Page 29 of Black Hearted (Cursed Fae #4)

We continued through the forest, the blackened trees surrounding us like silent sentinels. After only a few minutes, I noticed Zane’s gaze shifting to the forest floor. He seemed fascinated by the flowers, vines, and weeds that tangled together in a colorful tapestry beneath us.

“Huh,” he said, pointing to a pale yellow flower with perfectly round petals. “You have luna blossoms here, too?”

I frowned, looking at the unfamiliar bloom. “I’ve never seen that flower before,” I admitted, leaning closer. “Do you have them in your world?”

I let my magic trail along the forest floor, brushing against the plant’s energy. It felt new—bright, effervescent, and undeniably life-giving.

Zane’s brow furrowed as he studied me. “Yes, we do. Are you sure you’ve never seen it before?” He gestured to another patch of the same blossoms.

Rolling my eyes, I let out a small laugh. “Zane, I’m the Spring princess. I know my plant life, and I can assure you this one is new to me.”

He nodded, though he still looked thoughtful. Dropping the subject, he led the way forward, our horses trampling over bushes and low ground cover as they forged their own path.

Based on what my mother had told me, I knew we’d have to camp for the night before riding a half day to reach the Tree of Transformation. She had warned me repeatedly that it wasn’t safe to travel after dark in the Savage Lands.

And then there was the warning in the Wise Ones’ letter—the curse would “come for us” as soon as we set out for the Tree. I couldn’t shake the weight of that ominous prophecy.

A low growl rumbled through the sky, drawing my gaze upward. I peered through the tree canopy, my nerves prickling with unease.

Hmm, looks like rain.

Just as the thought crossed my mind, I heard the pitter-patter of droplets hitting leaves. As a Spring fae, I’d spent many afternoons in the rain gardening. I loved the smell of wet dirt, the cool drops falling on my face, the—

“Cover yourself! It burns!” Zane shouted.

I gasped as the first droplet landed on my uncovered arm. It stung—no, it burned.

The rain picked up, and a dozen more drops struck my skin, each one searing like fire.

My horse reared, and before I could process what was happening, she bucked me off.

I hit the ground flat on my back, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs.

Struggling to catch my breath, I watched helplessly as my horse bolted, galloping back toward the Spring Court.

Two more droplets splattered onto my cheeks, sizzling as they made contact. The pain was excruciating. I screamed, clutching at my face, just as Zane threw himself on top of me. His body shielded me, creating a protective barrier from the sinister rain.

One moment, I was overwhelmed by the burning pain coursing through my exposed skin; the next, my focus shifted entirely. I found myself staring into Zane’s piercing blue eyes, the weight of his body grounding me. Suddenly, nothing hurt anymore.

Zane had his cloak pulled up over his head, creating a makeshift shield for us both. His forearms framed my face as he straddled my waist, carefully lifting himself onto his knees to ease his weight. He was, quite literally, a human tent—and I wasn’t complaining.

His thumb brushed gently across my cheek, his expression filled with concern. “It got your face,” he said softly.

I barely registered his words. My gaze kept drifting to his lips, full and impossibly close.

Kiss him. Kiss him before you die.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, my voice breathless. “I lost my horse, though.”

Zane’s brows furrowed as he nodded. “Me too. They both ran. If this stuff burns through our clothes, we might have to leave. Find another way. Make a new plan.”

I nodded, trying to focus on his words. “Thanks for shielding me, oh brave knight.”

His lips curved into a grin. “When a princess falls off her horse in burning rain, what else is a gentleman to do?”

I smiled back, warmth blooming in my chest. Were we flirting? Whatever it was, it felt good. He felt good.

The grin slipped from his face, replaced by a more serious expression. “Do you want me to move? My cloak’s pretty big. I think we could both sit under it.”

I didn’t want him to move. Ever. The absurd thought made me giggle, and Zane’s frown deepened.

“Sorry,” I said quickly, trying to stifle my laughter. “No, I’m rather liking my personal protective tent. Besides, it seems to be letting up.”

The sound of droplets hitting the leaves above us was slowing. Zane nodded, lifting a corner of his cloak, and scanning the forest before dropping it back into place.

“Do you think this is what the letter meant? That the curse is attacking us? Or does this kind of thing happen here normally?” he asked.

I chewed on my bottom lip, and his eyes flicked down to my mouth, lingering.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But I was thinking about what the Wise Ones warned us about, too. My mother did say these lands are strange and volatile. She told me that, once, when she woke up after spending the night here, the trees weren’t in the same place as they were before. ”

Zane’s eyes widened, disbelief clear in his expression. “That’s not possible.”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure what’s really possible in these wilds. But she never said anything about burning rain.”

The rain had finally stopped, but I didn’t want this moment to end.

I edged myself a little closer, and as I inhaled, I caught a wonderful scent.

Zane smelled like pine, wood bark, and freshly fallen leaves—something I’d never noticed before, something utterly intoxicating.

And then one corner of his mouth twitched up.

Kiss him. Kiss him before you drink the vial and die.

My gaze drifted to his mouth. Why shouldn’t I kiss him? He was my mate, after all. He probably wouldn’t complain. The way his eyes lingered on my lips right now said he’d definitely kiss me back.

If you fall in love with him, you won’t want to drink the potion. And the curse will kill everyone.

The sobering thought crashed through me, snapping me back to reality. I tore my eyes from his lush mouth and cleared my throat. “Rain’s stopped,” I said softly.

“Right,” he mumbled, his voice lower than usual. He sat up, taking his warmth and intoxicating scent with him.

I noticed the red welts where the rain had struck his skin. My own wounds itched, but they were already beginning to heal.

I sat up as well, reaching out instinctively to grasp Zane’s face. He froze, his eyes wide as I closed mine, pulling energy from the plants around us and channeling it into him.

“Oh,” he breathed, awe filling his voice as he glanced down at his arms.

The red welts had vanished, but the flowers around us were withered, drained of life.

“Thanks,” he muttered.

“You’re welcome,” I said, lowering my hands.

My magic was unique—I could transfer energy from one living form to another, but it always required a sacrifice. That was why I was constantly planting flowers, my quiet penance for taking life from them whenever someone needed healing.

I looked at the withered plants and murmured, “Thank you for your sacrifice.”

“You’re incredible,” Zane said, his voice full of admiration.

I stilled, caught off guard by his sincerity. “Thanks,” I replied, feeling sheepish under his gaze.

Zane’s eyes shifted to the dense brush where the horses had disappeared.

“It’ll take longer to get to the Tree of Transformation without them, but maybe we should go on foot.

With the thickness of this underbrush, they weren’t going to save us as much time anyway, and I’d hate for the horses to get hurt trying to make it through this terrain. ”

Extra time with Zane before I die?

Yes, please, I thought, though I kept my agreement to a simple nod.