Page 97 of Centaur Bolt

It wasn’t a term I’d heard before, but Isobel stepped forward and let him speak.

“I am Vic, and this is Bree,” the Centaur gestured to the beautiful young female alongside him. Vic had paler skin than most, but his jet-black equine coat and contrasting blue eyes provided a very striking combination.

“Our source told us you had a deal for us,” Vic continued.

A deal. To die screaming while Isobel infused you with monsters. However, even as my mouth opened to warn them off, Aurora reached out with the bloodmagic and cut off my attempt.

Isobel wound my power around the unsuspecting young Centaurs. She pushed back her hood, letting them see her long, white braids.

“If you agree to help me,” she said, “I have an offer you cannot refuse.”

32

Riley

We walked past homes designed for residents with large equine bodies.

All the buildings were oversized by human standards. Most were bungalows featuring open, partly grassed courtyards and airy windows.

“The school will just be letting out,” our guide said, taking us along another road. “I will take you there.”

We approached a large field in the very center of the colony with a building along one side of it. As we drew near, the doors opened, and a cluster of laughing, shouting, rearing, and bucking young Centaurs emerged. They had long, gangly legs and children’s torsos, and their high-pitched laughter was infectious.

I found myself smiling. Children were children, regardless of how many legs they had. Although having more legs certainly added to their general air of joy as they frolicked.

With all their antics, it seemed as though there were a lot of them. But as they slowed down to stare, I counted less than twenty of various ages. They regarded us with wide eyes, as though two-legged visitors were not common.

Trailing the group were three adults. Loose fabric draped over the torsos and equine bodies of two of them. But the female with bright red hair wore a leather corset and matching skirt, complementing her dapple-gray body.

Triss.

I was suddenly nervous about talking to Marcus’s mother. My visit, and the reason behind it, might give her false hope. But at this moment, it seemed to be all we had.

Could I really get good enough imagery from Marcus to try to reach him? In adream?It seemed a crazy leap of faith in a talent I had little control over.

I found myself staring at Marcus’s mother as our guide introduced us. She had two young students with her—a male and a female. They appeared to be the human equivalent of seven or so. Their resemblance to each other made me think they had to be at least brother and sister. They both had strawberry blonde coats and rosy skin that contrasted their bright chestnut-colored equine manes. Freckles dotted their noses.

Triss’s gaze fastened on me, and my throat closed up.

Our Centaur guide bowed to her. “I will take the early shift at the booth tomorrow. If you need anything, you only have to ask.”

“Thank you,” Triss said.

The two youngsters stared at us in obvious fascination. They both wore beautiful necklets made of hammered metal—an elaborate interwoven design that reminded me of a Celtic knot.

The female gestured to Kiko. “You’re a Satyr. I like your horns.”

“Thank you,” Kiko replied. “I use the rings—“

“Kiko likes to decorate them,” I cut in.

The Satyr snorted a laugh as Triss introduced us. “This is Trey and Tuli. The twin offspring of my sister.” Her lips curled into a smile, but I thought it was for the benefit of the kids—it never reached the sadness and worry in her eyes.

Kiko regarded them. “I didn’t think Centaurs ever had twins,” she said.

“There is a reason they are rare,” the Centaurina offered. “By the time she was due to deliver, my sister was almost the size of a house.”

“I wouldn’t tell my mother that, Auntie.” Tuli’s blue eyes widened.

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