Seth

"So, I'm actually allowed to ride with a saddle and bridle this time?" he drawled, leaning against the mounting block as if the lesson wasn't worth his time.

Freya turned toward him, her hazel eyes flashing like molten lava. "Mhm. Figured I'd take pity on you, since your last performance was... well, unforgettable."

His mouth quirked into a tight smile. "Glad to hear you're lowering your expectations."

She smirked faintly. "Oh, don't worry. They're still low enough to make this entertaining."

Seth rolled his eyes as she tightened the belt under Nova's belly, her hands quick and precise. He knew the damn thing was called a girth, but everything else she'd explained last time was a blur. Saddles, reins, stirrups—it was all one confusing mess.

"You really enjoy this, don't you?" he said, his voice edged with annoyance. "Lording all your horse knowledge over me like some kind of stable queen."

Freya snorted, barely glancing at him. "Better a stable queen than a washed-up adrenaline junkie with a God complex."

His jaw tightened. "Washed-up, huh? Let's see how long your little kingdom lasts without me."

"Longer than you'll last on that horse, I'd bet," she shot back.

He climbed onto the mounting block, knowing better than to let her get under his skin. But damn, she was good at it. "Careful, Lynn. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to piss me off on purpose."

"Someone's catching on," she quipped, adjusting the saddle with an almost smug precision.

Seth swung into the saddle with more effort than he'd care to admit, muttering under his breath. "This already feels like a mistake."

"Oh, don't worry," Freya said sweetly, walking over to adjust his foot in the stirrup. "You'll have plenty of chances to confirm that once we start moving."

Her hand moved to his knee, straightening it with sharp precision. "And don't pinch the saddle with your knees—it's a horse, not a damn vice grip."

"I know that," he snapped, though her corrections felt endless.

"Do you?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.

He ground his teeth, gripping the reins as instructed. "Anything else, or is this where you let me actually ride?"

Freya tilted her head, her smirk widening. "Straighten your back, heels down, and don't screw it up."

"You're a real inspiration, you know that?" he muttered sarcastically as she attached the lead rope to Nova.

As Nova began walking, Seth focused on staying balanced, following the horse's steady rhythm. It wasn't as terrifying as bareback riding, but Freya's constant scrutiny made him more aware of every tiny mistake.

"You're still slouching," she called out.

"Maybe if you weren't breathing down my neck, I'd relax," he retorted, his frustration bubbling over.

She smirked, clearly unfazed. "Relaxing isn't going to save you from looking ridiculous."

Seth bit back a reply, focusing on not yanking the reins too hard.

After a few laps, Freya's voice turned mockingly sweet. "Ready to try a trot, or do you want to stick to walking so you don't embarrass yourself?"

He shot her a glare. "Let's do it. I'm not scared of a little speed."

"Funny coming from the guy who practically begged to stop last time," she quipped, leading Nova toward the rail.

When Nova picked up speed, Seth immediately bounced out of sync, gripping the reins tighter than he should. The jarring motion threw him completely off balance, and Freya's laughter rang out across the arena.

"Wow," she said between snorts. "That's... something. Are you trying to ride or audition for a rodeo?"

"Maybe try actual teaching instead of just laughing," he snapped, heat rising to his face.

"Maybe try listening," she shot back, smirking as she brought Nova back to a walk. "That was barely a trot, and you already look like you've been through a war."

Seth muttered a string of curses under his breath, adjusting his position in the saddle. His pride—and his balls—were both bruised.

"Don't worry," she added with a sharp grin. "We've got plenty of time to turn you into an actual rider. Assuming you survive."

Seth was starting to feel less like a complete idiot when Freya's mood suddenly shifted. Her body went rigid, her gaze snapping toward the far end of the arena.

"What's your deal?" he asked, nudging her shoulder lightly.

"Nothing," she said sharply, her voice tense.

Seth followed her line of sight, spotting a man leaning casually against the fence. The guy's smug expression instantly rubbed him the wrong way.

"Who's that?" he asked, his voice lowering.

"No one," Freya replied quickly, her tone clipped.

"Doesn't look like 'no one.' You're acting like you've seen a ghost," Seth pressed, irritation creeping into his tone.

Freya's jaw tightened as the man's gaze flicked lazily between them before he turned and walked away.

Seth frowned. "You're seriously not going to tell me who that was?"

"It's none of your business," she snapped, grabbing Nova's reins and leading him toward the gate.

He dismounted, watching her closely. "You've got a real habit of shutting people out, you know that?"

Freya's gaze lingered on the empty space where the man had stood, her voice low.

"He shouldn't be here."