Page 94 of Reckless
“We’ll ride until nightfall and lie low until dawn.” Kai’s words cut through my thoughts. “Bandits claim the dark, and we’ll be hidden best on the ground.”
“Right,” I say absentmindedly. A soft breeze ruffles the hair falling around my face, drawing my attention to the braid he wove and the mess of silver it’s become.
I haven’t stopped thinking about Ava. Can’t stop thinking about how gently he spoke of her, as though remembering how fragile she was. I could hear the love coating each word and the hurt echoing after.
I think of the first Trial, of Jax dying in his arms. He almost lost another sibling that day. There are few people he cares about that he hasn’t watched die—or betray him.
The sun beats down on us, and I’m beginning to wish my hideous hat hadn’t blown away. I roll up the sleeves of my shirt, exposing sun-drenched shoulders to the sky. We’ve been riding for a long while now, silently scanning our surroundings and sorting out our thoughts. Looming stones surround us, casting the occasional shadow into our path while they burn in the midday sun.
“I bet you could cook an egg on one of these rocks,” I say, my voice rough from lack of water and use.
When I don’t hear some witty response, I shift slightly, feeling a weight on my pack. With a glance over my shoulder, I glimpse inky waves resting against my back. I swallow, suddenly feeling his deep breaths, his hair tickling my arm.
He’s asleep.
The action is so unbelievablyhuman.
His body is limp, at peace.
And completely vulnerable.
I doubt he’s slept more than a handful of hours these past few days.
But here he is, breathing deeply with his hands resting on my thighs, his fingers a loose fist around the reins.
I blink down at the leather that could lead me anywhere, could steer even the strongest creature.
My heart pounds against my chest.
This is it. This is hope.
Taking a deep breath, I begin gently uncurling his fingers from the reins, stopping at even the slightest stir. When his left hand is free, he reaches for something, flexing his fingers instinctively. I swallow, placing my palm atop his own before threading my fingers through his.
I hold my breath until he stops stirring, seemingly content to be holding my hand instead of the reins.
I make quick work of his right hand, freeing the strap to gather it into my own. There’s a fistful of leather now clenched in my hand, and I haven’t the slightest idea what to do with it. I pull to the left, hoping to convince the horse to turn.
Nothing.
I take a breath. Then I pull harder.
The horse shifts to the left, now walking closer to the wall of rocks. I swallow my frustration and prepare myself to tug even harder.
Because if I can get this horse to head back toward Dor, I could—
“I wouldn’t.”
A hand wraps around my wrist, halting my attempt.
I huff, looking up to shake my head at the sky. “Damn you.”
“Good try, Gray,” he says, lifting his head close to mine. “But you wouldn’t have made it far.”
I shrug, attempting to act unbothered. “Who said I was trying to make it anywhere? What if I just wanted to hold the reins?”
“And my hand?” he asks. “Just wanted to hold that, too?”
I had forgotten my fingers were still laced with his and quickly untangle them. “I liked you much better when you were asleep,” I say sweetly.
