Page 94 of My Trojan Horse Majesty

“The Brooks women are a little hard to love,” Steve says. “But they’re worth the effort. Only really strong men can handle it. After watching you today, you might one day become one of them.”

Chapter25

Izzy

At least Mom and Dad let us drive back to Birch Creek together.

I drop my hand over Leonid’s and I lace our fingers together—for no reason other than I want to touch him. “My family’s a lot,” I say. “I’m sorry in advance for the misery you’re going to endure.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t the nicest to them the last time I was there.” He winces. “I—I had some things to learn, I suppose.”

“You aren’t the first person who’s made a mistake.”

“Once I win your family over,” he says, “where will we go?” He sounds almost nervous.

“Are you asking whether I’m going to insist on living in Utah?” I lift both eyebrows.

“I’m—I just?—”

I squeeze his hand. “You’re theczarof Russia. Of course I don’t plan to keep you here.”

He exhales loudly. “Really?”

“Do you have vet schools there?”

He cringes a little. “I mean, we do, but they’re all in Russian.”

“It may be a while before I’m ready for that,” I admit. “And I’ll want to come back and visit my family often.”

“That’s not a surprise.”

“Will you be fine with that?”

“I’ll come with you,” he says. “Every time. And of course, I’d be happy to bring them to Russia as well.” He smiles at me, and my heart melts a little. It’s still pretty surreal that someone who looks like him, someone who basically runs Russia, lovesme.

“And I want to bring my horses.” I bite my lip. “Is that crazy? Maybe it would be too hard on them. Maybe I should leave them here with Steve.”

“I’m not going to lie,” he says. “I kind of figured I’d be the only horse you rode from now on.” But his eyes are sparkling, and I can tell he’s teasing me.

“I’m pretty sure that they have skijoring in Russia,” I say. “And if they don’t, I know what sport we’re going to have to introduce. I can invite my friend Paige to help us get it going.”

“Back at the turn of the twentieth century, the Romanovs loved tennis. It became the most popular sport in the country. I bet we can make Russia the home of skijoring.”

I can’t help my smile. “You do have to be very careful, though. No more magic at all until we’re in Russia again.”

He nods. “Agreed.” Then he bites his lip.

“What?”

“While we were breaking the bond, I saw your soul.”

I blink.

“It’s—I think I could restore our soul-bond. I mean, not the same as what Lechuza did. I don’t think it would cause us to have to be close or keep me from using my magic. But I think I could kind of knit our souls back together if you wanted.”

I pull my hand away. “You haven’t even proposed yet.” I scowl. “You think I want to joinsoulswith you?”

He splutters.

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