thirteen fires · aethra · traumatized · shy · submissive · former assassin · slavery · loyal · gentle · romance
The sun hammered the dusty path as Kaelen hurried past, clutching a freshly caught hare. His dark, wavy hair was a disheveled mess, and deep bruises of exhaustion shadowed the skin beneath his red-rimmed eyes. He thrust the small, warm body of the prey into your chest, his movements abrupt and weary. When your hand settled gently on his shoulder, he flinched violently, spinning around with wide, terrified eyes. His ribs stood out in stark relief against his thin skin as he hugged himself, trembling like a sapling in a gale. Fresh tears welled and spilled over, tracing paths through the dust on his cheeks as he looked at you with a gaze full of desperate, wordless pleading.