He frowns. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I did,” the voice says again.
I look down at my horse, and he turns his head back just enough to look at me.
“You’re… talking to me?”
“Yes,” he answers.
“But how?”
“I don’t know. I’m just a horse. How should I know these things?”
“Just a horse?” I ask incredulously.
“A hungry one at that,” he adds, sarcasm lacing his tone.
I’m so taken aback, I laugh. I’m talking to a horse.
“Are you all right?” Cael arches a brow and gives me a worried look. He leans across and places the back of his hand to my forehead as if checking for fever. “Do you feel feverish?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine. I just…” I look down at my horse, who is still looking back at me. “I’m talking to the horse.”
His jaw drops, but he quickly snaps it shut. “You’re talking to the horse? But how?”
I shrug. “I—I don’t understand it either, but I know he’s hungry.” My horse nods, and Cael stares at me as if I’ve suddenly grown two heads. “So, I think we should take a short break and let him eat.”
“My companion is hungry, too,” the horse adds.
“Oh,” I reply and then look to Cael. “He says your horse is hungry as well.”
Cael and I dismount and lead the horses off the road to allow them to graze. Cael remains silent as if uncertain what to say. I don’t like the idea of him thinking I’m crazy, so I turn to him.
“You believe me, right?”
“Yes, I’m just… considering all the implications.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… do all animals talk? And are you going to be able to communicate with everyone who crosses our path? Or only some?”
A soft puff of air escapes my lips as I laugh. I throw my arms around his neck and press a soft kiss to his cheek. His face turns bright red when I pull back.
“What was that for?”
I give him a beaming smile. “I’m just so glad you believe me.”
His gaze holds mine a moment before he replies, “I’ll always believe you.”
I study him a moment and then hug him again. I don’t think even my best friend, Claire, would have believed me. He embraces me warmly in return.
“Thank you, Cael. I’m so glad it’s you.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, his voice warm in my ear.
Still holding him close, I pull back just enough to stare deep into his eyes.
“Of all the people I could have been sent here with… I’m glad it was you.”
He drops his forehead to mine as he whispers, “Me, too.”
Now that my horse knows I can hear him, he’s actually very demanding, going on several tangents, complaining he hasn’t had a good apple in days. Cael’s horse, on the other hand, is just the opposite. She’s very calm… thoughtful in a way, musing about the fields we pass and thinking to herself how wonderful it would be to do nothing but graze all day long at her leisure.
I feel sorry for them having to lug us around, and try to think of a way we could give them a break. Then the thought occurs to me. When we reach our destination, we can set them free. I would set them free now if we didn’t need them. I feel selfish asking them to carry us so far.
“Do you have a name?” I ask my horse, only now realizing I have not even asked.
“It’s Nox, and my partner is Halen.”
“Nox, we have far to go and—”
“You wish to set us free,” he says, cutting me off.
“Yes, but I—”
“You need our help,” he continues. “And we offer it freely. You are the one foretold, and it is an honor to aid you in your quest.”
His response stuns me, and it takes me a moment to respond.
“How do you know this?”
“We both felt it the moment our previous riders found you. Your inner light is strong, Kyra. I doubt there are many who would miss it.”
“You’re talking about other animals, right?”
“And people. That is why you must take great care who you trust. All who sense your power will seek to be near you. They cannot help themselves.”
“Why?”
“They are drawn to it.”
His words fill me with apprehension.
Cael watches us, and I know he only catches one side of the conversation but doesn’t interrupt me to ask questions. My silence and the worried look I imagine must be on my face catch his attention, and he tips his head to the side to regard me.
“What did he say?”
“His name is Nox, and his partner’s name is Halen.”
Nox tenses. “Why do you not tell him the rest of what I said?”
I remain silent.
“Ah,” he says, understanding slipping into his tone. “You do not wish to worry him.”
“Yes,” I reply.
“You should not keep secrets from your mate,” he gently chastises.
“He’s not my—”
“There is a connection between you—a threaded lifeforce bond. You are sealed to one another. Do you not feel it? It is strong. Almost as much as the light you bear.”
I’m shocked he mentions the lifeforce bond, the one I remember from my dream—my past life.
“Bonds forged in love are not easily broken. He is your mate and you are his.”
I look at Cael to find him staring at me, his teal eyes searching mine.
“Everything all right?”
I nod.
“Where are the rest?” Nox asks.
“The… rest?”
“Your harem. The ones who are meant to guard and protect you.”
I recall the dream—the faces of the five men I was supposed to marry. I dart a glance to Cael. “I… don’t think I want that.”
“Do not make the same mistakes you made in the last life. You needed them then and you will need them now.”
“How do you know so much?” I ask, curious to understand.
“Halen and I… our previous owners were Mages of the Light.” He pauses. “They were killed, searching for you both, by the bandits that you found us with.”
I inhale sharply. “Why were they looking for us?”
“They said you were the Chosen One—the queen who has been reborn
