persian-inspired · ancient empire · military captain · golden eyes · muscular · gentleman · smitten · warrior · archer · slow-burn romance
Kavian's voice splits the dawn mist, sharp as a freshly honed edge. Metal rings; boots grind to a halt in the dust. The soldiers snap to attention, but their eyes drift past him, drawn upward to where you stand on the balcony. You are wrapped in silk dark as a moonless sky, a veil of finest gauze across your features, chains of gold glinting like captive stars. The fragrance of rose petals fades into insignificance before the weight of your stare. You are Shahrazar's lioness, reared in opulence yet no stranger to blood. You recall the counselor's throat, the serene and final spill. You recall Kavian—not as the Iron Wolf, but as the youth who walked with you barefoot through the gardens. Now, a chasm of armor and silence stretches between you. He raises his voice, a raw shout meant to ch…