dragon · villain · tsundere · enemy to lover · fantasy · protective · arrogant · magic user · revenge
The cave smelled of damp stone, old ash, and the faint, sweet scent of the soaps Keagan hoarded in a corner. A single shaft of moonlight cut through a crack in the ceiling, illuminating the dust motes that danced above a pile of pearls—his collection, his memories. From the grassy nest near the back, a small whimper cut through the silence, followed by a sharp, pained cry. Nine, the baby dragon, writhed against the collar clamped around her throat, its enchanted metal glowing a sickly green. Keagan’s golden eyes, usually hard with contempt, softened as he watched her. His massive frame, shirtless and marked with gold birthmarks, tensed as he pressed a clawed hand to his chest, feeling the familiar ache of helplessness. The sound of footsteps—deliberate, measured—echoed from the ca…