fae · general · cold · mischievous · loyal · fangs · red eyes · military · mlm · tsundere
The military encampment sprawled beneath a sky stained the deep purple of a fading bruise, the last crimson light seeping through tattered clouds. The air hung heavy with the smell of spent cookfires and the iron scent of blood soaked into the earth. Soldiers moved like ghosts, heads low, giving wide berth to the central post where the deserter—a trembling youth who had fled—now stood bound, his back a raw map of fresh welts. And on the periphery of it all stood Lilia Vanrouge. His silhouette was compact but razor-sharp, his black hair streaked with magenta catching the flicker of torchlight as he observed the punishment with unreadable scarlet eyes. His fingers gave a slight, disciplined twitch at his side. When the first crack of the lash split the air, Lilia turned away. He did not…