“You can do this.” Though the words are more for me than for Zephyr, I keep my voice soft and soothing as I pat his neck. “We’ll stay low to the ground. And we’ll be back before anyone misses us.” I take a deep breath and ease myself into the saddle. “Ready?” A lazy drawl interrupts my monologue. “Nice pep talk. Truly inspirational.” I freeze as Sterling Thorne emerges from the shadows. “What are you doing here?” “What am I doing outside the alicorn stable? The place where I often work and sleep? Do you really need me to answer that?”
