Page 95 of My Queendom for a Horse

It’s because I’m the only way he can use his stupid magic.

Without me, he can’t do any of the things he wants to do.

Which means I’ll always be the thing he needs, but not the thing he wants. At least I know Sean wants me.

“Aleksandr,” I say. “I can’t.”

His eyes fall, then. “Why not? Do you really prefer him to me? Is it because of the past? Or because I’m Russian? Because I’m a horse?”

“I can’t do this,” I say. “I told you what I want, and I haven’t changed my mind.”

“You really want me to leave tomorrow?”

“I know we haven’t cracked the curse, but I need to live my life, and it’s time you face the truth. You’re going to have to live yours. . .without your magical powers. Trust me when I say, it may be harder, but you’ll get used to it. It’s still worth living.”

He swallows slowly and nods his head, his eyes deep and intense. “Okay.”

He doesn’t fight me when I turn him back into a horse. I almost wish he would, because this quiet enduring thing he’s doing is almost the worst thing he’s done yet.

19

The tiny group of extended family Sean said his mom invited? Yeah, it’s like twenty people.

I suppose I can’t blame her. I mean, it is Christmas, but it drags on and on, and I find myself wishing over and over that I had someone for whom I could pretend I was drunk. Then they could toss me over their shoulder and carry me out of here.

All the guests compliment me on my necklace, and I realize that Sean or his father or both have told them it was his gift to me.

Several of them say things like, “Oh, how lovely for you.”

Or, “You must be so delighted to have something so valuable.”

Like I’m a puppy with a blinged-up collar, and I should be eternally grateful for the largesse of the McDermotts.

The whole thing starts to piss me off.

I know it’s probably not something I’ll have to deal with forever, and I’m sure if Sean heard it, he’d shut them down. But it annoys me all the same.

Finally, about an hour after I really needed to leave to get enough sleep for tomorrow’s race, I make my way to Sean’s side and tap his arm. “I called an Uber. I need to head out front to meet it.”

His eyes widen. “An Uber?” He laughs. “You’re so funny, all the time.”

“I really did,” I say.

His aunt’s eyes dart sideways toward Sean in horror.

In for a penny, in for a pound. “I really do need to go, or I’ll get charged an extra fee for making them wait. Then I might not be able to make my credit card bill payment this month.” I widen my eyes, compress my lips, and meet the aunt’s gaze solemnly, as if she might commiserate with me.

The sad thing is that, while I’m hamming it up, I didn’t need to stretch to come up with that. I doubt they even fully comprehend what I’m saying, and I’m quite sure his aunt has never taken an Uber in her life. Actually, I doubt Sean has either. I’ve heard him mention that he has a driver.

“I’ll see you in the morning?” Before he can argue with me, I’m darting out the door and shooting toward the front entrance.

Down the hall, their butler’s arguing with my Uber driver. It doesn’t appear to be going well.

“I assure you, sir, that no one in this residence would dream of—”

“Hey there.” I wave. “Thanks for getting here so fast.”

I almost make it into the back of the Kia Sedona before Sean hurtles through the front doors. I suppress my groan.

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