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Did she know how to ride?
He’d never been ridden before. The tamed beasts he saw humans ride wore harnesses and constricting straps. Andros didn’t want that. He physically, mentally and emotionally rebelled against it. He didn’t think he could submit to being restrained.
Even for her.
“What do you think, big guy?” she asked him softly as she stepped up to him, stroking his side.
“Would you be willing to carry me? You go at the pace you want. I promise I won’t kick you or exacerbate your injuries. We can put the blanket on your back so it’s more comfortable for us both. It’s up to you.”
He cocked his ears at her words. Somewhat amazed that she treated him as an equal, even asked for his consent.
In all his years, the humans he encountered treated animals with care at best—as they did with any possession simply because it was theirs—and cruelty at worst. But the underlying assumption was always that animals were inferior. As if they didn’t have feelings and thoughts of their own.
“You’re actually asking him?” the black-haired man said impatiently, proving Andros’ point.
“How else do you propose I get on, and stay on, his back? If he’s not willing to carry me, he’ll likely buck me off even if you hoisted me up there. I like my bones unbroken, thank you,” she retorted tartly.
Andros made his decision.
He was indebted to these humans for freeing him. If he could help ease their journey, especially his little female, he would do it. In addition, there was something about these three travelers. He felt an inexplicable draw to them, as if his destiny was tied to theirs somehow. Most of all, he wanted to spend more time with Divina.
She was important.
She washis.
Painstakingly, he bent his forelegs to the ground, followed by his hindlegs. His body shivered with aches and pains, but he breathed through it. He looked at his female and chuffed softly for her to climb aboard.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” the lean man said beneath his breath. “Should I start calling you the Horse Whisperer?”
Divina ignored the other man as she smiled wide at Andros. There was both concern and gratitude in her expression. She seemed to understand how much this acquiescence cost him.
He was humbling himself before her. He, who had never submitted to anyone or anything. He was giving her his trust by making himself vulnerable in this position.
He hoped he wouldn’t regret it.
He swung his head toward his back, gesturing for her to get on. If he stayed on his knees much longer, he might not be able to get back up for the rest of the day.
The golden warrior threw a thick cloth over Andros’ back, and Divina approached gingerly. With his help, she was lifted until she sat sideways on top of Andros.
Andros waited until she grasped a handful of his mane before rising as steadily as he could back to his feet.
“Wow,” she whispered. “I feel like I’m on top of the world up here. You must be the tallest horse ever. Do try not to drop me, please. It’s a long way to fall down!”
And so, the four of them, along with the largest dog Andros had ever seen, if it was indeed a canine (it looked more like a lion with excessive fur), made their way through the hills and valleys that arrowed toward the Pelion Mountains.
His female kept up a constant chatter as they traveled, flitting from one topic to another, throwing out whatever came into her mind. Most of what she said Andros didn’t understand.
Well, he comprehended the individual words, but there were many exceptions. Terms she used that he wasn’t familiar with, like—bra, underwear, moisturizer, lip balm, movies, YouTube, Spotify, and so forth. He guessed her meaning some of the time, but more often than not, he was bewildered by her speech.
The lean male engaged in banter with her; they seemed to have an easy comradery. While the warrior stayed mostly silent, only offering a low hum or one-word contributions when absolutely required.
Instead of trying to decipher their conversation, Andros focused on how she sounded, and how she made him feel.
Carrying her on his back was…not an unpleasant experience.
Her sideways seat took some getting used to, for her weight wasn’t equally distributed. But she was just as light as he assumed, barely a burden at all. She held his mane loosely in one hand, the other splayed on his neck. She quickly adapted the movement of her body to his strides, until they moved as one. Absently, she stroked his neck and sifted her hand through his mane, working her fingers gently through the tangles.
Her touch relaxed him. Her presence warmed and comforted him. He felt as if she was made to ride him, and he was made to be ridden by her. The thought made his heart pound and his pulse race. It confused him.
