The Binding (Chronicles of Azaria #1) Read Online Free Page B

had vanished. A horse was tethered nearby, a blanket buckled over its snowy flanks.
    We circled around the smouldering twigs, before Ryan eased me onto a moss-covered log. Once I sat down, he removed his arm. My heart rate settled, and I sighed. Distance was good—it would stop the Binding from feeding my desires. I dabbed at the cut on my cheek, wincing.
    “Hope you didn ’t miss me, Cielo.” Ryan walked up and grabbed a handful of mane. “I’ve brought a guest.”
    Cielo snorted. He twisted his neck round and nuzzled my shoulder, almost pushing me off the log.
    “Whoa!” I struggled to keep my balance, trying not to put pressure on my ankle. Ryan came to my side in an instant, and helped me shuffle sideways so Cielo couldn’t reach. Again his touch left my skin tingling. I held onto the log for dear life, determined not to give in. Cielo gave his master a forlorn gaze, as if he’d been cheated of a new friend.
    “Hey, he won ’t hurt you,” Ryan said, noting my stiff posture. If only he knew it wasn’t Cielo I was afraid of. He turned to the horse with a scolding look. “Calm down, Cielo. Eliza’s a little fragile right now, so behave yourself.”
    Cielo shook his forelock, almost in defiance, then turned to sniff at the grass. Ryan smiled, and rubbed the horse ’s flank.
    “Don ’t mind him, Eliza. He gets excited easily.”
    Cielo ’s ears twitched, as if he knew he was being talked about. Despite his rather abrupt method of introducing himself, I laughed. At least he had some personality, unlike those emotionless drones in the village stables.
    The thought of home brought a lump to my throat. I ’d never walk through the simple streets of Velwall again. Never help Father in his clinics, or fetch vegetables for Mother, nor chat with our Councillor, Serena. And after so long apart, I wouldn’t even see Adam one last time.
    By the Goddess, why had this happened?
    “So,” Ryan said, sitting beside me. He had a long stick and was playing with the ash in the fire pit. I kept my gaze on the embers, determined to stop the curse from stirring more reactions. “You’ve got a choice. Do you want to sleep, or would you rather we head off now?”
    I took a slow breath. Surrendering to sleep would be utter bliss, but if we hung around until dawn, we would still be close to my village. Too close, as once I was discovered missing they ’d raise the alarm and comb the Galgiza faster than I could say ‘Binding’. Rescue was the last thing I wanted, because then I’d have to tell everyone the truth. I couldn’t face that, not when I knew it would break my parents’ hearts. And not when I’d yet to come to terms with it myself. There had to be a way out. It was probably the denial speaking, but I wouldn’t give up until I knew for sure there wasn’t any way to break a Binding.
    Ryan looked at me with his now-familiar expectant expression, so I cleared my throat.
    “I’m not that tired,” I lied. “I’d like to be a little further away from my village, so we should get going. We can rest later.”
    Ryan nodded. He stoked the embers some more, before he discarded his stick and stood up.
    “If that’s what you want. I’ll pack my stuff.”
    He marched to his tent. As he disappeared inside, I sighed, holding my head in my hands. A night without sleep, along with the loss of adrenaline, plus my struggle to keep tabs on my feelings, had worn me out. My eyes closed, and I didn ’t want to open them again. At least without Ryan on top of me, I had a moment to breathe. It was frightening. I’d no idea a Binding was so powerful.
    And I ’d seen one first-hand.
    It had affected my sister, Fiona, almost five years ago. The memory remained vivid. Back then, she’d been with a farmhand from Bane, Errol. Everyday she’d come prancing home, wearing flowers he’d picked for her, or showing off the wooden charms he’d carved for her. I had to admit, I was a little envious she’d found such a charming