Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
I kick out, struggling against my captor. My bare foot connects with a solid object, eliciting a muffled curse.
“Secure her feet.”
No matter how much I wriggle and struggle, I can’t hold them off. Vines wind around my wrists and ankles and cut into my skin. With a grunt, I’m lifted off the ground and hefted over a shoulder. The force slams my nose into my captor’s back, and I choke on the stench of stale sweat.
The man I assume to be the ringleader of my abduction speaks. “Keep quiet. None of us can afford to get caught.”
We start to move. After wiggling my hands and feet to check the bindings, I remain still, preserving my strength. Panic would drown me if I let it, because I no longer know if this is hazing or something much, much worse. These people might have kidnapped Leesa. Maybe even killed her. I need to keep my wits and prepare to fight if the opportunity presents itself.
When. When the opportunity presents itself. I refuse to go down easily. Mother wouldn’t survive a second missing daughter.
A door creaks. Cold air brushes my damp gown, and the realization that we’re outside extinguishes any hope that they’re taking me to an empty room in the building to perform some silly initiation.
After a short walk that smashes my nose against my captor’s back with every step, we stop. I’m lifted off his shoulder, only to be flopped over another object in much the same way. A firm surface supports my stomach, while my arms and legs dangle. A musty animal scent tickles my nose.
“Stay still if you want to remain alive.”
There’s a clicking noise. A snort. The surface beneath my stomach lurches, followed by rhythmic thuds. Hoofbeats.
Dread tightens a noose around my neck. Horse? Or alicorn?
The beast beneath speeds up, jarring my body and rattling my teeth with each stride. I hold the terror at bay until the whoosh whoosh of flapping wings assaults my ears. The world tilts, and I pray to any god who might listen when we take off into the night sky.
Alicorn. These bastards put me on an alicorn. What in the hells are they planning to do? Fly me up to dizzying heights so they can toss me off and watch me fall to my death?
My head swims. Buzzing fills my ears. Memories flash behind my eyes, sucking me under.
My joyful giggle. My father’s strong arms around me. Soaring in the air, the wind tugging at my hair and the alicorn’s mane.
Shouts. An agonized shriek.
My stomach bottoming out as the alicorn plummets toward the ground. Falling, falling, falling…
The hooves clatter to a stop. With a gasp, I surface from the past, covered in cold sweat. Someone grabs me beneath my arms and lifts, setting me on my feet.
“Listen carefully. I’m going to cut the binding on your hands and feet. Once I do that, count to fifty. Then you can remove the gag and bag over your head. Nod if you understand.”
I give a desperate nod. Now that I’m off the alicorn, my knees ache to buckle in relief, but it’s too early for celebrating. Unless they flew us in a big circle back to the dorms for shits and giggles, I’m certain the worst is yet to come.
“A little birdy told me you were afraid of flying, and if you can’t fly, you have no business being here. We’ll give you one chance. Agree to leave and let someone more qualified fill your spot, and we’ll take you back to your room right now.”
And abandon Leesa? No. Not happening.
He chuckles. “Okay, then. Guess we’ll find out if you’re scared come morning, because you’ll either get down on your own or you’ll still be rotting up here. Or you’ll be dead.”
He states the three options like they’re all the same to him. And how does he know about my fear of flying? Someone must have seen through my dizzy routine, but who?
A sawing motion yanks at my ankle restraints until my legs are free. My hands are next. “Remember, count to fifty.”
Teeth chattering, I count.
One, two, three…
Wings flap, the noise growing fainter every second.
Four, five, six…
When I reach fifty, I rip the bag off my head and fumble with the gag. The cloth loosens enough for me to yank the foul object from my mouth, and I gulp fresh air while taking stock of my surroundings. Combined with the faint firelights emitting around campus, the moon cuts the darkness just enough for me to see where I am…or rather, where I’m not.
“Son of a dragon’s ass.”
Barely daring to breathe, I peer over the edge of the rooftop. The very, very tall rooftop. The ground is a steep drop—the kind of fall that would snap my bones into pieces and crack my skull like a ripe melon.
A glance behind me confirms that I’ve been stranded on the top of one of the tall towers I spotted on my way into Flighthaven. The much too narrow ledge, combined with a surge of wind, has me yelping and dropping to my butt. I’m so stressed, I don’t realize I’m not alone up here until an annoyed whicker startles me.
Oh, shit.
I freeze. If I don’t look, maybe I can pretend I’m alone. A second snort dispels that idea. With my heart thrashing against my ribs, I ever so slowly crane my head to the right. Leesa’s massive alicorn stands a few paces away, head lowered and sharp horn pointed at my face. His hooves barely fit on the narrow ledge.
