The Amulet (10 page)

She picked up a well-polished leather bridle with a standard bit and laid it across an English saddle along with a saddle pad. She used to struggle carrying the heavy tack, but that was before. Now, she lifted it easily, but it was still large and felt awkward in her arms. Nevar watched her quietly as she put the saddle pad on first and then the saddle. She stroked Aegis and spoke quietly to her while she worked.

She waited until she heard her exhale before tightening the girth, remembering her first riding experience where the saddle was not properly tightened. The saddle had slipped off to one side of the horse and it had been a miracle she had not fallen off. She thought she heard Nevar "Mm" in approval. When she was sure it was secure, she lowered the stirrups and adjusted them a little. Next, she removed her harness and picked up the bridle. The bit went first. A little coaxing and she accepted it easily, allowing her to slip the leather over her head and buckle the chin strap.

"Not that I am surprised, but I am impressed. I would have happily broken my rule for you, but obviously you did not need my help at all." With that, he left for the tack room and came out a moment later as she was leading Aegis from her stall. He walked towards Brush Fire's stall. She watched his well-practiced hands as they flew quickly through the process she had taken such care over. She frowned but reminded herself that he'd had centuries of practice.

The Arabian had a lot of spirit and threw his head as Nevar finished. "I know," Nevar told him. "It's been too long." he left the stallion in the stall as he walked over to her. "Mount up and make sure your stirrups are the right length."

She mounted on Aegis's left side, swinging her right leg over the mare. The stirrups were a little short for her long legs. Riding English was more disciplined and proper than the relaxed, and more comfortable, Western style. English riders needed their stirrups shorter in order to post on the trot, a kind of bouncing two-beat gait. Nevar adjusted her stirrups for her, his hands meandering over her legs as he did.

"We'll have to get you some more appropriate attire for riding," he said, frowning at her gladiator heels. "I may have a pair of riding boots that someone left. Even if they are a little big, they would be better suited than these." He took the heels off her feet and left for the tack room once more. He came out with a pair of black leather boots that, indeed, looked too big for her feet. He slid a pair of socks on her feet as well as the boots. "A good rider is always prepared," he answered her questioning eyes.

They were men's boots, which made her happy. She hated the thought of Nevar riding with another woman. There was plenty of room in the toes, but otherwise were pretty comfortable. "Remember to keep your heels down and the ball of your foot on the stirrup."

She had remembered, but she checked her feet anyway. The last thing you wanted was to get your foot caught in the stirrup and get dragged by or trampled on by a spooked horse. Nevar opened the barn door wide enough to ride abreast then led his own horse from the stall and mounted in one fluid motion. He turned Brush Fire towards the open barn door and walked him slowly across the concrete floor out into the moonlit pasture.

Alyssa gave Aegis a gentle click with her tongue and tapped her with her heels. She responded immediately and followed after Nevar. Once out of the barn, Alyssa pulled up on the rein, kicking Aegis with her heels, giving her conflicting signals. The result was Aegis lifting up on her haunches, rearing up. Alyssa shifted her weight forward over Aegis
’ center of balance. Aegis pawed at the air in a grand display and walked a couple of steps forward on her rear legs before landing. Alyssa was smiling as Nevar pulled up beside her.

“
I think you have more riding experience than you’re letting on, Miss Thomas.”

She laughed.
“No, not really. The first time a horse reared up on me was completely by accident, and not signaled by any means. He just decided he didn’t want to be ridden that day and I happened to be along for the ride. I managed to stay on him, though. After that, I learned how to signal them to do it. This is the first time I’ve been able to try it.”

“
You picked a good horse for it, then. I think I will give you lessons. You have natural balance, and I think you would do well in the jumper course.”

She'd always wanted to take lessons, but with her career, it had never been possible. It seemed like fate was trying to tell her something. Maybe her old life was gone, and she was deeply saddened by the loss, but an entire world of new experiences had opened up for her and she had plenty of time to do all the things she had always wanted to do, but never had.

Aegis pawed impatiently and started chomping on the bit. "Sorry, girl, you're right," she patted the mare's white neck in apology. "How about a race?" But she didn't wait for an answer. She gave Aegis three quick kicks and let the mare have her head. She took off with amazing speed, but Alyssa was no fool. Arabians may be smaller than some breeds, but they were fast and had amazing stamina. She had only a split second head start and she could hear Brush Fire pushing for top speed behind her.

She bent low over the Andalusia
’s neck, her mane stinging her face as it whipped in the wind she created. She saw the fence a little too late to stop, but Aegis had other ideas. The horse gathered beneath her and she just had time to shift her weight to stay in balance.

She launched herself forward and up and Alyssa moved with her. She cleared the top rail with room to spare and landed gracefully without missing stride. Alyssa let her run a few more yards before turning her and pulling up on the reins to stop her.

