She heard him going through his own bag, pulling out clothes. She looked up in time to see him pull his shirt off. Despite everything that had happened between them, her insides went warm and soft at the sight of his broad shoulders, the cut of his muscles.
To distract herself, she went to the window and watched the purple-black storm receding in the distance—the wind and waves lashing out at each other as if in a pitched battle. She felt Joshen’s gaze on her.
“You should rest. I know how much singing like that drains you, and we’re going to need you at full strength when we land in Tarten.”
Why did everyone want her to rest? Senna sought out her reflection in the window. Her eyes were bloodshot and lined with dark circles. She looked too thin. Her hair was a disaster. She tried to smooth it with her fingers. “I’m fine. I should sing to the wind now so we can cross faster.”
“I don’t think the ship is ready to handle more speed.” He settled his shirt over his broad chest. “Well, if you refuse to rest, will you come below decks with me? I’ve got to check on the horses, and there’s something I want to show you.”
She followed Joshen out of Parknel’s cabin and into mayhem. Sailors were scurrying back and forth, tying ropes, hauling down ripped sails, and doing other things she didn’t really understand.
Senna and Joshen wound their way into the bowels of the ship. It wasn’t hard to find the horses—they just had to follow the barn smell and the furious hammering sound.
Joshen trotted forward. Inside the middle stall, the palomino furiously kicked the boards. “Easy, boy. Easy,” Joshen opened the stall and stepped up beside the animal’s shoulder.
Senna held her breath, her throat constricting with worry. The horse eyed Joshen, his ears flat in warning.
“Joshen,” Senna warned.
The animal bared his teeth and lunged. Joshen shoved the horse’s face away. Deftly, he threaded two lead ropes through the halter. He tied them to two rings on opposite sides of the stall, trapping the horse in the middle. All the while, he spoke softly. “I’m going to have to take you above deck and work you every day to take the edge off.”
“I have a potion that could help,” Senna offered, glad she wasn’t the one in there with that horse.
“Maybe if exercise isn’t enough and the potion is the kind that wears off within a day or two.” Joshen brushed his hands on his pants. “Senna, this is Sunny.”
She held her hand out for the horse to sniff. He snorted disdainfully. Senna’s nose wrinkled in disgust, as she wiped horse mucus off her palm with a handful of straw. “I don’t think he likes me.”
Joshen took a cloth from the stall and rubbed the horse’s already polished coat. “He’s from racing stock—one of the fastest horses my father’s ever bred, and he has the stamina to match it.”
“He’s beautiful.” Any woman in love with Joshen had to love horses by default.
“Sunny can outrun anything on four legs,” Joshen said, pride obvious in his voice.
Senna didn’t doubt it. A fire seemed to burn inside the horse, making it impossible for him to hold still. Joshen was studying her, as if waiting for her to make a connection. A sense of foreboding welled inside her. Surely he knew this was way too much horse for her. “I’m sure he’s perfect for you.”
Joshen’s gray eyes locked on hers. “He’s not for me. I bought him for you.”
With an enormous effort, she kept her face blank. “Joshen…”
He sighed and gave Sunny’s coat another swipe. “Just give me this, all right? We’re going into danger I’m not sure I can protect you from—” He cleared his throat. “Please.”
She reached out and took his hand. “If he throws me, I’ll be dead either way.”
Joshen didn’t laugh at her attempt at humor. “He’s not mean—just lively.”
“Lively, right.” Senna tried to smile but it came out as more of a wince. “You bought him? For how much? And when did you have time to get a horse from your father?” His father lived three days journey from Corrieth, and Joshen didn’t make much coin as a Guardian.
“I had him brought up weeks ago. And it’s none of your business how much I paid for him.” Joshen sighed. “He was always meant for a gift, Senna. But now, he’s part of an apology, too. I’m sorry for leaving you on the island when you needed me most.”
Joshen had given her the most beautiful and most dangerous horse in the world by way of an apology. “I told you to go with Arianis.”