Page 75 of Nocturn

Lord Draven clicked his tongue, and Abrax shot forward. I screamed, grabbing fistfuls of the mane while the air whipped my hair back.

“I will fall!” I shouted, but the wind took my words with it.

I was not too sure I heard a sigh. He propped his hand on my belly, tugging me tighter to him. It steadied my swaying about, but I kept my fingers tangled in Abrax’s mane.

I blinked away the tears stinging my eyes from the wind. Trees on the property sped past as we neared the first gate. Instead of crossing to the other gated section where it led toward the House of Lords, he took a sharp turn toward the village. He kept to the outskirts, following the grassy knolls instead of the cobbled steps or pebbled pathways.

The further into the ride, the more relaxed I became, softening against him with a sigh. It helped numb the stretch between my legs. I was still sore from taking him under the moonlight, and the ride would only worsen the pinch. I closed my eyes, tilting my face toward the dawnlight as it became sunlight. Gingerly, I reclined against him, and his hand at my belly moved in front of me to grab onto the reins. Both arms cradled me within them.

His torso was quite comfortable.

My eyelids grew heavier and my head became too much to hold up. I leaned my head back, and the gallop became a smooth, lulling rhythm.

A sudden jolt ripped me out of my dozing.

I grabbed Lord Draven’s arm, which held me tightly to his chest. I could feel every inch of his body flush against mine. A yawn stretched my mouth, and I rubbed my eyes with my palm. Lying against him had proven much more comfortable than I had anticipated.

Soon the sun would lower, turning it to dusklight.

I moved my weight from one leg to the other to give one side a break. Lord Draven slowed Abrax with a tug on the reins. Nothing but lush trees enveloped the space and became more compact as he guided us down a dirt path covered overhead by foliage.

“Where are we going?” I croaked, sleepiness in my tone.

“To the Eastern border,” he answered.

“What?” I spat, turning my torso to look up at him. “You should have said⁠—”

“I should have?” He raised an eyebrow.

I pursed my lips. “No, my lord.”

“Abrax will get us there by dawnlight.” He patted the thick neck of the horse. Abrax snorted and shook his head with a high-pitch neigh.

I chewed on the inside of my lip. Questions and worries bubbled.

“Why did you bring me?”

“You have work to do,” he said cryptically.

“Work?” I scowled. It was as I thought— “The translation.”

All he did was grunt.

“You said dawnlight,” I started hesitantly. “You cannot ride through the night. Hollows will fill the area.” They tended to burrow underground during light hours while they slumbered.

“Nearing me means their death.” He had the slightest smirk.

“You have an odd sense of humor,” I muttered. I supposed centuries roaming the realm would do that.

His body rubbed against my back with Abrax’s every clopping step. My hunger was becoming too much to ignore. It had been an entire dawnlight rotation without food after I had grown used to the meals prepared for feeders.

Abrax snorted.

“He has been so good,” I praised, leaning forward to rub his mane. He shook his head with a grunt. I had never been terribly fond of horses, but he may change my opinion.

My stomach growled beneath Lord Draven’s steadying palm. He said nothing, only clicked once, and Abrax settled into a smooth canter.

“Will we be pausing for—” High-pitched shouts reverberated through the forest. A whistle ripped through the air, and an arrow pierced the dirt ground an inch in front of Abrax. He reared, snorting.