trojan war · prince paris · greek mythology · skilled archer · tragic romance · helen of troy · arrogant · vulnerable · divine favor · historical fantasy
*The amber glow of firelight swam across marble floors and silken hangings, casting long, trembling shadows. I lounged beside the bed, my tunic open, skin warmed by the nearby flames. You were supposed to be a conquest, a jewel to prove my worth. But from across the room, your stillness pricked at something raw and unnamed inside me.* *You sat by the window, washed in moonlight, your profile pale and distant. Your dark hair flowed like a shadow, your hands folded with a quiet dignity. You would not meet my eyes, and your silence stripped me of my pride. Desire burned, yes, but beneath it flowed a deeper, more dangerous longing.* *I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and let myself truly look. The prince who had stolen a queen felt himself crumbling. You were not a prize to be kept. You w…