Eleanor was right.
I’m a shitty friend.
“I’ll go after him. Apologise.” I untangled my arm from around Eleanor. “I’ll be right back.”
“Wait.” Eleanor grabbed my hand, looking at the sky.
Nila gasped and the two kids oohed and ahhed.
In the backdrop of blue sky and golden sun flew six sleek birds, slicing through the air as stealthy and as silently as death.
The thunder of hooves sounded beneath them, a black beast galloping with a man bareback.
No one spoke as Jethro pulled up his horse and leaped off while it was still moving, jogging a little with momentum before stopping beside his wife.
He gave me a sour look before pointing at the black horse who stood with its tail cocked and nostrils flared. It had no tack on. No bridle, no saddle, standing by its master of its own accord.
“That’s acceptable to you, right?” Jethro muttered. “Wings wants to be here of his own free will. You’re all right with that level of ownership?”
I fought a smile, knowing where this was going. Turned out his gift was still a curse in some ways. But today, it would benefit seven souls, so I was okay with that. I nodded, crossing my arms. “Yes, because that’s not ownership, that’s friendship.”
Wings snorted, tossing his head before nuzzling the children out of the way and picking where they stood to munch on the grass.
Nila laughed and scratched the glossy creature, her attention still on the birds swirling above us, not leaving as if they knew they weren’t permitted unless a signal was given.
Holding my stare, Jethro pulled a pair of banged-up barn scissors from his slacks pocket and raised his arm.
He whistled.
A flurry of feathers as the birds all dropped to land on him. Only one perched at a time and the rest shot back to the sky. With a glower at me, Jethro grabbed the dangling leash on a kestrel and snipped it free. He left the metal ring with identification details but tossed the leather string into the grass before raising his arm and shooting the bird back into the sky.
He repeated the process six more times.
A whistle, a bird, a snip, a throw until the discarded tethers looked like dead snakes in the grass. Only once each one was free did he whistle again, this one piercing and long. The signal to hunt.
The raptors dispersed and vanished, winging out in all directions, no leash, no belonging, just absolute freedom.
Jethro huffed and put the scissors back into his pocket. “Thanks to you, I could no longer keep them tied up in the mews. You and your strong opinions about animal welfare are a battering ram to someone like me, Sinclair.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t mean for you to release your entire flock.”
“No, you didn’t. But you’re right. It’s not fair to them. If they choose to live in the mews and come back, then fine. But if they leave, they should be protected by my identification and can go about their lives.”
I held out my hand, waiting until he put his inside mine. “You’re a good man, Hawk.”
He shook his head, his scowl still present. “No, I’m not. But I’m trying to be.”
Breaking apart, he scooped up Emma and placed her on his hip before grabbing the hand of his son. “Let’s go for a walk.” He bowed in Eleanor’s direction before cocking his chin at me. “You owe me that after making me free my prized hunters.”
“Fine.” I grinned. “But then we have a plane to catch.”
“Oh yes, the urge to chase heat and humidity. It’s a constant hum inside you, Sullivan. It must be exhausting being you.” He matched my grin. “Fine, yes. A walk and then you’re free to leave. Free to return to your islands.”
“In that case, a walk would be great.” I took Eleanor’s hand and let him lead the way.
We fell in step behind Jethro, heading toward the woodland and orchards.
Four adults.
Two children.
And one black horse, following as a friend because he wanted to.Chapter Fifteen
I SNUCK INTO THE sunny drawing room at the front of the hall as Nila, Jethro, and Sully stood on the stoop, waiting for Radcliffe and his security team to bring the car around so we could return to the airport.
Our suitcase had been brought down from our room.
My ball gown and Sully’s tux hung neatly on hangers with a thank-you note beside them. Our masks placed carefully on our bed that we’d barely slept in. The ballroom cleaned by excellent staff so no hint of a large event showed.
Our time was over here. We were ready to go.
It’d been a trip to remember, and I intended to keep a promise that I’d made to Nila as we walked back from the stables last night.
Sully and I had indulged in a different dimension. We’d travelled to a jungle and swung from vines in ecstasy. We had plenty of vials of cinta back at home, along with dozens and dozens of sensors to play in a virtual reality world.