Free Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa by Michelle Madow Page A

need anyone scaring us, like Kate did when she almost fell off the ice-path I created in the cave.”
    “I can’t believe that was only two months ago,” I said. “It feels like so much longer.”
    “It does,” Danielle agreed. “It’s a miracle we got out of there alive. I had no idea what I was doing with my power back then.”
    “We can talk about all this later,” Chris said, stepping up to the bridge. “We have to get to the palace before I run out of strength to keep the temperature up. Kate—are you coming?” He held his hand out to her and watched her expectantly.
    “You don’t think I can manage to cross the bridge myself?” she asked.
    “No—I know you can,” he said. “But I figured I would offer. For old times sake.”
    “In that case…” She stepped up to him and placed her hand in his. “Let’s go.”
    They led the way, and Blake held out his hand to me as well. I took it, allowing him to lead me across the bridge. Danielle followed behind.
    Once Chris and Kate were across, Blake picked me up, cradling me in his arms and
starting
to run. “Race you to the horses!” he called behind him, as the others hurried to catch up. I wrapped my arms around his neck, laughing the entire way there.
    The others reached the horses at the same time that we did. Even though we had a head start, we were slower since Blake carried me the entire way. He placed me down, and I looked up into his eyes, wanting to kiss him so badly. I almost did… but then I stopped myself. Because the last time I’d kissed Blake in the middle of a mission, I’d lost time that I might have been able to use to save Rachael.
    We would have time together once we returned home. For now, I couldn’t allow myself to be distracted.
    “Have you ever ridden a horse before?” I asked him instead.
    “A few times at summer camp,” he said. “It wasn’t that hard.”
    “Come on ,” Danielle chimed in. “You quit after one year. I, on the other hand, stuck with it the whole time. I got to the advanced levels where I was doing jumping and everything.”
    “Okay,” I said. “But have you ever ridden bareback?”
    “No.” She shuddered. “I rode English saddle only. Why on Earth would I ride bareback?”
    “Most people haven’t.” I smiled, happy to one-up her. “But in case you didn’t notice, these horses don’t have saddles, so we don’t have another choice. Luckily, one of my friends in Georgia lived on a horse farm, so I’ve ridden bareback a few times. It’s more difficult, but I’m sure we can manage. First, you need to vault yourself up, like this.” I hopped over to the nearest horse to demonstrate, but the moment I got close to her, she snorted and twisted away from me, hurrying out of my reach.
    “Great start.” Danielle snickered and walked toward the same horse, who didn’t back away from her . Instead, the horse stood still, watching Danielle expectantly. “Explain again how I’m supposed to mount the horse without a saddle?” she asked me.
    “Get some momentum, and then grab the mane and jump on up.” I watched her, waiting for her to fail. Instead, she did as I said, gracefully mounting the horse’s back.
    Once situated, she shook her hair out and straightened her shoulders, smirking proudly.
    “How’d you do that on your first try?” I asked. “I didn’t even think you liked animals, after you refused to touch the cows on Helios’s island.”
    “You aren’t seriously comparing cows to horses,” she said, crinkling her nose. “Horses are much more civilized. And these aren’t just any horses—they’re water horses. Created by Poseidon himself. I think they’re connected to me because of my element.” She jumped off her horse and walked around to each of the other four. She touched each one of their noses, and they watched her diligently, as if they were somehow communicating with her. “Done,” she said, returning to her original horse and vaulting herself onto its back.