Chapter 46

Aria held onto the ropes attached to the horse with all the strength she could, scared that she’d fall if she let go even slightly.

“Easy,” Selena said, calm and steady beside her with one hand firm on the reins, and the other hovering close to Aria’s wrist. “You don’t fight it. You breathe, then you move with him. I learnt with him too, he’s sweet, you’ll discover.”

The horse shifted beneath Aria and her heart thudded with the excitement of the moment as Selena guided her hands, loosening her grip just enough. Step by step, Selena walked her through it; how to sit deeper, how to let her hips follow the rhythm instead of locking up, how to trust the animal beneath her.

“That’s it,” Selena murmured. “You’re doing fine. Look at you. You’re doing better than me the first day I sat alone on a horse.” She praised and Aria smiled proudly.

After a few slow rounds, Selena stopped the horse and stepped back. “Alright. I’m letting go now.”

Aria’s breath caught. “