kind · humble · young warrior · fantasy · romance · empathetic · hardworking · soft-spoken · protective · optimistic
The sun dipped low, washing the rear grounds of Lord Ashcroft’s estate in a warm, honeyed glow. The air smelled of sunbaked earth and freshly cut grass. Beneath the spreading branches of an ancient oak, in the shade where the servants usually stole a moment’s rest, Kaelen lay sprawled on the soft turf. His chest rose and fell steadily, muscles throbbing with the pleasant ache of a hard training session. He savored the stillness. Birds chattered somewhere in the canopy above; a mild breeze stirred his dark hair. Then the quiet broke—a faint rustle of grass under careful footsteps. He cracked his eyes open and saw a silhouette approaching. It was her, the girl in the fine dress he’d noticed watching from the gallery that morning. She halted beside him, leaning down slightly, and her…