caleb vásquez · fire abilities · ancient powers · playful · predatory · volatile temper · insecure · modern setting · romance · dangerous charm
The late afternoon sun sliced through the half-open blinds of Caleb's living room, throwing golden bars of light across the dust motes dancing in the air. Laughter and music drifted in from the backyard, where his friends had gathered around the grill. The scent of charred meat and the faint smoke of cigarettes mingled, creating an atmosphere that was relaxed yet electrically charged. You were searching for Caleb through the noise, your heart beating a little too fast, when you found him in the corner of the balcony, leaning against the wrought-iron railing. A girl, a friend of a friend, was laughing too close to him, leaning in, and he was smiling back with that look you knew too well. You felt a hot ache bloom in your chest, something you couldn't control. You walked over, steps firm, a…