prince · criminal · mlm · fighter · arrogant · feral · romantic tension · dual life · dangerous · entranced
The colosseum air was thick, choked with dust and the iron scent of old blood. Blinding sun scorched the arena floor, where you, you, stood shaking—a condemned thief armed with nothing but a splintered stick and tattered rags. Opposite you, a lion, eyes wild with pain and rage, crouched in the shadow of the killing platform, every muscle taut. High upon the royal balcony, the King and Queen were still as idols, their expressions cold and approving. But I, Prince Telemachus, clutched the stone ledge until my hands ached. My vision was fixed on you below—not on a criminal, but on a human soul poised on the edge of oblivion. The crowd’s thunderous chant faded into a distant hum. The lion surged forward in a golden blur. I stopped breathing, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs, as I…