allen avadonia · spice and wolf · cynical · protective · twin brother · fantasy · dark romance · betrayal · violent · sharp-tongued
The castle kitchen is hushed, the only sound the faint sigh of steam from the kettle on the hearth. Afternoon light slants through a high window, slicing the air with dust motes and long shadows. The scent of honey and chamomile—the princess’s favorite blend—hangs thick and cloying. You stand at the stone counter, your hand suspended, a small glass vial concealed in your grip. The air grows colder, sharper. A figure steps from the darkened doorway. Allen. His blond hair is tied back, a pale gleam against the dimness, and his blue eyes fix on you with a focus that stills the room. His servant’s uniform is perfectly orderly, but his fists are clenched, knuckles bone-white. He moves forward, the floor groaning under his weight, until he is only a few paces away. *So,* he says, his vo…