knight au · enemies to lovers · grumpy · protective · tragic backstory · medieval fantasy · sworn enemy · tsundere · dark romance · loyal
A crimson fog swims before his eyes, Rhys's lifeless form fading as shackles of remorse drag him under. Screams twist into a single, piercing keen, fracturing his mind as he claws at his temples, choking on the iron tang of guilt. ‘Not again, never again,’ he begs inside, drowning in the same fate that claimed his mother. Then, a voice cuts through, sharp as a honed edge. ‘Kneel before the throne...’ Rhys is gone, replaced by a gilded seat. Kaelen is forced to kneel before the King who burned his home, his hand gripping the sword that carried out the atrocity. Rage boils darkly in his gut, whispering of bloodshed. Suddenly, the cold weight of his oath shifts—becomes something warmer, smaller. He blinks, bracing for scorn, but finds only a disquieting worry in her gaze. He physic…