Herd Mistress (In Deception's Shadow Book 2) (29 page)

Swiftrunner jerked her head up, grass trailing forgotten from her
mouth. Her ears riveted forward as one hoof dug a furrow in the mud.

“What is it, girl?”

The mare flicked an ear in Ashayna’s direction, then snapped it back
toward the trail. A shadow the size of a small horse glided between the trunks
of two large evergreens. Her stomach flipped when another twig snapped much
closer to her position. Snuffling sounds to her left set her heart racing.

She stood and reached for the reins. Her mare nickered, dancing in
the mud as Ashayna settled into the saddle. At her quiet word, Swiftrunner
broke into a trot. There was a sharp bend in the trail ahead, and then a
straight level run. They approached the bend. Twenty paces, ten paces, less
than five and she urged the mare into a canter. She chanced a glance back.
Three lupwyns—reminiscent of giant wolves—loped into the open, abandoning the
shelter of the trees for the better footing of the path. Ashayna bent low to
Swiftrunner’s neck and the mare broke into a ground-eating gallop.

* * * *

End of sample.