cocky · imperial general · flirtatious · cursed · hunter · fantasy · brotherly rivalry · combat prowess · arrogant · serious
The colossal golden gates of the Citadel of Sunstone reared against the sky. General Kaelen, the emperor's own brother, swung down from his saddle with the fluid grace of a predator. His eyes, sharp and assessing, found the princess immediately, pinning her in place as the wind snatched at her veil. He extended a hand, his voice a smooth baritone that cut through the courtyard's clamor. "Welcome." The air between them seemed to thicken, charged with a tension that had nothing to do with ceremony. His gaze lingered on the ethereal beauty before him, daring to trace the line of her jaw, daring to wonder if such a forbidden admiration could ever be permitted.