“I have a little surprise for you now that I have you out of Domanikk’s iron grip,” he replies gruffly.
“That sounds interesting. I can’t wait.”
We make our way down the earthen paths between the tents, paths I’ve grown so familiar with that I could navigate Heartwood alone now—not that I’d ever be permitted to try, being a captive and all.
“Where did Domanikk go today?” I ask Rawson, mostly to fill the silence.
“Reth took a scouting group into the Barrens and wanted him to join. They’ve spotted another area of fertile land and wanted to investigate.”
“I didn’t think there was anywhere else besides Heartwood and the Castle of Thorns,” I reply curiously.
“We often find small pockets during our travels. None big enough to sustain much life, and sadly, The Corruption claims most of them eventually, though not as quickly in recent years.”
“Heartwood is bigger than I realised. It’s amazing it’s survived.”
“The surrounding mountains help—they provide the moisture the land needs to stay alive, and their unique formation creates its own protective ecosystem. More luck than anything else.” He laughs.
“Heartwood is quite beautiful,” I muse.
And it is. Not just the vibrancy of the earth—the bioluminescent forest filled with birds and wildlife, lush green grass, and sweet-smelling flowers dancing in the breeze with their rainbow of colours—but also the Equitae themselves. Their families, their sense of community and loyalty to their Herd.
Yes, the brutality of the Equitae was real, undeniable, carved from the stories I had been told.
Yet so was this.
The realization sat heavy in my chest, uncomfortable and unwelcome—that savagery wasn't the exclusive domain of one side. Both Earthbound and the Equitae had committedatrocities. Both had justified their violence as necessary, as righteous.
King Malaxor had coated the Equitae with a layer of brutality meant to teach us to fear them, which infuriated me. But neither were they innocent. And perhaps that was the most troubling truth of all: that evil wore many faces and that understanding the enemy didn't require forgiving them—only acknowledging that the line was far thinner, and far more blurred, than I ever wanted to admit.
As we approach a larger tent deeper into Heartwood than I’ve ventured before, I hear laughter and music drifting from inside.
I cut a sharp, questioning glance towards Rawson. The corner of his mouth twitches in a ghost of a smile—gone as quickly as it appeared—before he presses a steady hand against the small of my back. With a silent, guiding weight, he ushers me forwards and sweeps the heavy tent flap aside.
My breath catches. Inside, perhaps twenty Equitae are gathered, including children. Some chat quietly, others sway to the music, while the rest sit in chairs along the walls, simply watching and smiling. A piano’s melody fills the tent with warmth.
“What is this?” I ask in wonder.
“A mating reception—what you would call a wedding. When two Equitae choose each other as their mate, we celebrate with our friends and family before we …” Rawson’s cheeks flush pink. “Mate? Have sex? Fuck? You know …” He nods towards the back.
A stunning tiny Equitae with long straight black hair twirls in a flowing white dress so gauzy it’s nearly transparent, her glowing green Enchantra visible beneath the fabric. Her partner is tall with short black hair and purple eyes, his strong bare chest displaying a glinting purple Enchantra. He watcheshis new mate with such devotion it brings tears to my eyes—tears I didn’t expect, remembering my own wedding.
“We can’t just go in uninvited,” I hiss at Rawson as he starts to walk in.
A short, jagged rumble breaks from him.
“They’re expecting us. Come on,” he says, taking my hand and pulling me into the joyous warmth. Rawson grips my hand as he weaves us through the crowd, narrowly avoiding the flailing arms of dancers.
When we reach the couple, the female launches herself at Rawson, who embraces her with his strong arms.
“Oh, you brought her!” she squeals, smiling at me. When Rawson sets her down, she walks over and pulls me into an embrace. I stiffen at the contact, confused by her obvious joy at my presence. Rawson simply shrugs beside her mate, whose smile never leaves his face as he watches her intently.
“I’m Jenna. Rawson promised he’d bring you. An Earthbound Fae at my mating!”
I’m taken aback by her warmth and even more confused by her genuine happiness.
“Don’t mind my mare.” Her mate smiles, wrapping an arm around her waist. “She studies Earthbound Fae history and customs like it’s religion.”
“Don’t scare her off, Fallon. Please stay and enjoy the party. I’d love to chat later once things quieten down.”
