I can easily fall and break something, has me on the verge of panicking.
Maybe I can just allude to it and he’ll catch my meaning.
“Yeah, I’m good, though I should mention I’ve never done this before,” I reply with a tight smile.
His ear flicks in my direction.
Portal hopping isn’t difficult. It feels strange for a moment, but given that I’m making my own portal we will have the convenience of determining where exactly it opens up in this world, and I guarantee it is perfectly safe.
I blink down at his velvety purple gaze and stifle a nervous laugh. So much for hinting about the problem. Somehow it has just made things worse. I know he’s honestly trying to help, but that he felt I needed a guarantee of my safety isn’t doing anything for my anxiety.
“Uh, not exactly what I meant,” I mutter as I cut an uncomfortable glance to the goblin who’s watching me with undisguised interest. Damn. Seems like I’m destined to have an audience while I come clean. As much as I love unicorns, horses fucking terrify me, and this is too much like my worst nightmare. “I mean I’ve never ridden a horse before,” I hiss. “Horseback riding and horses in general scare the shit out of me, so every time you move, I feel like I’m about to fall to my death.”
Oh. Good thing I’m not a horse, then.
Of course he would say that. I swallow back a groan and shut my eyes as I silently attempt to pray away my budding headache.
“It may not be the same thing to you,” I reply through gritted teeth as I open my eyes again, “but try telling that to the part of me that’s about ready to have a heart attack.”
At my side, Grimsal snickers, but I’m grateful when Eliph silences him by snapping his teeth in the goblin’s direction. Grimsal gives a surprised snarl as he poofs safely out of the way, but that’s followed with a stream of curses and more laughter when he reappears. I curl my lip at him and give him the best “drop dead” look I can muster, but it only seems to make him laugh louder.
I’m really starting to dislike goblins. Apparently, everything is a joke to him.
He holds up his hands in front of him in surrender as he comes closer, his expression apologetic despite the amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Don’t take offense now,” he chuckles. “I didn’t mean anything by it. Certainly, I intended no insult. I just think it’s funny that the daft male has to be told that you’re scared when you’re sitting on him stiff as can be. It can’t be too comfortable for him. Foolish to assume that you are frightened of the portal when you’ve been fine about that until the moment you climbed aboard his back.”
Eliph lowers his head slightly, his ears turning to the side in an expression of dismay.
You are truly afraid?
The disappointment is thick in his voice, and though I may not have wanted a mate, he sounds so sad about it that my heart squeezes in response.
“Not everyone rides, especially when you live in the city. Even if I wasn’t afraid of horses, there’s a slim chance of me having the opportunity to even be around a horse, much less ride one where I grew up.”
He huffs, blowing a hard breath through his nostrils, and my grip on his mane instinctively tightens once more as he shifts his stance again.
A male is to carry his mate when she is unable to assume a fetch form. That is the way it’s always been done to keep our females safe. If I cannot carry you, then we will be more vulnerable to attack, and it will also slow our travel considerably.
Great. One way or the other, I’ll likely be spending much of my time astride his equine form whether I like it or not.
“If you are discussing how to get around this little obstacle, perhaps I can make a suggestion,” Grimsal offers. “I can ride double with you so you feel more secure as we cross. It will also keep us all together as we pass through the portal.”
Huh. I’m not keen on having the goblin huddled up behind me on Eliph’s back, but I have to admit that at least I wouldn’t feel like I’m about to fall off with him there. My “mate,” however, is even less pleased by the offer. His head whips toward the goblin, his