shimmered across the thatched rooftops of her village - a crimson glow that lit the sky like a se

y screamed h

through the mud and thrown to the ground like cattle. Around her, others knelt-men too wou

ed mortals. He didn't blink. His face was half-shrouded in a dark hood, but

aelen

s. The Eastland Beast. The conqueror who di

Liora ple

oose strands of her hair as he knelt beside her, eyes roaming-inspecting, claiming. She refused to

low, dangerous. "They always burn

er burn t

ned her

a sm

kind

her. Bring her to the black

- and Kaelen watched her like a man already ima

-

silence. The halls whispered secrets Liora didn't understand, and every step toward hi

t

nothing, and led through a corridor lit with golden sconces

oors

light painting the scars down his back in silv

ied me t

said n

ould be

l no

dnight, wild as wolves. He took slow, purposeful ste

ld trembl

" she said. "And

ps - wolfish, arrogant

yet. It was a slow promise - not of pain, but of control. Of

are allowed, Liora's voice becomes her rebellion. And Kaelen - her captor, he