Wariness echoed through Casteel. “That’s possible, Poppy,” he began, his tone cautious. “But he’s only been seen at night. And he’s married to an Ascended.”
The rest of what he wouldn’t say hung unspoken in the air of the dusty hunting cabin. Ian may not be my brother by blood, or we may not share the same parent that carried the eather within them. I didn’t know. But just because Casteel hadn’t seen Ian during the day or just because he was married to an Ascended didn’t mean that Ian had become one. The hope I felt now wasn’t nearly as flimsy and naïve as it had been a week ago, and that was something to hold onto.
So, I did.
Casteel made sure I didn’t run out into the late-morning sun when we stepped out onto the small alcove of a porch and saw Kieran waiting between a massive black horse—Setti—and a brown one. Setti neighed softly, shaking his glossy, black mane. Casteel slowed my steps, gradually letting me walk into the sun.
Other than enjoying the feel of it against my face, nothing happened.
I petted Setti for a moment, scratching him behind his ear as I scoured the trees around the cabin. Every so often, I saw a flash of silver or white or black among the low-hanging, gnarled branches. Brown, curled leaves and brighter, greener ones blanketed the woods surrounding the cabin. It was as if an extreme cold snap had come through, shocking the foliage. But we were in the Skotos foothills, and I could see the mist-drenched mountains looming above the trees. Wouldn’t the plant life here be used to the chilly air?
Gripping the saddle as Casteel finished strapping down the saddlebags, I lifted myself onto Setti. Once I’d situated myself, I looked over to find not only Kieran and Casteel staring at me but also a dark-skinned Atlantian. Naill had come around the side of the hunting cabin. The three of them stared as if I had done a backflip onto the horse.
“What?” I asked, touching the mess that was my hair. There had been no comb inside, and I was sure I looked as if I’d been caught in a wind tunnel.
Naill’s brows lifted as he blinked slowly. “That was…impressive.”
My brows knitted. “What was?”
“You just hoisted yourself onto Setti,” Casteel said.
“So?” The corners of my lips turned down.
“You didn’t use the stirrup,” Kieran pointed out as Naill mounted the horse that Kieran stood beside.
“What?” My frown increased. “Are you sure I didn’t?” I must have. There would’ve been no way for me to seat myself on Setti without placing my foot in the stirrup or without aid. The horse was far too tall for me to have done that, nor did I have the kind of upper body strength required for that kind of feat without a nice running start.
And I would’ve probably failed spectacularly.
“You totally didn’t,” Naill confirmed. He stared at me with a bit of wonder that I figured had more to do with the fact that I wasn’t a vampry.
“Here.” Casteel stretched up, wiggling his hands. “Get down here for a moment.”
“I just got myself up here.”
“I know, but this will only take a second.” He wiggled his fingers again. “I want to see something.”
Sighing, I placed my hands in his and let him lift me off Setti, who watched us with an air of curiosity. I really hoped that none of them expected me to seat myself again with all of them watching. “What?”
Casteel dropped my hands and stepped back. “Hit me. Hard. Like you mean it.”
My forehead creased. “Why do you want me to hit you?”
Naill folded his arms over the pommel of the saddle. “That’s a good question.”
“Hit me,” Casteel urged.
“I don’t want to hit you.”
“That would be a first,” he replied, his eyes twinkling in the sunlight.
“I don’t want to hit you right now,” I amended.
Casteel was quiet for a moment and then turned to Kieran and Naill. “Did I ever tell you guys about that time I discovered Poppy perched outside a window, clutching a book to her chest?”
My eyes narrowed as Naill said, “No, but I have a lot of questions.”
“Cas,” I started.
He shot me a slow smile of warning. “She had this book—it’s her favorite. She even brought it with her when we left Masadonia.”
“I did not,” I stated.
“She’s embarrassed about it,” he went on, “because it’s a sex book. And not just any sex book. It’s full of all kinds of dirty and unimaginable—”
I snapped forward, punching him in the stomach.
“Fuck,” Casteel doubled over with a grunt as Naill let out a low whistle. “Gods.”
I crossed my arms. “Happy now?”
“Yeah,” he exhaled raggedly. “I will be once I can breathe again.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Damn.” Casteel looked up at me, his eyes slightly wide. “You are…strong.”
“Told you,” Kieran commented. “I told you she was strong.”