Page 70 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

Izzy

Not even married, and already bound until death do we part.

“This is jacked,” I say. “I barely even know you.”

Leonid stands. “Do you?”

I frown. “What does that mean?”

“You barely know me?” He arches one eyebrow. “You’ve seen me naked.”

“Well, but, I mean.” I hate how flustered I am.

“You’veriddenme,” he says. “And I liked it.”

“Are you making jokes right now?” I ask. “We came up here, in large part, to try and figure out how to break this strange bond—you can only use your powers when you’retouchingme—and she said we can’t break it.” My eyes widen. “Unless you kill me.” All the fight goes out of me. “You’re going to kill me, aren’t you?”

“If I had to be stuck to someone. . .” Leonid laughs. “At least I won’t be bored ever again.”

“Were you bored a lot? It’s boring, running Russia?”

“It was,” he says. “I was bored almost all the time before I met you.”

“You have to be at least a little distressed,” I say. “You didn’t choose me. I didn’t choose you. That insane lady, witch, thing, just. . .” I hold up my hands and smoosh them together. “She just smashed us together, and bam. Now we’re stuck forever.”

“I would thank her if she just came back.” Leonid pivots and nearly runs right into me. He grabs my hands. “Tell me you’re really upset that we’re bonded.”

“There are no good sides to this,” I say. “You lost power and control, not to mention freedom. Yes, I’m upset.”

“Well, I’m not.” He tilts his head. “That’s a strange feeling for me, believe it or not, but I’m not upset. Not even a little bit. I meant it earlier when I said I almost didn’t want to break the bond.”

I roll my eyes. “Alright, so you’re just trying to keep me happy so I won’t try and sneak off and knock you out.”

“No, that’s not it.” He shakes his head. “I’m actually grateful of the excuse to keep you near. And if someone threatens you, I’ll burn them and their entire family to the ground to keep you safe.” He leans closer. “And I won’t even feel guilty about it.”

“Burning the world down isbad, Leonid,” I say. “Please tell me you know that.”

He shrugs. “The world’s overrated, honestly. I’ve seen most of it, and none of it impressed me.”

“But a cowgirl from backwoods Utah did?” I arch an eyebrow. “I know when someone’s blowing smoke.”

He frowns. “Blowing what?”

“Let’s just get back down the mountain,” I say. “You have that governor thing.”

“Shift me, and I’ll give you a ride,” he says.

I freeze. “Why would you do that?”

He shrugs. “You liked me better as a horse, I think.”

“But you have a governor thing.”

“Which is why you’ll change me back when we get to the bottom of this trail. It’ll spare you the hike, and we can find out whether I can still use my magic when I’m in my horse form, as long as you’re touching me.”

“If it’s for research,” I say, “I guess it’s fine.”

He hands me the blue rock.

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