Page 40 of Godsbane
Three steps away from the tree, the world flips upside down. No, not the world,me. I mentally brace myself for the hard impact of the ground that’s sure to follow. I didn’t notice any logs but I feel the long, steady press of them under my knees and across my back.
“Look at me,” Cal’s voice commands in my ear. I force my eyes open to find his face inches from my cheek and my body cradled tightly in his arms. “You overextended yourself. Control like that takes practice, Ivy.”
Gods, I love the way he says my name. Even without the current of magic in my veins overwhelming my senses, it’s …magic …wait … is this Cal’s confession that he knows about my power?
My tongue sticks dryly in my mouth, the question dying before I ever get my mouth fully open. Cal sits my feet gently on the ground, his strong arms never letting go of me for fear I might fall over again.
“Up you go,” he urges, helping to set my left foot in the stirrup before placing both hands on my ass and pushing upward.
Definitely not how I imagined that contact going for the first time.
Focus, Ivy.
Settling into the saddle, I glance to the left and see two caramel-colored mares with the end of a familiar emerald green cloak sticking out of their saddlebags. My cloak. My mare. Beside me.
The gray mount beneath me shifts as Cal braces a hand on the pommel and swings a toned leg up and over the horse's back, settling in behind the saddle’s cantle and wrapping his arms around me.
“What are … you … doing?” I force out shakily.
“Getting us out of here before those scumbag Deliverers decide to come looking for him and find you covered in his blood.”
Cal takes my shaking hand, covering my rust-stained skin with his as he entwines our fingers and pulls me tightly against him.
The horse begins her forward walk, my own riderless mare following alongside in perfect unison. The swaying motion lulls me closer to the edge of sleep.
Under the full heat of the afternoon sun and wrapped in Cal’s embrace, I drift towards the level of unconsciousness I’ve spent eighteen years chasing. Sweet, dreamless rest.
The wind whispers softly in my ear, granting me permission to fall endlessly into the awaiting slumber.
“Sleep now. I’ve got you.”
“Ivy.” Cal’s voice cuts through the hazy fog of sleep. “Wake up, princess.”
His days-old stubble scrapes against my cheek as he gently nudges me awake. The last light of day filters in through the heavy tree cover as I slowly open my eyes.
We’ve ridden deep into the woods. Dense pine and spruce crowd around us, seamlessly connecting to the boulders that make up the top of the rocky outcropping no doubt meant to conceal us from unwanted visitors.
Cal lightly squeezes my hand, drawing my attention to our still entwined fingers. Embarrassment heats my cheeks as I jerk my hand from his hold.
Oh gods.
I actually fell asleep in his arms. And worse, I didn’t dream.
The captain dismounts rather gracefully considering his awkward seating position. If he’s hurting from riding uncomfortably for hours, he doesn’t show it. An icy chill runs down my spine at the loss of his heat, prompting Cal to grab my cloak from my saddlebag.
“You’re safe here. I promise.”
One look into his eyes and I know he means it. I fasten the cloak around my shoulders, ignoring Cal’s waiting hand for a few moments longer. My fingers are stiff, still coated in the dried, cracked blood of my attacker. Magic tingles back to life in my veins as the memories come rushing back to me.
“I would have done it,” Cal’s voice interrupts my spiraling thoughts, “ripped him limb from fucking limb while he begged for death. If he had hurt you, Ivy …”
His pained voice trails off but the dark, reckless side of me stirs at his violent threat. The dark magic was sated, so why does it wake at the promise of danger on his lips?
Tired of waiting, Cal grabs my hand and tugs gently, indicating that he’s not moving until he helps me out of this saddle.
“I can do it,” I protest.
If I was a different woman, one who hadn’t been discounted and underestimated for years, I might let him sweep me off my feet, might let him carry me to the place he intends to camp. But dismantling my pride is too big a mountain to climb tonight.
