asked and turned as the other girls listened. “Lexia, come on! You’re the only one clinging to that oath, and we’re all left to deal with your painful screams when the moon calls you. Give us the goods!”
“No, because he wants me to be fully aware when he takes me,” I admitted, watching their eyes get large and wide as they nodded. “I think he may be man enough to sate whatever is wrong with me that keeps me unsatisfied.”
“You are missing your mate,” Amo announced. “That’s why you can’t come with some boring ass dick. You’re a forever kind of woman. You cling to the idea that sex should mean something more than just basic needs,” she scoffed, buffing her nails on her chest while looking at me pointedly.
“Like I’d get a mate, asshole? No, I’m not anyone’s mate. Could you imagine being saddled with me? The poor prick would probably off himself before allowing me to claim him, anyway.” I breathed and then noted Amo’s eyes had moved over my shoulder.
I turned, staring into the frosted glare of the male who had been silent behind me for most of the ride. Hell, Chivalry had even kept his distance from Torrin, choosing to nudge my leg instead of his. I wasn’t sure what had changed, but something had. He’d been cold and distant the closer we got to the gate guarding the way into the Kingdom of Night.
Maybe it was because Torrin thought he’d subdued me with his mouth and was no longer interested in me. Or maybe it was because he’d never been interested in the first place? I shook it off, waiting for him to speak, but something chilling passed in his stare, causing me to swallow down the urge to step back and run.
“We will bring your horses into the kingdom through a secondary route. Their coloring will cause issues, and I’d rather not waste any more time in reaching the palace than necessary,” Torrin stated, nodding to the men who moved in to retrieve the white stallions.
My eyes slid to Chivalry, who reared back as the guard approached him. My heart thundered in my chest, realizing he was cutting off our escape while disguising it as a need to reach the palace sooner. I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for it, but arguing wouldn’t stop it from happening.
I walked toward Chivalry, ignoring the guards who tried to push me away. Holding out my hand for my horse, I exhaled as he calmed and sidestepped toward me. As I clucked my tongue, he soothingly placed his muzzle into my palm. He rubbed it against me, neighing his displeasure while I exhaled again slowly.
“You’ll be okay, sweet boy. I will meet you there and feed you the best oats in the world. Be my good boy, and I’ll come to see you as soon as we arrive,” I cooed, leaning my head against his neck. “Keep the others calm and tell them we are safe and on our path.”
“You speak to the animal as if he understands, crazy woman,” the guard snorted, and I smirked, watching Chivalry shake his mane and prance around.
“They’re much smarter creatures than you think they are,” I returned icily, leveling the guard with a chilling look. “Should anything happen to my boy, I will return to take yours,” I warned, lowering my icy stare to his dick. “And I’ll do it while you’re still alive. See that Chivalry is treated well, as he is very important to me.” The guard laughed coldly, glaring at me as I turned, walking past Torrin, who narrowed his eyes.
I stood with my group, waiting for the men to take us into their territory. Amo’s owl, Scout, left her shoulder and flew around us, squawking his displeasure as Amo waved him off. My heart hammered in my chest as I felt Torrin standing behind me, and my eyes slid to Amo as the men moved in around us. Inhaling, I sucked my lip between my teeth, closing my eyes as my heart echoed in my ears, pounding like thunder.
“They need to be wearing cloaks,” Torrin announced, and I watched as the girls were covered in them by the men behind them. “Here, woman,” he growled when I failed to turn away from the look in the men’s eyes.
I felt the cloak on my shoulders, and with it, magic wafted through me. My body grew pliant, and my mind turned numb. Torrin picked me up and moved toward