I Am Bree - Book 1

Chapter 32 - Running

The barking grew more ferocious as our scent became fresher, and I froze in place. Aidan seemed to be just as immobile as I, but the other three leapt into action. Hissing a curse, Ayan plunged off into the mist, brushing his hand affectionately against Liesl's as he passed her. Kotaro flung Aidan's wrist out of his grasp, pulling me nearer him. Wordlessly, he looked at Liesl, and she led the still senseless Aidan further away from us.

"Go." Kotaro said firmly as Liesl seemed to hesitate, shooting a worried glance our direction as the shouts grew increasingly nearer.

She heaved a sigh and nodded, pushing Aidan back into the enveloping arms of the fog. Ayan reappeared in a moment, leading a horse. His face was tight and almost devoid of emotion.

"If Liesl is hurt because of that stupid bastard, you could be a whole lot closer to sitting on the throne." Ayan growled, his voice turning sing-songy as he tossed the reigns to Kotaro.

An almost triumphant shout resounded through the air, and I could hear the soldiers' thundering footsteps growing nearer with every passing moment. Kotaro, however, didn't seem the least bit hurried. He looked at Ayan and raised a meaningful brow.

"Go on." Ayan said. "Get outta here, or it'll all be for nothing. I'll distract them."

Kotaro nodded curtly, slapping Ayan on the back. "Stay alive."

He leapt gracefully into the saddle and looked meaningfully down at me. I frowned slightly and moved forward. It felt like it had been an eon since I'd been astride a horse, and besides, how was I supposed to mount in my condition? Looking up at him, I began to intensely overthink my every move.

"Yes, we have all day." It was the first time I'd ever heard him speak anything close to sarcasm, and I was taken aback.

I pursed my lips together, unsure how to tell him I didn't think I could mount. In the back of my mind, I knew there was no other way, but my body rebelled against the thought. Perhaps I could distract them by telling them I needed to find David. Otherwise, where were they going to take me? I had no other connections in the city besides David, and I had to get to him in order to find my father.

I struggled to focus on anything other than my fear in the face of being recaptured, and frustratingly, I seemed unable to move at all. As if it might help, I opened my mouth to say something—anything—that would make them understand even a fraction of my situation. Behind me, however, Ayan cut me off with a chuckle.

"Allow me to give you a hand up." He said.

Before I knew what was happened, he lifted me off the ground, and I had just enough time to haphazardly sling a leg over the horse's back before he'd tossed me up like a sack of potatoes. Terrified by the unexpectedness of the situation, I clutched anything I could get ahold of as tightly as I could and desperately tried to reorientate my brain. First things first, I had to get into a better position, but I was floundering around like a fish out of water.

Apparently, Kotaro judged we didn't have time for such frivolities as making sure I was securely in place. The horse jumped into a gallop before I had the chance to properly catch my breath, and we were off at a fierce pace. I squeezed my eyes shut in shock at the sudden force of the wind, all my thoughts fleeing my brain.

After a few moments passed, as the shouts and furious barking became dim background chatter, my mind returned to my body, and I realized my fingers were tightly closed around something warm. I opened my eyes carefully, and a warm blush crawled up my neck to the roots of my hair. My left hand was grasping Kotaro's thigh, and the other had a death grip on the flesh of his bicep.

Swallowing and clinging to some absurd hope that he hadn't noticed where I'd place my hands, I relaxed my grip. Shifting my position so I was touching him as little as possible, I gingerly closed my fingers around the material of his shirt on his shoulders. I didn't know why he'd chosen to help me, but I felt sure he'd change his mind if I bothered him.