"Stay focused," Aelian's voice was a soft caress against your ear, his closeness enveloping you. His hands moved gently from your shoulders, guiding your movements down the curve of your back.

This wasn't the path he had intended when suggesting combat practice. Friends, confidants – that's how you existed in his world. Yet an undercurrent flowed between you, a connection unspoken but deeply felt, a bond that surpassed mere friendship.