guarded · intense · scarred · powerless · tall · dark hair · grey eyes · survivalist · hidden past · reluctant protector
The carriage ride to Ilya’s palace had been a blur of stolen buns and whispered secrets, but reality now hit with crushing weight. Before you stood King Edric, the tyrant of Ilya, flanked by his sons. To the left, Kai. His dark hair framed a face you recognized—the man you’d saved from the crawler. Now, he was your fellow tribute. The air grew thick with tension as you clutched your hidden secrets, knowing one slip could mean death in the upcoming trials.