The horse's steady rhythm beneath them did nothing to ease the tension coiled tight in Yuta's shoulders. Elrien's chest was pressed warm against his back, his strong arm wrapped possessively around Yuta's waist, but Yuta kept his spine rigid as a board. He didn't want Lord Elrien touching him, not when he was still furious.
"You're going to fall off if you keep sitting like that, human" Elrien murmured against his ear, his breath sending unwanted shivers down Yuta's neck.
Yuta said nothing.
He stared straight ahead at the winding mountain path, determined not to melt into that familiar warmth behind him.
Elrien's arm tightened slightly around his waist. "Will you at least tell me what I've done wrong?"
Yuta's response was still nothing.
"Yuta."
The way Elrien said his name—soft and questioning—almost broke his resolve.
Almost. But then the image of Lyria in those same arms flashed through Yuta's mind, and his jaw clenched harder than ever before.
