Page 96 of My Wild Horse King

A vein in Aleksandr’s head is throbbing. “Where are the original texts?”

“Hm.” He scratches his chin. “I’m not totally sure. Did you want those instead?”

“It would be helpful,” Kris says.

Unfortunately, while he’s inside looking, three more cars pull into the drive. One of them was the same red truck that was parked outside Amanda Saddler’s yesterday.

“What on earth is wrong with you people?” Amanda’s wagging her finger at us, and if it was a light saber, I think we’d all be dead.

“The thing is,” I say.

But before I can say anything else, Aleksandr shifts.

One second he’s a tall, arrogant Russian man with dark hair and designer clothing. The next, he’s a massive black stallion, his perfectly groomed hair blowing artfully in the breeze.

Doors pop open on all three of the new vehicles. Everyone’s talking at once, so I can’t keep anything straight.

“I’m Kristiana Liepa,” my sister says. She points at me. “This is my brother Gustav.”

Everyone falls silent.

“Amanda Saddler’s our cousin, and her father took my grandfather’s journals with him when he fled Latvia years ago.”

“They belonged to my father,” Amanda says with a huff. “Crazy old man.”

Gabe shoots through the front door. “Whoa. Is this the big tall, scowly guy?” He’s staring at Obsidian Devil, my sister’s husband’s horse name.

That is such a weird phrase to think.

“He is,” I say. “His name’s Aleksander Volkonsky. He’s a very wealthy Russian nobleman who’s currently fleeing because the lunatic who just took over the Russian government wants us all dead.” I scan the circle.

There’s a man and woman who look like they could be the boy’s parents. The woman has light brown, blonde-streaked hair and a commanding air. The man’s in pretty good shape for an old guy, and he’s positioned himself slightly in front of her, as if he’ll shield her from all the madness any way he can, even if it’s with his body. Next to Amanda there’s an older man with broad shoulders and bright eyes. He looks the most irritated with us.

When Whitney pops out of the back seat, though, she looks even more excited than Gabe. “Did that man just turn into a horse?” She steps forward. “I’msonot staying in there with Nate anymore.”

Some kid, maybe Nate, is banging on the window.

A moment later, he bursts through the other door. “Wow, what a cool horse.” He jogs toward Aleksandr, and everyone springs into action at once.

Kristiana reaches for the boy, as do four other hands, but the kid’s quick. His little blond head shoots through all the hands as he walks right up to Obsidian Devil.

The massive stallion lowers his head and presses his nose into the boy’s hand.

“It’s fine,” Kristiana says. “Because he’s not really a huge stallion.”

The boy turns back toward us, confused.

“I mean, he is,” Kris says. “But he’s also my husband.”

A split second later, Aleksandr shifts again, and now he’s back to being the same, arrogant force of nature I’m used to seeing.

“What’s your power?” Gabe asks. “Please let it be flame.”

“Mikhail Kurakin’s a nightmare,” Katerina snaps. “You should be glad he’s not here.”

Gabe smacks his own forehead. “He said Volkonsky. I should have known it’s earth, but I’m just so excited that I can’t think straight.”

“I can’t believe that my grandfather’s claims weren’t totally insane.” Amanda Saddler’s shaking her head. “We should probably go inside.”

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