Alyssa was enthralled with the power and grace of the animal beneath her and almost missed Brush Fire's refusal to jump. He planted his feet and tossed his head and whinnied a complaint. Nevar's reactions were fast. He kept his balance and avoided being head-butted by his own horse. "He's great for endurance races, but he won't jump anything this high," he explained.

"I'd like to do that again! Give me a moment and I'll bring her back over." She turned Aegis again and brought her to a canter, the three-beat gate was as smooth as a rocking horse. Without slowing down, she turned her around and headed straight back for the fence. She clicked her tongue and the mare responded with speed.

This time, prepared for the jump, Alyssa was able to count the beats and measure where she needed to jump. Aegis already knew. She was a born jumper, thought Alyssa. She cleared the fence easily and seemed pleased with herself, holding her tail up and prancing that high-step her breed was famous for.

Nevar held his reins in one hand and clapped. "Excellent form. It seems I won't have much to teach you. You seem to have a firm handle on the basics."

"Why thank you," she said. "But I'll be honest, Aegis is doing all the work. I know that there's more to it than just going along for the ride."

"For tonight, that's enough." he smiled at her and pulled Brush Fire as close to Aegis as he could, Aegis did not appreciate the stallion being so close. He leaned out of the saddle and kissed her. It started slow, but grew as he fought to devour her mouth with his.

Alyssa was lost to his kiss. Fire exploded from every nerve in her body and the beast purred within her. She didn't want this to end, but Aegis had other ideas. The mare jumped straight up in the air and kicked out with her legs in a fantastic display, well, it would have been had it been in the dressage ring. As it was, Nevar and Alyssa broke apart immediately, Alyssa struggling to stay in her saddle and Nevar pulling Brush Fire out of kicking range. The stallion snorted and shook his wedge-shaped head, almost as if he were saying, "Show-off".

"I'm sorry, Alyssa," Nevar apologized as the mare finally calmed down, although he didn't ride up beside her this time. "I have never paired these two up together before. I normally ride one or the other, and I rarely let anyone else ride them. I suppose she isn't fond of Brush Fire."

Alyssa frowned slightly. She didn't want to think of Nevar riding with anyone else, not that she felt she had the right to be jealous. She barely knew him at all. She let the feeling fade and relaxed into the saddle a little.

"I take tourists out for trail rides and I also teach lessons, in case you were wondering," he answered her unspoken thoughts. "I haven't accumulated so much wealth by hiding in shadows. You still think in Hollywood terms. You can keep your career, fake your death, continue on as an uncanny look-alike, or if you prefer, completely re-invent yourself every so many years. Personally, I prefer to stay out of the public eye, but I have recently taken over my 'father's' estate after studying abroad, and people tell me I could be my father's twin. Thanks to modern technology, I can even fake age. My 'father' still makes a rare appearance to keep up the charade."

He had a sparkle in his eye that belied his cleverness. He seemed to have this game down to an art, but if she were to continue her career, his life would be thrown into the lime light if something should develop between them, whether he liked it or not. "Nevar, my entire life has been on display for years now. What I wear, what I eat, what I don't eat, and who I spend time with," she was careful wording that last part. "If you get involved with me, and I continue my career, your entire life would be put under a microscope for the whole world to see. I won't put you through that."

"But should it not be my choice to make, Alyssa?" His eyes were intense, gleaming at her in the night. "I made the decision to taste your blood, and the decision to turn you, and if a little media attention is the end result, I would still prefer to have you in my company than turn away for fear of a little heat."

She could hear the careful placement of words, as if taking a cue from her. She let the walls around her mind fall. She wanted him to hear her thoughts and feel what she felt. She was hesitant, sure, but they had only met last night. She felt a strong connection to Nevar, despite the brevity of their time together. He made her happy and feel wanted. She wanted to be with him.

He didn't attempt to pull his horse too close again and risk her being thrown, instead, he reached out and caressed her with his mind. He manipulated her thoughts in a way that sent her nerves pulsing with pleasure. He felt a possessiveness over her. He wanted to protect her, claim her.

There was something about her that drew him in like a moth to flame. The length of her legs, the soft, yet ample, curves of her body, her enchanting eyes, and that full, sultry mouth of hers would have been all a man could stand on their own, but the combination was beyond the range of even a vampire's restraint. Beyond her looks, there was so much more to her. She was graceful and well-balanced, compassionate and forgiving. Her mind was also very keen, even without centuries of study, which impressed him most of all. She intrigued him.

He could feel her blood coursing through him, a fact he had hidden from her. She had been upset enough that he could read her thoughts; the mention of blood ties might have been too much for her. He could feel what she felt, now that her shields were down, he explored her emotions.