I gawk, outrage momentarily breaking through my fear. “You have got to be shitting me. It’s like someone thought, hmm, what could make this experience worse? Oh, I know. Let’s add an alicorn!”
As if taking exception to my comment, the beast flares his nostrils and shakes his head.
With a muffled whimper, I scrabble backwards. Logically, I know my fear is ridiculous. It’s not as if an alicorn ever attacked me. One just dropped me mid-flight. No big deal.
Okay, so maybe it is a big deal. Especially since my father died. In a weird way, it tracks that my brain is wired to equate alicorns with danger. Still, I need to get over it. Preferably now. Wetting myself because a hairy, horned beast is sharing my current perch won’t make my situation any more pleasant.
I lick my dry lips. “Sorry. It’s not you, it’s me. Zephyr. That’s your name, right?”
Not sure if I’m expecting a reply, but the alicorn snorts. I’ll take that as a yes.
Suddenly, my kidnapper’s comment makes sense. Come morning, if I’m safely tucked in my bed and Zephyr’s in his stall, then all is well, and I’m not scared to fly. But if I’m still stuck up here, it means I’m too chickenshit to climb onto Zephyr’s back and ride him to the ground. Though, fear aside, I’m not sure how anyone expects me to mount the animal in such a cramped space.
I peer over the edge again and peek at the structure below me. Just like I thought, the tower is built from stones, most of which are about the length of my forearm.
“Guess what, assholes? You forgot an option.” One that gets me out of this predicament without flying or dying. Hopefully.
Is it a smart option? No. But it’s the only viable choice. I need to stay for Leesa’s sake, and if the entire campus learns of my fear of flying, I’m sure to be booted out of Flighthaven to join ground soldier training at Forthaven…or get assigned to an even shittier post. For that same reason, I can’t scream for help. And since the chance of me vaulting onto Mr. Pointy here and cruising down to the dorms is zero, that leaves me with exactly one course of action.
Climbing.
I inhale deeply, working to gather my courage. Heights are never my favorite, but remove the alicorn from the picture, and I can manage without the debilitating fear. I succeeded in climbing up to my bedchamber window at home without maiming or killing myself. In breeches, though. Not a dress. This nightgown won’t do me any favors.
Grabbing the hem, I tie it in a loose knot above my knees. I shoo Zephyr with my hands. When that doesn’t work, I bark a string of commands at the alicorn. After multiple failed attempts, he finally flaps his wings when I hiss, “stable,” but only after shooting me what I swear is an exasperated glare. Once he takes off, I crawl to the edge, flip onto my stomach, and lower my feet over the side. My toes scrape across rough stone until they dip into the space between one stone and the next. I guess I’m doing this.
With my nerves as taut as a bowstring, I ease myself a little farther down the wall. The toe grips between stones are better than I expected. Still, one false move will end with me splatting on the earth below.
I climb, slow and steady, having no trouble finding good hand and toe grips.
About a quarter of the way down, the first sprinkles hit. I pause, sucking down air like I can’t get enough. My teeth chatter.
“Don’t panic. Don’t panic.”
What now? Climb back up to the top? Or stay the course and hope the rain stops before the stone gets too slick?
The worst thing I can do is nothing. Faced with two terrible options, I stick with the original plan to continue the downward climb. Only faster.
The sprinkles shift to light rain. The wind picks up, tousling my hair. With every move, my toes slip on the water-slicked rock before finding purchase. And I’m not even halfway down yet.
The odds of surviving become grimmer by the second.
Another gust of wind rustles my hair and gown, carrying a faint hint of animal fur, leather, and spice. My head spins, in what must be the world’s worst timing for a dizzy spell. A flapping noise breaks my misery.
“What in the three hells do you think you’re doing?”
I yelp, and my hand slips on the slick surface. Panic shrieks through my limbs as I scrabble to latch on. Once I’ve regained my grip, I pant until the sharpest edge of terror abates.
I don’t need to look to know who I’ll find hovering nearby. Instructor Thorne. Of course. Out of all the possible rescuers, why did it have to be him? “Don’t sneak up on me like that! Are you trying to kill me?”
Several beats pass. “It doesn’t look like you need my assistance in that department. We’re directly below you now. Let go, and I’ll grab you and fly you down.”
Despite my precarious situation, a storm brews behind my ribs. He sounds put out, the big jerk. Like this is all just a giant inconvenience for him.
