Page 21 of My Queendom for a Horse

Seems more than fair. He won’t sire the line of horses I’d hoped for, but at least I won’t have thrown a quarter million down a rat hole.

“I want one more thing.” Why does he look nervous?

“What is it?” I ask.

“You’ll teach me about the modern world and help me break the curse in any way possible.”

Oh, no. Not so fast. In any way possible? “I’m not promising to do anything, but I’ll try my best to do both. Since it’s two more things you want, I need a promise from you in exchange.”

“What kind of promise?”

“You’ll stay in horse form as long as you’re with me, and you’ll behave the way a horse should. No more jumping fences and trampling people any time I’m not around.”

His brow furrows. “How will I learn about the modern world if I’m always in horse form?”

I think for a moment. “You can spend the evenings as a human in our old barn. It’s empty now, but it has living quarters we can clean up.”

He smiles. “It’s a deal.”

Describing his smile as breathtaking feels. . .somehow incomplete. It transforms his already gorgeous face into a work of art.

“Okay.”

He holds out his hand.

“What?”

“Don’t humans usually shake their hands?” His hand is still extended. “I’ve seen them do it.”

I finally take his hand, but this time, I’m prepared for the electric zing. It still surprises me when it happens.

“I’m Aleksandr Volkonsky,” he says. “And you’re Kristiana. . .?”

“Liepa,” I say. “Does the name mean anything to you?”

He shakes his head. “But you’re connected to all of this somehow. You must be.”

What if he’s wrong? What if I can’t turn him back and forth into a horse? What if he’s stuck as a human? I’ll never get my money back, and I’ll have some random guy following me around.

Not that I’d mind that so much. I realize that I’m still holding his hand and yank mine back. What’s wrong with me? A horse turns into a man and tells me he’s magical, and I what? Fangirl?

Am I really swooning because he has pretty eyes? I’m such an idiot.

“We should probably head back,” he says. “You’ll want to dispatch that stupid banker as quickly as possible.”

“Sean.” I smack my forehead. “I can’t dispatch him. I need his help.”

Aleksandr frowns. “Why, exactly?”

“Our first loan payment is due in two days, and I’ve only got half of what I need.”

“I know, but why him?” His eyes narrow. “I don’t like how he looks at you. You should take money from someone else.”

I laugh. “I’m lucky he can help me at all. There aren’t many people who can come up with that kind of money in two days.” Actually. If he changes his mind. . . “I’ve made him wait too long.”

“You need to change me back.” He looks simultaneously scared and relieved. I suppose if he’s been stuck as a horse for a while, he’d be used to it. He’s probably also nervous about being stuck again. I hope I can manage to turn him, because explaining that I left with a horse and I’m returning with a naked man would not be easy.

“How should I even try this?” Now that I’m staring at him, everything feels weird. He’s naked except for a coat, staring at me expectantly. The longer I look at him, the stranger the idea that he was cursed to be a horse sounds.

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