I groaned under my breath. “How far is the nearest town?”
“A day’s hard ride,” Kimber sniped, scowling like she wanted to tear my lover’s head off. I hope she didn’t try. She couldn’t be that unintelligent, handling the three men that she did. When she remained seated, I knew I was right. She was bright. That was a good sign for this adventure. Kimber then growled, “And we really should hurry. Dorian was correct. S’Kir is in turmoil right now.”
Dorian—with Rilen behind him on the saddle—led the way down a treacherous path of rocks, steep hills, and hidden dips made for breaking a horse’s ankle. Kimber followed directly behind him, with Roran holding his arms protectively around her stomach. I went next, and Belshazzar took the rear—watching for any foe diligently.
It was slow going, the terrain dreadful. I quickly found my seat again, even after all the years of not riding. The horse was well-trained and did exactly as I bid—thank God for that small blessing. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Bel was doing fine, even though I knew it was silly to worry about him.
He shook his head, discreet affection softening his frigid gaze. “Watch where you’re going, Gwen. Not me.”
My lips twitched. “You ride well, Bel.”
And he did, his hips moving…nicely.
His deep chuckle warmed places better not mentioned while traveling on a dangerous path, my thoughts heading down a sensual road only he inspired in me.
Suddenly, he jerked his chin up, barking, “Watch out!”
I jerked my head around, but it was too late.
My horse skittered to the side, barely missing a large ditch, and slid to the right on loose rocks down a steep embankment. I pulled on the reins, shouting, “Whoa! Whoa!”
The horse couldn’t stop. I was along for the ride.
Rocks and grass flew through the air.
I hardly kept my seat as we traveled down the treacherous slope, ducking under an errant tree limb full of sharp thorns. I stayed low as she jumped far over another black ditch. We landed hard on a small trail. All could hear the horse’s frightened whinny as she skittered to the side, dense trees to our right and a large hill to our left.
I sucked in oxygen and patted her neck, soothing her gently with gasping words. I peered far, far up the hill where we had been. Three horses stood tall, stopped solid, with their riders all staring down at me with varying expressions.
“Are you all right?” Bel bellowed furiously.
“I am fine.” I examined the hill as closely as I could—it was too steep for as far as the vampire eye could see. “But I do not think I can get back up there.”
“Where the fuck are we?” King Belshazzar shouted at the others. “This looks nothing like the island I knew. She needs to be up here with us.”
“S’Kir has grown with the population growth over the last three thousand years,” Dorian explained calmly. “That trail will stay next to us for a half a day’s ride. Then we can meet up again.”
“I do not like this,” Bel snarled.
“I can see that, but there is nothing we can do about it now other than risk our horses. That would be unwise right now.”
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath and looked forward. It was much darker down here, the moonlight shaded from the close trees. Visibility was low, even with my eyesight. I tried not to sound frightened in this terrifyingly new realm, and questioned for clarification, “Dorian, how far did you say again?” Maybe I had heard him wrong.
“You will be fine,” Belshazzar soothed.
Nope. I hadn’t heard him wrong if Bel was trying to comfort me. Perfect. I was stuck down here for a while. Not really where I wanted to be right now.
“Is there a taxi I can call?” I gripped the reins tighter, trying not to tremble.
Dorian griped, “What is she talking about?”
“Shut up, brother. She is frightened.” King Belshazzar shouted, “Stay close, Gwen. And I will keep an eye on you from here.”
“Okay.” I blinked.
“Gwen?”
I blinked again.
“Gwen!”
I shook my head hard. “Yes, I hear you.” I nudged my horse forward. We began walking at a sedate pace, the ground much more level here. “Try to keep up, Bel. I don’t want you to fall behind. That would be embarrassing for you.”
My lover snickered and whispered, “She is fine now. Let’s hurry so she doesn’t leave us behind. She will, to save face after that fall.”
I pretended I couldn’t hear him.
Every noise from the woodland right next to me might have made me jump in my saddle. My heart might have raced at any branch that snapped under my horse’s hooves. My breathing might have been labored, too, my chest heaving in the darkness.
My sweating palms were a definite, though.
I couldn’t pretend that away, the reins continuing to slip between my fingers, making me clutch them that much harder.
The sun soon rose lighting the way.
I didn’t calm. I could now see the woodland better. Or, more precisely, hardly see anything inside it, the trees growing even denser the farther we traveled—anything could be lurking in the shadows. I simply would not be able to see it, even though I was able to see clearer now. This was more terrifying than the darkness.
I wiped the sweat from my brow as the sun climbed higher in the sky. I shouted in aggravation, “How much farther?”
“We are going slow,” Dorian called down. “It is taking longer than expected. You need to stay quiet. We are not in friendly territory right now.”
“Great,” I grumbled.
Those words did not help my heart rate.
We kept moving. The sun ascended into the afternoon.
It was hot as fuck here. I fluttered my shirt for air.
How much longer must we travel?
Where was air-conditioning when I needed it?
Suddenly, they stopped above me.
I pulled my horse to a quick halt. I shielded my eyes from the sun with a swift hand, squinting up in their direction—staying silent as previously ordered.
King Belshazzar sat forward on his horse, peering out into the forest from above. He shook his head, muttering, “There is nothing there. I see and hear nobody.”
It was Dorian and Rilen who led the group still, and Dorian pressed a pointed finger to his lips, silently hushing my lover.
I turned my attention to where he was staring, to the forest not too far from me. I scanned every opening in the trees that I could, but I did not see anyone, either. I looked back up to Bel and shook my head. There was no one there from my vantage point, either.
Dorian sat up straight instantly. He shouted furiously, “Get off your horse and run, Gwen. Back the way we came. Now! They are under the ground!”
Well…shit.
I could run faster than my horse had ever had a chance of running. With adrenaline sparking inside my veins, I jumped down from my horse with vampire speed and dumped my bag off my back, preparing for a long-ass run. I turned in a blur.
Vampires rose from under the dirt, shaking off bits of mud all around me. Swords were drawn in the air, along with ancient-looking rifles that had seen better days. Did they even work?
Hundreds of vampires.
Fuck a duck in a handbasket.
The odds were not in my favor, even if their primitive artillery didn’t work. I was as good as dead.