The Horse Mistress: Book 4 (EBOOK, LGBT)

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ONE

“I HAVE TO ADMIT, I’m not thrilled with this plan, Senovo,” said Andoc.

Andoc, Senovo, and I were sharing a quiet meal in Senovo’s rooms after a long day of work. Indeed, this particular day had seemed even longer than usual with the howling wind driving blasts of icy sleet through the village. Here in the temple, though, it was warm and snug. Sitting around a table eating hot food and drinking good wine with the two people who meant most to me in all the world should have been a perfect way to spend an evening. However, like Andoc, I was not at all pleased after Senovo informed us—out of nowhere—that he intended to venture into the forest overnight in the form of the wolf.

“Why now?” I asked him.

Senovo leaned back in his chair and regarded us, the picture of serenity. “Two weeks ago, I told you both that I had an idea regarding the north’s defense against the Empire.”

Andoc nodded, still looking unhappy. “A crazy idea, you said.”

A faint flash of self-deprecating humor crossed Senovo’s features and was gone in an instant. “Yes, quite. I’ve been thinking about the specifics since then, but—truly—the only way to learn what I need to know is to go out and investigate it for myself.”

“Alone,” I said flatly. “In the wildlands. In the middle of winter.”

“The wolf is not hindered by cold and snow, Carivel,” said Senovo. “Quite the opposite. I would find it much more arduous to do such a thing in the height of summer, to be honest.”

Andoc took a deep breath and leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “I have more reason than most to appreciate the wolf’s survival skills during the depths of winter, amadi. But I would still like to understand what exactly it is that you’re hoping to accomplish here.”

“This is about what happened on the night of High Priest Rhystel’s death, isn’t it?” I interrupted, before Senovo could answer. “When the wild wolves came down from the hills to grieve with you.”

Senovo remained unruffled. He leaned forward, mirroring Andoc’s position with his own. “It is. Strange wolves have approached me before over the years, during those occasions when I could no longer hold back the change. I always ran from them. I thought they were seeking to defend their territory, and would attack me.”

“But the wolves we met that night showed no signs of attacking.” I said with a frown, my memories drawn immediately back to the strangeness of the whole experience. “The lower ranking wolves submitted to you as if seeking your approval, and the pack leaders treated you as an equal. They appeared almost protective of you.”

“I’m afraid I remember few details of what happened, beyond the overwhelming feelings of loss and mourning,” Senovo admitted, his voice growing quiet.
Andoc looked at him intently. “It was your anguish that called them. You howled it out to the forest as if your heart was breaking… and they came. They added their voices to yours.”

“So you both described to me, afterward,” said Senovo. “However, I have no true memory of it. That is why I must go and find out for myself what connection I have with… others of my kind. I feel very strongly that it is important for me to do so.”

“I’ll go with you,” I said quickly, irrational fear overtaking me at the thought of Senovo alone in the wilderness. Vulnerable.

“No, Carivel.” His voice was kind, but firm. “This is something I must do by myself. Besides, while winter may not be a hindrance to the wolf, I would not see you battling the cold and sleet when it is not necessary for you to do so.”

Andoc looked down at his hands, drawing my attention. “We’re agreed on that part, at least. I’ve sent far too many people out lately to do exactly that.”

Senovo’s eyes moved to Andoc as well. After the collapse of the meetings in Rhyth between the leaders of the northern tribes, Andoc had been forced to send volunteers from Draebard to visit any villages with whom they might have ties of blood or friendship, in hopes of forging some kind of useful alliance before Alyrion troops descended on Eburos in the spring. Asking his people to take such risks by traveling in winter weighed heavily on him, I knew.

Senovo knew it as well, and his expression grew pained. “My words were not meant as a criticism of your actions, old friend. You have done only what was necessary. And when our turn comes to reach out to potential allies, I will willingly accompany you on four legs or two. You know that.”

“As will I,” I added. “But I’m still not happy about you going out alone, Senovo. The people who are traveling are at least doing so in groups. What if something happens?”

Senovo’s gaze bore into mine for a moment. As ever, his eyes saw too much. “There are no Rhytheeri bounty hunters lying in wait in the woods, Carivel. Not now, in the depths of winter. And even if there were, how would they tell one wolf from any other? I will be in no more danger than any of the other dozens of times I have changed over the years, since I first escaped from the men who owned me.”

