PERSEPHONE

Evaline’s words fell heavy against Persephone’s ears, even as the stallion’s voice clashed with hers. Rape. Torture. Captive. The revelation was shocking. Persephone didn’t want to believe it, but as her gaze flicked between Evaline, emotional and sincere, and Bob, angry and unhinged, she didn’t feel like she had much choice.

He was a monster. And he had deceived her all this time.

Anger rose in the back of her throat, hot and stinging, but she was beaten to the punch when Shamwari suddenly emerged from the trees. Evaline had brought him then, it seemed, although they had been too involved in their conversation to notice his presence nearby. He thrust himself into the midst, brushing between the two mares as he launched himself towards his opponent with a cry.

Persephone was frozen for a moment, her dark eyes wide as she watched the two men strike at each other. Then another appeared, so suddenly it made Persephone start and the sound of something cracking made her heart drop.

“Talya!” Persephone cried, almost at the same time as her father.

Persephone didn’t see who struck who or where in the commotion – it all happened so fast – but she saw Talya now lying still on the ground, her belly big with a child who could be likewise hurt. Her eyes darted to the man who had caused this – the stranger she had trusted blindly for too long – and she saw red.

With a scream she leapt after him, although the coward was turning to run already. She snapped at his heels, twigs snapping angrily beneath her hooves as she pounded after him. Fury pumped through her veins like nothing she had ever felt before, but it was her heart that pulled her back. She did not chase him far, even though she would have liked to see him to the shore and drown him there if she could have.

As soon as he was out of sight she span around and returned to Talya. She nudged at the girl’s face, a lump in her throat.

“Talya…” she murmured.

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh