Page 73 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

Too fast for you?another, lighter voice asked.I’ll take him.

I balked.You cantalk?

Another glistening horse darted through the water and snorted.

This one is mine,the deeper voice boomed.

The water whooshed, and the kelpie struck. I twisted out of his path and caught a fistful of mane. It was more slippery than the usual coarse texture of a horse’s mane, but I was stubborn. As the kelpie’s whinny echoed through the water, and its shimmering gray tail thrashed, I gripped his mane like a vice.

Waiting until the kelpie twisted toward me to try to break my hold, I latched my legs around his barrel right at he did so. Something—probably the other kelpie—tittered.

You know why my kind hangs around this part of the ocean?it hissed.Because there are so many strong, tasty treats like yourself waiting for us.

The kelpie’s gait was different from a normal horse’s. Its tail made each stride more of a buck, but part of working for Nathan had meant breaking every horse he was too lazy to train himself.

My friends and I had ridden every horse on the property.

This is a shitty day for you then,I thought and raised the bridle to the kelpie’s mouth.Because I’m not just strong. I’m a goddamn cowboy.

Despite my heaving chest and my burning muscles, with one last heave of strength, I wrenched the bit into the kelpie’s mouth and pulled the bridle over its thrashing head. When I pulled back on the reins, I sent up a silent thanks to Freya that they held, and the kelpie slowed to a stop.

Where do you wish to go, traveler?the kelpie grumbled.

I steered the kelpie like I would any horse. With a light tug on the reins and a press from my legs, we raced to the surface. When we crested the water, I raised a hand and waved to my friends. I was too far from the shore to be recognized by any humans, but they would see me thanks to their supernatural vision. High on the victory of using my old skills and my magic together, my power instinctively enhanced my eyesight. I homed in on the dock. Freya smiled in relief, and Cady whooped.

Staring at Freya’s proud smile, for the first time, I believed we might actually accomplish our mission.

“Kelpie,” I said, “take me to the chimera.”

???

Freya

As we raced across the ocean, I prayed to the Goddess that we wouldn’t be too late to catch the chimera and tightened my grip around Cadence’s torso and Arion’s mane. Ryder held onto me with the same tightness, though he shifted anxiously on Arion’s back.

I focused my attention on the horizon but couldn’t help stealing glances at the cowboy who splashed across the ocean on the kelpie’s back. His grin stretched broadly across his face and, despite the danger we faced, I hadn’t seen him so happy in months. Pride swelled in my chest.

Ryder growled in my ear. “I smell smoke.”

I squinted at the horizon but couldn’t glean anything past the sunshine that reflected on the water. I cast my magical net out and sensed wild, familiar magic.

“Wolves,” I whispered.

Cadence’s soft voice was almost lost on the wind. “Really?”

“Foreign wolves,” Ryder gritted out.

As we neared the yacht, flames licked its bridge deck, and smoke billowed in the sky. Growls and screams and howls pierced the ocean’s gentle churning. Several figures came into view, all of whom headed toward the flames.

I glanced at Walker and found that he had sobered. Seawater splashed against his pale face.

“This has to be it, right?” Cady said. “Where the chimera is?”

“Only one way to find out,” I answered.

Arion nickered and charged faster toward the yacht.

“You stay next to me,” I told Cady.

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