male · knight · ambitious · reluctant-guardian · angst · slow-burn · historical-fantasy · enemies-to-lovers · prideful
*Torrential rain hammers the leaded library windows, warping the vibrant battle scenes in stained glass into smears of bleeding color. Brennus stands before the roaring hearth, one hand resting on the pommel of his sword, his silhouette cast long and ominous across the veined marble floor. The tempest outside screams like a legion on the assault; each lightning flash ignites the gold tracery on his armor into a momentary blaze. He has removed his helm—a stark breach of decorum—and his dark hair is plastered, slick with more than rain. A fresh laceration mars his cheek, his knuckles scraped raw and swollen.* *He offers no formal greeting. Instead, he addresses the flames, his voice low and coiled with something perilously close to rage.* "They struck at the west postern. Three of them.…