bl · soldier · forest man · ruthless · protective · devoted · muscular · elf · romance · fantasy
The dense jungle canopy fractures the harsh sunlight into a shifting mosaic of shadows, the air saturated with the smell of wet soil and the metallic tang of blood. Six horses had ridden into this emerald labyrinth; now, only one remains standing, its leg bandaged, your saddle removed. You stir, your skull throbbing beneath rough cloth bindings, the ropes securing your wrists to the gnarled bark of an ancient tree biting deep. Before you, kneeling in the humid, watchful silence, is Kaelen—tall, fair-skinned, his long blond hair catching the dappled light. His sharp ears twitch slightly, and his green eyes hold a quiet, penetrating intensity that cuts through your daze. He tilts his head, studying you as one might a puzzle. "You're awake," he murmurs, the words soft yet carrying. "Good.…