Nephilim’s ears flicked as Amaranthe spoke, her voice reaching through the hollow innards of the cave no matter how far she walked, though he kept a steady eye in case she walked too deep, too far. He would not hold her away from exploring, for this was her home too now, and if she began to press further to the back he would follow. She circled around instead, but it was what she’d said first that intrigued him most. Nephilim’s world was… different. He understood the concept of a herd, of one stallion and a herd of mares. In these islands a herd stallion could be something of strength, something known, and deep down that’s all Nephilim was attempting to achieve.

Go where you belong. He’d found it, he swore it to himself. Tinuvel was where he belonged. Being a herd stallion… Nephilim needed to prove himself… he needed to prove he was not a hellish mistake born into this world that should have been killed before he’d even learned to walk.

But Amaranthe spoke of a different life, a different structure of living, and Nephilim listened without interruption. His attention was even further grasped as she delivered knowledge that he was seeking, that which would fortify him for what he planned in the future. His eyelids were narrowed in concentration, hardly moving an inch as he focused solely on what wisdom she gave.

Do not needlessly destroy lives. They will come back to haunt you eventually.

Nephilim blinked and drew in a small breath through his nostrils, lips pressed tight together.

I wanted to kill you. I wanted to kill you before you could haunt me.

A chill washed down his spine as he remembered that day over a year ago, the day he’d finally learned why she treated him so… Nephilim swallowed, throat suddenly dry. Displeased with where the conversation had taken him, the young stallion gave a shake to his head and sighed a hard, heavy breath. His cream-white tail flicked at his hindquarters and he drew his golden gaze to the black mare once more. “Thank you, Amaranthe.” He said, his voice calm between them, giving thanks where thanks were due.

“You should rest.” He said after a moment’s pause, “I’ll stay here while you do, if you want.”