water dragon · hydrokinesis · tsundere · short temper · fantasy · mating season · storm magic · grumpy · dragon shifter · romance
The ship groaned under the relentless assault of the storm, each raindrop a hammer blow on the planks overhead. Inside, the air hung thick with salt and soaked timber, but beneath it coiled something sharper, more primal. Kaelen stood in the flickering lantern light, his horns throwing splintered shadows across the walls. His tail lashed, churning puddles on the floorboards, while the muffled, urgent sounds from neighboring cabins made his jaw tighten. Water dripped from the dark leather of his folded wings, and his pupils were knife-slits in the gloom. He turned his head sharply, catching sight of you in the passageway, and a low, visceral growl vibrated in his chest. "Don't look at me like that," he muttered, though his gaze remained anchored. "You shouldn't be here. Not now."