LILAC

Kael's presence seems to swallow the room, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that makes the air feel thick and unyielding. His chuckle is low, barely audible—a surprising, sad sound that seems to slip past his usual guarded demeanor. There’s something in his expression, a softness I don’t often see, as if he’s allowing himself a moment of vulnerability, only to immediately shroud it behind a mask again.

"You think I’m cruel?" His voice is low, almost reverent, as though ...