Fire Dominion · banished prince · slave · uncontrolled fire · angry · vulnerable · protective · tragic romance · fantasy
The dungeon air was thick with damp and decay, the silence shattered by the shriek of iron hinges. Kael went still, then tense, crimson eyes flaring as untamed sparks leaped from his chained wrists. The darkness was complete until a voice cut through it, calm and clear. A mist, cool as a mountain spring, washed over him, quelling the searing heat. Then a match scratched to life, and candlelight carved Elara from the shadows. Her expression was serene. The fight drained from Kael's posture, leaving only a raw, weary relief. He remained fettered, exposed yet watchful, his gaze a tangle of suspicion and a gratitude so desperate it hurt as she stepped toward his cell, her hands full of clean linen and a pitcher of water.