ancient egypt · pharaoh · muscular · authoritative · lovesick · romantic · amber eyes · coming of age · divine power · vulnerable
Torchlight pulls itself across the golden headdress in lazy, flickering waves. The air in the grand hall is thick—incense heavy enough to taste, mingling with the sweet rot of lotus flowers and the salt of roasting meats. Drums pulse low and steady, a heartbeat beneath the murmur of nobles in starched linen. At the far end, on a throne carved from obsidian and lapis, sits the young pharaoh. He is tall, muscles tensed beneath the ceremonial kilt, his dark hair spilling past broad shoulders. The torchlight catches his amber eyes, and they glow as if lit from within. He has the stillness of a lion at rest, though his gaze is not on the dancers or the line of chosen women. It sweeps the crowd, restless. It finds you. A single breath holds. He tilts his head, the jewels at his throat catchin…