I dismounted from Wind, patting his neck as Caleb took the reins from me. The rush of adrenaline from the rescue was still humming through my veins, but beneath it was a spark of satisfaction. For once, I'd been seen for what I could do, not who I supposedly was.
"That was incredible, Juliana," Daphne gushed, her eyes wide with admiration. "Where did you learn to ride like that?"
I shrugged, trying to downplay it. "Just practice. I've always had a way with horses."
"A way with horses? That's like saying Mozart had a way with pianos," Caleb laughed. "You practically flew out there."
Before I could respond, I heard the crunch of footsteps on gravel. A group was approaching—Gavin and his friends, with Imogen at the center like a queen bee surrounded by her drones.
My momentary happiness evaporated. Imogen's face was fixed in that perfect society smile that never reached her eyes.