Thinking about Senovo’s flight from his southern masters—alone, injured, without resources of any kind—really didn’t help me feel any better. In fact, such images were the stuff of my nightmares, more often than I cared to admit. Something of this must have showed on my face, because Senovo rose from his chair and crossed to mine, extending a hand for me to take. I allowed myself to be pulled to my feet and into his arms, where I burrowed against him gratefully.
I wasn’t surprised to hear Andoc’s chair scraping a moment later as he pushed it back, followed by his halting footsteps as he limped over to us and embraced Senovo from behind.

“You must do as you think best, amadi,” he said. “Not that either of us could stop you even if we wished to. After all, you outrank our Carivel, here, and while you don’t quite outrank me, I’m reliably informed that religious matters are outside the Chief’s purview.”

Senovo huffed in quiet amusement.

“So they are. Good of you to remember,” he said, a hint of humor audible in his voice.

Of the three of us, only Andoc had ever expected to gain significant power and influence within the tribe during his lifetime. Senovo and I were the outcasts—the black sheep in the flock. That we had risen to the heights we had—High Priest and Horse Mistress of the village—would have been deeply funny had it not come about in response to so much death and tragedy. Even so, the surreal nature of our current circumstances occasionally caught one or the other of us by surprise, as it had Senovo just now.

“Promise you’ll be careful, at least,” I said into the soft folds of white cloth under my cheek.

Senovo eased me away until he could meet my eyes. “I give you my word. I’ll even make a point of avoiding the area around the horse pens, since I’ve no desire to be pelted with rocks again.” I couldn’t help it—even in the depths of worry, I smiled a bit at the memory. “Now, though… the evening is still young, and I don’t believe Andoc is expected at the meeting house for another hour or so. Come. Why don’t you both remind me of what it is I’ll be returning to?”

Powerless to stop myself, I surged up and kissed him, pouring all of my love and concern into the press and slide of our lips. Behind him, Andoc stretched forward until his mouth was next to Senovo’s ear.

“Amadi, I’m shocked. Are you trying to distract us with sex?” he asked, amusement coloring his tone despite his earlier dark mood. “What sort of behavior is that for a High Priest?”

Senovo pulled back enough to answer, his breath puffing intimately across my lips. “Me? Would I ever do such a thing?”

“Yes, you bloody would,” I growled, pressing against him from chest to knee. “Because you are secretly evil and you know perfectly well that neither of us can resist you.”

Before Senovo could reply, Andoc swept the collar of his robes to one side and bit down on the juncture of his neck and shoulder. Senovo stiffened, a faint tremor running through his body where it pressed against mine. His eyes fluttered closed, the expressive arch of his brows drawing together to form a faint furrow as he focused inward, surrendering to the sharp sensation.
I groaned at the sight and latched onto the nearest bit of exposed skin I could reach—a tempting jut of collarbone. When Andoc and I finally drew back, two new red marks marred Senovo’s perfect skin, and he was breathing in short pants.

“You need a reminder of where you belong, amadi, is that it?” Andoc’s low, controlled tones made both of us shiver. His hands slid forward, playing with the ties of Senovo’s robes. “Something to take with you… to help you remember?”

Senovo’s reply was a sharp exhalation. The fastenings came loose under Andoc’s sure touch and the robes gaped, revealing a new stretch of skin. When Andoc tangled one hand in the heavy plait of hair favored by members of the priesthood and used it to pull Senovo’s head back, I pounced on the exposed arch of his neck, trailing biting kisses up the length of the taught tendon.
Senovo gradually went slack between us, eyes still closed, mouth falling open. I traced his lower lip with the pad of my thumb. “I want that mouth on my cock tonight,” I said breathlessly, already picturing his lips sliding down the length of carved wood. I met Andoc’s burning gaze over Senovo’s shoulder. “And I want to suck you.”

Andoc’s rumble of approval inspired another quiver of reaction in Senovo. “Bring both of your cocks,” Andoc said, referring to the pair of wooden phalluses Senovo had gifted me after my handfasting to Andoc last summer. “I’ve got a use in mind for the curved one as well. Oh, and throw some furs down on the floor near the hearth. We’ll have more space to work, and it will be warmer.”

I gave Senovo a final kiss, nipping at his swollen lower lip as I pulled away, and crossed to the bed. The feather-stuffed monstrosity was always piled with a rather ridiculous number of blankets, furs, and pillows, so there were plenty of options for putting together a comfortable nest close to the fire for the three of us. When I was satisfied with the result—and in real danger of being hopelessly distracted by the sight of Andoc peeling the clothing from Senovo’s unresisting form before starting on his own—I made myself turn away to gather the rest of the supplies we’d need.