprising as it may sound, getting stuck up there wasn’t my idea.”

“What?” Thorne’s brow creases. “No. Of course not.”

He guides me to the first empty stall and makes a sweeping gesture to the wheelbarrow inside.

I stare. “Okay, now what?”

“Now,” his eyes actually sparkle, “you muck out the stalls.”

“All of them?”

“As many as you have time for.”

After grabbing the pitchfork from me and offering a quick demonstration, Thorne hands the tool back to me. Grumbling under my breath, I make quick work of the first stall.

Once I’ve finished, I poke my head out the door. Trepidation washes over me. A snowy white alicorn stares straight at me, murderous intent in its eyes.

This creature wants to kill me.

Swallowing hard, I drop my gaze, willing my breathing to slow.

Thorne rests a hand on its powerful shoulder and murmurs something low. I can’t parse out the words, but his tone is almost…reverent. The creature sidesteps, snorting and nipping at his hand.

My stomach knots. “Did that thing just try to bite you?”

“No.” He shoots me an exasperated look. “Thisalicornjust ate a carrot stick I gave her. And I don’t think Nova appreciates you referring to her as a thing.”

“Oh. Sorry.” I lick my lips, forcing myself to observe Nova as she munches on a piece of carrot. “I didn’t mean any offense. Truly.” I feel silly whispering to an animal so powerful she could gore me with her horn in one swift blow. “I wonder how much you can understand?”

With an unreadable expression, he studies me long enough to make me fidget. “Not what you say so much as how you say it and how you act. Your body language. She can sense your intentions and emotions. If you’re afraid, or if you mean her harm. Alicorns are highly intelligent animals.”

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