Chapter Twenty-Four
Alaya
I wake and stretch my arms up, shaking off the last traces of sleep. When I turn my head, I realise I’m alone—and when I reach towards the blankets where Domanikk had fallen asleep beside me, they’re cold.
Getting up, I notice he’s left clean clothes on the chair by the table, with a scrap of paper balanced on top. A bowl of water and a bar of soap sit waiting.
‘Get dressed. We have somewhere important to visit. Dom x’
I smile to myself as I wash quickly in the ice-cold water and pull on the black loose shirt and black trousers he’s chosen. They fit better than my last ones, though I still have to tuck the turned-over hems into my boots.
Just as I finish Domanikk returns, grinning with unfiltered glee as he comes over and steals a quick kiss.
My body goes rigid. The ease of it—his kiss, my smile, the note signed with an ‘x’—settles over me like a blanket I shouldn’t want. Kiernan’s face flashes behind my eyes. My love. My husband.
When did I last think of him?
Domanikk gives me a questioning look, and I shove the thought down deep, cramming it into that locked piece of my heart that’s threatening to burst.
I smile, but the corners of my mouth feel tight, pulled taut by the secrets I am keeping. It’s a hollow gesture, a decoy meant to keep him from looking too closely at the ruin warring inside me. Though he seems satisfied, grabbing my hand and leading me outside.
“I’ve organised a little trip,” he says, practically bouncing on his toes as he tugs me forwards.
We walk so far into Heartwood that we emerge on the other side, where a thick wall of trees blocks our way. Domanikk leads us to a wide path carved through the forest nearby. The path is well worn, hoofprints pressed deep into the soil.
As it widens ahead, I start to hear a low rumbling, the ring of metal on metal, and shouting. When we reach the end, I gasp at the sight before me.
The clearing is enormous, surrounded by dense forest. Everything is so green, the long grass billowing in the light breeze.
And it’s packed with Equitae—well over a hundred of them.
Some are in Horse Form, battling each other with rears and squeals, thrashing hooves and snapping teeth.
Others fight in Fae Form, swords clashing, fists flying.
Domanikk spots Viveen and waves her over.
“What is this?” I gasp, unable to look away from a group of horses galloping freely around the clearing.
“The Meadow, our training area. Viveen helps the newly mature Equitae control and harness their Enchantra,” Domanikk replies.
I arch a single brow, the corner of my mouth twitching with a spark of interest. “The newly mature?”
“I can feel another tedious lesson coming. I’ll leave you with Viv to enlighten you. I need to speak with Rawson anyway.” Domanikk winks back as he jogs towards where Rawson stands with the Equitae working with swords.
Viveen gestures for us to sit, and I sprawl onto the grass beside her, grateful to rest my feet after the long walk from Heartwood.
“I’m guessing from our earlier conversation that you don’t know much about the Equitae?
” Viveen asks casually, though curiosity underlies her tone.
I wince at the reminder of my ignorance, heat creeping up my neck.
Still, I nod for her to continue, trying to appear more composed than I feel.
She laughs—not unkindly, but with genuine amusement, as if my lack of knowledge is somehow endearing rather than frustrating.
“I’ll start at the beginning. At birth, we’re pure Fae, nothing more.
Within a few days we have our first Shift and remain in Foal Form until our third year.
When we shift back to Fae Form, we have our Enchantra, though it’s empty—without power.
At sixteen, we attend our Maturity Ceremony, where Terra bestows our powers, filling our Enchantra with her divine light.
That’s when we discover which power we have, usually reflecting our natural abilities.
Once we have our powers, we must learn to control and use them. ”
“That’s amazing,” I reply in awe. Every detail about the Equitae fascinates me more each day. “You mentioned other powers before?”
“You listen well. Yes, as Fae we can perform basic Healing and live much longer lifespans—extended the more we stay in Horse Form. Rarely, we’re also gifted with extra powers that make the Enchantra wearer incredibly powerful.”
I lean forwards. “How rare?”
“There are only two Equitae alive right now blessed by Terra in that way: Reth and Domanikk.”
“Wow! Do you know what their powers are?”
Viveen’s gaze shifts away, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. “I’ve never asked.” She pauses, then meets my eyes again. “We may share our beds freely, but our powers …” She touches her Enchantra protectively. “Those we keep close.”
She glances across the clearing to where the Equitae are sparring.
