Page 131 of Bittersweet & Strange

I reach down.

“Rhys, don’t you fucking—”

I catch him around the middle and haul him upward.

He fights hard enough that Étoile sidesteps, forcing me to tighten the reins as I drag Boone across the saddle and maneuver him into place in front of me. His back hits my chest. I immediately lock one arm around his waist and gather the reins with the other.

“Get off me!”

“Enough.”

“Let me down!”

He throws his weight sideways. I catch him before he can accomplish anything more than startling Étoile.

“Do that again and I’ll tie you to the saddle.”

Boone freezes.

His breathing changes immediately, each breath coming faster against my arm. I know precisely what I have just done. Lucien tied him to a saddle yesterday. Boone screamed for me when that man dragged him away.

Now I’m threatening him with the same thing.

I know that.

I turn Étoile toward the mountain anyway.

For the first mile, Boone doesn’t move.

He sits rigidly in front of me with his hands clenched against his thighs and his shoulders shaking every few breaths. Slowly, the village disappears behind us. He turns his head once, looking back over his shoulder. I tighten my arm around him.

His breath catches.

“Don’t.”

I don’t know whether he means don’t hold him or don’t take him away. It makes no difference.

Étoile continues climbing.

The sun rises slowly behind us, pale morning light creeping across the mountains as Villeneuve grows smaller below. Boone remains silent until the road narrows between two steep banks of trees. Without warning, he grabs my arm and tries to wrench it away from his waist.

“Let me go.”

“No.”

He twists sharply. Étoile tosses her head. I pull Boone firmly back against my chest and lower my mouth beside his ear.

“Stop fighting me before you get us both thrown.”

“I don’t care.”

“I do.”

“I want to go back.”

“You aren’t going back.”

His elbow drives into my ribs. Pain flashes through my side, and my injured arm throbs when I tighten it around him.