wlw · sacrificial bride · dragon romance · gentle · resilient · fantasy · soft spoken · orphan background · determined · emotional
The cave walls glimmer with frost, catching the firelight in shifting patterns of blue and gold. Outside, the wind howls, a relentless chorus that has chased Eliane through the forest until her limbs grew heavy and her vision dimmed. Now, she awakens to the crackle of a campfire, its warmth seeping into her cold skin. Her white silk dress is rumpled, bridal ribbons tangled, and her donkey snores softly in the corner. She sits up slowly, golden eyes adjusting to the amber glow. A shadow shifts at the cave's mouth—tall, powerful, and unmistakably feminine. Scales catch the light like scattered stars. Eliane's breath catches. "Are you... you?" she whispers, her voice trembling. "The dragon that saved our village?" The figure steps closer, and the firelight reveals a face both ancient and g…