“Reth has been our Alpha since Heartwood was formed. I’ve seen him take on three stallions at once and walk away without a scratch.
The last Equitae who truly challenged him for Alpha?
” Her jaw tightens. “They found pieces of him embedded in a tree fifty feet from where they’d been standing. ”
A shudder runs through me at how dangerous and powerful Reth truly is.
Even now, just thinking about him sends chills down my spine—that cold calculation behind those piercing ice-blue eyes.
He wasn’t just dangerous in obvious ways; his power was subtle, insidious, seeping into my thoughts, invasive and terrifying.
“Sorry if it feels like I’m prying,” I say.
“You’re not at all. I love talking about our Herd and answering your questions. It’s not often I have such an attentive pupil.” She laughs, nodding towards the Equitae she’d been instructing, who were now fooling around.
“Are Equitae ever born without an Enchantra? I was born Desolate, without an Earthbound Gift.” I’m surprised at myself for sharing this with Viveen, though her open manner puts me at ease.
“Really? Are you sure?”
I nod and her brow furrows, lips parting before she continues. “No, I’ve never seen that happen with Equitae. There are other ways we can lose our power, but I have to be careful explaining that, given your status here.” Her voice drops, eyes flicking away.
I’m their captive. Sharing all their secrets would be dangerous, even foolish. They know I could use any information against them if I got the chance. Trust doesn’t exist between us, and rightfully so. I represent a threat to their safety, to Heartwood.
Domanikk rejoins us, offering his hand to help me up. I take it, dusting grass from my trousers as I rise.
“Thanks so much for that, Viveen.”
“You’re welcome, anytime,” she says, heading back to her group of pupils who stop messing about the moment they see her coming.
Domanikk’s grin widens. “Hope she didn’t bore you too much.”
“Not at all. I really love learning about the Equitae. I know so little.”
“I want to show you something.” His eyes glint with mischief. “Though you might not be able to keep your hands to yourself when I do.”
He steps back a few paces, arms wide. I raise an eyebrow, one corner of my mouth quirking up.
His power surges; yellow mist seeps from his skin as his Fae Form melts and reforms. The mist clears, and my breath catches.
“What a sexy beast I am,” Domanikk drawls, tilting his chin up to let the daylight catch the sharp, masculine lines of his face, suggesting he was perfectly aware of the effect he had on me.
He’s shifted to Horse Form, but only halfway.
His sleek black body gleams like polished onyx, muscles rippling beneath.
His tail fans out long and silky behind him.
Yet there’s his strong Fae chest clad in black leathers, the yellow Enchantra glowing and swirling at its centre.
His dark eyes are heated, his head tilted as he watches me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
I have no words; the sight before me is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Powerful. Magnificent.
And yes, sexy as hell.
“Keep looking at me like that and I’ll have to misbehave. Come, let’s take a ride,” he says as he kneels down.
“You expect me to ride you?” My voice pitches higher than intended.
“You make that sound so dirty. I like it.” A mischievous grin spreads across his face. “Have you ridden before?”
“No.”
“I get to be your first—lucky me!” He chuckles, clearly enjoying my discomfort far too much. “It’s okay, darling. I’ll keep you safe. I promise nothing bad will happen. Get on.”
I tentatively step towards him and swing a leg over his back. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I feel the warmth of his body between my legs.
“Hold on around my chest to keep your balance. Be careful where you touch me; you don’t want to start something I can’t do anything about right now.”
I lace my arms around him, palms splayed across his firm chest. An arm covers mine, securing my hand, and he quickly rises. I panic as I tip forwards and start slipping to one side, but he shifts beneath me, helping me right myself.
“This is unreal,” I breathe out in wonder.
“Hold tight, Alaya. I’m about to rock your world.”
I grip him as he leaps forwards, closing my eyes as he picks up speed.
My heart hammers, my breathing short and laboured.
His pace steadies and I relax into the sensation, open my eyes and enjoy it.
This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced—the feeling of freedom, of abandon.
The sensations sing through me: the rush of wind through my hair, caressing my skin, the feeling of power and strength pounding the earth below, and the dark desire of his muscles bunching and relaxing beneath me, pressing into that sensitive area between my legs, making me throb and ache with lust.
“Are you okay back there?”
“More than okay. This is amazing.”
“Those trembling thighs gripping me are a feeling I won’t forget in a hurry. I can feel how wet you are, Alaya,” he smirks.