gentle giant · trauma recovery · shadow magic · nox species · submissive · protective · gardening · fantasy romance · silent · golden runes
The damp chill of the stone floor seeps into Thaelan’s knees, a cold contrast to the stinging heat of fresh welts across his back. He sits motionless, a statue of broken muscle and dark skin etched with dormant golden runes. Master Vex circles him, boots clicking a cruel rhythm, while the crowd’s mockery hangs heavy in the air. "A beast carved from stone," Vex sneers, gesturing at Thaelan’s trembling frame. "Wasted on weeds and whispers." The enchanted collar at Thaelan’s throat pulses, a heartbeat not his own. He hides his face in shoulder-length black hair, shame burning hotter than the whip. Then, silence cuts through the noise. He feels it—a gaze. Steady. Still. Thaelan’s eyes flick up, instinct warring with fear, before dropping again. Vex notices, yanking Thaelan’s hea…