Duality

part twenty-three

With dramatic flair, he gestured to the horses. "Is this better?"

Mila wanted to say yes, but with her legs... she didn't know. The cuts didn't hurt for the moment, but pressed against a jostling horse, they might. And she'd never make it onto their backs without help, which she didn't want to ask from Ashton.

As she slowly wimped out on the idea of leaving the hut, Ashton grabbed her around the ribs and set her on top of Doll.

Braced against his hold, Mila didn't immediately relax. When she felt sure he wouldn't pick her up again, she slowly let her legs fall to either side of Doll, waiting for the pain to start. So far, nothing had happened.

Ashton rubbed his palm down Doll's neck and then swung himself onto her back.

"You're too heavy," Mila said immediately when he pressed against her. Doll hadn't collapsed, but she'd never had to carry anyone other than Mila, either.

"And you're light," Ashton said. "It'll work."

Without any prodding on their part, Doll started into motion. Ghost followed close behind, perhaps sensing Mila's distrust that they could continue like this on one horse. Doll was a big, hearty, healthy creature, sure, but every animal had their limits.

And so did her injuries. When she tried to hold her legs still her muscles ached and burned, but when she rested her legs loosely, they swung too much, the sides of the wound feeling reopened.

She dealt with her discomfort for another minute before Ashton guided one of her legs to the other side, so she looked ready to slide off. Her arms clutched around his neck anxiously, waiting for him to fix the position.

When he didn't, she said, "I'll fall."

He had the nerve to laugh at her. "You're fine." Apparently he saw no problem in her legs dangling off the side of Doll's back. He probably just enjoyed the death grip she'd looped around his neck. Knowing that, she still couldn't convince her arms to release.

It took time, but they made it to the edge of the woods. Mila didn't want to let go of him for the two seconds it would take for him to get ready to carry her, but she did, imagining she was an unshakeable rock. She thought he'd make her jump to him-some strange trust exercise-but he lifted her bridal style, easing her worries.

"Thank you," she told Doll and Ghost.

"You're welcome," Ashton responded. She didn't correct him because he had been pretty helpful, when she thought about it. The closer they got to people the more uncomfortable Mila became with being held. She felt vines tickling her skin and realized Ashton had covered her; she'd completely forgotten, so focused on her legs.

Burying her head into his shoulder, she tried to imagine they strolled through the woods, that she didn't hear whispers around her. "They only care that you're hurt," Ashton said.

He couldn't know that. They probably blamed her for the strange combination of the moon and the sun in the sky; they probably wondered what kind of immortal clung to someone else. Even with those thoughts in her head, Mila couldn't find the strength to protest the safety of Ashton's arms.

When he opened a door and walked into darkness she lifted her head. "I can walk," she said immediately when she saw the stairs to the tower.

"We're almost there." He hadn't started on the stairs, but he made it clear he wasn't going to put her down for this. Mila fidgeted, calculating the chances of him dropping her. If he took a wrong step, she would go flying. If she became too heavy, they could both topple down the stairs. His arms didn't shake in the least, but he could be hiding his fatigue.