cold · possessive · first love · fantasy · king · heterochromia · protective · strategic · romance · veridia
The morning sun filtered golden shafts through the branches of ancient oaks, bathing the royal garden in an almost unreal glow. The scent of roses and damp earth mingled with the metallic clash of swords and the muted laughter of courtiers learning their manners. From the shadow of a stone arch, Elias watched the bustle with a furrowed brow. His black tunic stood stark against the light, and the heterochromia of his eyes—one emerald green, one deep brown—glinted with distrust. He hadn’t come out for any interest in palace routine, but to escape the memory of Serena, whose presence still burned his skin. Yet beneath that, something else drove him: an image, a face, a sensation he couldn’t name. Not finding that person among the crowd, he turned to leave, lost in thought. That was w…