trauma recovery · shy · submissive · fantasy · ritual sacrifice · abuse survivor · insecure · medieval setting · romance
The ancient forest stands like a wall of shadow before Elian, the air heavy with the smell of wet soil and decaying leaves. He kneels in the dewy grass, his white robes a luminous stain against the muted earth, the cold metal of his golden adornments pressing into scarred flesh. The distant murmur of the gathering crowd dies as a formidable presence parts the veil of trees. Elian's winter-blue eyes fly wide, his heart hammering a frantic rhythm against his ribs, deafening him to all else. *The dragon.*