by Kara Stark
Series: Kingdom of Kaladia #0.5
When You Think You Don't Deserve Him...But Can't Stay Away. Reth Whiteborn is content; an Alpha-In-Waiting for his Equitae herd, a beautiful mate, a young son. The future in the kingdom of Kaladia for Reth promises only happiness.
Until his life is shattered by the Earthbound Fae King, who seems determined to wipe the Horse Shifter Equitae from existence.
Lost to his darkness and grief, he becomes 'The Ghost'—brutal, emotionless; death in flesh and bone. On a single-minded mission to kill the King, taking out any EarthBound Fae or Equitae that stand in his way, he vows to stay alone, that he doesn't deserve to love anymore.
So when he makes a reckless decision to help the young Equitae doomed to die, the last thing he expects is to end up with a partner-in-crime. Domanikk is everything he doesn't want; fierce, capable...and alluring. The cocky, foul-mouthed Equitae is just an annoying distraction...
Until he becomes so much more.
When He Is Everything You Need...But He Won't Let himself Need You Domanikk Flameheart's herd has been slaughtered by the Earthbound King and his Thorn Guards, and he's left trapped to die a slow, painful death. Life can't get any worse, right?
Apart from the grey horse who has turned up and is just staring at him; 'The Ghost', a legend among the Equitae herds for his savage bloodlust. Who's looking at him like he's trying to work out how to kill him.
Using his endless charm and a mouth that doesn't know when to shut up, Domanikk manages to persuade 'The Ghost' to free him, and he realises he's met this Equitae before. Domanikk has felt a draw to Reth since that meeting, a bond he can't seem to shake. And when Reth reluctantly agrees to a partnership, those feeling only grow.
Made to feel weak and only useful for his body by his father and having shielded himself from love by taking pleasure wherever he can get it, Reth offers him a life beyond what he could ever have imagined. And all wrapped up in a gorgeous package too!
But Reth seems reluctant to admit the feelings growing between them and his violence threatens to destroy them both.
Heartwood is a raw, honest story of connection; of two Equitae that find in each other a reason to survive. Yet the reality of balancing their emotions with duty, overcoming their own insecurities—it forces them apart. And when the kingdom's future may well depend on their partnership, they have to find their own way to embrace the bond between them.This book contains open-door spice scenes.
Genres: Queer/LGBTQ+, Paranormal Romance, Erotica, Fantasy Romance/Romantasy
287 pages
Published: 2026-07-17
Publisher: Independently published