Chapter 5

Hyadum takes the bag back from me and efficiently packs it in a bag on the back of the saddle. My nose crinkles, and I run a hand over the complex leatherwork. It's strange, not too far off from a recognizable saddle on Earth, but still unlike any saddle I've ever seen—not that I've had the chance to see many.

Growing up, my days were spent studying or taking care of my sisters or cleaning and cooking. I didn't ever get riding lessons, not that I wanted them. Horses were Ali's thing, along with cats, and dogs, and mice, and any other critter she could possibly catch and bring home. God, Ali, my sweet baby sister… I can't even think she or Lana aren't okay. I can't.

My attention's still glued to the ornate filigree on the saddle when Hyadum clears his throat, jerking me from my reverie.

"We must leave."

"Of course," I say, quickly wiping the back of my hand across my eyes.

"Here," he says, and then strong hands wrap around my waist, and before I can do more than gasp, I'm scrambling atop the horse. Coarse hair threads through my fingers as I scrabble for purchase, probably annoying the hell out of the poor animal. It doesn't move though, just snorts out a breath as my heart thuds against my chest.

"Never been on a horse, have you?" There's laughter in his voice.

Before I can answer, he's climbing on behind me, and I gulp, hanging on for dear life.

"Relax, Mina," he says.

The words roll against the exposed skin of my neck, a warm caress of breath that sends a tingle across my scalp. I swallow hard, afraid to move in case I fall off the damned horse.

"Relax," he says again, and his heavily muscled arm wraps around my waist, tugging me against his chest. His other arm brushes against me as he collects the reins in one hand.

Every muscle in my body tenses, awareness surging through me. The world squeezes, condensing on the way I fit against him. The slab of muscled chest behind me, his firm grip on my body, the way his thick thighs bracket mine.

"Ready?" he asks, voice low.

I don't quite trust myself to speak—I know my voice will come out shaky. Blame it on jet lag. Or interdimensional travel lag, whichever. Or, you know, being pressed into a brute of a man, barely holding off major symptoms of shock. Could be anything!

"Say the word, coruscant."

I swallow hard. "I'm ready."

His thighs flex against mine, and before I can draw breath, the horse moves.

"Fucking hell," I manage, squeezing my eyes shut. The curse is lost on the wind around us, and my stomach tumbles.

When was the last time I ate?

"You are safe with me, Mina," Hyadum says against my ear. "I can feel how tense you are, and I promise this will be easier on you if you try to relax."

I crack my eyes open, because it doesn't sound like he's only talking about horseback riding, and if I weren't terrified of how fast we're moving, how exposed it feels, I would chew him out.

"Here, coruscant." He shifts slightly, fitting me more deeply against his chest, cradling my body. "I will tell you about the herbs, yes? Will that distract you?"

I nod again, my head shifting against that wall of muscle. The landscape's blurring by too fast. I squeeze my eyes shut. It seems impossible that a horse is this fast. It feels like we're flying. My stomach lurches.

"The long stems are used for pain. They may not be as effective, since they're older. We brew them in tea. There is a small sack full of dried flower heads. Those are used to keep infection away. There's a small mortar and pestle, and I can show you how to use it to create a paste." His chin presses against the side of my head. My hair lashes against my cheek and neck.

"I can use a mortar and pestle."

"Do you often use them where you come from?"

"No, but I know how it's done." I exhale, trying to calm myself.

"That is good. There are clean linens for bandages in the bags, though probably not enough. We will have to make do with what we have and find more." His voice turns grim, and foreboding punches me.

I inhale, my heart starting to slow. I open my eyes, finally feeling more settled. The landscape is as brutal as the man behind me, but beautiful. To my left, the scrubby vegetation falls away, and an angry grey-green sea lashes far below.

White foam tops the cresting waves, and through the rushing wind, I hear them pounding against the cliff-face. I shift slightly, my eyes wide as I take in the expanse of land around us. Shadowy forests mark the end of the open fields, probably miles in the opposite direction. If I squint, I can make out a few small cottages with quaint thatched roofs blending into the woods, smoke puffing from picturesque chimneys.

It"s not cold though, and I gulp. They're not using the fireplaces to warm their houses.

They're using it to cook. Vertigo grips me.

I miss my microwave already.

"All right?" There's a tenderness in the lone word that catches me off guard.

