Page 52 of A Tempest of Shadows

“I’ll be back at the same time tomorrow,” Ryker said. “I want to go deeper into the forest; are you up for that?”

I bristled at his words. “The forest doesn’t scare me.”

“Good.”

He grasped the stallion’s mane and swung onto its back. He settled himself and collected a handful of hair before gently nudging the stallion with his left knee. The horse turned and trotted across the grass and onto the dirt lane, where the kicked-up dust caused them to disappear.

I watched them for longer than I should have as I tried to puzzle out the conundrum of Ryker. When I first met him, he was jovial and full of life.

His time in the war and Doomed Valley had turned him into a cold, distant man. While I knew how such things could change someone, I didn’t understand how he could be willing to turn his back on Mouse before reluctantly offering his help.

Despite that, he hadn’t tried to crush the spirit of his stallion, like others would have, even if they still failed to tame the beast. Many would have destroyed the animal instead of riding it without a saddle and bridle.

He’d trained the horse to respond to leg commands, which took a lot of work. It also took someone with a lot of patience, understanding, and a good heart. He’d earned Xanthus’s trust, and the horse had rewarded him by making him a loyal friend.

I had to admire that.

Scarlet came to stand beside me. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

But I didn’t know if that was true.

“How did it go out there today?”

“Better than expected but also worse… if that makes sense.”

“Not really.”

With a sigh, I turned to face her. Her pretty brown eyes were full of concern as she studied me.

“I thought I’d hate him, but I don’t,” I admitted.

Her eyebrows rose at this admission. “What does that mean?”

“I wish I knew. And I really wish I hadn’t gotten myself into this mess. My mother’s hoping for a reward we can never collect, and I’m leading Ryker into the forest, a place of danger and death, all while knowing I’m the one he’s hunting.”

Scarlet rested her hand on my shoulder. “You couldn’t have known your mother would offer to have you help him.”

“No, but I knew I was putting myself and everyone I love in jeopardy when I put on that hood. I’m horrible.”

“No, you’re not. You were trying to help, and since I was right there with you, that would make me horrible too. Do you think I’m awful?”

“Of course not, but you were there to talk me out of it.”

“True, but when I failed to do so, I also helped. We both did things we shouldn’t have, Lery, but we can’t take it back.”

“What if he gets hurt in the woods because of me?”

“He won’t.”

“How do you know that?”

Scarlet squeezed my shoulder. “Because he’ll have you there to make sure he stays safe.”

I hoped she was right, but doubt and guilt clawed at me as I stared at the dust settling on the empty road.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR