where it all began

n seventeen,

ing: the old barn, her parents'

nstone Stallion colt, had made it

appeared then, like

er parents, a connoi

lanket by the smoldering ruins

ing a lead rope as if it were her o

then at the colt, his

e," he' d said. It

thlessness in business, showe

l, a place for her at his vast Blackwood Eq

ant apartment, far nicer

ad tutors to fin

small, thoughtful gifts – a book on

ix, the colt slowly regaining h

say, his voice softer than she

indness, his protecti

g girl into a young woman, her ta

ficent stallion, his golden coat gleaming, his

een her and Etha

ctor, but something else began to fli

just the orphaned

l and gifted one, with a unique conn

m grew charged with

cruelty in his words that she som

dding towards Phoenix. "You' ll get yourself killed

dent in her bond with Phoenix

han. He' s spirited. An

ne laugh that reache

r, a sense of belonging she hadn' t

e cared for he

ens after dinner. The air was fragrant with night-bloo

arble statue, tur

his handsome face, making him

his voice unusually hesitan

vaguely be

ere just a girl. A very talente

elf... unable to imagine this plac

raw emotion in them sh

on, a laying bare of a

art po

s fingers gently t

her, a mix of nervousness and

murmured, hi

ned in and

, distant kisses he' d giv

nd searching, a kiss that sp

lt into him, her worl

ught. This was love.

, her benefactor, an

rloom, seemed to warm against her skin

ng she