Chapter 24

“Ethan Fletcher—!” A piercing scream echoed through the empty arena! Almost as soon as Natalie screamed, Ethan used the last bit of his strength and yanked the reins hard. The horse let out a pained scream, its front hooves flailing in the air, nearly crashing through the fence—but at the very last second, it stopped, less than half a yard from disaster. Ethan was thrown from the saddle by the sudden force and crashed onto the grass. He lay there, coughing so hard his whole body shook. The wound on his back must have split open again—fresh blood seeping through his coat. But he couldn’t care less. He forced his head up, his face covered in dirt and bits of grass, tears streaming without restraint. He looked toward Natalie, like a child awaiting judgment—despair and a faint, fragile hope mingling in his eyes as he gazed at her. Natalie stood frozen, her chest rising and falling, face as pale as paper. That moment of terror left her trembling from head to toe. She looked at Ethan