Gee, so sorry my near splat on the rocks below is keeping you from your favorite hobbies…like torturing kittens or making babies cry.
I dip my chin and catch a glimpse of an alicorn wing. My stomach plunges. “No, thank you. Sir.”
“What do you mean, ‘no, thank you?’”
I can almost hear him gritting his teeth.
“I mean, no. Thank you. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather climb down.”
“‘If it’s all the same to me,’ she says.” The bemused note in his voice has me wondering what kind of expression he’s wearing. His growl a moment later kills my curiosity. “Duchess, I don’t give a single fuck about what you’d rather do. As your instructor, I am ordering you to let go of the wall and get your ass on this alicorn. Now.”
As much as I’d love to, I can’t risk disobedience. No doubt he’d hound me the entire climb down and act even more insufferable during flight training. Besides, the rock has gotten too slippery.
“But how can you catch me? The alicorn’s wings?—”
“I’ll catch you.”
His firm reply allows for no argument. Maybe I’m a fool, but something in me trusts his confidence.
“Okay. I’m letting go.” My fingers revolt by tightening their grip. “I’m…not sure if I can.”
He mutters under his breath. “You can. If you don’t, I’ll take matters into my own hands.”
The threat in his words causes a whimper to catch in my throat. The thought of me dropping onto the alicorn on my own is horrifying enough. But the prospect of Thorne yanking me onto the creature’s back instead is a thousand times worse.
After several failed attempts, I finally uncurl my fingers and let go. Yelping, I fall for only a moment before icy-cold latches around my waist, jerking me sideways until a strong arm replaces it. The ice whip Thorne summoned vanishes. Terror seizes my muscles, but somehow, I manage to straddle the alicorn. Thorne pulls my back against his chest, his warmth seeping in through my damp gown.
The alicorn moves, and I flinch, lashing out with my hands to grasp the closest source of stability.
Thorne grunts. “Here, hold onto the reins instead.”
I shake my head. “I would, but I can’t see them.”
“Why can’t you see them?”
The alicorn swoops, the motion plucking a frightened yip from my throat. “Because my eyes are shut.”
“Why are…never mind. Here, I’ll hand them to you. As much as I enjoy a woman squeezing my thighs, now isn’t the appropriate place or time.”
Oh, gods. I manage to peel my eyes open for a quick peek and…yup. I’m clutching Instructor Thorne’s thighs like a starving villager clutching two fresh loaves of bread. Heat burns my face and neck. “Sorry. I didn’t realize…”
Thankfully, he doesn’t use the opportunity to mock me further, instead pushing the reins into my palm and curling my fingers around the leather. Cold air blows on my skin as the alicorn coasts to the ground. Unconsciously, I lean back into Thorne’s warmth. My breaths begin to cycle at an alarming rate, so I try to focus on anything other than my current situation. With my eyes squeezed shut, I notice how snugly Thorne and I fit together. The hard strength of his chest pressing into my back. The firm grip of his thighs around mine. The delicious way he smells, of leather and soap and spice.
As soon as the direction of my thoughts registers, horror skewers my gut. By the heavens, no. I don’t care how traumatic this experience has been, there’s no excuse for lusting after Instructor Thorne. Even if he is hotter than the desert sun. Even if his rescues are becoming habitual. For one, the man’s an absolute ass. For two, he’s my teacher. For three, he’s an absolute ass. Yes, I counted that last one twice, but he’s such a dickhead most of the time that it bears repeating.
I’m so distracted by my momentary slip of sanity that I forget my fear. When Zephyr’s hooves strike the ground in front of the dorms, shock ricochets through my bones. We made it. In one piece.
Thorne dismounts first. Once he’s off, he grabs me around the waist to help me dismount as well. I release a shuddering breath, relieved to be back on solid footing. The damp grass feels amazing under my bare feet. Safe. I’m tempted to drop to my knees and kiss the ground, but Thorne has enough reasons to sneer at me without adding another to the list.
“What in the gods’ names are you wearing?”
The strangled quality to his voice prompts me to open my eyes, where I find his gaze focused on my gown. My damp gown. Glancing down, I see the material clings to my breasts in a way that leaves little to the imagination.
Warmth floods my cheeks. Part of me wants to die on the spot. I clear my throat and cross my arms over my chest. I swear, if even one rude or mocking comment leaves his mouth, I might just strangle him.
Our eyes meet, and my previous thoughts scatter like dust. The heat in his stare is unmistakable, making me wonder if he shares in my inconvenient lust. If he, too, noticed how good his body felt pressed up against mine.
