Page 111 of My Wild Horse King

A moment later, a young girl dances her way over to the one we chose to take our order, and when I say dances, I really meandances. She’s walking like she’s listening to music, but I don’t see any of the little white stick things poking out of her ears. She just moves like she’s happy.

I’m shocked when I actually recognize her, though in a small town, maybe it’s not really that unusual. “Emery, right?”

She blinks, frowning in confusion, and then turning to look at Daniel. “Oh, wait. Daniel the newbie barrel racer, right? Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look way better in these clothes.” She’s smirking, but then she turns back toward me and tilts her head. “I’m sorry, but did we meet too? I’m usually really good with names and faces.”

I was a horse when we met, and Abigail and Amanda haven’t told anyone else about our secret. I cringe a little at myfaux pas.

“I told Katerina about you,” Gustav says. “She has a great mind for names, and there can’t be very many waif-like girls who have light blonde hair like yours.” He forces a smile.

“Oh.” She nods. “I guess so.” She lifts her pen and holds it over her notepad. “Well, did you get a chance to check out the menu yet?”

After we order, she skips away, like she has not a single care in the world. I really hope that her life can stay that way for quite some time. “We need to leave here,” I say.

“They want me to use water,” Gustav says.

I drop my fork and it clatters against the table and falls to the ground.

Gustav picks it up, wiping it on his napkin and handing me his.

“It’s fine. I’ll take that one.” I reach for the one I dropped.

He sets it down and insists on pushing his into my hand. “We will need to leave soon, once I do that.”

“Is it bad that I don’t want to?” I look down at my water glass, as if focusing on something innocuous will somehow eliminate anything scary from my life.

“Do you think he’ll try to kill me right away?” Gustav doesn’t sound worried. He sounds. . .matter-of-fact.

“Yes.” My mouth is so dry. “And I don’t even think he’s the devil. I just think he’s misguided, but I do think he’ll kill you.” I pick up my water glass and take a sip. “You’re too big of a risk to him.”

“Not try?” He lifts his eyebrows. “You think he’ll succeed?”

I choke, spitting water out everywhere.

The fastest waitress ever brings our food out with a perky smile. “If you need anything for that—more ketchup, mayo for the fries, you let me know.” She bounces off before I can ask who eats mayo on their fries.

“I’m doing better,” Gustav says.

“You’re still not Leonid,” I say. “And his powers are literally strike powers. Fire and lightning.”

“I have Aleks and Grigoriy,” he says.

“He has Mikhail and Boris.” I shake my head. “Look, I hope you can beat him. I honestly do. And maybe you will, but I’m afraid.” I look down at my hands. “Probably because I care too much.”

“You want him dead?”

“More than I want you dead.” I force myself to look up again.

He smiles slowly. “I should hope so.”

“That came out wrong,” I say.

“You don’t want your boyfriend dead.” He nods. “It’s a weird start, but it’s a start, and I’ll take anything I can get.”

My boyfriend. That makes my heart flip-flop. Is that what he is? My boyfriend? “Look, if I had what I wanted, Leonid would just go back to Russia. You could return to New York and smooth things over with your company and your grandfather, and then you and I could. . .” I pick up a french fry, wondering idly whether itwouldbe good with mayonnaise.

“Could what?” His eyes are fixed on my face.

Why am I such a coward?

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