The rain picked up, and thunder rumbled overhead. Julianna grabbed her hand. “C’mon, we should go.”
As they walked back, it seemed everyone else was headed back to the picnic area too. That is, everyone except Reed and Beatrice. Elise ignored the stab of jealousy in her stomach.
“Uh, this dreadful weather!” Eleanor scowled. “Looks like we’ll have to head back to the house. We don’t want anyone getting sick. I already had the groom escort Grandmama first, so we’ll be on our own.”
The rain began to really pour from the gloomy skies sending everyone rushing to their mounts. Jeremy and Simon all helped the ladies get onto their horses and then began to lead their party back toward the house. If anyone noticed that Reed and Beatrice were missing, no one commented on it.
“Father, I’m frightened,” William cried when thunder rumbled overhead. He was riding in front of Jeremy, his small body tucked into his father’s chest.
“Don’t worry, William, it’s just a little rain and thunder.” Jeremy was the one leading Elise’s horse, so he switched her reins over to one hand as he tried to soothe William.
The next peal of thunder was so loud, Elise thought her eardrums would crack. A second later, a jagged streak of lightning lit up the sky. William let out a scream, which frightened their horse. Jeremy dropped the reins trying to comfort the boy and calm their horse at the same time.
Elise grabbed them just in time and steadied her horse as she felt its nervous energy. “It’s all right.” She rubbed the mare’s neck. “Nothing to be—”
An even louder crack of thunder boomed overhead, and this time, the lightning streaked right in front of them, a few feet away. Her horse reared back, but her fast reflexes had her holding onto the creature’s mane which prevented her from falling. However, the mare’s distress caused it to turn around and run like mad, and Elise could do nothing but hold on as tight as she could as the horse galloped farther and farther away from everyone else.
The rain pelted at her like tiny icy knives. It also made it difficult to keep her hold on the horse’s mane and the gloves she wore were not helping. Her fingers slipped out of the gloves, and she felt herself falling. In a desperate move, she made a grab for the reins but got only air.
As she fell, she landed on her right foot, then tumbled down the wet grass. She let out a cry as pain shot up her leg. When her body stopped rolling, she pushed herself to her back and stared up at the gloomy skies.
Rain continued to pelt her, and her habit was now soaked and muddy. She wiggled her toes. It was like razor-sharp claws were digging into her ankle, but it didn’t seem to be broken. As a Lycan, a sprain would heal in an hour or two, so she wasn’t too worried. However, she couldn’t very well just sit in the rain, especially not when lightning could strike her in an open field like this.
Gritting her teeth, she hauled herself upright resting her weight on her left foot. Not sure what else to do, she dragged herself across the field trying to find any kind of shelter. The rain and fog made it difficult to see anything, but if she walked long enough and far enough, she’d find something. Tears pooled in her eyes as the pain became unbearable, but she soldiered on.
As she walked in the rain, her keen ears picked up another rumble from far away. But it wasn’t thunder. No, this sound was rhythmic and pounding, making the ground shake. She turned her head toward the sound, blinking the mixture of tears and rain away from her vision. In the distance, she saw a dark shape advancing toward her, emerging from the fog. It was growing bigger and bigger until …
Oh, crap.
The mounted rider stopped just inches from her, the horse coming to a halt expertly with little resistance. Reed looked down at her from atop his stallion, his face practically murderous. “What the hell did you do?”
It took her a second to realize that he was somehow mad at her! “What did I do?” she cried. “What did I do?” Oh, this damned man! Without another word, she turned around and began to limp away from him.
Boots thumped on the ground. “Elise, wait. Wait!” He cursed a blue streak.
Though she tried to walk faster, it was no use because her injury wasn’t healing fast enough, and he was much taller than her. He caught up with her in a few steps. “You’re hurt.”
She ignored the way his voice sounded surprisingly gentle. “Ya think?” she shouted.
He ran his fingers through his hair, then reached for her. “Let me help.”
She evaded his grasp. “I’d rather walk!”
“Well that makes you a damned fool!” he shot back. “Do you even know which way to go?”
She looked around, then pointed to her left. “There.”
“Try again.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“There?” She pointed to the opposite way.
He gave her an arrogant smirk and shook his head.
“Ugh!” She raised her hands in frustration. “I don’t even care where I’m going, as long as it’s far away from you.”
“Me?” He stepped closer to her. “I’m the one who almost broke my neck riding here to come after you.”
“I’m sure Beatrice would be sad if that happened.”
“Miss—” His face changed from angry frustration to confusion and then to something else she couldn’t name. “Well, if you’re waiting for Simon to come after you, then you’d be waiting a long time. He’s probably already back at Huntington Park with everyone else by now.”
She pursed her lips together, not knowing what to say.
“Let’s continue this conversation when we’re somewhere dry.”
He began to stalk toward her, and she couldn’t move away, not with her ankle. “Where are you—what the heck!”
Reed bent down and slipped his other arm behind her knees, then hoisted her up against