The air between us thickens, and his gaze dips to my mouth. Warmth unfurls in my belly. Tempting me. I wonder what would happen, if I leaned in and planted my lips?—
A dragon roars in the distance, jerking me back into reality. A world where we don’t kiss because Thorne is both my instructor and an enormous dick.
I edge toward the dorms’ door. “Well, thank you for rescuing me. Though I still contend that I could have climbed my way down.”
The fire vanishes from his eyes so quickly, I wonder if I imagined the spark. His expression becomes an indifferent mask, though my last comment causes an upward twitch of his lips. “Of course you do. Do I want to know why you were up there?”
I offer a nervous laugh. “Oh, you know. Just a little fun amongst fledglings. Nothing to worry about.”
He’s not buying it, but whatever. The ordeal ended, and I don’t plan on filing a report. I’ll just be a lot more careful about my showering habits from here on out.
“You’re lucky I was out and saw Zephyr flying down from the tower. Otherwise, you might have been stuck up there all night. I’d ask why in the blistering hells you came here, but I know you didn’t have a choice.” He shakes his head. “A Flighthaven fledgling, afraid of alicorns.”
I open my mouth to lie. Close it again. There’s no point in arguing. He knows my secret. Well, that secret. “What can I say? I like to be original.”
For a heartbeat, the lip twitch approaches a smile. “Too bad your exemption wasn’t approved.”
I wrinkle my brow. “What exemption? I didn’t request an exemption.” Not yet.
My mumbled statement makes him still. “Could you repeat that?”
“I said, I didn’t request an exemption.”
He drags a hand down his jaw. “That’s what I thought you said, but I was sure I heard wrong.” His stare dissects me like I’m some strange new specimen of magical creature that stumbled across his path and he can’t quite believe his eyes. “What kind of reckless fool doesn’t request an exemption from flight academy when the idea of flying makes them collapse in the dirt like a dead slug?”
“Thank you so much for that charming visual. I’ll be sure to cherish it always.” Exasperated, I dig my fingers into my upper arms and squeeze. “And me. Obviously. I’m the type of reckless fool to do that.”
“Why?”
The intensity of his searching look dampens my palms. I avert my gaze to focus on a fascinating section of grass. I could ignore the question, but there’s no point, and I figure I owe him that much for the rescue. “Because my sister went missing from here without a trace, and I swore to myself I’d do everything in my power to find her. And this,” I sweep my hands wide to encompass the Flighthaven campus, “is within my power. Even if I do find the thought of hopping onto an alicorn’s back terrifying enough to impersonate a dead slug.”
“Can you impersonate a dead slug when it’s not a person?”
I blow out an annoyed breath. “Really? You want to debate semantics right now?”
He ignores my words, instead studying me with an enigmatic expression. Delightful. Now I feel like a slug he’s pinned to a board to analyze at will. After the night’s adventures, I’m probably about as appealing as one too.
After an extended inspection where I’m tempted to wriggle my little sluggy self out of view, he tugs on his earlobe and heaves a disgruntled sigh. “Starting tomorrow, meet me at the alicorn paddock every morning, one hour before breakfast.” The gruff quality of his voice and stilted enunciation make the offer sound forced.
My suspicion rises. I knew it. He saved me, and now he’s going to punish me. Probably in some sadistic, humiliating manner. My mind summons a buffet of horrifying options before I remember his initial threat. “To muck out the stable?”
His eyes narrow. “Don’t tempt me. I was planning to help you overcome your fear of alicorns and flying, but if you’d prefer to clean out the stalls…”
He shrugs, awaiting my reply.
Snarky delivery or not, his willingness to help softens something in my chest. A stupid lump forms in my throat. “Getting over my fear sounds good. Thank you.”
“Let’s see if you’re still thanking me come morning. Now, if you’re done playing damsel in distress for tonight, I’m going to get some sleep.”
And just like that, the goodwill his offer of assistance generated crumbles into dust. I glare at his retreating back as he leads Zephyr away, wishing with all my might that the alicorn would spear him in the ass.
Zephyr picks that moment to whip his regal head around. He regards me with one baleful eye, glances at Thorne’s—admittedly fine—ass, and tosses his head with a whinny that sounds an awful lot like laughter.
“Fucking alicorns. Fucking annoying flight instructors. I’m so done with this day.” Muttering, I stalk barefoot across the grass and into the dorms. The hour is late, and thanks to Thorne, I get to wake up extra early.
Today’s only saving grace is that tomorrow will surely be better.