It hits me then, the reason for his tenderness… the possessiveness. He thinks we're mates—or we will be. He thinks I belong to him. I glance down at the forearm bracketing my waist. It's corded with muscle, wrapped tight around me. His fingertips are a brand against my side.

I gulp. He thinks I'm his. I don't know much about this new world, I don't understand how I got here or if I'll get home, but I know the rules and responsibilities that have applied to my choices, that have governed my life… they don't exist here.

This horned man? He's everything I never wanted.

I've never wanted to get married. I had enough responsibilities without adding a husband to the mix. I especially don't want a man who takes one look at me and decides it's for forever.

That's like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

I wince. Maybe that simile is a little too on the nose.

"Are you afraid, coruscant?"

I don't know what his nickname for me means. Frankly, I don't have the mental bandwidth to care, either.

"Yes," I tell him easily. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I told you I'll protect you, and I mean it."

"And who will protect me from you?"

As soon as the question slips out, I regret it. Especially when his body goes stiff behind me, his fingertips digging deeper into my ribs. I squirm, trying to alleviate the pressure, only to find something harder pressing against my lower back.

Good grief.

"I will tell this to you again because you are not familiar with your people or our ways. I could never hurt you." His words are vehement, and I feel his heart pound against my back, as though punctuating his words. "Mates are revered. You may not understand the insult you level against me, and so I will let it pass. But even if it were not the greatest crime amongst our people, to harm a mate, I would still never even consider it. Nor would I allow anyone to insult you. I will take care of you, coruscant." His voice deepens, and liquid heat rushes through me, an immediate, unconscious response. "I will see to all of your needs, all of your desires, and I swear to you, you will want for nothing."

I blink. I want to turn and look at him, but I don't. His little speech? It sounds really sincere.

I huff out a breath, the sound of it lost on the wind rushing around us.

It also sounds completely antiquated. I'm so used to taking care of myself, I can hardly imagine giving up that kind of control to someone else. The thought of needing someone else to take care of me, to make me happy…

I blink. Have I been happy by myself?

"You don't even know me," I tell him. I have to say something.

"Let me tell you what I know. I see a beautiful woman, fair of face and body, with curves I want to get lost in for days." The tone of his voice has changed, from comforting to a low, raspy growl. His thumb strokes across my ribs. Once. Twice. I suck in a breath.

The horse's muscles bunch beneath us, the hooves pounding against the ground as it nearly flies across the open field.

I should not be turned on right now. I should not want to see what happens. But I don't stop him, I don't tell him to be quiet. I want to hear what he says next, so I stay still, waiting.

"I see a woman who, when confronted with an entirely new world, an ongoing war, and the loss of her sisters, does not cower and cry, but stands stubborn and insists on rendering aid to the wounded. I see a woman who is brave and intelligent, to go along with her beauty." His thumb continues that slow, languid stroke, and my breath hitches.

I can't let this continue. My body might be responding to him, but I don't want this.

"In my world, we choose. The women get a choice." My nose crinkles, because historically, that's actually not factual until very recently. "I mean, that was very nice of you to say all that and want to take care of me?—"

"Nice doesn't begin to cover how I will take care of you." His hand tightens on my waist.

Right. So nobody home to reason with. Okay. I blow out a breath, exasperated, lust snuffed out immediately.

I can handle Hyadum, though. If I can handle emergency patients on a full moon, I can handle anything. Strangely enough, I'm not scared he's going to try anything. Maybe I should be, considering he's quite literally carrying me away on horseback and a good half a foot taller than I am, his shoulders twice as broad.

Gah, just thinking about his stupid shoulders gets me hot and bothered. I narrow my eyes.

Focus.

"What can I expect when we get there?" Redirect, redirect, redirect.

"Many who need help." His thumb immediately stops. Regret twinges through me. I bite my lip. I could get used to his touch, to his attention.

Belonging to anybody but myself—relying on anyone—would chafe. Especially a man who seems as possessive as Hyadum.

It would suffocate me eventually.

The smell of smoke wafts through the air, followed by the strange scent of barbecue.

In the distance, a small outcropping of houses burns. A horse races past us, riderless and wild-eyed.

It's not barbecue.

I clasp a hand over my mouth in horror, allowing myself a full second of emotional response. Then I breathe, steadying myself, compartmentalizing the part of me that wants to scream and cry.

There are already too many doing just that, the sound of their lamentations piercing the cloudy sky.

There is work to do.