A Vow Of Hate

There was a burning sensation in my chest and my stomach fluttered as I rounded the corner of the stables. The urge to run and wrap my arms around my mare was strong, but I held myself back. I watched the three of them together, admiring the view of my husband with the two beautiful horses. Though they were both horses, they were two different creatures, if they were ever compared.

Cerberus was black and stubborn. Grumpy and unpredictable.

Ragna was white and soft. Friendly and teasing.

Complete opposites, the perfect yin and yang.

Killian had his back to me, strong and formidable. His blazer was discarded carelessly on a stack of hay and he was only in a black dress shirt and slacks.

He was brushing his horse’s black coat while Ragna pranced around them, tossing her head and nudging Cerberus with her head. The stallion didn’t appear annoyed but, in fact, it looked like he was appreciating Ragna’s attention on him.

Was this some type of courting between them? I never thought one day I’d see two horses romancing each other.

My hands shook and I buried them in my flowy pastel-blue skirt.

“I know you’re there,” Killian said smoothly. Uh-oh, busted. “Stop hiding and come forth. Your mare grows restless without your presence.”

I let out a squeak in response and Ragna’s head snapped up in my direction. She let out a loud neigh and strutted to me with unmasked enthusiasm.

I lunged forward, wrapping my arms around her long neck. “Oh, how I missed you, my love,” I sighed against her warm skin.

She butted me with her forehead, releasing a loud, wet breath that fanned against my cheek. “You missed me too?”

Ragna snorted in response and the back of my eyes burned with unshed tears. She was still the same Ragna, hale and hearty, strong and lithe. The most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. “I love you, sweet girl.”

Though I found freedom on Cerberus’s back when we ran through the woods, Ragna had half of my heart. She was my mare, my best friend and my favorite companion. She was only a horse, yet she understood me better than most humans did.

“What a tearful reunion.” Killian’s voice cut through my thoughts, equally smooth and calm. “I have to say, I’m very touched.”

I pulled away from Ragna, but didn’t let her completely go. Keeping a hand on her muzzle, I gently petted my mare. “Do you have to be an asshole in a moment like this?”

“Hmm, good question. Let me think about it.” Killian made a show of being thoughtful and it was utterly fake, before he gave me a lazy half-shrug. “The answer is yes. Being an asshole is part of my charms, wife.”

I let out an exasperated sound. “Actually, I don’t find it charming at all.”

“Too bad, you’re forever stuck with an asshole husband.”

Ragna pranced away from me, going back to Cerberus. She brushed against his side, before she tossed her head, her tail lashing behind her in what I assumed was part enthusiasm and part teasing.

“Forever, huh? I guess I can’t be too picky,” I said with a fake dreadful sigh. “I’ll take what I can get. Consider my membership renewed.”

Killian swung up on his stallion’s back and he grabbed the reins. “Your membership renewal has been declined, Mrs. Spencer.”

“Is that so, Killian?”

His gaze roved my face, lingering over my scars before meeting my eyes. Like the last few days, I had left my black veil behind. I had been hiding behind it for too long and now that my sins were in the open, the black veil was no longer important.

Killian urged his horse closer to me and I had to crane my neck up to stare at his brutally, handsome face. “You’ll have to try harder, wife.”

“I am trying.” Though I wanted to sound determined and confident, my voice ended up coming out breathy and shaky. “Where are you going?”

“The question is, where are we going.” Killian nodded toward Ragna. “I’ve saddled her up for you.”

I blinked in confusion. “We?”

He tsked, before giving me an eye-roll. Such a simple action shouldn’t be sexy, but apparently on Killian it was. “Do I have to repeat everything?”

“It’s because you’re so confusing!” I whisper-yelled, hands on my hips and I glared up at him. He wasn’t even bothered at my outburst. In fact, his lips curled in a half-smile.

“And you’re so goddamn maddening. What a pair we are.”

I threw my hands in the air. “One minute you hate me and can’t bear to be in my presence. Then, you bring back Ragna and now you’re talking about going somewhere together as if everything is completely normal.”

“Would you rather I continue hating and ignoring your existence?”

“No,” I gritted. “I would rather you pick an emotion and stick with it.”

He chuckled humorlessly. “That’s rather rich coming from you, wife.”