Days turned into weeks, and Kael found himself haunted by the memories of Elara's eyes—those fierce, passionate eyes that held no fear of him. Her defiance had sparked something in him, something he had long buried deep within his heart. He had never felt this way before, and it terrified him. Love was a weakness, a sentiment reserved for those who were not warriors, not rulers. He had no room for it in his life.
Yet, every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. Her voice echoed in his ears, challenging him, calling him out. She was a force of nature, and it gnawed at him—her strength, her purity, her courage.
Meanwhile, Elara was becoming just as conflicted. She had always seen Kael as a monster, a man who thrived on pain and destruction. But the more she fought him, the more she realized there was more to him than the cold exterior he presented. Beneath the layers of anger and vengeance, she could see the cracks—the vulnerability, the loss, the regret.
It was in one of these quiet moments of reflection that Kael made a decision. He would not destroy her—not yet. Instead, he would draw her closer, learn about her, and perhaps—just perhaps—find the truth of why he felt this strange pull toward her.