“Expensive piece of horse flesh. You better be worth it.”
His accent was East European, maybe Russian. All the others had had their bits taken out, but this guy just fingered Tag’s and didn’t remove it. Tag tried to nudge him with his head and the guy yanked at his head collar.
“My name Vadim.”
Was that supposed to mean something to him? Tag hadn’t been given a name. He rubbed his mouth on the sleeve of Vadim’s jacket.Take this bit out!
“Think before you speak.” Vadim unclipped the bit.
Tag gasped with relief and stretched his jaw. The bit was the worst thing of all. It made him feel sick.
Vadim put his head close to Tag’s. “Don’t try to win.”
“Why not?”
“Because I told you not to.”
His purchaser was tall, probably taller than Tag if he’d been upright. He was wearing a pale-grey suit that was a perfect fit. The white hair was unusual. Tag had a feeling it wasn’t his usual colour. Sharp cheekbones accentuated a strong jaw.Posh,hardandcruelwere the words that came to mind, but his eyes had Tag mesmerised. A sparkling blue ringed with black that the elaborate mask made somehow even more distinctive. Despite everything yelling at him that this guy was trouble, Tag felt a surge of lust.I am such a fuckwit.Why the hell did he like the look of someone who was so clearly trouble?
“Have all bets been placed for the first race?” the Master called.
Tag couldn’t tear his gaze away from his…owner. It wasn’t often that he was so physically attracted to anyone, especially to a prick like this. He felt his heart rate rocket. Nor was it often that anyone stared at him in the way Vadim was staring, as though Tag fascinated him.He bought me. He’s pretending.Tag calmed down. He had to pretend too.
“Do not win,” Vadim whispered. “Not that you stand cat in hell’s chance.”
You fucking arsehole!
Irritation surged and Tag yanked hard, pulling his reins from Vadim’s grasp and moving back to Joshua. People were always making assumptions about him and it pissed him off. Now he desperately wanted to win.
“All owners out of the enclosure,” the Master called.
Please don’t notice my bit is out.But putting it back in place was the first thing Joshua did.
The racing was done in pairs. Tag had no idea how the pairs had been chosen, but One and Three were the first to run. They were led to a spot about fifty metres away and a finishing line was erected next to the circle where the rest of them waited. Tag watched the way the successful ones ran. One hind hoof to the ground, then the opposite hind hoof at the same time as the diagonal front hoof, followed by the remaining front hoof.Can I do that?Maybe it would just come to him when he began running.
Juma was by far the fastest and his owner wrapped his arms around him after he’d broken the tape. Joshua led Tag and Billy to the start. No way did Tag want to lose.Fuck Vadim!The moment the starting pistol went off, Tag cantered down the grass, totally oblivious of what he was doing with his arms and legs, but he felt as though he was running naturally. Well, as naturally as you can when you don’t really have four legs. Billy never got ahead and Tag broke the tape with a gasp.
Billy’s owner came up and gave him a hug. Vadim came nowhere near Tag.I don’t give a fuck.
Tag thought there’d be five of them who had to race again, but Nasir had fallen and was limping. Juma ran against number One and won easily. Tag ran against number Ten and won by a head. This time Vadim came up to him after he crossed the line.
“What did I fucking tell you?” he whispered and bit Tag’s ear. His real one. Tag spluttered into his bit and stamped on Vadim’s foot.
“Fuck!” Vadim yelped.
“What are you doing?” The Master’s crop landed on Tag’s arse and he let out a muffled cry. “That behaviour is unacceptable.” He hit him again, and Tag almost fell, but then the Master gasped.
Tag looked round. Vadim had his hand wrapped around the Master’s wrist.
“My property. Mine to correct,” Vadim said.
“Then ensure your pony behaves, or I will step in. While you are both at Harborne House, there are rules that must be followed.”
When the Master had moved away, Vadim put his mouth to Tag’s ear. “Fucking lose race.”
“Fucking get lost,” Tag mumbled back in his best Russian accent.
Considering his chances of winning against Juma were small, he didn’t know why he was being so awkward. Or maybe he did. He didn’t like not being in control. He was rebelling in the only way he could.
